Privacy Policy
1. Information We Collect
Mera Kharcha is a smart finance tracking app that requires access to transaction-related SMS messages on your device. This permission is essential for automatically detecting financial transactions such as bank debits, credits, card payments, UPI transfers, and wallet activity.
We do not read or use personal or promotional SMS. Only transactional messages from banks, financial institutions, and payment services are processed. This ensures accurate expense calculation without accessing unrelated content.
We never upload, store, or share your SMS content with servers or third parties. All SMS processing happens locally on your device.
Mera Kharcha uses Firebase Anonymous Sign-In to create a secure session so that only you can access your saved data. When you choose to log in with your Google account, your existing anonymous data is securely migrated to your Google-linked Mera Kharcha account, ensuring only you can access it.
- Analytical Data: We collect anonymized usage analytics (like feature usage, crashes, logs) to improve the app. These analytics never include SMS content or financial details.
2. Why We Need SMS Permission
Mera Kharcha requests SMS permission solely for detecting financial transactions. Without this, the app cannot automatically track expenses or generate accurate summaries.
Your SMS data is never transmitted, shared, or sold.
3. Default SMS App Feature
Mera Kharcha now offers the option to set it as your default SMS app. This feature allows you to manage all your text messages directly within Mera Kharcha while continuing to track your financial transactions seamlessly.
Why We Need Default SMS App Permission:
- To provide a unified experience where you can read, send, and manage SMS messages alongside your expense tracking.
- To enable full SMS functionality including sending messages, receiving messages, and managing conversations.
- To allow you to use Mera Kharcha as your primary messaging app without needing to switch between multiple applications.
All SMS messages remain completely local on your device. We do not upload, store, sync, or share any of your SMS content with our servers or any third party. Your personal conversations stay private and secure on your device only.
4. Contacts Permission
When using Mera Kharcha as your default SMS app, we request access to your Contacts to enhance your messaging experience.
Why We Need Contacts Permission:
- To display contact names instead of phone numbers in your message threads.
- To help you easily select recipients when composing new messages.
- To provide a seamless messaging experience similar to your device's native SMS app.
Your contact information stays completely local on your device. We never upload, sync, or share your contacts with anyone. This permission is used solely to improve the messaging interface within the app.
5. What You Can Do with Default SMS App
When you set Mera Kharcha as your default SMS app, you can:
- Read all your SMS messages within the app.
- Send text messages to any contact or phone number.
- Receive and view incoming messages in real-time.
- Manage your message threads and conversations.
- Delete unwanted messages.
- Search through your message history.
- Continue automatic financial transaction tracking from SMS.
All messaging features work entirely offline and locally. Your privacy remains fully protected.
6. How We Use Your Information
We use your information only to provide and improve the Mera Kharcha experience:
- Maintaining app performance and security.
- Improving features and usability.
- Providing customer support when needed.
7. Data Storage and Security
All SMS and financial data is processed locally on your device. Nothing is uploaded unless you enable cloud sync via Google login. Strong security and encryption practices ensure your data remains protected.
8. Data Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or share your personal or financial data. Your SMS and transaction data are never uploaded or shared. We only disclose non-sensitive information when:
- You request or authorize it.
- Required by law.
- Necessary to protect user safety or public rights.
Mera Kharcha never shares your data with anyone in any circumstances.
9. Use of Alarm & Background Services
Mera Kharcha uses AlarmManager and WorkManager to send reminders such as upcoming bills, payment reminders, and split-payment alerts. These run locally on your device and do not collect or share data.
10. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access your financial data stored in the app.
- Update or correct your information.
- Export your financial summaries and reports.
- Delete all your data anytime from within the app.
You can delete your entire account and all associated data directly from the app itself. This permanently removes your data from your device and from your Google-linked account if used.
11. Data Retention
Your data stays only on your device (or your Google account if synced). Removing the app or deleting your account erases all data permanently, as we do not store it on any external server.
12. Children's Privacy
Mera Kharcha is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children.
13. Changes to Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as features evolve. Significant changes will be communicated within the app.
14. Contact Us
For questions regarding this Privacy Policy or how Mera Kharcha handles data, contact us at codexcollab@gmail.com.
