Privacy Policy

1. About This Policy

Tether & Ink ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") is an automated handwritten direct mail company headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida. We operate a proprietary pen-plotting platform that enables businesses to send authentic, handwritten letters and mail pieces at scale.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, share, and protect information in connection with our website located at tetherandink.com and our direct mail platform (collectively, the "Services"). It applies to website visitors, registered platform users ("Clients"), and the mailing list data submitted by Clients for campaign fulfillment.

By using our Services, you agree to the practices described in this Policy. If you disagree with any part of this Policy, please discontinue use of our Services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Client and Account Information

When you create an account or request services, we collect business and contact information you provide, including:

• Full name, business name, job title
• Business email address and phone number
• Business mailing address and billing address
• Industry, company size, and marketing objectives (provided during onboarding)
• Login credentials (passwords are stored in hashed form)

2.2 Campaign Recipient Data

To fulfill your direct mail campaigns, you upload mailing lists containing personal information about your intended mail recipients, including recipient names and postal addresses. This data is provided to us by you, as the Client, and we process it on your behalf as a data processor. Please see Section 5 for details on how we handle recipient data.

2.3 Payment and Billing Information

Payment card details and billing information are processed by our PCI-compliant payment processor. We do not store full card numbers on our systems. We do retain billing records including transaction amounts, invoice numbers, and billing addresses for accounting and tax compliance purposes.

2.4 Website Usage Data

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information including your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and time spent on pages. This data is collected through server logs, cookies, and similar technologies.

2.5 Communications Data

We retain records of communications between you and Tether & Ink, including support tickets, email correspondence, campaign feedback, and proof approvals. This allows us to provide consistent service and resolve disputes.

2.6 API and Integration Data

If you connect a third-party CRM, marketing platform, or other service via our API or integration partners (such as HubSpot, Salesforce, or real estate platforms), we may receive contact records, trigger data, and other information from that service solely to fulfill authorized campaign requests.

2.7 SMS/Text Messaging Data

If you opt in to receive SMS text messages from Tether & Ink, we collect and retain your mobile phone number, the date and method of your consent, and records of messages sent to and received from your number. We use this information solely to deliver the SMS communications you have authorized, maintain an audit trail of consent, honor opt-out requests, and provide customer support related to our texting program.

We may share your mobile number with our SMS delivery provider (such as Twilio) strictly for the purpose of transmitting messages you have agreed to receive. We do not sell or license mobile phone numbers to data brokers or unrelated third parties.

For full program rules, including how to opt in, opt out, and obtain help, see the SMS Communications Program section of our Terms of Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Fulfill campaigns: Process your orders, produce handwritten mail pieces, and coordinate physical delivery via USPS
• Manage your account: Authenticate your identity, maintain your account, and provide customer support
• Process payments: Charge for services rendered, issue invoices, and manage billing disputes
• Communicate with you: Send production updates, proof approvals, campaign status notifications, and service announcements
• Improve our Services: Analyze usage patterns, troubleshoot platform issues, and develop new features
• Comply with legal obligations: Meet requirements under applicable laws, including USPS regulations, CAN-SPAM, and tax law
• Prevent fraud and abuse: Detect and prevent unauthorized use, fraudulent activity, or violations of our Terms of Service
• Marketing (with consent): Send information about new services, promotions, or industry resources — you may opt out at any time

We do not sell your personal information to third parties, nor do we use it for behavioral advertising on other platforms.

4. Sharing and Disclosure

We share personal information only as necessary to operate our Services or as required by law. Recipients of your information may include:

• USPS and logistics partners: Solely for physical delivery of mail campaigns
• Payment processors: Such as Stripe, for secure transaction processing
• Cloud infrastructure providers: Such as Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud, for data hosting and platform operation
• Analytics services: Such as Google Analytics, which receives anonymized website usage data
• CRM and integration partners: Only when you have explicitly authorized a connection
• Professional advisors: Attorneys, accountants, and auditors, under confidentiality obligations
• Legal authorities: When required by subpoena, court order, or applicable law, or to protect the rights or safety of Tether & Ink, our clients, or the public

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of substantially all of our assets, your information may be transferred to the successor entity, subject to the same privacy protections described herein.

All service providers who process personal information on our behalf are required to handle it confidentially and only for the purposes specified.

5. Campaign Recipient Data — Special Notice

With respect to mailing list data (recipient names and addresses), we specifically:

• Process recipient data solely to print and mail the requested campaign pieces
• Do not sell, rent, license, or otherwise transfer recipient data to any third party
• Do not use recipient data to build profiles, conduct re-targeting, or contact recipients on our own behalf
• Permanently delete recipient data within 90 days of campaign completion

As the Client, you are responsible for ensuring that your use of recipient data complies with all applicable laws, including but not limited to the CAN-SPAM Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) where applicable, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and any state-specific direct marketing regulations. You represent that you have a lawful basis for contacting all recipients on your mailing list.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy or as required by applicable law:

• Account information: Retained for the life of your account plus 3 years after closure
• Payment and billing records: Retained for 7 years for tax and accounting compliance
• Campaign records and proofs: Retained for 3 years
• Campaign recipient data (mailing lists): Deleted within 90 days of campaign completion
• Support communications: Retained for 2 years
• Website analytics data: Retained per Google Analytics default settings (up to 26 months)

You may request earlier deletion of your account information by contacting us at info@tetherandink.com. Note that we may be required to retain certain records for legal or accounting purposes even after account deletion.

7. Security

We implement commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. Our security practices include:

• TLS/SSL encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest in our databases
• Role-based access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel
• Payment processing via PCI-compliant third-party processors only
• Regular security assessments and monitoring

No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify affected parties as required by applicable law, including any required state breach notification statutes.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights with respect to your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Opt-out of marketing: Unsubscribe from promotional emails at any time using the link in the email or by contacting us directly
• Objection: Object to processing of your personal information in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@tetherandink.com with the subject line "Privacy Request." We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), provides you with specific rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Know: You may request that we disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect, the purposes for which it is used, and the categories of third parties with whom it is shared
• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information we have collected, subject to certain exceptions
• Right to Correct: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Right to Opt Out of Sale or Sharing: Tether & Ink does not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: We do not use sensitive personal information for purposes beyond service delivery
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any CCPA rights

To submit a verifiable CCPA request, contact us at info@tetherandink.com or by mail at the address in Section 14. We will respond within 45 days, with one 45-day extension permitted upon notice.

10. CAN-SPAM and Direct Mail Compliance

Tether & Ink does not send unsolicited commercial mail on its own behalf. We produce and mail content solely as directed by our Clients, and our Clients are responsible for ensuring their campaigns comply with all applicable laws governing commercial communications, including:

• The CAN-SPAM Act (for any electronic mail components)
• Applicable state direct marketing statutes
• USPS mailing standards and regulations
• National Do Not Mail lists and client-maintained suppression lists

We reserve the right to refuse fulfillment of campaigns that, in our reasonable judgment, appear to violate applicable law or our Terms of Service.

11. Cookies and Analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate the site, remember your preferences, and analyze traffic. We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies: Required for basic site functionality, including session management and security
• Analytics cookies: Google Analytics cookies that collect anonymized data about how visitors use our website. This data is used to improve our site experience
• Preference cookies: Used to remember your settings and preferences across visits

You may disable cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. We do not use third-party advertising or retargeting cookies.

12. Third-Party Integrations

Our platform supports connections to third-party CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and data sources via API. When you authorize an integration, you grant us permission to access data from that service for the sole purpose of fulfilling your authorized campaign requests.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party services you choose to connect. We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services before authorizing an integration. Data obtained through third-party integrations is handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy and used only for campaign fulfillment.

13. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, applicable law, or service offerings. When we make updates, we will post the revised Policy on this page with an updated effective date. For material changes — such as changes to how we use recipient data or how we share information with third parties — we will provide additional notice via email or a prominent notice within your account dashboard.

Your continued use of our Services after the effective date of a revised Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

14. Contact Us

For questions, access requests, deletion requests, or other privacy-related inquiries, please contact us:

We are committed to resolving privacy concerns promptly and professionally. We will respond to all verifiable requests within 30 days of receipt.