Privacy Policy

Here's the deal - we're not doing anything weird with your data. It's pretty much all about getting your car fixed properly:

• Service delivery: Scheduling appointments, ordering parts, completing repairs. The obvious stuff.
• Communication: Calling or emailing you about your service, sending reminders for maintenance that's actually due (not just random spam).
• Record keeping: Canadian law requires us to keep service records for a certain period. Plus it helps us remember that your E90's got that quirky coolant issue we fixed last spring.
• Improvement: Understanding which services folks need most, what cars we're seeing more of - helps us stock the right parts and keep the right diagnostic tools on hand.
• Legal requirements: Sometimes we gotta keep records for warranty claims, insurance purposes, or if there's ever a dispute about work performed.

We might occasionally send you a reminder about seasonal maintenance or let you know about a recall that affects your vehicle. But we're not bombarding your inbox with junk - we've got cars to fix, not marketing campaigns to run.

We take this stuff seriously, even if we're just a shop on Industrial Way:

• Physical security: Customer files are locked up when we're closed. Not just sitting on the counter where anyone can grab 'em.
• Digital protection: Our computer systems have passwords (and no, they're not "password123"), firewalls, and we keep our software updated.
• Limited access: Only our staff who actually need your info to do their jobs can access it. The guy changing oil doesn't need to see your credit card details.
• Secure payments: We use encrypted payment processing. The technical stuff happens through certified processors who specialize in this.
• Disposal: When we do need to get rid of old records (after the required retention period), we shred physical documents and securely wipe digital files.

Look, nothing's 100% foolproof - anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. But we're doing everything reasonable to keep your info safe.

We're not selling your data to random companies. But yeah, sometimes we gotta share info with specific folks:

• Parts suppliers: When we're ordering that specific sensor for your Volkswagen, we need to provide vehicle details to get the right part.
• Warranty companies: If you've got an extended warranty, we need to submit claims with your vehicle and service info.
• Insurance providers: If you're making a claim for accident repairs or something, we'll provide the necessary documentation.
• Payment processors: Your payment info goes through their secure systems - they're the experts at handling financial transactions.
• Legal situations: If we're legally required to share info (like a court order or government investigation), we'll comply with the law.
• With your permission: Sometimes you might ask us to send records to another shop or mechanic. We'll do that if you give us the OK.

That's pretty much it. We're not sharing your details with marketing companies, data brokers, or anyone else who doesn't have a legitimate need related to servicing your vehicle.

Our website's pretty basic - we're not running some elaborate tracking operation. Here's what we do use:

• Essential cookies: These keep the site functioning properly. Like remembering you're on the privacy page right now.
• Analytics: We use basic analytics to see which pages people actually look at. Helps us know if anyone's reading our service descriptions or if we should just put more pictures of cool cars.
• Contact forms: When you fill out our contact form, that info comes directly to us. We're not tracking you across other websites or anything creepy like that.

We're not doing targeted advertising or behavioral tracking. Honestly, we're too busy working on cars to mess with all that sophisticated marketing tech.

Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA and all that), you've got some rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can ask to see what info we've got on file about you and your vehicle. Just give us a call.
• Correction: If something's wrong in our records - like we've got the wrong phone number or email - let us know and we'll fix it.
• Deletion: You can ask us to delete your information, though we might need to keep some stuff for legal or warranty reasons.
• Opt-out: Don't want maintenance reminders or service updates? Tell us and we'll stop. You'll still get essential communications about active service appointments though.
• Complaints: If you think we've mishandled your info, you can file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. We'd rather you talk to us first so we can sort it out directly.

To exercise any of these rights, just shoot us an email at service@krythveilrealm.info or call us at (604) 555-0847. We'll get back to you pretty quick - definitely faster than your Audi's turbo spools up.

We don't keep stuff forever - storage costs money and there's no point hoarding ancient records. Here's our general approach:

• Active customers: As long as you're bringing your car in, we're keeping your service history. It's valuable info for maintaining your vehicle properly.
• Inactive customers: If we haven't seen you in several years, we'll typically archive or delete older records, keeping only what's legally required.
• Legal requirements: Some records need to be kept for specific periods under Canadian law - usually around 7 years for business and tax purposes.
• Warranty work: We keep warranty-related documentation for as long as the warranty period plus a reasonable time after in case of disputes.

If you specifically want us to delete your information sooner, just ask. We'll do what we can within legal limits.

We're a local Vancouver shop, so most of your data stays right here in Canada. However, there are a couple situations where info might cross borders:

• Parts suppliers: Some of our European parts suppliers are obviously based in Europe. Vehicle details might be shared for ordering purposes.
• Cloud services: Some of the software we use for appointments or record-keeping might store data on servers in the US or elsewhere. We choose providers who take security seriously.
• Manufacturer systems: When we're doing warranty work or accessing technical service bulletins, we're connecting to systems run by manufacturers that might be based outside Canada.

We're not deliberately shipping your data around the world - it's just the reality of working with European vehicles and modern business software.

Privacy laws change, our business practices evolve, and sometimes we realize we forgot to mention something. When we update this policy, here's what'll happen:

• We'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• For minor changes (like clarifying existing practices), we'll just update the page
• For major changes that significantly affect how we handle your data, we'll send you an email or give you a heads up when you're in the shop
• You can always check back here to see the current version

We're not gonna pull any sneaky updates that fundamentally change how we handle your privacy without letting you know.

Look, if something in here doesn't make sense or you've got questions about how we handle your information, just reach out. We're real people, not some corporate privacy department that'll give you the runaround.

We'll do our best to answer your privacy questions as clearly as we explain what's wrong with your car's check engine light. And probably in less technical jargon too.