1. Information We Collect
We may collect: identity and contact information (name, email address, phone number); account and profile information; business information; order and reservation details; customer inquiry records; payment transaction references (we do not store complete payment card numbers; all payments are processed securely through third-party payment gateways); device and usage information, including IP address, browser type, and pages viewed; approximate location that you select yourself (state and city) to show nearby listings — we do not track precise device GPS location and do not use Google Maps or Google Places; and cookies as described in Section 5.
2. Business Listing Information from Public Sources
Some business listings on BestKtown were not created by the business owner. We compile them from openly licensed public data so that customers find useful coverage from the day we launch. These listings contain only information a business already publishes in order to operate: business name, category, address, phone number, business email, website, and location coordinates. We do not collect or publish personal information about a business owner as an individual, and we do not obtain this data from Google Maps or Google Places, whose terms prohibit such use.
We recognize that for a sole proprietor or freelancer, a business phone number or email address may also be personal contact information. For that reason we honor removal requests for these listings without requiring a reason or proof of ownership. Where verification is genuinely needed, we unpublish the listing first and verify afterwards.
You may request correction, ownership transfer, or removal through the Suggest an edit link on any business page, our Contact Us page, or support@bestktown.com. Until an owner claims a listing, it is marked unclaimed and does not accept reservations, orders, or inquiries. The full list of sources and their licenses is published on our Data Sources page.
3. How We Use Information
We use information to create and manage accounts, publish business listings, process orders and reservations, deliver operational alerts, respond to customer inquiries, prevent fraud, maintain security, improve the service, and comply with applicable law.
4. SMS Privacy
When you opt in to BestKtown SMS, we collect your mobile number, consent status, consent date, and messaging activity needed to provide order, booking, customer inquiry, account, and service-status alerts.
We will not sell or share your mobile information or SMS opt-in consent with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. We may share this information with service providers, mobile carriers, and platform providers only as necessary to deliver and support the messaging service. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
You may opt out at any time by replying STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT. Reply HELP for assistance. You may also disable SMS alerts from your BestKtown business dashboard.
5. Cookies
BestKtown does not use advertising cookies, analytics cookies, or any third-party tracking technology. We set only the three cookies listed below: one is required to keep you signed in, and the other two simply remember a choice you made yourself.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | Keeps you signed in and preserves your cart, booking, and form data while you move between pages. The site cannot work without it. | Until you close your browser |
| bestktown_language | Remembers whether you chose Korean or English, so you are not asked again on every visit. Set only when you use the language switch. | 1 year |
| bestktown_location | Remembers the state and city you selected, so listings near you are shown first. Set only when you choose a location. | 1 year |
You may refuse or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you block the session cookie, you will not be able to sign in or complete an order or reservation. If we ever add analytics or advertising cookies, we will ask for your consent before they are used and update this policy first.
6. When We Share Information
We share information only as needed to run the service: with the business involved in your transaction; with our service providers, including Stripe and PayPal (payment processing), Telnyx (SMS messaging), our email/SMTP delivery provider, and our hosting and security vendors; and with authorities when legally required. Service providers are authorized to use personal information solely to perform necessary services on our behalf under binding confidentiality and data protection obligations.
We do not sell your personal information (“Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information”), and we do not share it for third-party marketing, cross-context behavioral advertising, or targeted advertising. We do not profile you in a way that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
7. Children's Privacy
Our services are strictly directed to general audiences and are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect, solicit, or maintain personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that personal information of a child under 13 has been collected, we will promptly delete it from our servers.
8. Retention and Security
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the service, maintain transaction and compliance records, resolve disputes, and meet legal obligations. We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, but no online platform or data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed 100% secure.
9. Your Choices
You may update account and business information through the dashboard, disable optional communications, or contact us to request access, correction, or deletion where applicable. Transaction records may be retained when required for legal, accounting, fraud-prevention, or dispute-resolution purposes.
10. Your Texas and U.S. State Privacy Rights
Subject to applicable law, including the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), residents of Texas and certain other U.S. states have the right to: (1) confirm whether we process your personal data and access it; (2) correct inaccuracies; (3) request deletion of your personal data; (4) obtain a portable copy of data you provided; and (5) opt out of the sale of personal data and of targeted advertising. As stated in Section 6, we do not sell personal data or use it for targeted advertising.
To exercise these rights, email support@bestktown.com or use our Contact Us page. We will verify your request through your account or the contact details on file and respond within the time required by law. You will not be discriminated against for exercising these rights, and you may appeal a decision by replying to our response.
11. Contact Us
This website and service are operated by BestKtown LLC, a Texas Limited Liability Company. Questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices may be sent to support@bestktown.com or through our Contact Us page.
BestKtown LLC
5900 Balcones Dr Ste 100
Austin, TX 78731
Email: support@bestktown.com
12. Policy Updates
We may update this policy as our service and legal requirements evolve. The effective date at the top of this page identifies the latest revision.
