The Lost Directory (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates thelostdirectory.com. This page lays out what information we collect, why we collect it, and what we do with it. No legalese maze — just the straight truth.

By using this site, you agree to the practices described here. If you don’t agree, that’s fine — but you should stop using the site.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Contact Form Submissions

When you use our contact form, we collect your name, email address, and whatever you write in the message field. We use this only to respond to your inquiry. We don’t sell it, share it, or add you to any list.

Newsletter Signups

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address. That’s it. We use it to send you new locations, exploration tips, and site updates. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email. We will never share your email address with third parties.

User-Submitted Locations

When you submit a location through our site, we may collect your name, email, and the details you provide about the location. Submitted location information may be published on the site. Your personal contact details will never be published without your explicit permission.

Comments

When you leave a comment on a post, we collect your name, email address, website (if provided), and IP address. Your name and comment are publicly visible. Your email and IP address are not displayed publicly. IP addresses are collected for spam prevention and moderation purposes.

Donations & Payment Information

If you choose to support The Lost Directory through a donation, your payment is processed by a third-party payment processor. We do not store, access, or handle your credit card, debit card, or banking information directly. All payment data is handled securely by the payment processor in accordance with PCI-DSS standards. We may receive your name, email, and donation amount for record-keeping purposes only.

COOKIES & TRACKING

Analytics

We use Google Analytics (via MonsterInsights) to understand how visitors use our site — things like which pages are popular, how long people stay, and where traffic comes from. This data is anonymized and aggregated. We use it to improve the site, not to track you personally. Google Analytics may place cookies on your browser. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

Advertising Cookies

We may display advertisements on our site through third-party advertising networks. These networks may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to serve ads based on your browsing activity across websites. You can manage your ad preferences through your browser settings or by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt-out page at optout.aboutads.info.

Essential Cookies

WordPress uses a small number of essential cookies to keep the site functioning — things like remembering your login session or saving your comment details for convenience. These are necessary for the site to work properly.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the information we collect to:

→ Respond to your messages and inquiries

→ Send newsletter updates you opted into

→ Publish submitted location content (with your knowledge)

→ Moderate comments and prevent spam

→ Understand how the site is used so we can improve it

→ Process donations securely through third-party processors

→ Display relevant advertisements

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to anyone. Period.

THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

We use a limited number of third-party services to run this site. Each has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data:

→ Google Analytics — Website traffic analysis

→ MonsterInsights — Analytics dashboard integration

→ Newsletter Provider — Email delivery (to be determined)

→ Payment Processor — Donation handling (to be determined)

→ Advertising Networks — Ad display and targeting

→ WPForms — Contact form processing

This policy will be updated with specific provider names and links to their privacy policies as those services are finalized.

DATA RETENTION

Contact form submissions are retained for up to one year unless you request earlier deletion. Newsletter subscriber data is kept until you unsubscribe. Comment data is retained for as long as the comment remains published on the site. Analytics data is retained according to Google Analytics’ default retention settings.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to:

→ Request access to the personal data we hold about you

→ Request correction of inaccurate data

→ Request deletion of your data

→ Unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time

→ Request removal of your comments

→ Opt out of analytics tracking and advertising cookies

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

The Lost Directory is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we will delete it immediately.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we’ll update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be communicated through a site notice or newsletter. Your continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, reach out:

Email: [email protected]

Website: thelostdirectory.com

We take your privacy seriously. If something here doesn’t sit right, tell us. We’ll fix it.