Retrohotline (“we,” “us,” or “the line”) operates this site and the SMS-to-call service. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, who we share it with, and what rights you have over it.
What we collect
To deliver the service, we collect and store the following:
- Your phone number — required so we can verify you with a one-time SMS code, send replies, and place outbound calls back to you.
- The text messages you send to the line — used in real time to route your call to the right oracle and to provide the agent with the context of your request. We store the message text against your account.
- Call metadata — which oracle you spoke with, the timestamp, and an opaque conversation identifier from our voice provider. We use this for usage limits, abuse prevention, and the call history shown on your account page.
- Subscription and billing information — when you subscribe, our payment processor (Stripe) collects payment details directly. We never see your full card number. We store only the Stripe customer ID, plan name, status, and renewal date.
- A signed session cookie — placed on your browser after phone verification so you stay logged in. It contains your internal user ID and an expiry timestamp, signed with a server secret. It does not contain personal data and is not shared with third parties.
What we don't collect
- No call transcripts. We do not record or store the contents of your phone calls with the oracles. Calls are ephemeral. If we ever change this, we will update this policy and notify subscribers in advance, and you will be able to opt out.
- No analytics or third-party trackers. The site does not run Google Analytics, Meta pixels, or similar tools.
- No advertising cookies.
- No data sales. We do not sell, rent, or trade your information. Ever.
Service providers
We rely on a small set of vendors to operate the service. They only see what they need to do their job and are bound by their own privacy obligations:
- A telecommunications provider for SMS delivery and outbound voice calls — receives your phone number and the text content you send to the line.
- Voice and AI providers — receive the call audio in real time and the routing-relevant content of your inbound text. Per our configuration, these providers do not retain transcripts on our behalf, and we do not authorize them to use your data to train their models.
- A managed database and hosting provider for the website and backend — store account data, call metadata, and serve the application.
- Stripe — payment processor. Stripe handles all card data directly under their own privacy policy when you go through checkout.
We can name specific vendors on request. Contact us at the email below.
How we use what we collect
- To deliver the service you signed up for (verify, route, call back, bill).
- To enforce subscription caps and prevent abuse.
- To respond to support requests you send us.
- To detect and respond to safety-relevant content (e.g. routing crisis-flagged messages to 988 instead of the oracles).
We do not use your data to train AI models — neither ours nor a vendor's.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights under applicable privacy laws to access, correct, delete, or export your personal information. This includes (but is not limited to) the GDPR and UK GDPR for residents of the European Union and United Kingdom, and the CCPA / CPRA for California residents.
To exercise any of these rights, email support@retrohotline.com from the email address or phone number associated with your account. We will respond within 30 days.
You can also stop receiving SMS from the line at any time by replying STOP to any of our messages. Standard carrier message and data rates may apply.
Data retention
We retain account data and call metadata for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize associated personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain certain records for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention purposes.
Children
Retrohotline is for adults. You must be at least 18 years old to use the service. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has used the service, contact us and we will delete the account and any associated data.
Updates to this policy
We may update this policy as the product evolves. The current version is always dated at the top of this page. Material changes will be announced before they take effect, by email if we have one on file, or by SMS to the verified phone on your account.
Contact
Privacy questions, access requests, and complaints: support@retrohotline.com.