Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.
Houston Xmas Lighting ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, share, and safeguard information when you visit houstonxmaslighting.com (the "Site") or use our Christmas lighting installation services. By using our Site or services, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information in several ways when you interact with our Site and services:
Information You Provide Directly
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and physical address when you request a quote, submit a form, or contact us
- Service Information: Property type, roofline length, service preferences, timeline, and budget when requesting quotes
- Payment Information: Billing details processed through secure third-party payment processors (we do not store credit card numbers on our servers)
- Communications: Information you share via phone calls, text messages, emails, or online forms
- Photos: When you use our AI Light Designer tool or send photos of your property for quotes, these images are used to provide our service and may be temporarily stored
Information Collected Automatically
- Device & Usage Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, referring URLs, pages visited, time spent, and interaction data
- Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (used to determine service area coverage)
- Cookies & Similar Technologies: Small data files stored on your device to remember preferences and enable site functionality (see Cookies section below)
Information from Third Parties
- Analytics Providers: Aggregated usage statistics from Google Analytics and similar tools
- Advertising Platforms: Ad interaction data from Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google Ads
- Business Partners: Referral information from property managers, HOAs, or partner businesses (when applicable)
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Provide Services: Deliver Christmas lighting installation, maintenance, takedown, and storage services
- Respond to Requests: Answer inquiries, provide quotes, schedule consultations, and process orders
- Communicate: Send service updates, appointment confirmations, seasonal booking reminders, invoices, and promotional offers (with your consent)
- AI Light Designer: Generate photorealistic lighting preview renders from photos you upload
- Improve Our Services: Analyze usage patterns, improve website functionality, and enhance the customer experience
- Marketing & Advertising: Deliver relevant advertising, retargeting campaigns, and personalized offers
- Legal & Safety: Comply with legal obligations, prevent fraud, protect our rights, and enforce our terms of service
- Business Operations: Process payments, manage accounts, and maintain business records
3. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies, pixels, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience and analyze site performance.
Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality (cannot be disabled)
- Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our Site (Google Analytics)
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
- Advertising Cookies: Deliver relevant ads and measure ad campaign effectiveness (Meta Pixel, Google Ads)
Your Cookie Choices
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. However, disabling essential cookies may affect Site functionality. You can also opt out of certain third-party tracking:
- Google Analytics: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Meta (Facebook): Adjust settings at Facebook Ad Preferences
- Google Ads: Adjust settings at Google Ad Settings
4. Third-Party Services We Use
We use trusted third-party services to operate our business. These providers have their own privacy policies:
Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram)
Advertising, retargeting, and social media integration
Meta Privacy Policy →5. SMS & Text Message Communications
📱 SMS Consent & Opt-Out
By providing your mobile phone number to Houston Xmas Lighting, you expressly consent to receive text messages from us related to your service inquiry, quote, appointment, or existing service. This may include quote confirmations, appointment reminders, service updates, and follow-up messages.
Message frequency: Varies based on your interaction with us. Message and data rates may apply. Your carrier's standard messaging rates will apply to all text messages sent to and from you.
To opt out of text messages at any time, reply STOP to any message you receive from us. To get help, reply HELP or contact us at 713-201-4425.
We will not share your mobile phone number with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. SMS consent is not a condition of purchase.
When you text a photo of your property to 713-201-4425 for a quote, you consent to us using that photo to prepare a quote, generate AI lighting previews, and respond to your inquiry. Photos may be temporarily stored for service delivery purposes.
6. Email Communications
By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails related to your service inquiry, quote, appointment, or existing service. This may include transactional emails (order confirmations, appointment reminders, invoices) and marketing emails (seasonal offers, service updates, holiday tips).
To unsubscribe from marketing emails, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any marketing email, or email info@houstonxmaslighting.com with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. You will continue to receive transactional emails related to your service.
We comply with the CAN-SPAM Act. If you believe you have received a marketing email from us in error, please contact us immediately.
7. Advertising & Retargeting
We use advertising services from Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google to reach potential customers and re-engage past visitors. This means:
- Meta Pixel: A small piece of code that tracks your interactions on our Site to help us deliver relevant Facebook and Instagram ads
- Google Ads: Similar tracking to deliver relevant Google search ads and display network ads
- Retargeting: If you visit our Site without submitting a form, you may see our ads on other websites and social media platforms
- Custom Audiences: We may use your email or phone number to create custom audiences on advertising platforms (in hashed/encrypted form)
To opt out of interest-based advertising, visit:
8. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:
- Service Providers: Trusted third parties who assist us in operating our business (payment processors, hosting providers, installation crews, email/SMS platforms)
- Advertising Partners: Google and Meta for delivering advertising and measuring performance (in accordance with their privacy policies)
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, court order, or government regulation
- Safety & Rights Protection: To protect the safety, rights, or property of Houston Xmas Lighting, our customers, or the public
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction
- With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share your information for a specific purpose
9. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include:
- SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Secure hosting infrastructure via Cloudflare
- Access controls limiting who can access customer data
- Regular security updates and monitoring
However, no method of online data transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a data breach affecting your information, we will notify you as required by applicable law.
10. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to:
- Deliver Services: Throughout your relationship with us plus a reasonable follow-up period
- Legal Compliance: As required by tax, accounting, or legal requirements (typically 7 years for financial records)
- Business Records: To maintain accurate business records and respond to customer inquiries
- Marketing: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Photos uploaded to our AI Light Designer are typically deleted within 30 days unless retained for active quote follow-up. You may request earlier deletion by contacting us.
11. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
- Right to Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
- Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitations on how we use your information
- Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
- Right to Object: Object to certain types of processing (such as marketing)
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@houstonxmaslighting.com or 713-201-4425. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days.
12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)
🐻 California Residents
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):
- Right to Know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
- Right to Delete personal information we have collected from you
- Right to Opt-Out of the sale or sharing of your personal information
- Right to Correct inaccurate personal information
- Right to Limit use of sensitive personal information
- Right to Non-Discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
Do Not Sell or Share: Houston Xmas Lighting does not sell personal information for money. However, sharing information with advertising partners for cross-context behavioral advertising may qualify as "sharing" under CCPA. You may opt out by contacting us or by adjusting cookie preferences.
To submit a CCPA request, email info@houstonxmaslighting.com or call 713-201-4425. We will verify your identity before processing your request.
13. International Visitors
Houston Xmas Lighting operates primarily in Texas and the United States. If you access our Site from outside the U.S., please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your country.
EU/UK Residents (GDPR): If you are located in the European Union or United Kingdom, you may have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To exercise these rights, contact us at info@houstonxmaslighting.com.
14. Third-Party Links
Our Site may contain links to external websites (social media platforms, partner businesses, review sites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of these third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
15. Children's Privacy
Our services and Site are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take prompt steps to delete that information. If you believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at info@houstonxmaslighting.com.
16. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting. Because there is no consistent industry standard for how to respond to DNT signals, our Site does not currently respond to DNT browser signals. You can still control tracking through the cookie and advertising opt-out methods described in this policy.
17. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- Post the revised policy on this page
- For material changes, provide additional notice (such as email notification or a prominent notice on our Site)
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our Site or services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
18. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Houston Xmas Lighting
We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days.