Privacy Policy
How Treep 'n' Out collects, uses, and protects your personal information
Last Updated: May 26, 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Treep 'n' Out ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application ("App"). Please read this policy carefully. By using the App, you agree to the practices described herein.
Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
When you create an account or use our features, we may collect:
- ·Account Information: Full name, username, email address, phone number, and password (stored securely via Firebase Authentication).
- ·Profile Information: Profile photo, background/cover image, bio, and location.
- ·Posts & Media: Photos, videos, captions, geo-tags, and user tags you attach to posts.
- ·Chat Messages: Text messages and media exchanged in direct messages and community group chats.
- ·Events & Plans: Event names, dates, locations, and descriptions created in the planning features.
- ·Trip Breakdowns: Itemised trip cost breakdowns and planning data.
- ·Tour Requests: Tour request details including destination site, request type, and user information.
- ·Business Listings: Business name, location, description, contact email, phone numbers (including emergency contacts), and services offered, if you register a business or destination.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- ·Device Token: Your device's push notification token (FCM/APNS) is collected and stored to deliver notifications to your device.
- ·Usage Data: App activity such as pages visited, destinations browsed, communities joined, and bookmarks saved.
- ·Local Preferences: Certain settings (e.g., account setup status, selected business) are stored locally on your device.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
Firebase Services: We use Google Firebase for authentication, cloud database (Firestore), file storage, and push notifications. Firebase may collect additional diagnostic and usage data subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- ✓Create and manage your account and authenticate you securely.
- ✓Enable core features such as browsing destinations, posting content, planning events, and managing trip breakdowns.
- ✓Facilitate real-time chat in direct messages and community group conversations.
- ✓Send push notifications about incoming tour requests, chat messages, app updates, and other relevant activity.
- ✓Connect you with tour guides and site owners by matching tour requests with destination owners.
- ✓Display communities and allow you to join, browse members, and participate in group discussions.
- ✓Support business accounts by allowing site owners to manage their listings and delegate access.
- ✓Personalise your experience based on bookmarks, preferences, and privacy settings.
- ✓Maintain account security including password changes and biometric login preferences.
- ✓Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.
How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal data.
We may share information in the following circumstances:
| Recipient | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Firebase / Google | Authentication, database, storage, and messaging infrastructure |
| Other App Users | Public profile details, posts, and community activity visible according to your privacy settings |
| Site / Business Owners | Tour request details shared with the relevant destination owner to facilitate guided tours |
| Legal Authorities | If required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of users |
When your account is set to private, your profile and posts are not publicly visible to other users.
Data Storage and Security
- User data is stored in Google Firebase Firestore and Firebase Storage, hosted on Google's secure infrastructure.
- Media files (profile images, post photos/videos, chat media) are stored in Firebase Storage.
- Passwords are managed entirely by Firebase Authentication and are never stored in plain text.
- Device push notification tokens are stored on our backend servers solely to deliver notifications.
- We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, but no transmission over the internet is 100% secure.
Data Retention
Your data is retained for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account via Settings → Delete Account, the following happens:
- ✕Your profile image and background photo are removed from Firebase Storage.
- ✕All posts and associated media are permanently deleted.
- ✕Chat media is removed from Firebase Storage.
- ✕Your profile document is deleted from Firestore.
- ✕Your data is removed from our backend API servers.
- ✕Your Firebase Authentication account is permanently deleted.
This action is irreversible. All data including posts, events, and profile information will be permanently erased. See our Account Deletion page for full details and a manual request form.
Push Notifications
We use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) and Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) to send you:
- Incoming tour request alerts
- Real-time chat message notifications
- Community activity updates
You can manage notification preferences within the App under Settings → Notifications, or disable push notifications at the device operating system level at any time.
Your Privacy Controls
The App provides you with the following controls over your data:
Private Account
Settings → Privacy
Toggle your account to private so only approved connections can view your profile and posts.
Muted Accounts
Settings → Muted Accounts
Mute specific users to hide their content from your feed.
Blocked Accounts
Settings → Blocked Accounts
Block users to prevent any interaction with your account.
Tags & Mentions
Settings → Tags and Mentions
Control who can tag or mention you in posts and comments.
Change Password
Settings → Password
Update your account password at any time.
Delete Account
Settings → Delete Account
Permanently delete your account and all associated data. This action is irreversible.
Children's Privacy
The App is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 where applicable under local law). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Third-Party Links and Services
The App may display links to external websites or third-party services (e.g., destination contact pages). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
International Data Transfers
Your data may be processed and stored on servers located outside your country of residence (including servers operated by Google Firebase). By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these servers in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document and, where appropriate, via an in-app notification. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please reach out to us: