Privacy policy
Your messages stay on your phone.
Last updated 7 November 2026
This policy explains what the Mella Check Android app (com.mellacheck.app) accesses, what it does with it, and what third-party services receive. Mella Check is made in Ethiopia.
In short: Mella Check reads Telebirr payment SMS on your phone to show them as receipts. The text of your messages, and the names, phone numbers, amounts and references in them, are processed only on your device. They are never uploaded, sold or shared. There is no Mella Check account and no Mella Check server. The app uses Google services for ads, usage statistics, crash reports and updates, which receive limited device and usage data described below.
1. Permissions and why the app needs them
SMS (READ_SMS, RECEIVE_SMS)
The core purpose of Mella Check is to help merchants and agents confirm that a Telebirr payment has arrived. To do that, the app reads SMS messages already in your phone’s inbox and listens for new ones, then picks out messages from Telebirr and shows the amount, payer, reference and time.
- Messages are read and sorted on your phone only. They are kept in memory while the app runs and are not copied into a separate database or file.
- Message content is never transmitted off the device, including to analytics, crash reporting or advertising services.
- The app never sends, edits or deletes SMS. Your messages remain managed by Android’s messaging app.
- Messages that are not from Telebirr are ignored.
Phone state (READ_PHONE_STATE)
Used only to list the active SIM cards so you can filter payments by the line they arrived on. SIM information stays on the device. The app does not read your phone number, call log or contacts, and does not make calls.
Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS)
Used to alert you when a new payment message arrives. Notifications are marked private, so their content is hidden on the lock screen when your phone is set to hide sensitive content.
You can withdraw any permission at any time in Android Settings → Apps → Mella Check → Permissions.
2. Data stored on your device
The app saves a few settings on the phone: whether you have finished the welcome screen, whether permission was requested, and your theme choice. This data is excluded from Android cloud backup and device-to-device transfer, and is deleted when you uninstall the app or clear its data.
3. Third-party services
Mella Check uses the following Google services. They collect data under their own policies; Mella Check does not pass SMS content, names, phone numbers, amounts or references to any of them.
| Service | Purpose | Data it receives |
|---|---|---|
| Google AdMob | Shows ads that keep the app free | Advertising ID, IP address, device and app information, ad interactions, approximate location derived from IP |
| Firebase Analytics | Understanding which screens and buttons are used, to improve the app | App-instance ID, usage events (for example “opened a receipt”, “changed time window”), device model, Android version, language, approximate location derived from IP |
| Firebase Crashlytics | Finding and fixing crashes | Crash traces, device model, Android version, app version, installation identifier |
| Google Play (in-app updates) | Offering new versions inside the app | Information Google Play already holds about the installed app |
Learn more in Google’s Privacy Policy, how Google uses data from sites and apps that use its services, and Privacy and Security in Firebase.
4. Advertising and your choices
Where the law requires consent (for example in the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland), the app asks before personalised ads are shown, and you can change your choice later under Settings → Ad privacy choices in the app. Anywhere, you can reset or delete your advertising ID, or opt out of personalised ads, in Android Settings → Google → Ads (on newer phones, Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Ads).
5. Data sharing and sale
We do not sell personal data. Apart from the Google services listed above, which act as service providers, we do not share data with anyone. We may disclose information if required by law.
6. Retention
SMS data is never stored by us, so there is nothing to retain. Analytics data is kept by Google for up to 14 months. Crash reports are kept for up to 90 days. Advertising data is retained according to Google’s policies.
7. Security
Message processing happens on the device, so your SMS is protected by your phone’s own security. Data sent to Google services is encrypted in transit. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we limit what is collected to reduce risk.
8. Deleting your data
Mella Check has no account. Uninstalling the app removes everything it stored on your phone. To ask us to delete analytics and crash data linked to your installation, see Data deletion.
9. Children
Mella Check is a business tool for merchants and agents and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has used the app, contact us and we will help remove any related data.
10. Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we will update this page and the date at the top. Significant changes will also be noted in the app’s release notes.
11. Contact
Questions about privacy: message us on Telegram at @mella_check_bot.