1. Overview
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through tolkachev.net (the "Site"), how we use it, how we share it, and what choices you have.
We do not publish an email address on the Site. Direct contact happens through the contact form at https://tolkachev.net/contact/.
2. Information we collect
2.1 Contact form. When you submit the contact form, we collect the information you provide, such as your name, email address, message content, and any other information you choose to include, so we can respond to you. The form is protected by Cloudflare Turnstile and a honeypot field for bot/spam prevention. Submissions may be rate-limited, and technical metadata may be processed for security and abuse prevention.
2.2 Payments (Stripe). When you purchase the Book or Consultation, payment is processed by Stripe, Inc. ("Stripe"), a third-party payment processor. We do not collect or store your card number or payment credentials. Stripe collects payment information directly and may also collect your name, email address, billing details, payment method details, IP address, and transaction information as part of checkout and fraud prevention. Stripe's handling of that information is governed by Stripe's own privacy policy: https://stripe.com/privacy
2.3 Scheduling (Consultation booking). After purchasing a Consultation, you are given a link to Cal.com or another third-party scheduling tool to book your session. Information you provide there, such as name, email, selected time, time zone, and scheduling notes, is collected directly by the scheduling provider under its own privacy policy. Cal.com's privacy policy is available at: https://cal.com/privacy
2.4 Digital downloads. When you access paid or free downloadable materials, our hosting and delivery systems may process standard technical information necessary to provide the download, prevent abuse, and maintain security.
2.5 Language preference and cookies. Language is selected through the Site URL: English at https://tolkachev.net/ and Russian at https://tolkachev.net/ru/. The Site does not currently set a first-party language-preference cookie. After you click to pay for the Book or Consultation, the Site may store a language preference in your browser's local storage so the confirmation page can be shown in the same language. This storage does not identify you personally and is not used for advertising or tracking. You can clear it at any time through your browser settings. Third-party tools used on the Site, such as Stripe checkout and Cloudflare Turnstile, may set their own cookies under their own policies.
2.6 Analytics. The Site does not currently use analytics tools.
2.7 Server/hosting logs. Our hosting and content-delivery infrastructure, including Amazon Web Services (S3 and CloudFront), may automatically log standard technical information, such as IP address, browser type, device information, requested URL, referring URL, request timestamps, and error logs, for security, debugging, fraud prevention, and operational purposes, consistent with AWS's own practices.
We do not currently use advertising pixels, retargeting technologies, social-media widgets, or cross-site behavioral tracking on the Site.
3. How we use information
We use the information described above to:
- Respond to messages submitted through the contact form;
- Deliver purchased products and free downloads;
- Facilitate paid Consultation scheduling;
- Process payments, receipts, refunds, chargeback responses, and fraud-prevention checks;
- Remember your language preference;
- Maintain, secure, debug, and improve the proper functioning of the Site;
- Keep records needed for tax, accounting, compliance, and dispute-resolution purposes; and
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service and Refund Policy.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for targeted advertising.
4. How we share information
We share information only as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including with:
- Stripe, for payment processing, receipts, refunds, fraud prevention, and disputes;
- Cal.com or another scheduling provider, for Consultation booking;
- Amazon Web Services, for hosting, storage, and content delivery;
- Cloudflare Turnstile or similar anti-spam/security tools, for bot prevention and abuse protection;
- The provider of the contact-form backend service, for receiving and managing contact-form submissions;
- Professional advisers, such as accountants, tax preparers, or legal counsel, if needed for compliance, accounting, disputes, or legal advice; and
- Government authorities, courts, payment networks, regulators, or other parties when required by law, regulation, legal process, or to protect rights, safety, and security.
We do not otherwise sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
5. Cookies and similar technologies
We do not currently set first-party analytics, advertising, or other non-essential tracking cookies. Language is chosen through the URL as described above. Because we do not currently use analytics, advertising cookies, or other non-essential tracking technologies, no cookie-consent banner is currently shown.
If we introduce analytics, advertising pixels, retargeting, newsletter tracking, or other non-essential cookies or similar technologies in the future, we will update this Policy and request consent where required by applicable law, including GDPR/UK GDPR rules for EU/UK visitors where applicable.
6. Legal bases for EEA/UK visitors
If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, our legal bases for processing personal information may include:
- Contract: to provide purchased digital products, Consultation booking, receipts, refunds, and support;
- Legitimate interests: to operate, secure, maintain, and improve the Site, prevent fraud and abuse, respond to inquiries, and protect legal rights;
- Legal obligations: to keep records required for tax, accounting, payment, and compliance purposes; and
- Consent: where required for non-essential cookies, marketing, or other optional processing introduced in the future.
7. Data retention
We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, unless a longer period is required or permitted by law.
- Contact form submissions are retained for as long as needed to respond to and resolve your inquiry, and afterward for a reasonable period for record-keeping, abuse prevention, and dispute-resolution purposes.
- Payment and order records are retained as required or permitted for tax, accounting, fraud prevention, refunds, chargebacks, and legal compliance.
- Scheduling records are retained as needed to provide the Consultation, manage rescheduling, resolve disputes, and keep business records.
- Server and security logs are retained for a limited period appropriate for security, debugging, and operational purposes, unless a longer period is needed to investigate abuse, fraud, or legal issues.
- Browser local storage used for checkout language preference remains until you clear it in your browser settings.
8. Your rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to certain processing of your personal information, and to request portability of certain information.
To exercise privacy rights or ask a privacy question, please use the contact form at https://tolkachev.net/contact/ and clearly state that your request is a privacy request. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
If you are located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.
If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under California privacy laws if those laws apply to us. As of the Last updated date above, the Site is not intended to sell personal information or use personal information for targeted advertising. If you believe California privacy rights apply to your interaction with us, contact us through the contact form.
9. Children's privacy
The Site is not directed at children under 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us information, please contact us through the contact form so we can delete it.
10. International transfers
The Site is operated from the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have privacy laws that differ from those in your jurisdiction.
11. Security
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures, including restricted access to hosting infrastructure and established third-party processors for payments, to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
12. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last updated" date, and where required by law, we will provide additional notice or request consent.
13. Contact
We do not publish an email address on this Site. To exercise your rights or ask a question about this Privacy Policy, please use the contact form at https://tolkachev.net/contact/.