Privacy Policy - Harringay Removals
This Privacy Policy explains how Harringay Removals collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal data. It applies to all Harringay Removals customers in the area, including individuals, families, landlords, tenants, and business clients who use our services. We are committed to handling personal information lawfully, fairly, and transparently in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
By using our services, you acknowledge that your personal data may be processed as described in this policy. We only collect information that is necessary to provide removal services, manage our business relationship, meet legal obligations, and improve our operations.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect and process different types of personal data depending on the services requested. This may include:
- Identity information such as your name and title.
- Contact details such as your address, email address, and telephone number.
- Service information relating to your move, including property access details, move dates, inventory notes, and special handling instructions.
- Payment information such as billing address, payment status, and transaction records. We do not keep more payment data than necessary.
- Communication records including emails, messages, telephone notes, quotes, complaints, and feedback.
- Technical data if you interact with our digital systems, such as device type, browser type, and basic usage information.
- Special instructions you provide for the safe transport of fragile, valuable, or sensitive items.
We generally collect data directly from you when you request a quote, book a service, make an enquiry, sign a contract, or communicate with us. In some cases, we may receive information from third parties such as landlords, letting agents, estate agents, solicitors, or business representatives where this is necessary to arrange or complete the service.
2. How We Use Personal Data
We use personal data only where it is necessary and proportionate. Our purposes include:
- providing removal, packing, storage, and related services;
- preparing quotations and confirming bookings;
- planning and coordinating moves;
- communicating with customers about schedules, access, and service updates;
- processing payments and maintaining financial records;
- responding to enquiries, complaints, and claims;
- maintaining internal records and managing our business operations;
- meeting legal, accounting, insurance, and tax obligations;
- preventing fraud, misuse, or unlawful activity;
- improving customer service and service quality.
We do not use personal data for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects. If this changes in the future, we will update this policy and provide appropriate information.
3. Lawful Basis for Processing
We process personal data under one or more lawful bases permitted by data protection law. These include:
Contract
We process personal data where it is necessary to perform a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract. This includes preparing a quote, confirming a booking, delivering removal services, and managing related arrangements.
Legal obligation
We process some data to comply with legal requirements, such as tax, accounting, insurance, dispute handling, recordkeeping, and regulatory obligations.
Legitimate interests
We may process personal data where it is necessary for our legitimate business interests and where those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms. This may include internal administration, service improvement, customer communication, fraud prevention, and business record maintenance.
Consent
Where required by law, we will ask for your consent before using your data for certain optional activities. If we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
4. Retention of Personal Data
We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including any legal, accounting, or reporting obligations. Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and the nature of the service.
For example, customer records, invoices, contracts, and related communications may be retained for a period required by tax and business legislation. Information relating to quotes or enquiries that do not lead to a booking may be kept for a shorter period, unless needed for follow-up, complaints, or legal reasons.
When personal data is no longer needed, we will securely delete, destroy, or anonymise it.
5. Data Sharing and Processors
We may share personal data with trusted third parties who act as data processors on our behalf. These processors only handle data under our instructions and are required to keep it secure and use it only for specified purposes.
Examples of processors may include:
- IT and cloud storage providers;
- email and communication service providers;
- accounting and bookkeeping providers;
- payment processing services;
- customer relationship management tools;
- insurance or claims-handling providers;
- subcontracted service providers assisting with removals, packing, or storage where required.
We may also share data with professional advisers, insurers, or public authorities where necessary and lawful. If a third party acts as an independent controller, they will be responsible for their own privacy practices.
We do not sell personal data.
6. International Transfers
If any of our processors or service providers are located outside the UK, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place before any transfer of personal data. These safeguards may include adequacy regulations or approved contractual protections designed to keep your data secure and protected to the required standard.
7. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure. These measures may include access controls, secure storage, staff confidentiality obligations, and regular review of our data handling practices.
However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. While we work to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Your Data Protection Rights
Under data protection law, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal data. These rights may apply depending on the circumstances and legal basis for processing.
- Right of access - you may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification - you may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Right to erasure - you may request deletion of your personal data in certain situations.
- Right to restrict processing - you may ask us to limit how we use your data in certain cases.
- Right to object - you may object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
- Right to data portability - you may request that data you provided be transferred to you or another controller where applicable.
- Right to withdraw consent - where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office if you believe your data protection rights have been infringed. We encourage you to raise any concerns with us first so that we can try to resolve the matter promptly and fairly.
9. Children’s Data
Our services are not directed at children, and we do not intentionally collect data from children unless it is provided incidentally in the course of arranging a household move. Where children’s data is involved, we will only process it when necessary and appropriate, and always with care.
10. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or data protection practices. The most current version will apply to your use of our services. We recommend reviewing it periodically.
11. Our Commitment
Harringay Removals respects your privacy and aims to process personal data in a way that is lawful, fair, and transparent. We collect only what we need, keep it only as long as necessary, and use suitable safeguards to protect it. If you use our services, we will handle your information with care and in line with this policy.
By engaging Harringay Removals, you confirm that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.