Privacy Policy

HeyExpert values your privacy. This privacy policy explains what personal data we collect from you and how we use it. This privacy policy applies if you visit or use HeyExpert websites or mobile applications (collectively, the “Expert Platform”). This privacy policy also applies if you visit HeyExpert social media or other web pages located on third-party websites.

What does HeyExpert do?

HeyExpert provides an Expert Platform that allows members to connect with an Expert to ask questions or request advice and/or services directly from such Expert (the “Expert Platform”). HeyExpert, via the Expert Platform, enables a member to communicate directly with the Expert and pay for a subscription for access to these services from each Expert.

What information do we collect from you?

By visiting and/or communicating on the Expert Platform, we may collect certain information from you, including but not limited to:

  • Information you provide to us, such as:

    • Personal information, such as your name, contact information (which may include phone number), and profile picture.

    • Surveys, transcripts and recordings of your communications with Experts, members, and us.

    • Your payment information, including credit card number(s) and related billing information.

    • Any personal information you choose to share through your use of the Expert Platform, such as your medical (physical and/or mental health) information, sexual orientation, etc. Please note that if you do not wish to disclose this information, you should not do so.

    • For Experts, applicable tax forms.

  • Automatic information, such as:

    • Web browser and usage information, including IP address, browser types, page view tallies, time spent on each page, page browsing information, operating system and type of device used.

How does HeyExpert collect information from you?

We collect information when you sign up to use the Expert Platform and also when you communicate with other members of the Expert Platform, including through:

  1. HeyExpert registration process

  2. Chats

  3. Messages

  4. If you register for the Expert Platform via a third-party social media platform, we may receive information from that third-party platform about you.

  5. If you are referred to the Expert Platform through an affiliate or referral partner, we may receive information from such partners about you.

  6. If you sign up as an Expert, although HeyExpert is not responsible for vetting Experts, we may use a third party to confirm your credentials, including relevant licenses and certifications.

Please note that if we receive your information from third parties as mentioned above, the data you provide to such third parties is also subject to the third party’s privacy policy.

In addition, we may collect information through the following methods if you use the Expert Platform or visit HeyExpert social media pages or other pages located on third-party websites:

  1. Your communications with HeyExpert,

  2. Your requests for information, news and other content,

  3. A technical support request you submit, or

  4. Your participation in a HeyExpert promotion.

We may also collect information from our direct interactions with you, publicly available data or data provided by third-party sources, such as marketing opt-in lists.

How does HeyExpert use the information it collects about me?

We use the information we collect to provide and improve our services, to deliver information requested by you (for example in response to technical support requests), to deliver marketing or other materials to you (including through phone calls if you provide your telephone number or SMS if you have opted in to receive SMS messages), or for promotions you may enter into. We process your information if you have given your consent; if it’s necessary to perform a contract with you or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract; if it’s necessary to comply with legal obligations; or if it’s necessary for us or a third party to pursue a legitimate interest. HeyExpert may retain your information for a period of time consistent with the original purpose of collection. For example, HeyExpert may retain your information during the time in which you have an account to use the Services. We may also retain your information during the period of time needed for HeyExpert to pursue our legitimate business interests, conduct audits, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

Does HeyExpert use cookies?

Cookies:

We may use cookies and other identification technologies to deliver and improve the Services and to enhance your experience.

Cookies are small text files stored on a visitor’s web browser and applications. Cookies are often used to make web-browsing easier by performing functions such as saving passwords and maintaining lists of personal preferences regarding the use of the website.

The Expert Platform may use the following types of cookies:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies – these cookies are essential to enable you to browse the Expert Platform and use the available features.

  • Preference or Functionality Cookies – these cookies allow the Expert Platform to remember choices you make while browsing, such as geographic location and preferences (e.g., text size and fonts). 

  • Statistics or Performance Cookies – these cookies collect information about how you use the Expert Platform. For instance, these cookies track which pages you visit most. This data may be used to help optimize the Expert Platform and make it easier for you to navigate within them. 

  • Analytics Cookies - these cookies track your activity on the Expert Platform to help advertisers deliver to you and track relevant marketing and advertising to you.

Other identification technologies that may be used by the Expert Platform:

  1. Pixel tags (also called beacons or pixels) – these are small blocks of code installed on (or called by) a webpage or application, which can retrieve certain information about your device and browser, including device type, operating system, browser type and version, website visited, time of visit, referring website, IP address and other similar information.

  2. Software Development Kits (also called SDKs) - function like pixels and cookies, but operate in the mobile application context where pixels and cookies cannot always function. The application developer can install pieces of code (the SDK) into the application to collect certain information about user interaction with the application and information about the user device and network information.

First and third-party technologies:

HeyExpert may use first-party cookies or other tracking technologies as above - these cookies or technologies originate from the same domain as the website you’re currently visiting.  HeyExpert may also use third-party service providers who are authorized to place cookies, pixel tags or similar technologies on the Expert Platform with our permission. These technologies help us compile metrics and analytics to help improve our Services.  Third-party cookies and technologies are covered by the third party’s privacy policy.

How to Control Cookies:

Web browsers are usually set to accept cookies. However, if you prefer not to receive cookies, you can modify your settings in most web browsers to accept or deny cookies or to request your permission each time a site attempts to set a cookie.   Note that if you choose to disable cookies, not all functionality offered by the Expert Platform will be available or will work as effectively for you. 

Instructions for how to manage cookies on certain desktop browsers:

 Google Chrome

 Firefox

 Safari

 Internet Explorer 

Instructions for how to manage cookies on certain mobile browsers:

 Google Chrome on Android

 Firefox on Android

 Safari on iOS

For further information about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set on your device and how to manage and delete them, you can visit www.youronlinechoices.com.

Do Not Track

Various browsers currently offer a “do not track” or “DNT” option that relies on a technology that sends a signal to websites a user visits about that user’s browser DNT preferences. HeyExpert currently does not respond to such signals because a common industry standard for DNT has not been adopted. HeyExpert will continue to monitor developments around DNT browser technology.

Sharing of information collected

HeyExpert does not sell, trade or rent personal information provided by you in any transcript, survey or recording for direct marketing or any other purpose, except as provided in this privacy policy or with your permission. HeyExpert does not disclose the contents of transcripts, surveys or recordings other than to service providers performing services on behalf of HeyExpert, other than as provided in this privacy policy or with your permission.

For legal reasons: We may share your information if we reasonably believe that it: (i) is necessary to comply with a legal process (such as a court order, subpoena, or search warrant) or other legal requirement of any governmental authority; (ii) would potentially mitigate our liability in an actual or potential lawsuit; (iii) is necessary to enforce this privacy policy or the HeyExpert Terms and Conditions you are subject to or any other agreement in place between you and HeyExpert; (iv) is necessary to investigate and prevent unauthorized transactions or other illegal activities; and/or (v) is otherwise necessary or appropriate to protect our rights or property or the rights or property of any person or entity.

To deliver and improve the Expert Platform: Your information may be shared with Niche Leaders to enable them to ensure a high level of quality of the services provided through the Expert Platform.  We also may aggregate information so that it is not personally identifiable and use and share such aggregated information for training and quality assurance purposes and to deliver and improve the Expert Platform.

Service providers: We may share your information when reasonably necessary with third-party service providers used to deliver and make the Expert Platform and certain features and functionality available, including but not limited to payment processors, customer contact centers, and a third party to review Expert profiles.

Business partners: If you accessed the Expert Platform through an affiliate or referral partner, we may share your information with such partner to optimize your experience and improve our services.

Affiliates: We may share your information with subsidiaries, parent companies, or other affiliates of the HeyExpert corporate group in order to deliver and improve the Expert Platform.

Other third parties: The Cookies section above addresses the information HeyExpert or third parties collect through cookies, pixel tags, SDKs, and similar third-party technologies and how you can control cookies through your web browsers. HeyExpert may also disclose your personal information to any third party with your prior consent.

Third-party integrations

From time to time, we may partner with other companies to allow HeyExpert and its customers to offer integrations with the Expert Platform. If you use one of these integrations, HeyExpert may share your data with the third-party partner, receive data about you from the third-party partner, and/or combine third-party partner data about you with information about you that we collect. We do not control how a third-party partner may use your data. Use of your information by the third-party partner there is governed by its privacy policies. If you do not wish for your information to be shared in this way, you may opt not to use such integrations.

How can I review, correct, delete, transfer, or receive a copy of my information or withdraw my consent to process my information?

If you elect to engage in any communication session on the Expert Platform, it is up to you to decide what, if any, information to provide during such session. Depending on your request, it may not be possible for us or Experts to fully provide all requested services to you. Nevertheless, if you do not wish to provide certain information, then you should not do so.

If you have signed up to receive HeyExpert’s marketing or advertising communications, you may, at any time, opt out of receiving further communications by clicking on the opt-out link at the bottom of a marketing or advertising email you receive. You may also contact us at support.hey-expert.com to opt out or to request changes to your personal information.

You may view your communication history on the Expert Platform by logging in and accessing your account page.

You may request to review, correct, delete, transfer, or receive a copy of any of the personal information you’ve provided to us through the Expert Platform or withdraw your consent to HeyExpert processing your personal data by contacting us at support.hey-expert.com, and we will respond within 30 days. You may generally update your account settings, user profile, and billing information by logging in to your account.

If you believe that we have not been able to assist you with your inquiry, and you are located in the European Economic Area, you have the right to file a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority.

How does HeyExpert keep my information secure?

We use security measures designed to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control, although data transmissions over the internet cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely secure. Transcripts of your conversations through HeyExpert are stored and backed up on our servers, where access to data is protected by multiple layers of controls, such as role-based access controls, authentication mechanisms and monitoring.  You may review your message history and see transcripts of your past messages. 

International data transfers

If you are located outside of the United States, please note that we may transfer your personal data outside your country of origin. By providing or making available your personal data, you consent to that transfer. We will take steps to ensure that your data is subject to appropriate safeguards required under this privacy policy, applicable data protection laws, and appropriate legally recognized data transfer adequacy mechanisms which may include entering into European Commission-approved standard contractual clauses related to transfers of personal information (available at http://ec.europa.eu/justice/dataprotection/internationaltransfers/transfer/index_en.html) Any inquiries or complaints regarding our data privacy practices may be directed to support.hey-expert.com or to our external Data Protection Officer Prof. Dr. Christoph Bauer at Große Bleichen 21, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. We will respond within a reasonable period of time. You also have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate supervisory authority in your jurisdiction. Our EU Representative is LivePerson Netherlands B.V. located at Herengracht 124, 1015BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Further, our UK Representative is LivePerson (UK) Limited located at 16 Great Queen Street, London EC2B 5DG, United Kingdom.

Children

The Expert Platform is not directed to individuals under 18. If you are under the age of 18, you may not use or register for the Expert Platform or provide any personal information to us. HeyExpert does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18. If you are a parent of an individual under 18 and believe your child has provided personal information to HeyExpert, or if you are a California resident under the age of 18 and wish to remove content you have made publicly available, please contact us at support.hey-expert.com, where you may request to exercise your applicable access, rectification, cancellation, and/or objection rights. HeyExpert reserves the right to immediately terminate any member account and delete his or her information if it believes the member is under the age of 18.

Miscellaneous

We recommend that you review this privacy policy periodically, as we may update it from time to time. Your use of the Expert Platform, as applicable, constitutes your consent to the new privacy policy to the fullest extent permitted by law.

We are not responsible for and do not control the privacy practices of any of our customers or any other third party. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of each third party.

We welcome your feedback on our privacy policy. Please send any comments or questions to support.hey-expert.com or to Kato Acquisition Sub, Inc.‎, Attn: Legal Department – Privacy, 475 Tenth Ave., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018. You can also contact our external Data Protection Officer Prof. Dr. Christoph Bauer at ePrivacy GmbH at Große Bleichen 21, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

Updated on June 28, 2021.