Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 12, 2026

Privacy Policy

Who we are

Stark SMS Solutions (Stark Automotive Services LLC), St. Joseph, Missouri · (816) 883-5946. This page explains what customer information we keep in the Stark SMS Solutions system, why we keep it, and how you can control it.

What information we store

To service your vehicle we keep: your name, phone number, email address, and billing/service address; vehicle information (VIN, year, make, model, mileage, photos); service records (inspections, recommended and completed work, parts used); estimates, invoices, and payment records; and messages between you and us (texts, emails, portal messages).

Why we store it

We use this information to schedule and perform service, maintain an accurate service history for your vehicle, prepare estimates and invoices, process payments, honor warranties, send service reminders, and meet tax and business record-keeping requirements. We keep your information only as long as needed for these purposes and as required by law.

Vehicle history reporting

We are a member of the CARFAX Service Network. Service performed on your vehicle (VIN, service date, mileage, and services performed — no personal contact information) may be reported to vehicle history providers so it appears on the vehicle's history report.

How we protect it

Records are stored on secure, US-based servers. Access is limited to the staff who need it to do their jobs. We never sell your personal information. If your unencrypted personal information is ever compromised in a data breach, we will notify you as required by Missouri law.

Who we share it with

We share information only as needed to serve you: parts suppliers (to order your parts), payment processors (to take payment), our accounting software provider (QuickBooks — invoices and payment records, so our books stay accurate), and vehicle history providers as described above — or when required by law. We do not share it for anyone else's marketing.

Phone calls and our AI receptionist

When you call us, your call may be answered by Marge, our AI (virtual) receptionist. Marge identifies herself as a virtual receptionist at the start of every call, and every call begins with a notice that the call may be recorded.

Calls with Marge are recorded, and a written transcript is kept with your service records so we can book your appointment accurately and review call quality. Access to recordings and transcripts is limited to our staff. To understand you and respond, your voice is processed in real time by our voice AI provider (OpenAI). We never sell call recordings or transcripts, and we do not use them for advertising.

Marge can book appointments, add a vehicle, and look up your service status. Before she shares account details — balances, service status, or your appointments — she verifies your identity with your 4-digit PIN.

If you give Marge your license plate number, we send the plate number — and nothing that identifies you personally — to a vehicle data provider (VinWiki) to retrieve your vehicle's VIN, year, make, and model so we can set it up correctly.

Your rights

You may ask us at any time for a copy of the information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. When you ask us to delete your profile we remove your name, contact details, and address from our customer records. Some records the law requires us to keep are not deleted: invoices and payment records (kept 7 years for tax purposes) and communication records — texts, emails, and portal messages — which federal texting/telemarketing rules require us to keep for 5 years, even after your profile is deleted. Contact us at (816) 883-5946.

Data retention

We keep different records for different lengths of time:

• Texts, emails, and portal messages: 5 years from the date sent. Federal law gives consumers 4 years to bring a claim about unwanted texts or calls, and requires businesses to keep message and consent records for 5 years — so these records are kept even if you delete your profile or opt out. Records older than 5 years are automatically deleted.
• Phone call recordings and transcripts: kept with your communication records (5 years, as above).
• Invoices and payment records: 7 years (tax record-keeping).
• Service history (inspections, work performed, warranties): kept for the life of the vehicle record so warranty and service history stay accurate; personal contact details are removed on deletion request.
• Everything else: deleted when you ask us to delete your profile, or when it is no longer needed for the purposes above.

Your consent

By giving us your information or using our services, you consent to us storing and using it as described here. You can update your communication preferences (email, phone, text) at any time through the consent link we send you, or by contacting us.

Text messages (SMS)

If you opt in to text messages, we collect your mobile phone number and your opt-in consent. We use them only to send you service-related texts: appointment reminders, repair status updates, and links to estimates and invoices. Message frequency varies. Standard message & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to any text to opt out; reply HELP for help.

We do not sell or share your SMS opt-in data or personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.