Your privacy is critically important to us. This Privacy Policy outlines how AntiquesPawn ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use our website and services (the "Service").
1. Information We Collect
We collect information necessary to provide our service and fulfill our legal obligations:
- Personal Information: Name, email address, phone number, and physical address provided during registration or inquiry.
- Verification Data (KYC): Copies of government-issued photo identification (ID front/back) and a short video recording/biometric data collected for the mandatory Liveness Check.
- Transaction Information: Details, photos, and videos of artifacts you submit; banking information (bank name, account number) for payment processing.
- Certification Information: Personal data required by the certification agency to issue the Antique International Trade Certificate (AITC).
- Technical Information: We may collect non-personal information like your browser type or IP address to improve our service.
2. How We Use Your Information
Your information is used strictly to facilitate the transaction:
- To create and manage your secure account.
- To perform mandatory identity verification (KYC) and Liveness Checks to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and ensure lawful transfers of ownership.
- To communicate with you about your submission (appraisal, status updates, etc.).
- To coordinate with the certification agency to obtain the legally-required AITC.
- To process your payment via secure international bank transfer.
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information. We only share it with essential partners:
- Certification Agencies: We share necessary information (including verified identity data) with the official agency to issue your AITC.
- Payment Processors: Your banking details are shared securely with our bank to process your payment.
- Legal Authorities: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and the rights of others.
4. Data Security
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information. Our portal uses SSL encryption, and sensitive financial data is handled by secure, compliant partners. While no system is 100% secure, we take all reasonable steps to protect your data.
5. Your Rights
You have the right to access, update, or request the deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal and contractual obligations (e.g., data we must keep for completed transactions). To make a request, please use our contact page.
6. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
7. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us.