Privacy Policy - Carpet Cleaners Stockwell

Carpet Cleaners Stockwell is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all customers in the Stockwell area. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share personal information, and sets out the rights available to individuals under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. It applies to all Carpet Cleaners Stockwell customers in the area, including anyone who requests a quotation, books a service, communicates with us, or receives cleaning services from us.

1. Who We Are

For the purposes of data protection law, Carpet Cleaners Stockwell acts as the data controller for the personal information we handle in connection with our carpet cleaning services. This means we decide why and how personal data is used. We only process personal data where there is a clear and lawful reason to do so, and we aim to use fair, transparent, and secure practices at all times.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process several types of personal data depending on how you interact with us and the services you request. The information we collect may include:

Identity information such as your name;
Contact details such as address, email address, and phone number;
Service details such as the type of cleaning requested, property access notes, preferred appointment times, and instructions relevant to the job;
Payment information where needed to process invoices or payments;
Communication records including messages, complaints, service requests, and feedback;
Technical information such as basic website or device data if you contact us online;
Transaction history showing services booked, completed, or queried.

We do not intentionally collect special category data unless it is clearly necessary and lawful. If such data is ever shared with us, we will only process it where permitted by law and with appropriate safeguards.

3. How We Collect Personal Data

We collect personal data directly from you when you request a service, make an enquiry, confirm a booking, or communicate with us. We may also receive information from third parties involved in delivering the service, such as payment providers or subcontractors acting on our behalf. In some cases, information may be provided by a person arranging a service on behalf of another household member or business occupant.

4. Why We Use Personal Data

We use personal data only for legitimate business and service purposes. These include:

Providing quotations and responding to enquiries;
Managing bookings and scheduling appointments;
Delivering carpet cleaning and related services;
Processing payments and keeping financial records;
Communicating service updates, changes, or follow-up information;
Handling complaints, queries, and customer support matters;
Maintaining internal records and service quality;
Meeting legal, accounting, and regulatory obligations;
Preventing fraud, misuse, or unlawful activity.

We will only use your information for purposes that are compatible with the original reason it was collected, unless a lawful basis allows otherwise.

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. Carpet Cleaners Stockwell relies on the following lawful bases, depending on the situation:

Contract

We process personal data when it is necessary to perform a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract. For example, this includes providing a quotation, confirming a booking, or completing a carpet cleaning service.

Legitimate Interests

We may process certain data where it is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided that your rights and interests do not override those interests. This may include managing our operations, improving services, maintaining security, and keeping internal records. We always consider whether the processing is proportionate and whether there is a less intrusive way to achieve the same purpose.

Legal Obligation

Some information must be processed or retained because we have a legal obligation to do so. This may include tax records, accounting data, and other records required by applicable law.

Consent

In limited cases, we may rely on your consent, for example where you have agreed to receive certain optional communications. If we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time, and this will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

6. Data Retention

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, reporting, and business requirements. Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and the purpose of processing.

Booking and service records are usually kept for a reasonable period to manage customer history, queries, and disputes;
Financial and tax records are retained for the period required by law;
Communication records may be retained for customer service and operational purposes;
Complaint or incident records may be retained longer where necessary to resolve issues or defend legal claims.

When personal data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted, anonymised, or otherwise disposed of in a safe manner. We aim to retain data for no longer than necessary and regularly review the information we hold.

7. Processors and Data Sharing

We may share personal data with trusted processors who help us provide services and operate efficiently. These third parties only process data on our instructions and are required to protect it appropriately. Examples of processors may include:

Payment processing providers;
Accounting or bookkeeping services;
IT support and data storage providers;
Administrative or scheduling support services;
Subcontractors assisting with service delivery, where required.

We may also disclose personal data where required by law, court order, or regulatory request, or where necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights. We do not sell personal data. Any sharing is limited to what is necessary and is subject to appropriate safeguards.

8. Security of Personal Data

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against accidental loss, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. These measures are designed to reflect the nature of the data we process and the risks involved. Although no system can be guaranteed completely secure, we work to maintain a high standard of protection and limit access to personal data on a need-to-know basis.

9. Your Rights

Individuals whose personal data we process have a number of rights under data protection law. These rights may apply in different circumstances and may be subject to legal limitations. They include:

The right of access to obtain a copy of the personal data we hold about you;
The right to rectification to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
The right to erasure in certain cases, sometimes known as the right to be forgotten;
The right to restrict processing in certain circumstances;
The right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing;
The right to data portability where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means;
The right to withdraw consent where consent is the lawful basis for processing.

You also have the right to raise concerns about how your data is handled. If you believe your rights have not been respected, you may lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. We encourage you to contact us first so that we can try to resolve any issue promptly and fairly.

10. International Transfers

Where personal data is transferred outside the United Kingdom, we will only do so where appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the information in line with applicable data protection law. This may include approved contractual protections or transfers to countries recognised as providing adequate protection.

11. Children’s Data

Our services are intended for adults and household or business customers. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children unless it is necessary in connection with a service request and is provided by an adult with authority to do so. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child without proper authorisation, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, our services, or how we process personal data. The updated version will take effect when published or otherwise communicated. We recommend reviewing this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Summary of Our Commitment

Carpet Cleaners Stockwell is committed to responsible data handling, lawful processing, and respectful service. We only collect information that is necessary, keep it for no longer than needed, share it only with trusted processors or when required by law, and uphold the rights of all customers in the Stockwell area. By using our services, you can be assured that your personal data will be handled with care, transparency, and respect for your privacy.