This Privacy Policy describes how GiftCardMallBalance (“GiftCardMallBalance”, “we”, “our”), operating the website at giftcardmallbalance.com, collects, uses, and protects information obtained through this site. By using the site you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

1. Information we collect

We collect information in two ways: information you provide directly and information collected automatically.

  • Information you provide directly: name, email address, optional phone number, and any message content submitted through our contact form. You are not required to submit this information to read the educational content on this site.
  • Information collected automatically: IP address, user-agent (browser/device), referring URL, pages visited, and time spent. This information is captured through standard web server logs and a privacy-respecting analytics tool. We may also use cookies and similar technologies as described in our Cookie Policy.

2. Why we collect this information

Information you submit through the contact form is used solely to respond to your inquiry. We do not use it for marketing without your explicit consent.

Automatically collected information is used to understand how visitors use the site, improve the quality and relevance of our editorial content, diagnose technical problems, and monitor for security threats. This data is analyzed in aggregate and is not used to identify individual users except where necessary for security investigations.

3. Sharing with third parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We share information only with trusted service providers (hosting, analytics) under contractual obligations requiring confidentiality and use limited to the purposes we specify.

We may disclose information when required by law, in response to valid legal process such as a court order or subpoena, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of GiftCardMallBalance, our users, or the public.

4. Cookies and similar technologies

This site uses a small number of cookies for functional purposes (such as remembering your cookie preference) and for aggregated analytics. You can manage cookie consent at any time using the cookie banner. For full details see the Cookie Policy.

5. Retention

Contact form submissions are retained for up to 12 months from the date of submission, after which they are deleted unless ongoing correspondence requires longer retention. Automatically collected server logs are retained for up to 90 days. Aggregated, non-identifiable analytics may be retained longer.

6. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include TLS encryption for data in transit, access controls on our internal systems, and periodic security reviews. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your privacy rights

Depending on your state of residence you may have rights regarding your personal information under applicable US state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA), and similar laws in other states. These rights may include the right to know what personal information we hold about you, the right to request deletion, the right to opt out of any sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@giftcardmallbalance.com. We respond to verifiable requests within the timeframes required by applicable law.

8. Children

This site is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information without parental consent we will take steps to delete it promptly. If you believe we may have collected such information, contact us at the email address above.

9. Links to external sites

This site links to external resources for reference, including federal agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in applicable law. When we make material changes we update the “Last updated” date above. Continued use of the site after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For privacy questions or to exercise any rights described above, write to hello@giftcardmallbalance.com.