Privacy Policy

Look, we get it - nobody really reads these things. But here's the deal: we're pretty straightforward about how we handle your info. No weird stuff, just what we need to keep your ride running smooth and your data safe.

Introduction

Alright, let's keep this real. At Krysalynt Bastion Auto Repair, we've been working on European imports for years, and one thing we've learned is that trust matters - whether it's with your BMW's timing chain or your personal details.

This privacy policy ain't some cookie-cutter template we pulled off the internet. It's written by folks who actually work on cars and understand what info we need to do our job right. We're based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, which means we follow Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA, for those who care about acronyms).

Bottom line: we collect what we need to fix your car, keep your records straight, and maybe send you a reminder when it's time for that oil change. That's it. No selling your email to some random marketing company, no weird data mining schemes.

What Information We Collect

Here's what we're collecting when you work with us:

  • Your name (obviously)
  • Phone number - so we can call you when your car's ready or if we find something sketchy
  • Email address - for invoices and appointment reminders
  • Mailing address - billing purposes and if we need to send parts orders to you
  • Payment info - credit card details, though we don't actually store the full numbers ourselves

  • VIN number - kinda crucial for ordering the right parts
  • Make, model, year - you'd be surprised how many people don't remember what they drive
  • Mileage readings from each visit
  • Service history with us - what we've done, when, and what we found
  • Diagnostic codes and technical data from your car's computer
  • Photos of work performed or issues we've spotted

  • IP address - standard web stuff
  • Browser type and device info
  • Pages you visit on our site
  • How long you hang around
  • Where you clicked from (referral sources)

How We Use Your Information

We're not doing anything shady with your data. Here's the straight goods on what we use it for:

Service Delivery

Actually fixing your car, scheduling appointments, ordering parts, keeping track of what we've done so we don't repeat work or miss something important.

Billing & Payments

Sending invoices, processing payments, keeping financial records. Y'know, the boring but necessary accounting stuff.

Communication

Appointment reminders, service updates, letting you know when maintenance is due. We won't spam you with junk - just the important stuff about your vehicle.

Legal Compliance

Sometimes we gotta keep records for tax purposes, warranty claims, or if there's ever a dispute about work performed.

Special Note About Vehicle Data

Since we specialize in European imports and performance tuning, we're probably pulling more data from your car's ECU than your average quick-lube place. Here's what that means:

Diagnostic & Performance Data

When we plug into your Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, or whatever European beast you're driving, we're accessing:

  • Error codes and fault histories
  • Sensor readings and performance metrics
  • ECU tuning parameters (if you've had custom work done)
  • Transmission adaptation values
  • Real-time operating data during test drives

Why we keep this: It helps us track long-term issues, compare before/after performance when we do tuning work, and honestly, it covers our butts if someone claims we broke something that was already showing problems.

We keep this vehicle-specific data tied to your service records. It doesn't go anywhere else, and it's only accessed by our technicians when they're working on your car or reviewing history.

Who We Share Data With (Spoiler: Not Many People)

We're pretty protective of your info, but there are a few situations where we need to share it:

Parts Suppliers & Manufacturers

Sometimes we need to share your VIN and vehicle details with parts suppliers or manufacturers for warranty claims, special orders, or technical support. That's just how the industry works.

Payment Processors

We use third-party payment processors for credit card transactions. They get the info needed to process your payment - that's it. We don't see or store your full card numbers.

Scheduling & Communication Tools

We use software for appointment scheduling and sending reminders. These services process your contact info, but they're under contract to keep it confidential and only use it for what we tell 'em to.

Legal Requirements

If we're legally required to hand over information (like if there's a court order or government investigation), we'll comply with the law. Hope it never comes to that, but gotta mention it.

What we DON'T do: We don't sell your info to marketing companies, data brokers, or anyone else looking to make a buck off your contact details. Your email won't end up on some spam list because of us.

How We Keep Your Data Secure

Look, we're not a tech company, but we take reasonable precautions to keep your stuff safe:

  • Physical Security: Paper records are locked up after hours. Only staff who need access to customer files can get to 'em.
  • Digital Protection: Our computer systems have passwords, encryption where it makes sense, and regular backups. We're not running Windows XP here.
  • Payment Security: Credit card data is handled through PCI-compliant processors. We never store full card numbers on our systems.
  • Limited Access: Not every employee can access every piece of customer data. Service advisors see what they need, technicians see what they need - that's it.
  • Website Security: Our website uses SSL encryption (that little padlock in your browser). Standard stuff these days.

Real talk: No security is perfect. We do our best, but if there's ever a data breach, we'll let affected customers know ASAP and follow Canadian notification requirements. Thankfully, hasn't happened yet and we're working to keep it that way.

Cookies & Website Tracking

Yeah, our website uses cookies. Not the chocolate chip kind (sadly), but the digital tracking kind. Here's what's going on:

Cookie Type What It Does Can You Disable It?
Essential Cookies Keep the site working - remembering if you're logged into your appointment portal, that sort of thing Not really - site won't work right without 'em
Analytics Cookies Tell us which pages people visit, how long they stay, basic usage stats so we can improve the site Yep - you can opt out or use browser settings to block these
Preference Cookies Remember your choices like language preferences or if you've dismissed certain notifications Sure, but then we can't remember your preferences

Most browsers let you control cookies through settings. Just Google "how to manage cookies in [your browser]" and you'll figure it out. Fair warning though - blocking all cookies might make the site act weird.

Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy law (and just common decency), you've got some rights about your personal info:

Access Your Data

Wanna see what info we've got on you? Just ask. We'll show you what's in your customer file and service records.

Correct Mistakes

If something's wrong in your records (wrong phone number, outdated address), let us know and we'll fix it.

Opt Out of Marketing

Don't want service reminders or promotional emails? No problem - just tell us and we'll stop. You'll still get essential stuff like appointment confirmations though.

Delete Your Data

Want us to delete your info? We can do that, but we might need to keep some stuff for legal or accounting reasons (like warranty records or tax documents).

How to exercise these rights: Just give us a call at (604) 555-2847, shoot us an email at service@krysalynthbastion.info, or stop by the shop. We'll need to verify it's actually you making the request (can't have someone else deleting your service records), but we'll sort it out.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We don't keep stuff forever, but we can't delete everything immediately either. Here's the general timeline:

Active Customer Records

If you're bringing your car in regularly, we keep your full records indefinitely. Makes it way easier to track long-term issues and service history.

Inactive Customers

Haven't seen you in 7 years? We'll probably archive or delete your contact info, but keep basic service records (VIN, major work done, dates) for another few years in case you come back or there's a warranty issue.

Financial Records

Tax law requires us to keep invoices and payment records for at least 7 years. Can't get around that one - it's the government's rule, not ours.

Website Data

Analytics and cookie data gets refreshed regularly - usually 24 months max unless you're actively using the site.

Questions About Your Privacy?

Got questions about this policy or how we handle your data? Don't be shy - reach out. We'd rather explain things than have you wondering what's going on.