Section 1
Who We Are
Tekoa Payments RMS is a merchant services business operated by Carlos Schrock, an Account Executive with Real Merchant Services, based in Tennessee. We help Tennessee business owners review, optimize, and simplify their payment processing.
This privacy policy applies to information collected through our website at tekoapaymentsrms.com and through any direct communications with us — including phone calls, emails, and form submissions.
Section 2
What Information We Collect
We collect information in two ways — information you provide directly to us, and limited information collected automatically when you visit our website.
Information You Provide Directly
- Contact information — your name, phone number, and email address when you submit a savings analysis request or contact us directly
- Business information — your business name and details about your current payment processing when you request a statement review
- Processing statements — merchant processing statements you choose to share with us for the purpose of our free savings analysis
- Communications — the content of any emails, texts, or messages you send to us
Information Collected Automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, time spent on pages, and general navigation behavior on our website
- Device information — browser type, operating system, and screen size (used only for improving how our site displays)
- IP address — collected automatically by our hosting platform; used only for security and analytics purposes
We do not collect payment card numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive financial credentials through this website.
Section 3
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect only for the purposes of providing merchant services and responding to your inquiries. Specifically, we use your information to:
- Contact you to schedule and conduct your free savings analysis
- Review your merchant processing statement and prepare a cost comparison
- Respond to questions, follow up on consultations, and provide ongoing support
- Send you relevant information about payment processing options — only if you have requested it or expressed interest
- Improve our website and educational resources based on how visitors use them
- Comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations
We will never use your information to send unsolicited marketing from third parties, sell your data, or contact you in ways unrelated to the services you requested.
Section 5
How We Protect Your Information
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information you share with us from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. These steps include:
- Our website is served over HTTPS — all data transmitted between your browser and our site is encrypted in transit
- Access to any personal information you share is limited to Carlos Schrock and Real Merchant Services personnel directly involved in your account
- Merchant processing statements shared for review are used solely for the purpose of preparing your savings analysis and are not stored or distributed beyond that purpose
- We do not store payment card numbers or sensitive financial credentials
No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we use commercially reasonable practices to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you have concerns about sharing sensitive documents, please contact us directly and we will discuss the most appropriate method for your situation.
Section 6
Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve how the site functions and to understand how visitors use it. We do not use cookies to track you across other websites or to serve you targeted advertising.
Types of cookies that may be used
- Essential cookies — required for the website to function properly
- Analytics cookies — help us understand which pages are visited most and how visitors navigate the site, so we can improve the content
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some functionality of the website but will not prevent you from accessing any content or submitting a form.
Our website is hosted on PhoneSites, which may use its own analytics and tracking tools. Please refer to PhoneSites' privacy policy for details on their data practices.
Section 7
Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights regarding the personal information you have shared with us:
- Access — You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correction — You may ask us to correct any inaccurate information
- Deletion — You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to any legal obligations we may have to retain certain records
- Opt-out of communications — You may ask us to stop contacting you at any time by replying to any message with "unsubscribe" or by contacting us directly
- Data portability — You may request that we provide your information in a standard, portable format
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond to all requests within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days.
Section 8
How Long We Keep Your Information
We retain personal information only for as long as it is needed to provide the services you have requested or as required by applicable law. Specifically:
- Contact information submitted through our website is retained for as long as there is an active business relationship or inquiry, and for a reasonable period thereafter in case you return with questions
- Merchant processing statements shared for a savings analysis are used for that analysis and are not retained beyond the period necessary to complete and communicate the results
- If you become an active merchant services client, your account information will be retained in accordance with Real Merchant Services' data retention policies and applicable regulatory requirements
- You may request deletion of your information at any time by contacting us directly
Section 9
Children's Privacy
Our website and services are intended for business owners and adults making business decisions. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will promptly delete it.
Section 10
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acknowledgment of the updated policy. If we make significant changes that affect how we handle your personal information, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you directly.
Section 11
Contact Us
If you have questions about this privacy policy, want to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how your information is handled, please contact us directly:
Tekoa Payments RMS
We are committed to responding to all privacy-related inquiries promptly and working with you to resolve any concerns.