Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how TutorBee ("we", "us", or "our") manages your personal data. By using our website at www.tutorbee.sg or engaging our services, you agree to the terms of this policy.

This policy is designed to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 ("PDPA") of Singapore. If required by Singapore law or any international legislation, TutorBee reserves the right to comply with the relevant authorities.

2. Definitions

• "User" refers to any person who uses this website or engages TutorBee's services.
• "Tutor" refers to persons who have registered or use our website with the intention to register as a tutor or to receive tuition assignments.
• "Client" or "Parent" refers to persons who have made an enquiry to TutorBee via this website or any other means of communication (phone, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, or email) with the intention to request for a tutor.
• "Personal Data" refers to any information relating to an identifiable individual, including data relating to a User's usage of the website or payment information.

3. Data Protection Officer

In accordance with the PDPA, we have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) to oversee our data protection practices. For any enquiries, requests, or complaints regarding your personal data, please contact:

4. Personal Data We Collect

Personal data can be collected automatically through tracking technologies or manually through registration forms, request forms, phone calls, digital messages, and emails. Information transmitted through any form of direct communication to us shall be presumed to be "collected".

If you provide information about other persons (e.g., family members), you must have obtained their consent to disclose their personal data to us.

For Parents/Clients:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
• Residential address or preferred tuition location
• Student's academic level, subjects, and learning needs
• Preferred tuition schedule and budget
• Any specific requirements or preferences for tutors
• Payment information for processing tuition fees

For Tutors:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
• Residential address and areas available for tuition
• Educational qualifications and certifications
• Teaching experience and subjects taught
• Profile photograph
• Bank account details (for commission and payment purposes)
• References and testimonials

NRIC Policy:

TutorBee does not collect full NRIC numbers. For verification purposes, we may request to view identification documents, but we do not store full NRIC numbers in our systems in compliance with PDPA guidelines.

Technical Data (Automatic Collection):

• IP address, browser type, and version
• Device information and operating system
• Pages visited, URL clickstream, and interaction data
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

5. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To operate and maintain our tuition matching service
• To create, manage, and maintain your account
• To match parents/students with suitable tutors based on requirements
• To verify tutor qualifications and credentials
• To process payments and manage financial transactions
• To communicate with you about tuition requests, assignments, or applications
• To send relevant updates about our services
• To improve our platform and user experience
• To respond to enquiries and provide customer support
• To prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activities
• To comply with legal obligations and protect our legitimate interests
• To send marketing communications (only with your consent)

Do Not Call (DNC) Registry Compliance:

We are fully compliant with Singapore's Do Not Call Registry requirements. We do not send unsolicited messages to the general public. Only users who have engaged our services or voluntarily provided their contact information will receive communications from us. You may unsubscribe at any time by notifying us via email, SMS, or WhatsApp.

6. Display of Tutor Profiles

As a tuition agency, TutorBee matches students with tutors. We may use tutor information for advertisement purposes on our website and marketing materials.

Information We May Display Publicly:

• First name, age, gender
• Profile photograph
• Academic qualifications
• Teaching experience and subjects
• Preferred tutoring locations (general areas)
• Tutor category and ratings

Information We Keep Private:

• Full name and last name
• Email address and phone number
• Full residential address and postal code
• Bank account details
• Uploaded documents and certificates

Tutors may request to set their profile as private if they do not wish for their information to be displayed publicly.

7. Geographic Information

For clients, we collect geographic information such as postal code or address to source suitable tutors. We may display general location information (e.g., neighbourhood or district) on our platform for matching purposes, but we will not reveal your full address publicly.

If you wish for your location to remain completely hidden, please inform us and provide an alternative nearby location to use as a placeholder.

8. Data Sharing During Matching Process

To ensure PDPA compliance, we follow these procedures:

• When a client requests proof of a tutor's certificates, we will first seek express consent from the tutor before sharing any documents.
• Communication between tutors and clients prior to assignment confirmation may be facilitated through TutorBee (personal contact details are not shared until confirmation).
• Only when an assignment is expressly confirmed by both parties, with a scheduled first lesson date, will we share contact details (phone number, email, and full address) between the tutor and client for liaison purposes.
• If disputes arise between tutors and clients, TutorBee will not reveal personal information to third parties unless required by law.

9. Disclosure to Third Parties

We may disclose your personal data with third parties for the following reasons:

• Tutors and Parents: To facilitate the matching process after confirmation.
• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist with website hosting, analytics, email delivery, payment processing, and customer support. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• Payment Processors: Financial institutions for processing payments through our platform.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government authority.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to the new entity as part of the business assets.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes. Consent to receive third-party marketing communications may be withdrawn at any time.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Identify users and remember preferences
• Help users complete tasks without re-entering information
• Understand how you use our website
• Analyse website traffic and performance
• Provide personalised content and recommendations

We use Google Analytics to understand website usage patterns. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect certain features of our website.

11. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected:

• Active tuition requests: Until the request is fulfilled or cancelled
• Tutor profiles: As long as the tutor maintains an active account with us
• Payment and transaction records: As required by financial regulations
• Communication records: Up to 3 years for customer support purposes
• Legal and compliance records: As required by applicable laws

If you request removal of your data, we will comply within 7 days, subject to any legal retention requirements. Note that some data may be retained internally as permitted by law.

12. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• Secure HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Secure data storage with reputable cloud service providers
• Service agreements with developers and partners requiring confidentiality

While we strive to protect your personal data, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and protect your account credentials.

13. Cross-Border Data Transfer

Our website may be hosted on servers outside Singapore. Some of our service providers may also be located overseas. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your personal data outside Singapore.

When we transfer personal data overseas, we ensure that the recipient provides a standard of protection comparable to the PDPA through contractual arrangements or other appropriate safeguards. However, we cannot fully guarantee the security of data during international transfer.

14. Your Rights Under the PDPA

Under the PDPA, you have the following rights:

• Access: You may request access to your personal data that we hold.
• Correction: You may request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Withdrawal of Consent: You may withdraw your consent for us to collect, use, or disclose your personal data. Please note that withdrawal may affect our ability to provide services to you.

To exercise these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at support@tutorbee.sg. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

We may charge a reasonable fee for processing access requests, as permitted under the PDPA.

15. Children's Privacy

Our services involve matching tutors with students of various ages. When collecting information about minors, we collect this information from parents or guardians who submit tuition requests on their behalf. We do not knowingly collect personal data directly from children under 13 without parental consent.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to change or amend this Privacy Policy at any time without prior notice. All changes will be posted on this page with a new "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: