This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information.
Last updated: 12.04.2026
Souq is a location-based social and services marketplace available on Android and iOS, operated by BIZPEPE & COMPANY MERCHANTS LIMITED ("we", "us", "our"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use the app.
We collect the following categories of data to provide and improve Souq:
Account Data: Full name, phone number (used for SMS OTP verification), email address and password for email sign-in, profile photo, and bio.
Marketplace Data: Service listings you create, including title, description, pricing, and category.
Messages: Messages you send to other users through the app.
Payment Data: Payment details are processed entirely by our payment provider; we never store your raw card data ourselves.
Location Data: Your precise location, used to show you and others nearby users and services.
Technical Data: Push notification tokens, anonymised app diagnostic logs, IP address, and device type.
Third-Party Sign-In: If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email, and profile photo.
We use the data we collect to:
Create and manage your account.
Show you people and services near your location.
Enable messaging between you and other users.
Process marketplace transactions and service bookings.
Deliver push notifications about messages, offers, and bookings.
Fix bugs and improve the reliability of the app.
Keep our platform safe and prevent fraud or abuse.
Location sharing is central to how Souq works:
Your approximate location is shared with nearby users so they can discover you and your services.
Location is collected only while the app is actively open on your screen.
You can control your location visibility at any time in Settings.
We do not sell your location data to anyone.
We do not sell your personal data. Data is shared only in the following limited circumstances:
Your display name, profile photo, and approximate location are visible to nearby users.
Your phone number is sent solely to deliver SMS OTP verification codes.
Payment details are handled under our payment provider's own privacy policy.
Push notification tokens are shared with our notification delivery provider.
If required by law, court order, or to protect user safety.
We keep your data only for as long as it is needed:
Account data is deleted permanently within 30 days of account deletion.
Transaction records are retained for seven years where required for compliance.
You have the following rights regarding your data:
Access — request a copy of all data we hold about you.
Correction — request that we fix inaccurate data.
Deletion — request that we permanently delete your account and data.
Portability — request your data in a portable, machine-readable format.
Objection — object to or restrict certain processing.
We use industry-standard security practices, including HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data in transit. Payment card data is never stored on our servers — it remains with our payment provider.
Souq is not intended for users under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect data from children under this age.
We use trusted third-party services to operate Souq:
Paystack: Payment processing — we never see or store your raw card details.
Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google): Delivers push notifications to your device.
Twilio: Delivers SMS one-time passcodes for phone verification.
Google: Provides optional OAuth social sign-in.
Continued use of Souq after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We will announce material changes in the app before they take effect.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, contact us at privacy@souqhr.com.