> PRIVACY_POLICY <

writeieltsright ("we", "us", "our") operates the website writeieltsright.com and the Write IELTS Right platform (the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our Service.

We are based in the United Kingdom. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at the email address listed in the footer of our website.

Account information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and profile image through our authentication provider (Clerk). We also store your user role and account preferences.

Essay submissions: When you submit essays for review, we store the essay text, word count, and submission timestamps. This content is necessary to provide our feedback service.

Feedback data: We generate and store detailed feedback on your submissions, including band scores, criteria analysis, grammar corrections, vocabulary suggestions, and model essays.

Payment information: When you purchase credits, payment processing is handled by Stripe. We store your Stripe customer ID and a record of credit transactions (purchases, usage, refunds, promotional credits). We do not store your card number or full payment details — Stripe handles this securely.

Usage data: We collect basic usage information such as timestamps of actions you take within the Service (submissions, purchases, logins).

To provide the Service: processing your essay submissions, generating AI-powered feedback using our Shubi AI system, managing your credit balance, and delivering your feedback reports.

To communicate with you: sending transactional emails about your account activity (welcome emails, submission confirmations, feedback notifications, credit purchase confirmations) via our email provider (Resend).

To process payments: facilitating credit purchases through Stripe, including support for card payments, WeChat Pay, and Alipay.

To improve the Service: understanding how the platform is used so we can improve the feedback quality and user experience.

To comply with legal obligations: maintaining records as required by applicable law.

We use the following third-party services to operate the platform. Each has its own privacy policy governing how they handle your data:

Clerk (authentication): manages your sign-in credentials and session tokens. Privacy policy: https://clerk.com/legal/privacy

Convex (database and backend): stores your account data, submissions, and feedback. Privacy policy: https://www.convex.dev/legal/privacy

Stripe (payments): processes your credit purchases. When you pay via WeChat Pay or Alipay, Stripe processes the transaction according to the applicable payment method terms. Privacy policy: https://stripe.com/privacy

OpenAI (AI processing): your essay text is sent to OpenAI's API to generate feedback. OpenAI's API data usage policy applies. Privacy policy: https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy

Resend (email delivery): delivers transactional emails to your email address. Privacy policy: https://resend.com/legal/privacy-policy

We retain your account information and submission data for as long as your account is active. If you request account deletion, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required by law to retain certain records.

Payment transaction records may be retained for up to 7 years to comply with financial record-keeping obligations.

Depending on your location, you may have the right to: access the personal data we hold about you; request correction of inaccurate data; request deletion of your data; object to or restrict certain processing; and request a copy of your data in a portable format.

If you are in the UK or European Economic Area, you have rights under the UK GDPR and EU GDPR respectively. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the footer of our website.

We use essential cookies required for authentication and session management (provided by Clerk). We do not currently use advertising cookies or third-party tracking tools.

Our third-party service providers may process your data outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Our Service is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us using the email address and phone number listed in the footer of our website.