This Privacy Policy explains how Local Plumbers (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, stores and protects your personal data when you visit our website at localplumbersltd.co.uk or contact us to request plumbing and heating services.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. Who We Are
Local Plumbers is the data controller responsible for your personal data. If you have any questions about how we handle your data, please contact us:
- Email: hello@localplumbersltd.co.uk
- Website: localplumbersltd.co.uk
2. What Data We Collect
When you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of personal data:
2.1 Data You Provide Directly
- Your name and contact details (email address, postcode)
- Details of the plumbing or heating work you require
- Messages and correspondence you send us
- Payment information (processed securely via Stripe; we do not store card details)
- Business information provided during our Partner sign-up process
2.2 Data Collected Automatically
- IP address and browser type
- Pages visited and time spent on our website
- Referring website or search query
- Cookie data (see our Cookie Policy for full details)
3. How We Use Your Data
We process your personal data on the following legal bases:
3.1 Performance of a Contract
- To respond to your service enquiries and quote requests
- To arrange and carry out plumbing and heating work
- To process payments and issue receipts
- To manage the Partner plumber programme
3.2 Legitimate Interests
- To improve our website and services
- To prevent fraud and ensure the security of our systems
- To analyse usage patterns to make our services more relevant
3.3 Consent
- To send you marketing communications, where you have opted in
- To place non-essential cookies on your device
4. Who We Share Your Data With
We do not sell your personal data. We may share it with:
- Partner plumbers: your enquiry details are shared with the verified Gas Safe registered engineer covering your county, solely to respond to your service request
- Stripe: for secure payment processing (their Privacy Policy applies)
- Email delivery providers: used to send confirmation and notification emails
- Analytics providers: aggregated, anonymised data only
- Regulatory or law enforcement authorities: where required by law
5. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary:
- Enquiry and service records: 6 years (to comply with HMRC requirements)
- Partner account data: duration of the partnership plus 6 years
- Marketing consent records: until you withdraw consent
- Website analytics: 26 months in aggregate form
6. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:
- 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 ask us to delete your data in certain circumstances
- Right to restriction: to ask us to limit how we use your data
- Right to data portability: to receive your data in a machine-readable format
- Right to object: to object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Right to withdraw consent: at any time, where processing is based on consent
To exercise any of these rights, please email hello@localplumbersltd.co.uk. We will respond within 30 days.
7. Cookies
We use cookies on our website. For full details of what cookies we use and how to manage them, please see our Cookie Policy at localplumbersltd.co.uk/cookie-policy/.
8. Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss or destruction. These measures include SSL/TLS encryption, access controls, and regular security reviews. All Partner plumbers are vetted and subject to contractual confidentiality obligations.
9. International Transfers
We do not routinely transfer your personal data outside the UK. Where any service provider processes data in a third country, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice on our website. The current version will always be available at localplumbersltd.co.uk/privacy-policy/.
11. How to Complain
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: ico.org.uk
- Telephone: 0303 123 1113
We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns before you contact the ICO. Please email us first at hello@localplumbersltd.co.uk.