The Heap — theheap.com.au
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how The Heap Australia (ABN 57 497 030 311) ("The Heap", "we", "us", "our") collects, uses and looks after your personal information when you use theheap.com.au (the "Platform"). We handle personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.
1. What we collect
Account information. When you sign up with Google (or another sign-in provider), we receive your name, email address and profile picture from that provider. We never see or store your Google password.
Listing information. When you create a listing we collect what you put in it: photos, title, description, category, condition, price, and the general location you provide (such as suburb and state) so buyers nearby can find it.
Messages. Messages you send and receive through the Platform are stored so we can deliver them, show you your conversation history, and send email notifications about new messages.
Usage and technical data. Like most websites, we and our service providers collect standard technical information such as IP address, browser and device type, pages visited and actions taken, used to keep the Platform working, secure and improving.
2. How we use your information
We use your information to:
- Create and manage your account and sign you in.
- Display your listings to other users, including your first name (or chosen display name) and general location on listings.
- Deliver messages between buyers and sellers, and email you notifications (for example, when someone messages you about a listing).
- Operate, maintain, secure and improve the Platform, including preventing fraud, spam and misuse.
- Communicate with you about the Platform, your account or changes to our terms and policies.
- Comply with our legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal information.
3. What other users can see
The Heap is a marketplace, so some information is visible to others by design: your listings (including photos and the suburb/location you enter), your display name on listings and in messages, and anything you write in a listing or message. Don't include personal details in a listing that you don't want public — your exact street address should only ever be shared privately with a buyer you've chosen to deal with, and only when you're comfortable doing so.
4. Who we share information with
We share personal information only with:
- Service providers that run the Platform for us — including our hosting and database providers, our sign-in provider (such as Google), and our email delivery provider. They may only use your information to provide their services to us.
- Other users, as described in section 3.
- Law enforcement, regulators or other parties where required or authorised by law, or where reasonably necessary to protect the safety of a person or to enforce our Terms of Service.
Overseas disclosure. Some of our service providers store or process data outside Australia (including in the United States). By using the Platform you acknowledge your information may be handled in those locations. We take reasonable steps to ensure providers protect personal information to standards consistent with Australian privacy law.
5. Cookies and similar technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for the Platform to work — for example, keeping you signed in. Our service providers may also use them for security and performance. You can control cookies through your browser settings, but blocking essential cookies may stop parts of the Platform working.
6. Security
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure — including secure hosting, encrypted connections (HTTPS) and access controls. No online service can be guaranteed 100% secure, so please keep your sign-in credentials safe.
7. Keeping and deleting your information
We keep personal information for as long as needed for the purposes above, and then take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it. If you close your account, we will delete or de-identify your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we need to keep it to comply with the law, resolve disputes or enforce our agreements.
8. Access and correction
You can ask us for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct it, by contacting us at the address below. We'll respond within a reasonable time. Much of your information (like your listings) you can view and edit yourself on the Platform.
9. Complaints
If you have a concern about how we've handled your personal information, contact us first and we'll do our best to resolve it promptly. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on the Platform, and if we make material changes we'll take reasonable steps to let you know.
11. Contact
Privacy questions or requests: sometimesonny@gmail.com