Privacy Policy & SMS Policy

Who We Are

Volt, Inc. ("Volt," "we," "us," or "our") is a restaurant management technology provider. This Privacy Statement explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you:

Use our point-of-sale (POS) system, admin panel, online ordering website, mobile applications, or kiosk systems (collectively, the "Services")
Visit our website at www.voltsystem.com
Interact with us as a restaurant operator, employee, or customer

Important Note: Our restaurant partners (Merchants) are independent businesses with their own privacy practices. This Statement covers only Volt's data practices. When you interact with a Merchant, their privacy policy governs their use of your information.

Information We Collect

We collect information in three primary ways:

1. Information You Provide Directly:

Account Registration: Name, email address, phone number, business information, payment method details
Order Placement: Delivery addresses, special instructions, dietary preferences
Customer Service: Support requests, feedback, survey responses
Marketing Preferences: Communication preferences, promotional opt-ins

2. Information Collected Automatically:

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Usage Data: Pages viewed, features accessed, time spent, click patterns
Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (precise location only with your consent)
Cookies & Tracking: See our Cookie Policy for details on tracking technologies

3. Information from Third Parties:

Payment Processors: Transaction verification and fraud prevention data
Business Partners: Delivery service providers, analytics providers
Social Media: Information you choose to share when connecting social accounts
Data Enrichment Services: Business verification and contact information validation

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following business purposes:

Service Delivery & Operations:

Processing and fulfilling orders across all platforms (POS, online, mobile, kiosk)
Managing user accounts and authentication
Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
Processing payments and preventing fraud
Sending transactional notifications (order confirmations, delivery updates)

Business Analytics & Improvement:

Analyzing usage patterns to improve Services performance
Conducting market research and customer satisfaction surveys
Developing new features and product enhancements
Generating aggregated, anonymized analytics for Merchants

Marketing & Communications (With Your Consent):

Sending promotional offers, special deals, and loyalty rewards
Personalizing content and recommendations
Operating referral and rewards programs

Legal & Security:

Complying with legal obligations and responding to lawful requests
Protecting against fraud, abuse, and security threats
Enforcing our Terms of Service and other policies
Resolving disputes and enforcing agreements

How We Protect Your Information

Volt implements industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

Encryption: All data transmitted using TLS 1.3 encryption; stored data encrypted with AES-256
Access Controls: Multi-factor authentication, role-based access, least-privilege principles
Payment Security: PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant payment processing; we never store full credit card numbers
Infrastructure Security: SOC 2 Type II certified cloud hosting with 24/7 monitoring
Regular Audits: Quarterly security assessments and annual penetration testing
Data Backups: Automated daily backups with 30-day retention in geographically distributed locations
Incident Response: Dedicated security team with documented breach notification procedures

Despite these measures, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted over the Internet.

Information Sharing & Disclosure

We share personal information only in the following limited circumstances:

Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party vendors who process information on our behalf:

Payment processors (Stripe, Square) for transaction processing
SMS providers (Twilio) for order notifications
Cloud infrastructure providers (AWS, Google Cloud) for hosting and storage
Analytics providers (Google Analytics) for usage insights
Customer support platforms (Zendesk) for ticket management

All service providers are contractually bound to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

Restaurant Merchants: When you place an order, we share necessary information with the Merchant to fulfill your order. The Merchant becomes an independent controller of this information, subject to their own privacy practices.

Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law or to:

Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
Protect Volt's rights, property, or safety
Detect, prevent, or investigate fraud or security issues
Enforce our Terms of Service

Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. You will be notified via email and/or prominent notice on our website.

Your Privacy Rights & Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access & Portability:

Request a copy of personal information we hold about you
Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format (CSV, JSON)
Access your information through your account dashboard

Correction & Update:

Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Update your profile, preferences, and contact details
Modify your account settings at any time

Deletion:

Request deletion of your account and associated personal information
We will delete data within 30 days unless retention is required by law
Some information may remain in backups for up to 90 days

Opt-Out Options:

Marketing Emails: Click "unsubscribe" in any marketing email or adjust preferences in your account
SMS Messages: Text STOP to opt out (see SMS Policy section below)
Push Notifications: Disable in your mobile device settings
Cookies: Manage through browser settings or our cookie consent tool

How to Exercise Your Rights:

Email: privacy@voltsystem.com
Phone: +1 (800) 555-VOLT (8658)
Online Portal: privacy.voltsystem.com/requests
Mail: Volt Privacy Office, 456 Tech Plaza, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105

We will respond to verified requests within 45 calendar days (extendable by another 45 days with notice). We may require additional information to verify your identity.

California-Specific Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

Categories of Personal Information Collected (Last 12 Months):

Identifiers: Name, email, phone number, IP address, device ID
Commercial Information: Order history, transaction records, purchase preferences
Internet Activity: Browsing history on our Services, interaction with features
Geolocation Data: Approximate location (city/state level); precise location only with consent
Professional Information: Business name, employer details (for restaurant operators)
Inferences: Preferences, trends, behavior predictions for personalization

Sources of Personal Information:

Directly from you (account registration, orders, communications)
Automatically through your use of Services (cookies, analytics)
From third parties (payment processors, delivery services, business partners)
From restaurant partners when you interact with them through our platform

Business Purposes for Collection:

Performing services (order processing, account management)
Security and fraud prevention
Debugging and quality assurance
Internal research and development
Quality and safety verification
Legal compliance

Categories of Third Parties We Share With:

Service providers (payment processors, cloud hosting, analytics)
Restaurant partners (to fulfill your orders)
Professional advisors (lawyers, accountants)
Government entities (when legally required)

Do Not Sell or Share:

We do NOT sell personal information for monetary consideration
We do NOT "share" personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising (CPRA definition)
We have not sold or shared personal information in the preceding 12 months
We do not sell or share information of consumers under age 16

Sensitive Personal Information:

We may collect the following sensitive personal information (with appropriate consent and security measures):

Precise geolocation (only with your explicit consent for delivery purposes)
Account login credentials (encrypted and hashed)
Payment card information (tokenized; full numbers never stored)

We do not use or disclose sensitive personal information for purposes other than those permitted by CPRA without your consent.

California Privacy Rights:

Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, and shared
Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of sale/sharing (though we don't engage in these practices)
Right to Limit: Limit use of sensitive personal information
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

Authorized Agent Requests:

California residents may designate an authorized agent to submit requests on their behalf. The agent must provide:

Written authorization signed by the consumer
Proof of their own identity
Verification of authority to act on consumer's behalf

Retention Periods:

Account information: Duration of active account plus 30 days after closure
Transaction records: 7 years for tax and legal compliance
Marketing data: Until opt-out or account closure
Analytics data: 26 months in identifiable form, indefinitely when anonymized
Customer support records: 3 years after last interaction

Data Retention & Deletion

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this Statement or as required by law:

Active Accounts: Information retained while account remains active and for operational needs
Transaction History: 7 years from transaction date for tax, accounting, and legal compliance
Deleted Accounts: Most personal data purged within 30 days; some data retained in anonymized form
Backup Systems: Data in backups anonymized or deleted within 90 days of account deletion
Legal Holds: Information subject to litigation or investigation retained until matter is resolved

Children's Privacy

Volt Services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 in California). If we learn that we have collected information from a child without parental consent, we will delete it promptly.

If you believe a child has provided information to us, please contact us immediately at privacy@voltsystem.com.

International Data Transfers

Volt is based in the United States. If you access our Services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers, including:

Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by relevant authorities
Data Processing Agreements with all international service providers
Compliance with EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework principles
Regular assessments of data protection adequacy

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to provide, improve, and secure our Services:

Essential Cookies: Required for basic functionality (authentication, security, session management)

Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our Services (page views, error tracking)

Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings

Targeting Cookies: Used for personalized marketing (only with your consent)

Managing Cookies:

Use our cookie consent tool when first visiting our website
Adjust browser settings to block or delete cookies
Note: Disabling essential cookies may limit functionality
Opt out of interest-based advertising: www.aboutads.info/choices

Do Not Track: Some browsers have "Do Not Track" features. Our Services do not currently respond to these signals, but we provide opt-out mechanisms as described above.

Third-Party Links

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that we do not control. This Privacy Statement does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

Updates to This Privacy Statement

We may update this Privacy Statement periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes through:

Email to your registered address (at least 30 days before effective date)
Prominent notice on our website and in-app notifications
SMS notification for significant changes affecting your rights
Updated "Last Updated" date at the top of this Statement

Your continued use of Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Statement.

Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, concerns, or to exercise your rights:

Privacy Team Email: privacy@voltsystem.com
Phone: +1 (800) 555-VOLT (8658)
Online Portal: privacy.voltsystem.com/requests
Mail: Volt Privacy Office, 456 Tech Plaza, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105
Response Time: We respond to privacy inquiries within 48 hours; formal requests within 45 days

SMS Program Overview

Volt's SMS notification service ("SMS Program") keeps customers informed about their orders and enables restaurants to communicate efficiently with their customers. Our SMS services are integrated across all platforms: POS, online ordering, mobile app, and kiosk systems.

Program Description: By enrolling, you agree to receive automated text messages from Volt and participating restaurant partners regarding order status, delivery updates, promotional offers, and account notifications.

Consent & Opt-In

Express Written Consent: By providing your mobile phone number and:

Checking the SMS consent box during account creation or order placement, OR
Responding "YES," "START," or "UNSTOP" to our opt-in message, OR
Enabling SMS notifications in the mobile app settings

You expressly consent to receive text messages from Volt and participating restaurants at the number you provided, including through automated technology.

Consent Not Required for Purchase: You are not required to consent to receive SMS messages as a condition of purchasing goods or services from Volt or our restaurant partners. You may place orders without SMS notifications enabled.

Supported Phone Types: This program supports most mobile carriers in the United States and Canada. Landlines and VoIP numbers may not be supported.

Types of SMS Messages

You may receive the following types of messages:

Transactional Messages (Order-Related):

Order Confirmation: Immediate confirmation when order is placed
Order Preparation: Updates when kitchen starts preparing your order
Ready for Pickup: Notification when order is ready
Out for Delivery: Driver assignment and estimated arrival time
Delivery Confirmation: Notification when order is delivered
Reservation Reminders: Upcoming table reservation alerts (24 hours and 2 hours before)

Account & Security Messages:

Verification Codes: Two-factor authentication (2FA) codes
Password Reset: Verification codes for password changes
Security Alerts: Unusual activity or login attempts
Account Updates: Changes to account settings or payment methods

Promotional Messages (Marketing - Optional):

Special Offers: Limited-time discounts and deals
Loyalty Rewards: Points balance, rewards eligibility, exclusive member offers
New Menu Items: Notifications about new dishes or seasonal specials
Event Announcements: Special events, happy hours, live entertainment

Service Messages:

Feedback Requests: Post-order satisfaction surveys (optional)
Service Updates: System maintenance, feature announcements
Policy Updates: Important changes to terms or privacy policies

Message Frequency

Transactional Messages:

Frequency varies based on your order activity
Typically 3-6 messages per order (from placement to completion)
Reservation reminders: Up to 2 messages per reservation
No limit on transactional messages as they are essential for service delivery

Promotional/Marketing Messages:

Maximum 8 messages per month per restaurant you've ordered from
Sent only if you've explicitly opted in to promotional communications
Can be managed separately from transactional messages (text PROMO STOP)
Frequency may increase slightly during special events, holidays, or limited-time offers

Account & Security Messages:

Sent as needed for account security and verification purposes
Cannot be opted out of while account is active
Typically 0-5 messages per month depending on account activity

SMS Commands & Opt-Out Options

STOP - Complete Opt-Out:

Text any of the following to unsubscribe: STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT
You will receive one final confirmation message
Stops ALL SMS messages including order updates (not recommended if you have active orders)
You can re-subscribe anytime by texting START or placing a new order with SMS enabled

PROMO STOP - Marketing Opt-Out Only:

Text PROMO STOP to opt out of promotional/marketing messages only
You will continue receiving essential order updates and account notifications
Best option if you want order tracking but no marketing content
Re-subscribe to promos by texting PROMO START

HELP or INFO - Program Information:

Text HELP or INFO for assistance and program details
Receive information about the SMS service, support contacts, and terms
Get direct link to full Privacy Statement and Terms

START or YES - Re-Subscribe:

Text START, YES, or UNSTOP to re-enable SMS after opting out
Resumes all SMS communications (both transactional and promotional if previously enrolled)
You'll receive a welcome back confirmation message

Alternative Opt-Out Methods:

Mobile App: Settings → Notifications → SMS Preferences
Website: Account Settings → Communication Preferences
Admin Panel: Profile → Notification Settings (for restaurant staff)
Customer Support: Email sms-support@voltsystem.com or call +1 (800) 555-8658

Message & Data Rates

Cost Disclosure: Volt does not charge fees for SMS messages, but standard message and data rates from your mobile carrier will apply. The number of messages you receive depends on your order frequency and notification preferences.

Typical Carrier Charges (for reference only):

Unlimited Plans: Most unlimited text plans include these messages at no additional charge
Pay-Per-Message Plans: Typically $0.10-$0.25 per message (varies by carrier)
International Users: Significantly higher rates may apply; we recommend using the mobile app instead

Data Usage: While SMS messages use minimal data, MMS messages (multimedia) and link previews may consume more data depending on your carrier.

Please contact your mobile carrier for specific information about your text messaging and data plan rates.

Supported Carriers

Our SMS Program is available on all major U.S. and Canadian carriers:

Major U.S. Carriers:

AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Sprint (now T-Mobile)
US Cellular, Cricket Wireless, Metro by T-Mobile
Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, TracFone, Straight Talk

Regional & Prepaid Carriers:

C Spire, Cellcom, Bluegrass Cellular, Carolina West Wireless
Consumer Cellular, Simple Mobile, Total Wireless, Page Plus
Net10, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Xfinity Mobile
And many others - if you can receive regular text messages, you can likely use our service

Canadian Carriers:

Rogers, Bell, Telus, Freedom Mobile, Fido, Koodo
Virgin Plus, Chatr, Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile

Important Notes:

Service availability and message delivery may vary by carrier and location
Some carriers may have spam filters that affect message delivery
Carrier restrictions or network issues are beyond Volt's control
Contact your carrier if you experience delivery problems

International SMS

Limited International Support: SMS notifications are primarily designed for U.S. and Canadian phone numbers. International SMS is available in select countries but subject to significant limitations:

International messaging rates are substantially higher (often $0.50-$2.00+ per message)
Delivery times may be delayed
Two-way communication (STOP, HELP commands) may not work in all countries
Supported countries vary by our SMS provider's network

Recommendation for International Users: We strongly recommend using our mobile application or email notifications to avoid high international SMS charges while staying informed about your orders.

Privacy & Phone Number Security

Your mobile phone number is personal information protected under our Privacy Statement:

No Sale or Sharing: We NEVER sell your phone number to third parties or share it for marketing purposes
Limited Use: Phone numbers are used solely for sending SMS notifications as described in this Policy
Encrypted Storage: All phone numbers are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption
Access Controls: Only authorized personnel can access phone number data, with all access logged
Third-Party SMS Provider: We use Twilio as our SMS service provider. They process phone numbers only to deliver messages on our behalf and are contractually prohibited from using numbers for other purposes
Security Codes: Two-factor authentication codes are single-use, expire within 10 minutes, and cannot be reused

TCPA Compliance

Volt's SMS Program complies with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and related regulations:

Prior Express Consent: We obtain your express written consent before sending any messages
Clear Opt-Out: Easy-to-use STOP command honored immediately
Message Timing: Promotional messages sent only between 8 AM and 9 PM in your local time zone
Automated Technology: We clearly disclose use of automated dialing and messaging systems
No Artificial/Prerecorded Voice: We send text messages only, no voice calls
Identification: All messages clearly identify Volt or the restaurant partner
Record Keeping: We maintain consent records and honor Do Not Contact lists

Additional Compliance

Our SMS Program also adheres to:

CAN-SPAM Act: All promotional messages include clear sender identification and opt-out mechanisms
CTIA Messaging Principles: Following best practices established by wireless industry
Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Guidelines: Consumer best practices for mobile messaging
State-Specific Laws: Compliance with additional requirements in states like California, Florida, and Texas
Carrier Guidelines: Adherence to AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile messaging policies

Message Delivery & Limitations

Best Effort Delivery: While we strive for reliable message delivery, we cannot guarantee:

100% delivery rate due to carrier network issues, spam filters, or device problems
Exact delivery timing (typically within seconds, but may be delayed)
Delivery during carrier outages or network congestion
Compatibility with all devices and operating systems

Troubleshooting Delivery Issues:

Verify your phone number is correct in your account settings
Check that you haven't blocked our SMS short code
Ensure your device has adequate signal strength
Confirm you haven't reached your carrier's message limit
Contact customer support if problems persist

Our SMS Short Codes: Messages are sent from short code 55658 (VOLT on phone keypad) or toll-free number +1 (888) 555-8658

Customer Support for SMS Issues

For SMS-related questions, problems, or assistance:

Email: sms-support@voltsystem.com
Phone: +1 (800) 555-VOLT (8658) - Available 24/7
Live Chat: Available through mobile app (7 AM - 11 PM ET)
Help Center: help.voltsystem.com/sms
Response Time: We respond to SMS-related inquiries within 2 hours during business hours, 4 hours outside business hours

Changes to SMS Policy

We may update this SMS Policy to reflect changes in our messaging practices, legal requirements, or service offerings. Material changes will be communicated through:

SMS notification (for significant changes affecting your rights)
Email to your registered address
In-app notifications
Updated policy posted on our website with revised "Last Updated" date

Continued participation in the SMS Program after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.