Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 7, 2025

Look, we get it - nobody really wants to read through legal stuff. But your privacy matters to us, so we've tried to keep this straightforward and honest about what we do with your info.

At Grimthorn Haven Auto Repair, we're not just about fixing cars - we're about building relationships with our clients. That means treating your personal information with the same care and precision we give to a vintage Porsche 911 or a modern BMW M-series. This policy lays out exactly what data we collect, why we need it, and how we keep it safe.


01. Information We Collect

Personal Contact Details

When you book an appointment or reach out to us, we'll need the basics - your name, phone number, email address, and where you're located. Pretty standard stuff, really. We can't exactly call you about your car being ready if we don't have your number, right?

Vehicle Information

Here's where it gets more specific to what we do. We keep records of your vehicle's make, model, year, VIN number, and service history. This isn't just paperwork - it's how we track what's been done to your ride and what might need attention down the road. Think of it as your car's medical records.

Service & Repair Data

Every diagnostic we run, every part we install, every tune we dial in - it all goes into our system. This helps us provide better service next time and spot patterns if something keeps acting up. Plus, if you're selling your car someday, having a documented service history from a specialist shop like ours adds real value.

Payment Information

We process payments for our services, but here's the thing - we don't actually store your full credit card details on our servers. That stuff goes through secure payment processors who specialize in keeping financial data locked down tight. We just keep records of transaction dates and amounts for our accounting.

Website Usage Data

Like most websites these days, we collect some technical info when you visit - your IP address, browser type, which pages you check out, that sort of thing. It's mainly so we can keep the site running smoothly and figure out what content people actually care about.


02. How We Use Your Information

We're gonna be straight with you - we only use your data for stuff that actually matters to providing quality service. No shady business here.

  • Service Delivery: Scheduling appointments, performing repairs, ordering parts, and getting your vehicle back to you in better shape than it came in.
  • Communication: Keeping you updated on your vehicle's status, sending appointment reminders, and reaching out if we find something during a service that needs your attention.
  • Preventative Care: Sending you reminders when it's time for regular maintenance. We've seen too many beautiful machines get neglected, and honestly, it hurts a bit every time.
  • Improving Our Services: Analyzing service patterns and feedback to get better at what we do. Every shop has room to improve, and we're always learning.
  • Legal Compliance: Keeping records as required by Canadian law and industry regulations. Not the fun part of the job, but it's gotta be done.
  • Marketing (Optional): Occasionally we'll send info about special offers or new services, but only if you're cool with it. You can opt out anytime - no hard feelings.

03. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We're not in the business of selling your information. Period. But there are a few situations where we need to share data with trusted partners to get the job done:

Parts Suppliers & Specialists

Sometimes we need to share vehicle details with parts suppliers or specialized technicians. Like if we're sourcing a rare component for a classic restoration or consulting with a manufacturer's technical team on a tricky diagnostic issue.

Service Providers

We use third-party services for things like appointment scheduling, payment processing, and cloud storage. These companies are contractually required to keep your data secure and can't use it for their own purposes.

Legal Requirements

If we're legally required to hand over information - like if there's a court order or law enforcement request - we'll comply. But we'll only provide what's actually required, nothing more.

Business Transfers

In the unlikely event that Grimthorn Haven is sold or merges with another company, your information would transfer to the new owners. But they'd still be bound by this privacy policy unless they give you proper notice of changes.


04. Data Security

We take security seriously - think of it like how we lock up the shop at night with your keys inside. We've got multiple layers of protection in place:

  • Encrypted data storage and transmission (that's the tech-speak for "scrambled so nobody can read it")
  • Secure, password-protected systems with limited access - only staff who need specific info can see it
  • Regular security audits and software updates to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities
  • Physical security measures at our facility - we don't leave sensitive documents lying around
  • Staff training on data protection and privacy best practices

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do everything we can to protect your data, but if there's ever a breach that affects you, we'll let you know right away and tell you what steps we're taking to fix it.


05. Your Rights & Choices

This is your data we're talking about, so you've got rights. Here's what you can do:

Access Your Information

Want to see what we've got on file for you? Just ask. We'll provide a copy of your personal data and service records. Might take us a few days to compile everything, but we'll get it to you.

Correct Inaccurate Data

If something's wrong in our records - wrong phone number, outdated address, whatever - let us know and we'll fix it. Accurate info helps us serve you better anyway.

Delete Your Data

You can request that we delete your personal information. We'll honor that request except for records we're legally required to keep (like financial transactions for tax purposes). Service history tied to vehicle VINs might be retained for warranty and safety reasons, but we'll remove your personal identifiers.

Opt Out of Marketing

Not interested in our promotional emails? No problem. Every marketing message we send has an unsubscribe link, or you can just shoot us an email asking to be removed from the list. You'll still get important service-related communications though, like appointment confirmations.

Restrict Processing

You can ask us to limit how we use your data in certain situations. We'll work with you to figure out what makes sense while still being able to provide service.


06. Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses cookies - those little files that websites store on your browser. Nothing sneaky, just standard stuff to make the site work better:

  • Essential Cookies: These keep the site functioning - things like remembering you're logged into our appointment system. Can't really turn these off without breaking stuff.
  • Performance Cookies: Help us understand how people use the site so we can improve it. Like, if everyone's getting lost trying to find our services page, that's good to know.
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your choices so you don't have to keep re-entering information every time you visit.

Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. Just know that blocking certain cookies might make parts of the website less functional.


07. Data Retention

We don't keep your data forever - that'd be unnecessary and honestly a bit creepy. Here's our general approach:

  • Active Client Records: As long as you're bringing your vehicle to us, we'll maintain your service history and contact info.
  • Inactive Clients: If we haven't heard from you in 7 years, we'll archive or delete your personal data (except what we're legally required to keep).
  • Financial Records: Tax laws require us to keep transaction records for 7 years. After that, they're gone.
  • Vehicle Service History: May be retained longer for warranty and safety recall purposes, but personal identifiers get removed.

If you specifically request deletion before these timeframes, we'll accommodate that wherever legally possible.


08. Third-Party Links

Our website might link to other sites - maybe a parts manufacturer's page or a industry association we're members of. Once you click through to another site, their privacy policy takes over, not ours. We try to only link to reputable sites, but we can't control what they do with your data, so check out their policies if you're concerned.


09. Children's Privacy

Our services aren't directed at anyone under 18, and we don't knowingly collect information from kids. If you're under 18 and somehow ended up giving us your info, have a parent or guardian contact us and we'll delete it right away.


10. Changes to This Policy

Privacy laws and our business practices evolve, so we might need to update this policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we'll let you know - probably through an email or a notice on our website. The "Last Updated" date at the top will always reflect the most recent version.

For minor tweaks and clarifications, we might just update the policy without fanfare. We'd recommend checking back occasionally if you're curious about how we handle things.


11. Canadian Privacy Law Compliance

We operate under Canadian privacy laws, particularly PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) and British Columbia's privacy legislation. These laws give you specific rights regarding your personal information, and we're committed to upholding them.

If you've got concerns about how we handle your data or believe we're not complying with applicable privacy laws, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. But honestly, we'd prefer you talk to us first so we can address any issues directly.


12. Contact Us About Privacy

Got questions, concerns, or requests about your personal data? We're here to help. Reach out to us through any of these channels:

Phone: (604) 555-7839

Email: service@grimthornhaven.info

Address: 1847 Industrial Way, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y4

We'll get back to you within a few business days. If you're making a formal request regarding your data rights, we'll respond within 30 days as required by law.

At Grimthorn Haven, your trust is as important to us as the precision of our work. We're committed to protecting your privacy while delivering the exceptional service your European vehicle deserves. If you've made it through this entire policy, you're probably the kind of detail-oriented person who appreciates what we do - and we appreciate that.