Effective Date: October 2025

At CrestReader (https://crestreader.com), we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have regarding your data when using our site.

 

 

Who We Are

CrestReader is an online community for readers and reviewers of science fiction and fantasy books. Our platform includes user forums, reviews, profile pages, badges, and a credits system (“Crest Credits”) for in-platform engagement.

Our website address is: https://crestreader.com.

 

 

Information We Collect

 

1 | Accounts & Profiles

When you register for an account, we collect information such as your name, email address, username, and any additional details you choose to add to your profile. This information is used to personalize your experience, enable participation in forums, award badges, and manage your Crest Credits balance.

 

2 | Comments & Reviews

When visitors leave comments or post book reviews, we collect the data shown in the form as well as the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help detect spam.

An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to display your avatar. The Gravatar privacy policy is available at: https://automattic.com/privacy/.

 

3 | Media

If you upload images (e.g., profile pictures), avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS), as other visitors may be able to extract this information.

 

4 | Crest Credits & Payments

When you purchase Crest Credits, payment processing is handled securely by third-party providers such as PayPal and Stripe. CrestReader does not store your full payment details. We only keep records necessary to credit your account and track transactions.

 

5 | Cookies

We use cookies to improve user experience:

  • To remember your login preferences.

  • To save display settings and session information.

  • To support forum features, reviews, and badges.

  • For analytics, caching, and site performance.

If you leave a comment or review, you may opt in to saving your name and email in cookies for convenience. Login cookies typically last for two days, and screen preference cookies for one year.

 

6 | Embedded Content

Articles and reviews on this site may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, or external articles). Embedded content from other websites behaves as if you visited those sites directly and may collect their own data about you.

 

 

How We Use Your Information

  • To provide and improve CrestReader’s features (forums, reviews, badges, leaderboards).

  • To manage Crest Credits and reward engagement.

  • To maintain security and prevent abuse (spam, fraud, or inappropriate content).

  • To process payments when you purchase credits or site services.

  • To communicate updates, news, or changes to the platform (opt-in only).

 

 

Who We Share Your Data With

  • Service providers: Payment processors (e.g., PayPal, Stripe).

  • Spam detection services: Visitor comments and posts may be checked through automated spam detection.

  • We do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties.

 

 

Data Retention

  • Comments and reviews are retained indefinitely to preserve discussions and community history.

  • Registered user profiles are stored until you choose to delete your account, or until inactive accounts are removed as part of routine maintenance.

  • Transaction records related to Crest Credits are retained for legal, tax, and administrative purposes.

 

 

Your Rights

If you have an account on CrestReader, you may:

  • Request an exported file of the personal data we hold about you.

  • Request correction or deletion of your personal data.

  • Request deletion of your account (note: deleting your account may also delete badges and Crest Credits associated with it).

This does not include data we are required to keep for administrative, legal, or security reasons.

 

 

Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data. However, no system is fully secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection against unauthorized access.

 

 

Children’s Privacy

CrestReader is not directed to children under 13 (or the relevant minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

 

 

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with the “Effective Date” updated. Significant changes may also be communicated via email or platform notice.

 

 

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, you can contact us at:
support@crestreader.com