Information We Collect

At DirConnect Directory, transparency is foundational to our relationship with users and listed businesses. This page outlines the specific categories of information we collect, the methods of collection, and the legitimate purposes for processing your data in accordance with applicable privacy regulations.

1. Information You Provide Directly

We collect data that you intentionally and voluntarily submit when registering, managing listings, or interacting with our platform:

Account Credentials: Full name, email address, phone number, password, and recovery information.
Business Profile Data: Company name, physical/virtual address, contact details, website URL, business hours, service descriptions, and uploaded media (logos, photos, documents).
Communications: Content from support tickets, direct messages, email correspondence, and feedback surveys.
User-Generated Content: Reviews, ratings, Q&A submissions, and community forum posts.
Subscription & Billing: Payment method details (processed securely via PCI-compliant gateways), invoicing preferences, and upgrade history for premium directory features.

2. Information Collected Automatically

Standard web technologies and server infrastructure automatically record certain metrics to ensure platform functionality, security, and performance:

Device & Network Identifiers: IP address, browser type/version, operating system, device model, and screen resolution.
Usage & Interaction Data: Pages visited, search queries, clickstream patterns, time spent per session, referral URLs, and feature engagement.
Geolocation Data: Approximate location derived from IP address. Precise location is only collected with explicit user consent for proximity-based search results.
Security & Diagnostic Logs: Error reports, crash data, authentication attempts, and system telemetry to prevent abuse and maintain uptime.

3. Information from Third Parties

To verify legitimacy and enrich directory accuracy, we may integrate trusted external data sources:

Business Verification Services: Commercial registries, government entity databases, and domain ownership verification.
Payment & Identity Providers: Transaction status, fraud scoring, and identity verification results (we never store raw payment credentials).
Analytics & Marketing Partners: Aggregated demographic insights and interest categories (processed strictly under consent and privacy-by-design principles).

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We deploy cookies, local storage, web beacons, and SDKs to maintain sessions, remember preferences, and analyze traffic. Categories include:

Strictly Necessary: Authentication, security tokens, and core directory functionality.
Performance & Analytics: Traffic measurement, error tracking, and usability optimization.
Functional: Language, region, UI theme, and notification preferences.
Marketing & Advertising: Campaign attribution, retargeting pixels, and personalized ad delivery (opt-in only).

Manage Your Preferences: You can review, modify, or withdraw consent for non-essential tracking at any time via our Cookie Preferences Center or browser settings.

5. How We Use This Information

Collected data enables us to:

Verify, moderate, and keep business listings accurate and active
Authenticate users and secure accounts against unauthorized access
Deliver localized search results and relevant business recommendations
Process transactions, issue receipts, and manage premium subscriptions
Communicate service updates, security alerts, and policy changes
Prevent spam, fraud, scraping, and platform abuse
Conduct internal analytics, research, and continuous product improvement
Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations

If you have questions about data collection practices, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or need assistance with account data, please contact our Privacy Office at privacy@dirconnect.com or submit a request through the Support Portal.