Privacy Policy

Introduction

RegionalCountdown ("we", "our", or "the App") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our iOS application designed to help Working Holiday Visa holders track their regional work days for Australian visa requirements.

By using RegionalCountdown, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

1. Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address
• Authentication credentials (securely managed through Firebase Authentication)
• Email verification status
• Unique user identifier (Firebase UID)

2. Work Entry Data

To help you track your regional work, we collect:

• Work dates and hours worked
• Employer information (name, employment type, start and end dates)
• Notes or additional information you add to work entries
• Entry source (manual entry or payslip scan)
• Review and validation flags

3. User Profile Data

We maintain the following profile information:

• Your unique referral code
• Premium credits balance
• Subscription status (free or premium)
• Goal days setting (88 or 179 days)
• Total number of successful referrals
• Date of account creation and last update

4. Payslip Scanning Data (Premium Feature)

When you use our AI-powered payslip scanning feature:

• Payslip images or PDF files you upload
• Text extracted from payslips using AI processing
• Processing metadata (file size, MIME type, processing timestamp)
• Extracted information (employer name, hours worked, pay dates)

5. Device and Usage Data

We automatically collect:

• Device type and operating system version
• App version and settings
• Crash reports and error logs (if the app encounters technical issues)
• Local data stored on your device using SwiftData

6. Information We Do NOT Collect

We do not collect:

• Precise geolocation data
• Contacts or photos from your device (except payslips you explicitly upload)
• Browsing history or activity outside the app
• Financial information (payment processing is handled securely by Apple)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

1. Provide Core Services

• Calculate your eligible visa days based on Australian Immigration rules
• Store and sync your work entries across devices
• Display your progress toward your visa goal

2. Process Payslips (Premium Feature)

• Extract work information from uploaded payslip images/PDFs
• Automatically create work entries based on extracted data
• Provide validation and confidence scores

3. Manage Your Account

• Authenticate and verify your identity
• Manage your subscription and premium features
• Process referral rewards and premium credits
• Send important account-related emails (verification, password reset)

4. Improve the App

• Analyze app usage to identify and fix technical issues
• Develop new features and improve existing functionality
• Ensure accurate day calculations

5. Provide Customer Support

• Respond to your questions and support requests
• Troubleshoot technical problems

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to provide and improve our app:

1. Firebase (Google Cloud Platform)

• Services Used: Authentication, Firestore Database, Cloud Storage
• Purpose: User authentication, cloud data backup, and temporary payslip storage
• Data Shared: Email, user ID, work entries, employer information, uploaded payslips
• Privacy Policy: firebase.google.com/support/privacy

2. Anthropic Claude AI

• Purpose: AI-powered text extraction from payslip images
• Data Shared: Payslip images/PDFs (processed securely via our backend)
• Data Retention: Payslips are automatically deleted after 24 hours
• Privacy Policy: privacy.claude.com/en/

3. Netlify

• Purpose: Hosting our secure backend API for payslip processing
• Data Shared: Payslip processing requests and user IDs
• Privacy Policy: netlify.com/privacy

4. Apple Services

• Purpose: In-app purchases and app distribution
• Data Shared: Purchase information handled by Apple's App Store
• Privacy Policy: apple.com/legal/privacy

Data Storage and Security

Storage Locations

• Local Storage: Work entries and settings are stored locally on your device using SwiftData
• Cloud Storage: If you create an account and verify your email, your data is backed up to Firebase Firestore (Google Cloud Platform servers)
• Geographic Location: Firebase servers may be located in various regions globally

Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS/SSL
• Passwords are never stored directly; authentication is handled securely by Firebase
• Cloud data is encrypted at rest
• Payslip images are stored in secure, access-controlled Firebase Storage
• Firebase Security Rules restrict data access to authenticated users only

Data Retention

• Work Entries: Retained until you delete them or delete your account
• Account Information: Retained until you delete your account
• Payslip Images: Automatically deleted after 24 hours
• Extracted Payslip Data: Retained as work entries until deleted
• Local Data: Remains on your device until you delete the app or clear app data

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

1. With Your Consent: When you explicitly agree to share information
2. Service Providers: With third-party services listed above that help us operate the app
3. Legal Requirements: If required by law, court order, or government regulation
4. Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
5. Protection of Rights: To protect our rights, safety, or property, or that of our users

Your Privacy Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

1. Access and Export

• View all your work entries in the app
• Export your data as a CSV file through the Settings menu
• Request a copy of your data by contacting us

2. Correction

• Edit or update your work entries and employer information at any time
• Update your account settings and preferences

3. Deletion

• Delete individual work entries or employers
• Delete all local data through Settings
• Delete your account through Settings > Account Management > Delete Account
• Contact us to request complete data deletion from cloud storage

4. Data Portability

• Export your work history as a CSV file
• Download includes dates, hours, employers, and calculated days

5. Opt-Out Rights

• You can use the app without creating an account (local-only mode)
• Decline email verification to prevent cloud sync
• Unsubscribe from promotional emails (we currently send none)

Children's Privacy

RegionalCountdown is intended for users aged 18 and older who hold or are eligible for an Australian Working Holiday Visa. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If we become aware that we have collected data from someone under 18, we will delete it promptly.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and stored on servers located outside your country of residence. By using RegionalCountdown, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country.

Firebase (Google) may store data in multiple regions globally. We rely on Firebase's compliance with international data protection frameworks.

Email Verification and Cloud Sync

• Cloud backup of your work entries requires email verification
• Until you verify your email, all data remains local on your device
• Email verification helps ensure account security and data recovery

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by:

• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Displaying an in-app notification for material changes
• Sending an email to your registered email address (if applicable)

Your continued use of RegionalCountdown after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:

Email: jwc.iosproject@gmail.com

Response Time: We aim to respond to all inquiries within 7 business days.

Compliance

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
• Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
• Apple App Store Privacy Requirements

Additional Information

Data Accuracy

You are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information you enter into RegionalCountdown. While we provide tools to help you track your work, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of calculations or data you input.

No Immigration Advice

RegionalCountdown is a tracking tool only. We do not provide immigration advice or guarantee visa outcomes. Always verify your visa eligibility with the Australian Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.

Third-Party Links

The app may contain links to external websites (such as the Australian Immigration website). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites.