Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Charles Car Stereo ("Charles," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, retains, and protects personal information when you visit charlescarstereo.com (the "Site"), request a quote, schedule or receive services, purchase products, communicate with us, or otherwise interact with us.

This Policy does not apply to information handled under a separate notice, such as employee or job-applicant information, or to third-party websites and services that control their own data practices.

1. Notice at collection

We may collect the categories below for the purposes summarized here. We retain information only as long as reasonably necessary for the stated purposes, including to provide services, keep business and warranty records, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, and comply with law. More detail appears throughout this Policy.

• Identifiers and contact details: Name, email, phone, address. Primary purposes: Quotes, appointments, service, support, records, optional marketing.
• Vehicle and service information: Year, make, model, VIN if needed, requested work, photos, condition. Primary purposes: Fitment, estimates, installation, documentation, warranty.
• Transaction information: Orders, deposits, invoices, payment status, refunds. Primary purposes: Process transactions, accounting, disputes, fraud prevention.
• Communications and consent: Messages, call notes, preferences, consent and opt-out records. Primary purposes: Respond, coordinate service, honor choices, prove compliance.
• Device and usage data: IP address, browser, device, pages, timestamps, security events. Primary purposes: Operate, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the Site.
• Media and premises data: Vehicle photos/video; security-camera footage if used. Primary purposes: Service records, claims, safety; marketing only with separate permission.

Our current position: We do not sell personal information for money. We do not currently disclose personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. If our practices change, we will update this Policy and provide any choices required by applicable law before using the information for the new purpose.

2. Information you provide

• Contact and inquiry information: your name, email address, telephone number, preferred contact method, and the content of your request.
• Vehicle and project information: year, make, model, trim, vehicle identification number when needed for fitment or records, current equipment, requested work, preferences, photos, videos, and information about existing damage or modifications.
• Appointment and transaction information: requested date and time, estimate and work-order details, products, labor, deposits, payment status, refund information, invoice and warranty history, and signatures or approvals.
• Communications: emails, texts, voicemail, form submissions, support requests, reviews, feedback, and records of communication preferences or consent.
• Media permissions: any separate consent you provide for us to use vehicle photos or videos for a portfolio, advertising, or social media.

3. Information collected automatically

When you use the Site, our systems and service providers may receive technical information such as your Internet Protocol address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, pages or features used, timestamps, approximate location derived from IP address, and security or error logs. We use this information to deliver the Site, prevent abuse, diagnose problems, and understand general performance.

The Site may use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies that are necessary for functions such as security, session continuity, form operation, accessibility preferences, or remembering selections. The Cookies and Online Choices section explains additional limits.

4. Information from other sources

We may receive information from a person acting for you; payment, financing, scheduling, communications, hosting, fraud-prevention, or warranty providers; manufacturers and distributors; social-media platforms when you interact with us there; and public or lawful business sources. We use this information only for the purposes described in this Policy or disclosed when it is collected.

5. Information we ask you not to submit

Do not send Social Security numbers, account passwords, full payment-card numbers, medical information, or government-identification images through a general quote form, text, social-media message, or email unless we specifically request the information through an appropriate secure process and explain why it is needed.

6. Purposes of use

We may use personal information to:

• respond to inquiries, prepare quotes and estimates, confirm fitment, schedule appointments, and perform authorized work;
• process orders, deposits, payments, refunds, warranties, and related accounting records;
• communicate about your vehicle, appointment, transaction, pickup, follow-up care, safety notice, product update, or support request;
• document vehicle condition, installation steps, completed work, warranty issues, claims, and customer authorization;
• operate, maintain, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the Site, forms, systems, and customer experience;
• detect and prevent fraud, misuse, security incidents, unlawful activity, and violations of our Terms;
• comply with legal, tax, accounting, recordkeeping, warranty, insurance, and law-enforcement obligations;
• establish, exercise, or defend legal claims and resolve disputes; and
• send promotions only when permitted and consistent with your choices.

7. Vehicle photos, video, and identifying details

We may photograph or record a vehicle as reasonably needed to document its condition, prepare or perform authorized work, confirm completion, prevent disputes, or support a warranty or insurance claim. This operational use is different from marketing use.

We will not intentionally publish an identifiable customer, license plate, personal document, address, or private item for marketing without separate permission. If you separately authorize portfolio or promotional use, you may withdraw that permission for future use by contacting us. Withdrawal will not require us to recall material already printed or remove copies outside our reasonable control, but we will stop new uses and remove controlled online content when reasonably practicable.

8. Deidentified and aggregated information

We may create information that cannot reasonably identify you and use it for lawful business purposes such as service planning, quality review, and site performance. We will not attempt to reidentify information we maintain as deidentified except to test whether our deidentification process works or as permitted by law.

9. Service providers and transaction partners

We may disclose personal information to vendors that perform services for us, such as website hosting, form delivery, scheduling, customer-relationship management, email and text delivery, payment processing, financing, accounting, cloud storage, security, fraud prevention, parts fulfillment, warranty administration, and professional advice. We disclose only information reasonably needed for the service and expect providers to protect it and use it for authorized purposes.

If you choose financing or another service offered by an independent third party, that party may collect information directly from you and act under its own privacy notice. Review the notice presented before submitting information.

10. Other permitted disclosures

We may disclose information:

• to a manufacturer, distributor, warranty administrator, insurer, or another repair professional when needed to complete authorized work or resolve a claim;
• to a payment network, bank, or dispute-resolution provider to process or defend a transaction;
• to government authorities, courts, regulators, or other parties when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, property, customers, or the public;
• in connection with a merger, financing, sale, reorganization, insurance claim, or transfer of all or part of the business, subject to appropriate protections; or
• at your direction or with your consent.

11. No sale of personal information

We do not sell personal information for money. We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of anyone under 16. We do not currently disclose personal information to third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising. We may disclose information to service providers and transaction partners for the business purposes described above; those disclosures are not a sale for money.

If we later engage in activity treated as a “sale,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising under applicable law, we will update this Policy and provide the required opt-out method before that activity begins.

12. Cookies and online choices

We use only cookies or similar storage reasonably necessary to operate, secure, and maintain the Site unless a notice or settings tool identifies additional categories. Browser settings can block or delete cookies, but doing so may affect site functions.

Third-party features, such as maps, social links, embedded media, scheduling, financing, or payment tools, may collect information when you load or use them. Those providers control their own cookies and processing under their privacy notices.

Some browsers offer a Global Privacy Control or “Do Not Track” signal. Because we do not currently use personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, there is no advertising sale or sharing to disable on the Site. If that practice changes, we will describe how recognized opt-out signals are handled.

13. Payments

If an online payment option is presented, payment information may be collected directly by the payment provider through its own secure interface. We may receive transaction confirmation and limited details needed for accounting, refunds, fraud prevention, and disputes. Do not send full payment-card numbers by email, ordinary text, or a general website form.

14. Third-party websites and social media

The Site may link to maps, social networks, manufacturers, financing providers, payment providers, or other websites. Their privacy notices govern information they collect. A link does not mean that Charles controls or endorses the third party’s privacy or security practices.

15. Communications

When you request a quote, schedule an appointment, or conduct a transaction, we may contact you by phone, email, or text about that request or transaction. Promotional messages require any separate consent required by law and are not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of marketing texts by replying STOP and request help by replying HELP. You may use the unsubscribe method in a marketing email. We may still send non-promotional communications needed to complete or service an active transaction, respond to you, protect security, or comply with law. You may also contact us to update your communication preferences.

16. Retention

We retain each category of personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose collected or another disclosed, compatible purpose. Retention can depend on the length of the customer relationship; quote, appointment, invoice, warranty, and service history; consent and opt-out records; tax, accounting, insurance, and legal requirements; dispute and fraud-prevention needs; backup cycles; and technical feasibility. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete, deidentify, or securely dispose of it.

Operational vehicle photos may be retained with the related service or warranty record. Marketing media may be retained until permission is withdrawn, the content is retired, or continued use is no longer reasonably necessary, subject to copies already printed or outside our reasonable control.

17. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed for the nature of the information we handle. Measures may include limiting access based on job duties, using reputable service providers, protecting accounts and devices, maintaining backups, and securely disposing of records. No website, network, transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure.

If you believe information you provided to us has been misused or compromised, contact us promptly using the details below. We will investigate and provide notices when required by applicable law.

18. Accuracy and customer choices

You may decline to provide optional information, but we may be unable to quote, schedule, complete, warranty, or support a service without information reasonably necessary for that purpose. Please contact us to correct outdated contact, vehicle, or preference information.

19. Privacy rights

Depending on where you live and which laws apply, you may have rights to request access to personal information, correction, deletion, a portable copy, or information about disclosures; to opt out of sale, sharing, targeted advertising, or certain profiling; to limit certain sensitive-data uses; to withdraw consent; or to appeal a decision. These rights may be subject to exceptions and identity verification.

20. How to submit a privacy request

Email [email protected] with the subject “Privacy Request,” call +1 786-714-4943, or write to the address below. Describe the right you want to exercise and provide enough information for us to locate the relevant records. Do not send a Social Security number, full payment-card number, password, or unnecessary identification document.

We may ask you to verify information already associated with your records. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted by law; we may require proof of authorization and may verify your identity directly. We will respond within the period required by applicable law. If we deny a request, we will explain the reason and any available appeal method. We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising a privacy right.

21. Children’s privacy

The Site and our services are intended for a general adult audience and are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided such information, contact us so we can review and delete it as appropriate.

22. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, vendors, or legal obligations. We will post the updated version with a new “Last updated” date. If a change materially affects how we use information already collected, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent when required.

23. Contact us

Charles Car Stereo
3885 W 16th Ave
Hialeah, FL 33012
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 786-714-4943