A. INTRODUCTION

Busmein, with company registration number RC/DLA/2023/B/5772, recognizes the importance of privacy for its users and the confidentiality of the information provided by them. As a responsible data controller and data processor, this Privacy Policy outlines the practices for handling and securing users' Personal Information (defined below) by Busmein and its subsidiaries and affiliates. This policy applies to any person ("User") engaging with Busmein through various customer interface channels, including the website, mobile site, mobile app, and offline channels like call centers and offices (collectively referred to as "Sales Channels").

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

(a) "Data Protection Officer" means our designated officer managing affairs related to the protection of User's Personal Information and Busmein's privacy compliance.

(b) "Personal Information" has the meaning ascribed to it in Part D below.

(c) "Website" means the website(s), mobile site(s), and mobile app(s).

By using or accessing the Website or other Sales Channels, the User agrees to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with this Privacy Policy, please refrain from using or accessing our Website or other Sales Channels.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites, mobile sites, and mobile apps, even if linked to our Website. Users should be aware that information and privacy practices of Busmein's business partners, advertisers, sponsors, or other sites linked by Busmein may differ from this Privacy Policy. It is recommended to review the privacy statements and policies of such third parties. 

This Privacy Policy is an integral part of your User Agreement with Busmein, and all capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings as ascribed in the User Agreement. 

B. CONSENT TO COLLECTION, USE, AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION & TRANSFER OF DATA

By agreeing to this Privacy Policy, the User provides explicit consent to Busmein to collect, use, and disclose their Personal Information for the purpose(s) defined in this Privacy Policy. The Personal Information shared with Busmein may be primarily processed in India and other jurisdictions where third parties engaged by Busmein may process the data on Busmein's behalf. The User hereby consents to the transfer, storing, and/or processing of Personal Information outside of India.

Busmein commits to taking all necessary steps to ensure that Personal Information is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection legislation. 

C. TYPE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT WE COLLECT

"Personal Information" in the context of this Privacy Policy includes but is not limited to:

Information provided during subscription or registration on the Website, including:

(a) Personal identity details such as name, gender, age, etc.

(b) Contact details such as email address, postal addresses, telephone (mobile or otherwise), and/or fax numbers.

(c) Banking details (including credit/debit card) and any other information related to income and/or lifestyle, billing information, payment history, etc.

 Other information and documents, including but not limited to:

(a) Transactional history about e-commerce activities and buying behavior.

(b) Usernames, passwords, email addresses, and other security-related information used for services.

(c) Data created by the User or a third party stored on our servers, such as image files, documents, etc.

(d) Data provided when contacting us.

(e) Data available in the public domain or received from third parties, including social media channels.

(f) Information about other travelers for whom a booking is made through the registered Busmein account.

(g) Information collected by cookies when visiting the Website, including:

(i) Internet protocol address.

(ii) Browser type.

(iii) Websites visited before our Website.

(iv) Pages visited within our Website.

(v) Other items and information searched on our Website, access time, and dates, etc.

D. HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

The Personal Information collected may be used for the following purposes: 

While making a booking:

(a) Creating an account.

(b) Processing bookings.

(c) Populating Personal Information for future bookings. 

Other purposes may include:

(a) Processing and confirming reservations with service providers.

(b) Keeping users informed of transaction status.

(c) Sending booking confirmations via SMS, email, Whatsapp, or other messaging services.

(d) Sending updates or changes to bookings.

(e) Allowing customer service to contact users if necessary.

(f) Customizing the content of the website, mobile site, and mobile app.

(g) Requesting reviews, feedback, or suggestions.

(h) Sending verification messages or emails.

(i) Validating/authenticating accounts to prevent misuse.

(j) Verifying and conducting financial transactions related to payments.

(k) Managing, investigating, or responding to user feedback, requests, claims, or complaints.

(l) Conducting market surveys, research, or data mining.

(m) Delivering marketing or promotional materials related to products/services or special offers.

(n) Any other purposes as notified by Busmein from time to time. 

Surveys:

Busmein conducts surveys, both online and offline, to gather user opinions and comments. Participation in surveys is optional, and collected information is aggregated to improve services. 

User-Generated Content (UGC):

Users can post reviews, ratings, and general poll questions. UGC may include: 

Review and Ratings

Question and Answers

Crowd Source Data Collection (poll questions)

Net Promoter Score Survey

Marketing Promotions, Research, and Programs:

Marketing promotions, research, and programs help identify user preferences and improve the user experience. Personal Information collected may be used to notify contest winners, develop promotions, and communicate updates. 

Periodic marketing emails, newsletters, and exclusive promotions offering special deals may be sent to users. 

Busmein may launch reward programs, and Personal Information may be used to enroll users, track rewards, and share information with third parties responsible for fulfilling rewards. 

E. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Busmein will retain Personal Information on its servers as reasonably necessary for the purposes listed in this Privacy Policy. In some circumstances, Personal Information may be retained for longer periods as required by legal, regulatory, tax, or accounting requirements. 

When Personal Information is no longer required, Busmein will ensure its secure deletion or storage in a way that renders it non-usable. 

Continued retention of Personal Information, even after withdrawal of consent, may occur if necessary for business and legal purposes.

F. COOKIES AND SESSION DATA

Busmein uses cookies to personalize user experiences on the Website and display targeted advertisements. Cookies are small pieces of information stored by browsers on device hard drives. They allow better and more efficient service. Users can control cookie acceptance through browser options.

Session data, including IP address, operating system, browser type, and user browsing patterns, is collected for server security and optimizing user experiences. 

G. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Busmein may share Personal Information with:

(a) Business partners/service providers, including payment gateway services.

(b) Governmental/regulatory bodies.

(c) Other third parties, as required by law. 

Users may receive information from Busmein's business partners, agents, or affiliates if they have opted to receive such communication. 

H. USER RIGHTS AND CONTROLS

Users have the right to:

(a) Review and update Personal Information.

(b) Withdraw consent for future contact.

(c) Access Personal Information.

(d) Delete or deactivate their account.

To exercise these rights, users can contact Busmein's Data Protection Officer at privacy@busmein.com. 

I. SECURITY PROCEDURES TO PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Busmein has implemented stringent security measures to safeguard Personal Information against unauthorized access and disclosure. These measures include:

(a) Restricted access to Personal Information to Busmein employees, contractors, and agents.

(b) Encryption of sensitive information using secure socket layer technology (SSL).

(c) Regular internal and external audits of security protocols.

(d) Maintenance of physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in line with industry standards.

However, no data transmission over the internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed as 100% secure. As a result, while Busmein strives to protect users' Personal Information, they acknowledge that:

(a) There are security and privacy limitations beyond Busmein's control.

(b) The security, integrity, and privacy of information exchanged between users and Busmein cannot be guaranteed. 

J. UPDATES TO PRIVACY POLICY

Busmein reserves the right to update, modify, or amend this Privacy Policy at any time. Users are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. 

K. PERMISSIONS REQUIRED FOR USING OUR MOBILE APPLICATIONS

When the Busmein app is installed on your phone or tablet, a set of permissions is necessary for the app to function effectively. Customization of this list is not available. The permissions required by Busmein and the corresponding data to be accessed and used include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Device & App history: We need your device permission to obtain information about your device, such as OS (operating system) name, OS version, mobile network, hardware model, unique device identifier, preferred language, etc. With this information, we aim to enhance your travel booking experience.

(b) Identity: This permission allows us to retrieve details of your account(s) on your mobile device. We utilize this information to auto-fill your email address, providing a hassle-free experience. It also assists in mapping the email address to a specific user, offering exclusive travel offers, wallet cash-backs, etc. Additionally, it facilitates Facebook and Google+ logins.

(c) Location: This permission enables us to provide location-specific deals and a personalized experience. Upon launching the Busmein app for a travel booking, we automatically detect your location to auto-fill your nearest city. This permission is also essential for helping you track your bus in relation to your location.

(d) SMS: With your permission to access SMS, we read your messages to auto-fill or prepopulate 'One Time Password' during transactions and validate your mobile number. This ensures a seamless purchase experience without leaving the app.

(e) Phone: The app requires access to make phone calls, allowing you to contact bus operators, hotels, and our customer contact centers directly through the app.

(f) Contacts: If permitted access to your contacts, we can provide social features such as sharing tickets or locations with your friends.

(g) Photo/Media/Files: These permissions are utilized by the app's libraries to enable users to save and upload multimedia reviews.

(h) Wi-Fi connection information: When granted permission to detect your Wi-Fi connection, we optimize bandwidth usage for multimedia uploads.

(i) Device ID & Call information: This permission is used to identify your phone, enabling us to offer a personalized booking experience, prepopulating specific fields, displaying relevant services, and surfacing important information based on your past experiences.

(j) Camera: This permission allows the app to capture pictures of the boarding point or bus before the journey, which can be uploaded as part of multimedia reviews.

(k) Calendar: This permission enables us to add your travel plans to your calendar.

(l) Notifications: If you opt-in for notifications, we can send exclusive deals, promotional offers, travel updates, etc., to your device. If not opted for, important travel updates like booking confirmation, refunds (in case of cancellation), etc., will be sent via SMS. 

L. HOW WE PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

We employ best-in-class security practices to ensure the security of your payments on Busmein. All Personal Information you provide is transmitted using TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption, a proven coding system that automatically encrypts data before transmission. The website has stringent security measures in place to protect against loss, misuse, and alteration of information under our control. When you change or access your account information, a secure server is utilized. Once in our possession, your information is subject to strict security guidelines to prevent unauthorized access. 

M. CHANGES TO THE PRIVACY POLICY

Our Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time. Changes will be communicated to each user and will apply until the user expressly withdraws consent or permission for Busmein to collect, use, and disclose their Personal Information. 

N. WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT

If you have concerns regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your Personal Information and wish to withdraw your consent, you may send a Withdrawal Notice to our Data Protection Officer at privacy@busmein.com. Upon receiving your Withdrawal Notice, we will acknowledge it within seven (7) days and inform you of the likely consequences within thirty (30) days. We will cease to collect, use, and disclose your Personal Information within thirty (30) days after acknowledging your Withdrawal Notice.

Please note that data collection, use, and disclosure are essential for providing our services. We may be unable to confirm or serve your bookings after your withdrawal of consent. 

Withdrawal of consent may:

(a) Severely inhibit our ability to serve you properly, possibly leading to a refusal of the booking; or

(b) Unreasonably restrict our ability to service your existing booking, affecting your trip or necessitating the cancellation of your booking.

We are not responsible for any losses, damages, costs, or expenses incurred due to our refusal or cancellation of your bookings resulting from the withdrawal of consent. 

Your withdrawal of consent does not affect our right to continue collecting, using, and disclosing your Personal Information as permitted or required under applicable laws.

Concerns about this Privacy Policy can be submitted via email to privacy@busmein.com, and Busmein will strive to respond to all reasonable concerns and inquiries.

O. DELETION OF ACCOUNT OR PERSONAL INFORMATION

If you wish to delete your account or personal information, please write to us at privacy@busmein.com, requesting deletion. The Data Protection Officer may require you to verify your identity before proceeding, and any identity proof provided will be stored for 30 days from the date of account deletion. While Busmein may retain transactional information as required by local laws, you may not use the same credentials (email ID/mobile number) to create another account with Busmein for 12 months from the date of account deletion. 

P. DATA PROTECTION OFFICER

Contact details for our Data Protection Officer are as follows:

(a) Email - privacy@busmein.com

(b) Address – Douala-Bonamoussadi, Cameroon (Attention to: Data Protection Officer);