Privacy Policy

Unchime is a product of Alef Compute, Inc. (“Unchime,” “we,” “us”). This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information when you visit unchime.com, talk to us about Unchime, or use Unchime as a business. It also explains our role when you message a business that uses Unchime.

Two roles, two kinds of information

When we decide how information is used. For our website, sales conversations and business accounts, we are responsible for the personal information we collect. Most of this policy covers that information.

When we work on behalf of a business. Businesses use Unchime to answer their customers, take bookings and orders, and keep in touch with regulars. When you message one of those businesses, the business decides what happens with your information, and we process it on its behalf as a service provider (a “processor” under laws like the GDPR). We call this information “Customer Data.” The business’s own privacy policy applies to it, and the business is your first point of contact for questions or requests about it. If you contact us instead, we will pass your request to the business and help it respond.

If you message a business that uses Unchime

When you text, WhatsApp or iMessage a business that uses Unchime, or find it through an AI assistant, we process the following on the business’s behalf:

• Contact details, such as your name, phone number and the profile name on your messaging app.
• What you send, including messages, voice notes and photos.
• Bookings and orders, such as the services you book, the times, the location and the staff member.
• Preferences and history the business keeps, such as your usual service, visit history, membership or package balance, and notes you share (for example an allergy you mention).
• Payment status. Payments go to the business through its own payment provider. We see whether a payment succeeded and its amount. We do not receive or store full card numbers.

We use this information only to provide the service to the business: understanding your message, answering in the business’s name, checking availability, making or changing a booking, sending updates you would expect (like “ready for pickup” or an appointment reminder), and passing the conversation to the business’s staff when a person is needed.

Unchime replies to people who message the business first. It does not send marketing blasts. If you no longer want messages from a business, reply STOP (or tell the business), and you can reply HELP for help.

Information we collect for our own purposes

Information you give us. When you request a demo, email us or sign up as a business, we collect your name, work email, phone number, business name, role, the locations you run and anything you choose to tell us. Business users also give us account details, settings, menus, prices, policies and the other information they set up in Unchime.

Information collected automatically. When you visit our website, we collect standard technical information such as your IP address, browser and device type, pages viewed and referring pages. We use a small number of cookies and similar technologies needed to run and measure the site. We do not use cookies to sell or share your information for targeted advertising.

Information from others. We may receive business contact information from partners, referrals or public sources, and information from the booking, point-of-sale and messaging systems a business connects to Unchime.

How we use information

We use the information we control to:

• Provide, secure and support Unchime and our website.
• Respond to demo requests and questions, and communicate with business customers about their accounts.
• Understand how the website and product are used so we can improve them.
• Send business updates and product news, which you can opt out of at any time.
• Prevent fraud and abuse, enforce our terms, and comply with the law.

We may create aggregated or de-identified information that no longer identifies anyone and use it to measure and improve Unchime.

AI and automated replies

Unchime uses artificial intelligence, including large language models from third-party providers, to understand messages and draft replies. These providers act as our subprocessors. They may process conversation content only to provide their service to us, under contracts that restrict how they use it, and we do not allow them to use Customer Data to train their own models.

Unchime answers within the information and rules each business sets, such as its menu, prices, hours, policies and ingredients. When it is unsure, it says so and hands the conversation to the business’s staff.

Messaging channels and AI assistants

Conversations reach Unchime through channels run by other companies, such as WhatsApp (Meta), Apple Messages for Business, SMS carriers and AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Those companies process your messages under their own terms and privacy policies, which we do not control.

Text messaging. We do not sell, rent or share mobile phone numbers or text-messaging consent with third parties for their own marketing. Phone numbers are shared only with the providers that deliver messages and as needed to provide the service.

How we share information

We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We share information only:

• With the business you are messaging, for Customer Data, which belongs to that business.
• With service providers that help us run Unchime, such as cloud hosting, AI model providers, messaging providers, analytics, email and customer support tools. They may use the information only to provide services to us.
• With systems a business connects, such as its booking, point-of-sale or payment provider, when the business sets that up.
• For legal reasons, when we believe it is required by law or needed to protect the rights, safety or property of our customers, users, the public or Unchime.
• In a business transfer, such as a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, subject to this policy.
• With your permission, or at your direction.

How long we keep information

We keep information only as long as we need it for the purposes in this policy. We keep Customer Data for as long as the business uses Unchime and as its settings require. After a business stops using Unchime, we delete or de-identify its Customer Data within a reasonable period, unless we must keep it to comply with the law or resolve disputes.

Security

We use administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information, including encryption in transit, access controls and limited staff access. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to know what personal information we hold about you, to get a copy of it, and to correct or delete it. You may also have the right to object to or limit certain uses, to withdraw consent, and to appeal a decision we make about your request. We will not discriminate against you for using these rights.

To make a request about information we control, email hello@unchime.com. We may need to verify your identity before we respond. If your request is about a conversation with a business that uses Unchime, please contact that business, or tell us and we will forward your request.

You can unsubscribe from our emails using the link in any message. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

California residents. In the past 12 months we have collected the categories of information described above (identifiers, commercial information, internet activity, audio and visual content you send, and professional information) for the purposes described in this policy. We have not sold or shared personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, and we do not knowingly sell or share the information of anyone under 16.

People in the EEA, UK and Switzerland. Where we decide how information is used, we rely on our legitimate interests in running and improving Unchime, the performance of our contracts, your consent where required, and our legal obligations. You may complain to your local data protection authority.

International transfers

Unchime is based in the United States, and we and our service providers may process information in the United States and other countries. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, for transfers out of the EEA, UK and Switzerland.

Children

Unchime is a service for businesses and is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children for our own purposes. If you believe a child has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the date at the top, and if the changes are significant we will give business customers notice in advance.

Contact us

Questions or requests about this policy can go to hello@unchime.com.

Alef Compute, Inc.