Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 7, 2026

1. Information We Collect

At MeetLocalGuru, we collect information to provide better services to our users. This includes:

  • Personal Information: Name, email address, phone number, and location when you create an account.
  • Profile Information: For tutors — educational qualifications, teaching experience, subjects, rates, and profile photos.
  • Verification Documents: Government-issued ID (Aadhaar/PAN), liveness verification video, and degree certificates submitted by tutors for identity verification purposes.
  • Usage Data: How you interact with our Platform, including searches, page views, and feature usage.
  • Communication Data: Messages exchanged between users through our in-app messaging feature.
  • Payment Information: Transaction details when you make payments (processed securely through Razorpay — we do not store your card/bank details).
  • Device & Technical Data: Browser type, IP address, device information, and cookies for security and analytics purposes.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

  • Connect students with suitable tutors based on location and subject preferences
  • Verify tutor credentials and identity to maintain platform quality and trust
  • Process payments and manage subscriptions for platform features
  • Send notifications about new matches, messages, reviews, and platform updates
  • Improve our services, algorithms, and develop new features
  • Ensure platform security, prevent fraud, and enforce our Terms of Service
  • Generate anonymized, aggregated analytics to understand usage patterns
  • Respond to your inquiries, support requests, and complaints
  • Comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes

3. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information to any third party. We may share your information only in these limited circumstances:

  • With Tutors/Students: When you initiate contact or unlock a lead, relevant contact information (name, email, phone) is shared with the other party to facilitate communication.
  • Service Providers: Trusted third-party services that help us operate the Platform, including payment processors (Razorpay), cloud infrastructure (Firebase/Google Cloud), map services (MapTiler), and analytics tools. These providers are bound by their own privacy policies and data protection obligations.
  • Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request, or when necessary to protect our rights, safety, or the safety of our users.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You will be notified of any such change.

4. Verification Document Handling

For tutor identity verification, we handle sensitive documents with extra care:

  • Government ID images and liveness verification videos are stored securely and are not publicly visible
  • These documents are accessible only to authorized MeetLocalGuru administrators for verification purposes
  • ID numbers and sensitive details may be partially masked in admin views
  • Verification documents are retained only as long as necessary for verification and legal compliance
  • You may request deletion of verification documents by contacting us, subject to our legal retention obligations

5. Data Security

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

  • Encrypted data transmission using SSL/TLS
  • Secure authentication via Firebase Authentication (Google)
  • Firestore security rules to restrict unauthorized data access
  • Regular security reviews and updates
  • Access controls limiting who can view sensitive data

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will promptly notify affected users in the event of a data breach.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. Specifically:

  • Account data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after deletion for backup and legal purposes
  • Messages: Retained while both users' accounts are active
  • Reviews: Retained indefinitely as part of the Platform's public content, even after account deletion
  • Payment records: Retained as required by applicable tax and financial regulations
  • Verification documents: Retained for the duration of your active account plus any legally required retention period

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data held by us
  • Correction: Request correction of any inaccurate personal information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to legal retention requirements)
  • Opt-out: Opt out of marketing communications and non-essential notifications
  • Portability: Request your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where consent is the legal basis

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at localgurustartup@gmail.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Keep you signed in and maintain your session
  • Remember your preferences and settings
  • Analyze usage patterns to improve the Platform
  • Ensure security and prevent fraud

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect Platform functionality.

9. Children's Privacy

MeetLocalGuru is intended for users 13 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If a student under 13 wants to use our services, a parent or guardian must create and manage the account on their behalf. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

10. Third-Party Links & Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services (such as Google Maps, Razorpay, YouTube). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external services. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. Legal Disclaimers & Liability

The following legal disclaimers apply to all users of MeetLocalGuru. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and accept these terms:

a) Limitation of Liability

MeetLocalGuru is not liable for any personal injury, property damage, bodily harm, emotional distress, or financial loss resulting from the use of its services or from interactions between users — whether online or in person. To the maximum extent permitted by law, MeetLocalGuru disclaims all liability arising from tutoring sessions, home visits, or any other meetings arranged through the Platform.

b) Aggregator / Marketplace Status

MeetLocalGuru operates strictly as a discovery and communication platform (aggregator). We do not have an employer-employee, principal-agent, or contractor relationship with any tutor listed on the Platform. Tutors are independent individuals who offer their services independently. Any meeting at a home, private location, or any other venue is considered a mutual consent arrangement between the tutor and the student/parent. MeetLocalGuru is not a party to any such arrangement.

c) User Responsibility

Users use MeetLocalGuru at their own risk and responsibility. You are solely responsible for conducting your own due diligence — including verifying identity, credentials, references, and background — before meeting or engaging any tutor or student found through the Platform. MeetLocalGuru does not guarantee the suitability, safety, or trustworthiness of any user.

d) Verification Accuracy Disclaimer

While MeetLocalGuru offers optional identity verification services for tutors (document review, liveness checks), we do not guarantee 100% accuracy in background checks and cannot ensure the complete authenticity of documents provided by tutors beyond a reasonable degree. The "Verified" badge indicates only that the tutor submitted documents that were reviewed — it is not a guarantee of identity, safety, character, or competence. Users should always conduct their own independent verification.

For full details on these legal protections, please refer to our Terms of Service and Safety Guidelines.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Significant changes will be communicated via email or platform notification where possible. Your continued use of MeetLocalGuru after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

13. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules made thereunder, if you have any grievances regarding the processing of your personal data, you may contact our Grievance Officer:

  • Email: localgurustartup@gmail.com
  • Response Time: We will acknowledge your grievance within 48 hours and aim to resolve it within 30 days.

14. Contact Us

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

  • Email: localgurustartup@gmail.com

Summary: We respect your privacy. We collect only the information necessary to connect students with tutors and operate the Platform. Your data is kept secure, never sold to third parties, and you have full control over your personal information. Verification documents are stored securely and are never publicly visible.