Privacy Policy

NCContractorCheck ("we", "us", "our") operates the website nccontractorcheck.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website. By using our site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you use our contact form, we collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Message content
• Referring page URL (to understand context)

This information is used solely to respond to your inquiry and is not shared with third parties or used for marketing purposes.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit NCContractorCheck, our servers and third-party services automatically collect certain technical information:

• Server logs — IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, date and time of access
• Analytics data — page views, session duration, geographic region (country/state level), device type, screen resolution
• Search queries — search terms entered on our site (not linked to personal identity)

1.3 Information We Do Not Collect

We do not require account creation. We do not collect Social Security numbers, financial information, or government-issued identification. We do not track individual users across sessions for profiling purposes.

2. Contractor Data (Public Records)

All contractor information displayed on NCContractorCheck — including names, business addresses, phone numbers, license numbers, trade classifications, and license status — is sourced from public records published by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC).

This data is publicly available government information and is not subject to the same privacy considerations as personal user data. Contractors who believe their listing contains an error can contact us to request a review. We will update our records to match the official NCLBGC database during our next synchronization.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

3.1 Google Analytics (GA4)

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use our site. GA4 collects anonymized data about page views, user interactions, traffic sources, and device information. Google Analytics uses first-party cookies to distinguish unique users and sessions.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

3.2 Google AdSense

This site displays advertisements served by Google AdSense. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website and other sites on the internet. These cookies enable Google to display personalized ads.

You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ad Settings or by visiting aboutads.info to opt out of third-party vendor cookies.

3.3 Essential Cookies

Our site uses a CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) token cookie, which is a security measure required for form submissions. This cookie does not track personal information and cannot be disabled without breaking form functionality.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

• Respond to inquiries — processing and replying to contact form submissions
• Improve our service — analyzing aggregate traffic patterns to improve site navigation, content, and performance
• Maintain security — monitoring for abuse, spam, and unauthorized access attempts
• Display advertising — serving relevant ads through Google AdSense to support the free operation of this site

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers — Google (Analytics, AdSense) and our hosting provider process data on our behalf under their respective privacy policies
• Legal requirements — we may disclose information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation
• Safety — we may share information to protect the rights, safety, or property of NCContractorCheck, our users, or the public

6. Data Retention

• Contact form submissions — retained indefinitely for customer service records. You can request deletion by contacting us.
• Server logs — retained for up to 90 days, then automatically purged
• Analytics data — retained according to Google Analytics default retention settings (14 months)
• Contractor records — retained and updated as long as they remain in the NCLBGC public database

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical measures to protect your information, including:

• HTTPS encryption for all pages (TLS 1.2+)
• CSRF protection on all form submissions
• Honeypot spam prevention on contact forms
• Regular software and dependency updates

No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction — request correction of inaccurate personal data
• Deletion — request deletion of your personal data (excluding data we are legally required to retain)
• Opt-out — opt out of personalized advertising via Google's Ad Settings

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Third-Party Links

Our site contains links to external websites, including the NCLBGC portal, Google Maps, the NC Attorney General's office, and other government resources. These external sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their content or data practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external site you visit.

10. Children's Privacy

NCContractorCheck is not directed at individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically for the latest information on our privacy practices.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through our contact form.