Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Forthclear handles personal data when business users browse the B2B surplus marketplace, create an account, list inventory, communicate, or complete an order.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the information needed to operate a buyer or seller account and the transactions initiated through it.

• Account and business-contact details, including name, email address, company details, and account role.
• Listing data supplied by sellers, including product descriptions, photos, condition, quantity, pricing, and shipping information.
• Buyer enquiries, seller responses, order records, delivery details, and dispute or support communications.
• Payment, payout, and identity-verification status supplied by Stripe; Forthclear does not need your full card or bank credentials to display that status.
• Technical and usage data such as IP address, browser type, device information, requested pages, and cookie preferences.

2. Listings Submitted from Forthcast

A Shopify merchant may choose to send surplus-listing fields to Forthclear from inside the separate Forthcast app. Forthclear receives the listing data the merchant submits for that purpose; the standalone Forthclear marketplace does not require a direct Shopify OAuth connection.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information to create and secure accounts, publish and manage listings, connect buyers and sellers, process and document orders, support payment and payout workflows, prevent misuse, respond to support requests, and comply with legal obligations.

4. Stripe Payments and Identity Checks

Stripe processes buyer payments, seller payouts, and the identity checks sellers complete before receiving payouts. Stripe handles payment and identity data under its own privacy terms. Forthclear receives the account, verification, and transaction status needed to operate the marketplace.

5. When We Share Information

We share information with the buyer or seller involved in a transaction, with service providers needed to host and secure the marketplace or process payments, and when disclosure is required by law. Transaction parties receive only the information needed to communicate, fulfil, receive, or resolve that transaction.

6. Data Retention

We retain account and marketplace records for as long as needed to provide the service and to meet transaction, fraud-prevention, tax, accounting, dispute, and other legal obligations. When information is no longer required, we delete or de-identify it.

7. Security

We use administrative, technical, and organisational safeguards designed to protect marketplace data. No internet transmission or storage method is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or export your personal data, or to object to certain processing. To make a request, contact us at the address below. We may need to verify your identity before acting.

9. AI Assistants and Connected Apps

You can use Forthclear through third-party AI assistants, such as ChatGPT or Claude, that connect to our MCP server. Anyone can search listings and request a quote without an account. To reach your account, you sign in on app.forthclear.io and approve the specific permissions requested, for example reading your orders or managing your listings. Connected apps never receive your password. Access tokens and API keys are stored only in hashed form, and you can revoke access at any time by disconnecting the app or contacting us.

When an assistant calls one of our tools, we receive the tool name, the inputs it sends (such as search terms, product IDs, quantities, and the email address supplied with a quote request), and technical data such as IP address and user agent. We use this to fulfil the request, prevent abuse, and improve search. Raw request logs are deleted after 90 days, and aggregated statistics are kept for up to one year.

We return only the data needed to answer each request, and only data your account is authorised to see. The assistant provider handles your conversation under its own privacy policy; we do not receive your conversation beyond the tool inputs described above. We do not use this data for advertising or sell it.

10. Contact

Questions or privacy requests can be sent to info@forthclear.io.