Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters to us. This Privacy Policy explains how Wellness Verdicts collects, uses, discloses, and protects your information when you visit our website.
📋 Quick Summary
We collect minimal data needed to operate our website, use cookies for analytics and advertising (including Google Ads), and respect your rights under GDPR and CCPA. We never sell your personal information.
1. Introduction
Welcome to Wellness Verdicts ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy describes our practices regarding information we collect through our website and related services (collectively, the "Services").
By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our Services immediately.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:
- Contact us via email or contact forms (name, email address, message content)
- Subscribe to our newsletter (email address)
- Leave comments or feedback on our content
- Participate in surveys or promotional activities
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information, including:
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
- Usage Data: pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring URLs
- Location Data: approximate geographic location based on IP address
- Log Data: server logs containing access times, error reports, and similar diagnostic data
3. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We and our third-party partners use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar tracking technologies to analyze trends, administer the website, track users' movements, and gather demographic information about our user base.
3.1 Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Essential | Required for basic site functionality and security |
| Analytics | Help us understand how visitors interact with our site (Google Analytics) |
| Advertising | Used by Google Ads and partners for personalized advertising and conversion tracking |
| Functional | Remember preferences and improve user experience |
3.2 Google Ads & Third-Party Advertising
We use Google Ads and the Google Display Network to deliver advertisements. Google uses cookies (including the DoubleClick cookie) to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website and other websites on the Internet. This may include:
- Remarketing campaigns showing our content on other websites
- Conversion tracking to measure advertising effectiveness
- Demographic and interest-based reporting
- Audience targeting based on user behavior
You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings or the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page.
3.3 Managing Cookies
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can choose to block, delete, or be notified of cookies. However, disabling cookies may impact your experience on our website and limit certain features.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Operate, maintain, and improve our website and Services
- Respond to your inquiries, comments, and customer service requests
- Send periodic emails regarding our content (with your consent)
- Analyze website usage and trends to enhance user experience
- Deliver targeted advertising and measure campaign performance
- Detect, prevent, and address technical issues or fraudulent activity
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
5. Information Sharing & Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share information in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: with trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our website (analytics, hosting, email delivery)
- Advertising Partners: with Google Ads and similar networks for ad delivery and measurement
- Affiliate Partners: when you click affiliate links, the destination merchant may receive referral information
- Legal Requirements: when required by law, court order, or governmental authority
- Business Transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
- Protection of Rights: to enforce our terms, protect our rights, or investigate fraud
6. Affiliate Relationships
Wellness Verdicts participates in affiliate marketing programs. When you click on certain links on our website and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This relationship does not influence our editorial content or the integrity of our reviews. All opinions remain our own.
7. GDPR Rights (European Users)
If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have specific rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:
- Right to Access: request copies of your personal data
- Right to Rectification: request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to Erasure: request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to Restrict Processing: request limitation of how we process your data
- Right to Data Portability: receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to Object: object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing
- Right to Withdraw Consent: withdraw previously given consent at any time
- Right to Lodge a Complaint: file a complaint with your local data protection authority
Legal Basis for Processing: We process personal data based on consent, legitimate interests (improving our services), contractual necessity, and legal obligations.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@wellness-verdicts.com. We will respond within 30 days.
8. CCPA Rights (California Residents)
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents have the following rights:
- Right to Know: request disclosure of categories and specific pieces of personal information collected
- Right to Delete: request deletion of personal information we have collected
- Right to Opt-Out: opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information
- Right to Correct: request correction of inaccurate personal information
- Right to Limit Use: limit the use of sensitive personal information
- Right to Non-Discrimination: not be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights
"Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information": While we do not sell personal information in the traditional sense, the CCPA broadly defines "sale" and "share" to include certain advertising-related data transfers. To opt out, email us at contact@wellness-verdicts.com with the subject line "CCPA Opt-Out".
You may also designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf. We will verify the agent's authority before processing the request.
9. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include SSL encryption, secure hosting infrastructure, and restricted access to personal data.
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specific retention periods include:
- Contact form submissions: up to 24 months
- Newsletter subscriptions: until unsubscribed
- Analytics data: typically 26 months (Google Analytics default)
- Server logs: up to 12 months
11. Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
If you believe we may have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at contact@wellness-verdicts.com.
12. International Data Transfers
Our servers and service providers may be located in countries other than your own, including the United States. By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to these locations. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your data is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws, including Standard Contractual Clauses for transfers from the EEA.
13. Third-Party Links
Our website contains links to third-party websites, including affiliate partners and external resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.
14. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Currently, there is no industry standard for responding to DNT signals, and we do not currently respond to them. However, you can manage tracking preferences through cookie settings and third-party opt-out tools described in Section 3.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Email: contact@wellness-verdicts.com
Response Time: within 30 days of receiving your request
Subject Lines: use "GDPR Request", "CCPA Request", or "Privacy Inquiry" as applicable for faster routing
This Privacy Policy is provided for informational purposes and is governed by the laws of the United States. This document does not create any contractual rights, and Wellness Verdicts reserves the right to modify these terms at its sole discretion. For questions regarding your specific legal rights, consult a qualified attorney.