Legal

Privacy policy

Effective date: 10 May 2026

Chowpool Technology Limited ("Chowpool", "we", "our") is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that data when you use chowpool.com.

1. Data we collect

Account data: Full name, email address, phone number, and password hash when you sign up.

Identity verification data (sellers only):Scanned ID documents (NIN, Voter's Card, Driver's Licence, Passport, or CAC certificate). These are uploaded to Cloudinary (a secure cloud storage provider) and accessed only by our verification team.

Bank account data (sellers only): Account number, bank name, and account holder name for payout processing via Paystack. We do not store full bank credentials.

Transaction data: Order details, quantities, amounts paid, pickup PINs, fulfillment type, and delivery addresses where applicable.

Usage data: Pages visited, search queries on the platform, and browser/device type collected via server logs and analytics.

Review and dispute data: Star ratings, written reviews, and photos you submit as part of a review or dispute.

2. How we use your data

  • To create and manage your account.
  • To process payments and escrow via Paystack.
  • To verify seller identities before allowing listings.
  • To send transactional SMS notifications (pickup PINs, order confirmations, dispute updates).
  • To send email notifications about your orders, applications, and policy updates.
  • To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service.
  • To resolve disputes between buyers and sellers.
  • To improve the platform through aggregate usage analytics.

3. Data sharing

We share data only where necessary:

  • Paystack:Payment data is processed under Paystack's privacy policy. We share your payment reference and amount for processing.
  • Cloudinary: ID document images are stored on Cloudinary servers under strict access controls.
  • SMS provider: Your phone number is shared with our SMS gateway solely to deliver transactional messages.
  • Between buyers and sellers:When an order is confirmed, the seller can see your name and phone number to facilitate pickup or delivery. Buyers can see the seller's display name and pickup location.
  • Legal authorities: We may disclose data if required by law or to protect the rights and safety of users and the public.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

4. Data retention

Account data is retained for as long as your account is active. Transaction records are retained for 7 years for financial and tax compliance. Identity verification documents for approved sellers are retained for the lifetime of their seller account plus 2 years. Rejected applications have their documents deleted within 90 days.

5. Security

We use industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, hashed passwords (bcrypt), and access controls on our database and storage systems. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, but we take reasonable precautions to protect your data.

6. Your rights

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correct inaccurate data.
  • Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to legal retention requirements).
  • Object to processing for direct marketing purposes.
  • Lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

To exercise these rights, email privacy@chowpool.com.

7. Cookies

We use essential session cookies (via NextAuth.js) to keep you signed in. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can clear cookies at any time in your browser settings, which will sign you out.

8. Children

Chowpool is not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you believe a minor has registered, contact us and we will delete the account.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email. The effective date at the top of this page reflects the latest revision.

10. Contact

Data protection questions or requests: privacy@chowpool.com
General enquiries: support@chowpool.com
Chowpool Technology Limited, Lagos, Nigeria.