1. Who is responsible for your data
Property Deeds USA is operated by Tchoice BV, Arnhemseweg 2, 3812 CH Amersfoort, the Netherlands, registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) under number 93292058 ("we", "us"). We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. Because we are established in the European Union, we handle personal data in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Property Deeds USA is a private company, not affiliated with any county or government agency.
2. What data we collect
- Searches: addresses, names, PINs or ZIP codes you enter. Free Cook County searches are sent from your browser directly to the Cook County open data portal; we don't store them in a user profile.
- Account data: if you create an account, your email address, password (stored only in encrypted/hashed form) and any profile details you add.
- Order data: your name, email, the property concerned, the product ordered, your stated reason for the request and order status.
- Payment data: when payment is enabled, payments are handled by a payment provider. We don't store full card details.
- Messages: what you send us through the contact form.
- Technical data: basic logs such as IP address, browser type and pages visited, needed to run and secure the website.
3. Why we use it and on what legal basis
- To provide searches, accounts and orders, and to deliver documents (performance of a contract, art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).
- To answer your questions and provide support (contract or legitimate interest).
- To keep records for accounting and tax purposes (legal obligation, art. 6(1)(c) GDPR).
- To secure the website and prevent fraud and misuse, including use for prohibited purposes (legitimate interest, art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
- To send marketing emails, only if you have given consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
4. Public records
Property information shown on the site, including names of buyers, sellers and taxpayers of record, comes from public records published by US county authorities. We display it to help people research property ownership and title. If you believe information about you is shown incorrectly, contact us and we'll review your request. Corrections to the underlying records must be made with the county that publishes them.
5. Who we share data with
We don't sell your personal data. We share it only with:
- service providers that host our website, database and email (processors bound by a data processing agreement);
- a payment provider, when you pay for an order;
- county offices or record providers, only to the extent needed to retrieve a document you ordered;
- authorities, when we are legally required to.
6. International transfers
Some of our service providers, and the US public record sources we use, are located outside the European Economic Area. Where personal data is transferred outside the EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.
7. How long we keep data
- Account data: as long as your account exists, and deleted after you close it.
- Order and invoice records: 7 years, as required by Dutch tax law.
- Contact messages: up to 2 years after the last contact.
- Technical logs: a limited period, normally no longer than 90 days.
8. Cookies
We use only cookies and local storage that are needed for the site to work, such as keeping you signed in. If we add analytics or marketing cookies, we will ask for your consent first where the law requires it.
9. Security
We use suitable technical and organisational measures, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls and hashed passwords.
10. Your rights
You have the right to access, correct, delete or move your personal data, to restrict or object to its use, and to withdraw consent at any time. To use these rights, contact us via our contact page. We respond within one month. You can also file a complaint with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) or the supervisory authority where you live.
11. Changes
We may update this policy. The latest version is always on this page, with the date at the top.
12. Contact
Tchoice BV, Arnhemseweg 2, 3812 CH Amersfoort, the Netherlands. KVK 93292058. Questions: use our contact page.