Privacy & Legal Stuff

Last updated: October 30, 2025

PIPEDA Compliant Canadian Privacy Laws

Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading legal documents. We've tried to keep this straightforward and honest. Bottom line? We respect your privacy and only collect what we need to fix your ride and keep things running smoothly.

The Basics

When you bring your vehicle to our shop, we're gonna need some info to do our job right. We're talking about your name, phone number, email, and vehicle details - VIN, make, model, year, that sort of thing. Can't really fix your BMW or Audi without knowing what we're working with, right?

Vehicle History & Service Records

We keep detailed records of every service we do on your vehicle. This isn't us being nosy - it's actually super helpful. When you come back in six months and we remember that weird electrical gremlin we chased down last time, that's because we've got good notes. Plus, it helps us track warranty work and keeps everything organized for both of us.

Diagnostic Data

Our scan tools pull tons of data from your car's computer systems. We're talking error codes, sensor readings, performance parameters - the whole nine yards. This data stays in our system tied to your vehicle profile. It's crucial for tracking intermittent issues and making sure we nail the diagnosis.

Payment Information

Here's the deal with payment info - we don't actually store your full credit card numbers on our systems. When you pay by card, that info goes straight through our payment processor's secure system. We just keep a record that you paid and the last four digits for reference. Way safer that way.

Website & Communication Data

If you fill out our contact form or book an appointment online, yeah, we keep that info. Same goes for emails and text messages we exchange about your service. We use this stuff to follow up, send appointment reminders, and keep our communication history straight.

Security Camera Footage

We've got cameras in the shop and parking area for security reasons. This footage gets recorded and stored for about 30 days, then automatically deleted unless there's an incident we need to review. It's mainly there to protect everyone - your vehicle, our equipment, and our team.

Let's be real about what we do with your info:

  • Service Your Vehicle - This is the big one. We use your info to diagnose problems, order the right parts, perform repairs, and keep track of what we've done.
  • Appointment Management - Sending reminders, confirming bookings, letting you know when your car's ready. Basic stuff to keep things running smoothly.
  • Maintenance Reminders - If you're due for an oil change or your inspection's coming up, we might shoot you a reminder. You can opt out of these anytime - just let us know.
  • Billing & Invoicing - Gotta get paid somehow, right? We use your info to generate invoices, process payments, and keep financial records for tax purposes.
  • Improve Our Services - We look at patterns in the data to figure out what's working and what isn't. Like, if we're seeing a lot of the same issue on certain models, that helps us be better prepared.
  • Warranty Claims - When we need to submit warranty claims to parts manufacturers, we'll share relevant vehicle and repair info. It's necessary to get you covered under warranty.

What we DON'T do: We're not selling your info to marketing companies, we're not spamming you with junk, and we're not sharing your data with random third parties. Your info stays with us and our direct service partners - that's it.

We're pretty selective about this, but there are a few situations where we need to share your information:

Parts Suppliers & Manufacturers

When we're ordering parts for your specific vehicle, we share the VIN and relevant vehicle details. Sometimes we need to check warranty coverage or get technical support from the manufacturer - in those cases, they'll get your vehicle info and service history.

Payment Processors

Your payment info goes through secure third-party processors. These companies are PCI compliant and handle your financial data according to strict industry standards. We never see or store your full card numbers.

Insurance Companies

If you're filing an insurance claim for repairs, we'll provide the necessary documentation and details to your insurance company. But only with your authorization - we're not just handing this stuff out.

Legal Requirements

If we're legally required to disclose information - like for a court order, subpoena, or regulatory investigation - we'll comply with the law. We'd give you a heads up if we're allowed to do so.

Business Transitions

If we ever sell the business or merge with another shop (not planning on it, but you never know), customer records would typically be part of that transfer. Any new owner would still be bound by this privacy policy though.

Important: We never sell or rent your personal information to marketing companies, data brokers, or anyone else looking to make a buck off your data. That's not how we roll.

What Are Cookies Anyway?

Cookies are tiny text files that get stored on your device when you visit our website. Think of them like breadcrumbs that help us remember you and improve your experience on the site.

What We Use Cookies For

Essential Cookies - These are the must-haves that make the website actually work. They remember stuff like items in your cart or your session when you're filling out a form. Can't really turn these off without breaking the site.

Functional Cookies - These remember your preferences, like if you've already seen a popup or what language you prefer. Makes things more convenient for you.

Analytics Cookies - We use basic analytics to see how people use our site - which pages get visited most, where folks are getting stuck, that kind of thing. Helps us make the site better. We use anonymized data for this stuff.

Third-Party Services

We use Google Analytics to understand our website traffic. They've got their own cookies and privacy policies. We've configured it to anonymize IP addresses and respect do-not-track signals where possible.

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers let you block cookies, delete existing ones, or get notified before a cookie is stored. Just keep in mind that blocking all cookies might make some parts of our website wonky or unusable.

Social Media & Embedded Content - If we embed stuff like Google Maps or social media feeds, those services might set their own cookies. We don't control those - they're governed by the respective company's privacy policies.

How We Protect Your Data

We take security seriously around here. Here's what we're doing to keep your info safe:

  • Encrypted connections (SSL/TLS) for all online transactions and communications
  • Secure, password-protected computer systems in the shop
  • Regular backups stored in secure, off-site locations
  • Limited staff access - only folks who need it for their job can access customer data
  • Physical security measures in our facility
  • Updated firewalls and anti-malware protection
How Long We Keep Your Data

We hang onto your service records for at least 7 years - that's standard practice in our industry and covers us for warranty issues, tax requirements, and legal stuff. After that, we'll either securely delete it or anonymize it so it can't be traced back to you.

Some data gets deleted sooner - like security camera footage (30 days) and temporary website cookies. Payment transaction records follow financial regulations for record keeping.

Being Realistic About Security

Look, we're doing our best to keep things locked down tight, but let's be honest - no system is 100% hack-proof. We use industry-standard security measures and stay on top of updates, but if there's ever a breach that affects your data, we'll let you know right away and work with you to address it.

Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA and provincial regulations), you've got rights when it comes to your personal information. Here's what you can do:

Access Your Information

You can ask to see what personal data we have on file for you. We'll provide it within 30 days (usually way faster). There might be a small fee if it's a really complex request that takes us hours to compile, but we'll let you know upfront.

Correct Inaccurate Information

If something in your records is wrong - maybe we've got an old phone number or the wrong vehicle color - just let us know and we'll fix it. We want our records accurate as much as you do.

Request Deletion

You can ask us to delete your personal information, and we'll do it where legally possible. There are some cases where we need to keep records (like for tax purposes or active warranty claims), but we'll explain what we can and can't delete.

Opt Out of Marketing

Don't want our maintenance reminders or promotional emails? No problem - every email has an unsubscribe link, or just tell us and we'll take you off the list. We'll still send you essential stuff like appointment confirmations and service updates about your vehicle though.

Withdraw Consent

If you've given us permission to use your data for something specific (like sharing your email with a parts supplier for warranty claims), you can withdraw that consent. Just keep in mind it might affect our ability to provide certain services.

File a Complaint

If you think we've mishandled your personal information, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. But we'd really appreciate it if you'd talk to us first - we're reasonable people and we want to make things right.

To exercise any of these rights, just reach out:
Email: service@ignarothrealm.info
Phone: (604) 555-7823
Or stop by the shop - we're happy to chat in person.

Service Agreement

When you bring your vehicle to Ignaro Threalm Auto Repair, here's what we're both agreeing to:

Authorization & Estimates

We won't do any work without your say-so. We'll give you an estimate before starting major repairs. If we run into something unexpected that's gonna cost more, we'll call you before proceeding. No surprises on the bill - that's the goal anyway.

Diagnostic Fees

Time spent diagnosing issues is billable, even if you decide not to do the repair. We're using expensive equipment and our expertise to figure out what's wrong - that's worth something. We'll always tell you the diagnostic fee upfront.

Parts & Labor Warranty

We stand behind our work. Most repairs come with a 12-month/20,000 km warranty on parts and labor (whichever comes first). Some aftermarket performance parts have different warranty terms - we'll explain that when you're making decisions about what to install.

Payment Terms

Payment's due when you pick up your vehicle. We accept cash, debit, and major credit cards. For bigger jobs, we can sometimes work out a payment plan - just ask. If a vehicle sits here unpaid for more than 30 days, BC lien laws give us the right to eventually sell it to recover costs. We really don't want to go there, so let's communicate if you're having payment issues.

Vehicle Storage

We'll keep your vehicle secure while it's here for service. But we're not a long-term storage facility - if your car sits here completed and ready for pickup for more than 5 days, we might charge a daily storage fee. We'll give you plenty of heads up though.

Limitation of Liability

We're gonna do our absolute best to fix your vehicle properly, but sometimes things happen. We're responsible for our workmanship and any damage we cause. But we're not liable for pre-existing issues we didn't touch, failures of parts we didn't install, or problems that crop up from deferred maintenance you've been putting off.

For performance tuning and modifications, there are additional risks - increased wear on engine components, potential voiding of manufacturer warranties, etc. We'll walk you through all of this before doing any performance work.

Abandoned Vehicles

If you drop off a vehicle and we can't get hold of you for 60 days, or you refuse to pay for completed work, it's considered abandoned under BC law. We'll make every reasonable effort to contact you, but after following legal procedures, we may exercise our mechanic's lien rights.

Disputes

If there's ever a problem with our service, talk to us first. Most issues can be sorted out with a conversation. If we can't resolve it directly, we're open to mediation. Legal stuff would be handled under BC law in Vancouver courts, but honestly, we'd rather just fix the problem and keep you as a happy customer.

Look, privacy laws change, our business evolves, and we might need to update this policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we'll let you know - probably via email if we have it, or a notice on our website.

The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page tells you when we last revised things. We're not gonna make sneaky changes to reduce your rights without telling you.

If you keep using our services after we've updated the policy, that means you're cool with the changes. If you're not okay with new terms, we'd appreciate if you let us know - and you're always free to take your business elsewhere, though we'd hate to see you go.

Got questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data? Don't be shy - we'd rather answer your questions than have you wondering.

Phone