Last updated: 10 June 2026
CreditSmart (“CreditSmart”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the website https://creditsmart.in (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices and rights you have. We’ve tried to write it in plain language — if anything is unclear, contact us using the details at the end.
By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in line with this policy.
Who we are
CreditSmart is an independent personal-finance publication based in India, covering credit cards, tax, investments, insurance, loans, and the stock market. We are a publisher of editorial content and tools — we are not a bank, lender, credit-card issuer, or RBI-registered financial advisor, and we do not collect, process, or submit credit-card or loan applications.
For any privacy-related question or request, contact us via our Contact page or email arun@creditsmart.in.
What data we collect
Information you give us directly
- Newsletter sign-ups: your email address when you subscribe to our money digest.
- Comments: if you comment on an article, the name, email address, and any website you enter, plus your IP address and browser user-agent string (used for spam detection).
- Contact messages: your name, email address, and the content of any message you send us through the contact form or by email.
Information collected automatically
- Usage and device data: via Google Analytics 4 (measurement ID G-D249DXMSK2), we collect anonymised/pseudonymised data such as pages viewed, time on page, approximate location (derived from IP, which Google truncates), device type, browser, and referral source. This helps us understand which guides and calculators are useful.
- Server logs: our hosting provider records standard technical data (IP address, timestamp, requested URL, user agent) for security and reliability.
- Cookies and similar technologies: see the Cookies section below.
Information we do not collect
We do not ask for or store financial-account details, card numbers, PAN, Aadhaar, passwords, or income documents. Our calculators run entirely in your browser — the figures you enter are not transmitted to or stored by us.
How we use your data
We use personal data only to:
- send the newsletter you asked for (and let you unsubscribe at any time);
- publish, moderate, and respond to comments;
- reply to messages you send us;
- measure and improve Site content and performance through aggregate analytics;
- protect the Site against spam, abuse, and security threats;
- comply with applicable legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.
Affiliate and referral links
CreditSmart is reader-supported. Some outbound links to card issuers and financial providers are referral links, which means we may earn a fee if you apply or sign up after clicking. This never influences which products we cover, how we rate them, or where they rank — our editorial decisions are made independently, and we publish no sponsored content. When you click such a link and leave our Site, the destination website becomes responsible for your data and may set its own cookies; please review its privacy policy.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. We use:
- Analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4) to understand how visitors use the Site, in aggregate.
- Comment cookies — if you leave a comment, you may opt in to saving your name, email, and website so you don’t have to re-enter them next time. These last up to one year.
- Functional cookies set by WordPress for core Site operation.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings, and you can decline non-essential cookies via our consent banner. Blocking analytics cookies will not affect your ability to read the Site.
Who we share data with
We share data only with service providers that help us run the Site, and only as needed:
- Google (Analytics): processes usage data on our behalf. See Google’s Privacy Policy.
- Our email/newsletter service provider: to deliver newsletter and transactional emails.
- Spam-detection services: to screen comments.
- Our hosting provider: which stores Site data on secure servers.
We may also disclose data if required by law, regulation, or valid legal process, or to protect our rights, users, or the public.
Where your data is stored and transferred
Our Site is hosted on servers that may be located in or outside India, and service providers such as Google may process data outside India. Where data is transferred across borders, we rely on those providers’ contractual and technical safeguards.
How long we keep your data
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete your address.
- Comments and their metadata: retained while the comment remains published, so we can recognise and approve follow-up comments.
- Contact messages: kept for as long as needed to handle your query and for a reasonable period afterwards.
- Analytics: retained per Google Analytics’ configured retention period.
Your rights
Subject to applicable law, including India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you have the right to:
- access the personal data we hold about you;
- request correction of inaccurate data;
- request deletion of your data (e.g. unsubscribe and removal of your email, or removal of a comment);
- withdraw consent you previously gave (e.g. for the newsletter);
- raise a grievance about how we handle your data.
To exercise any of these, contact us using the details below. We’ll respond within a reasonable timeframe. If you are in a jurisdiction with additional rights (such as the EU/UK under GDPR), those rights also apply to the extent relevant.
Children’s privacy
The Site is intended for adults (18+) and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including HTTPS encryption and access controls. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the latest version. Material changes will be reflected on this page; please check back periodically.
Contact / Grievance Officer
For privacy questions, data requests, or grievances:
- Email: arun@creditsmart.in
- Contact form: https://creditsmart.in/contact/
- Grievance Officer: Arun, CreditSmart