Privacy Policy - Removals Andstorage

This Privacy Policy explains how Removals Andstorage collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal data when providing removal and storage services. It applies to all Removals Andstorage customers in area, including individuals, households, and business clients using our services. We are committed to handling personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who This Policy Applies To

This policy applies to current, past, and prospective customers, as well as individuals who communicate with us about a booking, quote, survey, storage arrangement, collection, delivery, or complaint. It also applies where we receive personal data from third parties who are arranging services on someone else’s behalf.

2. Personal Data We Collect

We only collect data that is necessary for us to provide our services, manage our relationship with you, and meet our legal obligations. The information we may collect includes:

Identity information such as your name, title, and business name.
Contact information such as billing address, service address, email address, and telephone number.
Service details such as move dates, property access details, inventory lists, storage requirements, and special handling instructions.
Financial information such as payment status, invoice history, and partial payment records.
Communication records including emails, phone notes, text messages, and complaint correspondence.
Insurance and claims information where applicable to service protection or damage claims.
Technical information such as basic website or device usage data if you interact with our online services.

We do not intentionally collect special category data unless it is strictly necessary and you choose to provide it, for example if it is relevant to access needs or a claim. If such information is received, we will apply extra protection and limit its use.

3. How We Use Personal Data

We use personal data for the following purposes:

To provide quotes, book services, and manage move or storage arrangements.
To identify you and verify instructions before carrying out work.
To plan routes, allocate staff, and organise the safe handling of items.
To manage billing, payments, refunds, and account administration.
To communicate about service changes, delays, access requirements, and customer support.
To handle complaints, insurance matters, and legal claims.
To maintain business records, quality control, and internal reporting.
To comply with tax, accounting, safety, and regulatory obligations.

We will never use your personal data in a way that is incompatible with these purposes without a valid legal basis.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process personal data only where we have a lawful basis under GDPR. Depending on the activity, the lawful basis may be one or more of the following:

Contract – processing is necessary to enter into or perform a service agreement with you, such as arranging a removal, storage, delivery, or invoice management.
Legal obligation – processing is necessary to meet legal or regulatory requirements, including tax, accounting, insurance, and record-keeping obligations.
Legitimate interests – processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as service planning, fraud prevention, customer support, and business improvement, provided your rights do not override those interests.
Consent – in limited situations, we may rely on your consent, such as for optional marketing communications or where required for specific data use. You may withdraw consent at any time.

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we assess the impact on your privacy and ensure our processing is proportionate and necessary.

5. Data Sharing and Processors

We may share personal data with trusted third parties that help us run our business and deliver services. These parties act as processors or, in some cases, independent controllers. We only share the minimum information required.

Examples of processors may include:

Payment service providers for processing transactions.
IT and software providers that host email, booking systems, or document storage.
Accountants and payroll providers for financial administration.
Insurance providers or claims administrators where a claim or policy review is involved.
Subcontracted removal teams where additional operational support is required.
Storage facility operators where goods are stored on your behalf.

All processors are required to protect personal data, use it only on our instructions, and implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures. We do not sell personal data.

6. International Transfers

Where a processor or service provider stores or accesses data outside the UK, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. These safeguards may include UK adequacy regulations, standard contractual clauses, or equivalent lawful transfer mechanisms.

7. Data Retention

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected and to meet legal, accounting, and operational requirements. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of data and the services provided.

Booking and service records are generally retained for the duration of the customer relationship and for a reasonable period afterward.
Financial and invoice records are kept for the period required by tax and accounting law.
Claims, disputes, and complaint records may be retained for as long as needed to resolve the matter and defend legal rights.
Marketing preferences are retained until you opt out or until they are no longer needed.

When personal data is no longer required, we will delete, anonymise, or securely archive it in line with our retention procedures.

8. Data Security

We use appropriate measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. These measures may include access controls, password protection, staff confidentiality obligations, secure storage, and restricted use of customer records. Although no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, we work to protect your information at a level appropriate to the risk.

9. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have a number of rights in relation to your personal data. Subject to legal limits, these may include:

Right of access – to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to rectification – to ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to erasure – to request deletion of your data in certain circumstances.
Right to restrict processing – to ask us to limit how we use your data in certain cases.
Right to object – to object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
Right to data portability – to receive certain data in a structured, commonly used format where applicable.
Right to withdraw consent – where consent is the lawful basis, you may withdraw it at any time.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, we will respond in accordance with GDPR time limits and requirements.

10. Children’s Data

Our services are not intended for children acting on their own behalf. If we receive information about a child in connection with a household move or storage arrangement, it will be handled only where necessary and with appropriate care.

11. Automated Decision-Making

We do not use personal data for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects without human involvement. Any service decisions are reviewed by staff where needed.

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. Any updated version will apply from the date it is issued or made available. We encourage customers to review it periodically so they remain informed about how their data is handled.

13. Summary of Key Commitments

We collect only the personal data needed to provide removal and storage services.
We process data on lawful bases including contract, legal obligation, legitimate interests, and consent where appropriate.
We share data only with trusted processors and other necessary third parties.
We retain data for no longer than necessary and delete or anonymise it when appropriate.
We respect your GDPR rights and keep personal data secure.

By using Removals Andstorage services, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in line with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.