Privacy, in plain words

What we collect

• A member number we assign: This is how your membership knows it is you. It is not tied to your name unless you buy with a card in your own name
• The items you choose to show us: A photo of a letter, a copied text, a description of a call or a visit. Only what you point the app at
• Your helper's phone number or email: The phone number or email we send a link to when you ask your helper something

What you do not need to provide

• Your email: You do not need one to join, and we do not ask for one later
• Your contacts: The app never reads your address book
• Your location: We do not know where you are, and we do not ask
• Membership payments: Letters you share may contain financial details. Payment goes through Apple, not through us

How items are handled

An item you show us is used for one thing, which is answering you about that item. It tells you what the letter means, whether the text looks suspicious, and what to do next.

Items are not sold. They are not used to show you ads, and we do not run ads. They are not shared with anyone except the helper you chose, and only when you choose to ask them.

You can delete any item from the app, and it is gone from us too. You can also delete everything at once.

Your helper

Your helper is one person you trust. They need no app and no account. When you ask them about an item, they get a link to that one item and nothing else. They cannot see your other items, your history, or what you looked at.

You can change your helper or stop sharing at any time, from the app. When you stop sharing, the link no longer opens the item. Copies they saved are still theirs.

Whoever pays

If someone bought your membership for you, they get your member number to pass on. That is all. They do not see your items, your questions, or your answers.

You can choose to show them a monthly count of how many items you checked and how many were flagged. Never the contents. It is off unless you switch it on, and you can switch it off again. More on this on the page for families.

Deleting your membership

You can delete your membership from the app. Your items, your member number, and your helper's link address are removed. Your card stops working. The printed card is yours to keep or throw away, it holds nothing private on its own.

If you cancel but do not delete, your items stay until the end of the year you paid for, then they are removed.

Questions

Write to hello@mainstayclub.com and a person will answer. You can also read the questions people ask before they join.