Privacy Policy

FirstAdvice is an online platform that connects users seeking guidance, consultation, or professional assistance with independent experts across various domains — legal, taxation, automobile, technical, financial, property, consumer, and other advisory services.

For the purposes of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, FirstAdvice acts as a Data Fiduciary in relation to personal data collected through the Platform.

A. Information Provided Directly by You

• Full name
• Email address
• Mobile number
• City and State
• Details contained in your query or consultation request
• Documents voluntarily uploaded or shared by you
• Communications exchanged with us
• Information submitted through forms on the Platform

B. Information Collected Automatically

Subject to your consent where required, we may collect:

• Device information
• Browser type and version
• IP address
• Operating system information
• Website usage information, pages visited, session duration
• Referring website information
• Analytics information

C. Information Relating to Experts

• Name
• Professional qualifications and experience
• Contact information
• Verification documents
• Professional registrations or licences
• Payment and banking information where applicable

• Creating and managing user accounts
• Connecting users with appropriate experts
• Facilitating consultations and communications
• Providing customer support
• Verifying experts and maintaining platform integrity
• Processing payments and transactions
• Improving website functionality and user experience
• Conducting analytics and performance monitoring
• Preventing fraud, misuse, and unauthorized activity
• Complying with legal and regulatory obligations
• Enforcing our Terms and Conditions

Where required by applicable law, we process personal data based on your consent. By voluntarily submitting information through the Platform, you consent to the collection and processing of such information for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us. Withdrawal of consent shall not affect processing already undertaken based on valid consent before such withdrawal.

The Platform uses cookies and similar technologies. Strictly necessary cookies may be used for the operation and security of the Platform.

Analytics cookies, including those used by Google Analytics, are deployed only after obtaining your consent through our cookie banner.

Analytics technologies may collect information regarding:

• Device and browser information
• Website interactions and session duration
• Pages viewed and performance metrics
• General location information

You may decline analytics cookies through the cookie banner or withdraw consent later through available settings.

A. Experts

Information submitted by users may be shared with selected experts for the purpose of providing the requested consultation, guidance, or service.

B. Service Providers

We may engage third-party vendors for website hosting, cloud storage, analytics services, payment processing, communication services, and technical support. Such providers process personal data only to the extent necessary for their services.

C. Legal Compliance

We may disclose personal data where required by applicable law, court orders, government authorities, regulatory agencies, or law enforcement agencies.

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to provide services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce contractual rights, or for legitimate business purposes. Upon expiry of the applicable retention period, personal data shall be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with applicable law.

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Obtain information regarding processing of your personal data
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data
• Request erasure of personal data where applicable
• Withdraw consent previously provided
• Seek redressal of grievances relating to personal data processing

Requests may be submitted to firstadviceautoreply@gmail.com.

We implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, misuse, alteration, loss, and destruction. However, no internet-based platform can guarantee absolute security, and users acknowledge the inherent risks associated with online transmission of information.

The Platform may be accessed by individuals under 18 for purposes such as educational guidance, career counselling, and academic consultation. Where required under applicable law, consent for processing a child's personal data shall be obtained from the parent or lawful guardian.

If a parent or guardian believes a child has provided personal data without authorization, they may contact us and we will take reasonable steps to address the request.

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or policies of such websites. Users are encouraged to review their respective privacy policies.

FirstAdvice acts as a technology platform facilitating interactions between users and independent experts. Unless expressly stated otherwise, experts are independent professionals and are not employees, partners, agents, or representatives of FirstAdvice. Any advice, opinion, or service provided by an expert shall be the responsibility of that expert.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any revised version shall be posted on the Platform with the updated effective date. Continued use of the Platform after such changes constitutes acknowledgement of the revised Privacy Policy.

For questions, requests, complaints, or concerns relating to personal data or this Privacy Policy, please contact our Grievance Officer at firstadviceautoreply@gmail.com.