Legal
Privacy Policy
This policy explains what personal information we collect when you book a consultation through TreeTruth, how we use it, and your rights as a resident of Ontario.
Who We Are
TreeTruth is a consumer-facing virtual arborist consultation service operated by Brent Hocking Consulting Arborist ("BHCA"), a sole proprietorship based in Hamilton, Ontario. References to "we," "us," or "our" in this policy mean BHCA. Our primary contact for privacy matters is hello@treetruth.ca.
Information We Collect
We collect only what is necessary to provide and improve our services:
- Booking information: your name, email address, and any details you provide when scheduling through Acuity Scheduling.
- Payment information: billing name, billing address, and payment card details. Card data is processed and stored by Stripe; we do not store your full card number.
- Consultation materials: photographs, videos, and descriptions of your trees that you share before or during the consultation.
- Session recordings: with your explicit consent at the start of the call, we may record the video session for the purpose of preparing your optional written summary and for our own professional records.
- Communications: any email or message correspondence with us.
How We Use Your Information
- To schedule, confirm, and conduct your consultation.
- To process payment and issue receipts.
- To prepare an optional written summary if purchased.
- To respond to your questions before and after the consultation.
- To maintain our professional records as required by our practice standards.
- To improve our service over time.
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party platforms to deliver our service. Each has its own privacy policy:
- Acuity Scheduling — appointment scheduling. acuityscheduling.com/privacy
- Stripe — payment processing. stripe.com/en-ca/privacy
- Whereby — video conferencing. whereby.com/privacy-policy
We share only the minimum information each platform needs to perform its function.
Consultation Materials and Recordings
Photographs and videos you share remain your property. We retain them only as long as needed to complete your consultation and prepare any written summary. We will not publish or share identifiable images of your property without your separate, explicit permission.
If you decline recording at the start of the session, no recording will be made. You may withdraw consent for recording at any point during the call.
Data Retention
We retain your booking and payment records for seven years as required for tax and accounting purposes under Canadian law. Consultation materials and session notes are retained for three years. You may request deletion of non-essential records at any time by contacting us at hello@treetruth.ca.
Your Rights
As a resident of Ontario, you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we hold about you.
- Request a copy of your personal information.
- Request correction of inaccurate information.
- Request deletion of information we are not legally required to retain.
- Withdraw consent for uses beyond service delivery.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@treetruth.ca. We will respond within 30 days.
Security
We take reasonable precautions to protect your information. Payment data is handled entirely by Stripe and is never transmitted through or stored on our own systems. Video sessions are conducted over Whereby's encrypted platform.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page will reflect the date of the most recent revision. For material changes, we will notify active clients by email.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your personal information: hello@treetruth.ca
Brent Hocking Consulting Arborist · Hamilton, Ontario, Canada