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, households, landlords, tenants, and business clients who use our removal, packing, storage, and related 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. Personal Data We Collect

We collect only the information needed to provide our services, manage bookings, and meet our legal and operational obligations. The types of data we may collect include:

Identity details such as your name and, where relevant, the names of other household members or authorised representatives.
Contact details such as your address, email address, and telephone number.
Service details such as move date, property access information, inventory details, item descriptions, and special handling requirements.
Billing and payment information such as invoice details, payment status, and records necessary for accounting.
Communication records such as emails, call notes, text messages, complaints, and feedback.
Technical data such as basic website or device information if you contact us online, including IP address and browser details where applicable.
Special category data only if you choose to provide it and only where it is necessary, for example information relating to health or mobility needs that affect access, lifting, or scheduling arrangements.

We do not intentionally collect more data than is required. If you provide information about third parties, you should ensure you have the right to do so and that they are aware of this policy where appropriate.

2. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use personal data to deliver our services and operate our business efficiently. Typical uses include:

processing enquiries and preparing quotes;
booking and managing removal jobs;
planning routes, scheduling staff, and allocating vehicles;
packing, moving, storing, and delivering goods;
communicating with you before, during, and after a service;
issuing invoices, managing payments, and maintaining financial records;
handling complaints, claims, and disputes;
maintaining service quality, security, and operational records;
meeting legal, tax, insurance, and regulatory obligations.

We do not use personal data for purposes that are incompatible with the reasons it was collected.

3. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for each use of personal data. Harringay Removals may rely on one or more of the following:

Contract

We process personal data when it is necessary to enter into or perform a contract with you. This includes providing quotes you request, booking services, carrying out removals, and managing payments.

Legal Obligation

We process certain information where required by law, such as tax, accounting, insurance, or record-keeping obligations.

Legitimate Interests

We may process personal data where it is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided your rights do not override those interests. This can include service management, fraud prevention, business administration, internal record-keeping, and improving our operations. We always consider whether the processing is necessary and proportionate.

Consent

Where we rely on consent, for example for optional communications or the processing of certain special category data, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before it was withdrawn.

4. Sharing Personal Data and Processors

We may share personal data with trusted third parties where necessary to provide our services or comply with legal requirements. These third parties act as processors or, in some cases, independent controllers.

IT and cloud service providers that host storage, email, and administration systems.
Payment processors that handle card or electronic payments.
Accounting and bookkeeping providers that support financial administration.
Insurance providers and claims handlers where needed for cover or claims management.
Subcontracted removal teams where additional operational support is required.
Professional advisers such as lawyers, auditors, or insurers.
Public authorities where disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect legal rights.

When we use processors, they are only allowed to process personal data on our instructions and must protect it using appropriate technical and organisational measures. We require processors to act securely and to use the data only for the agreed purpose.

5. Retention of Personal Data

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of data and the nature of the service. For example:

booking and service records are kept for the period needed to manage the job and any follow-up issues;
invoices and payment records are retained for tax and accounting purposes;
complaints, claims, and dispute records are kept for as long as needed to resolve the matter and for a reasonable period afterward;
special category or access-related information is retained only for as long as necessary for the specific move or service arrangement.

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

6. Data Security

We use appropriate security measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or misuse. These measures may include access controls, secure storage, confidentiality arrangements, and staff awareness procedures. While no system can be guaranteed completely secure, we take reasonable steps to reduce risks and safeguard the information we hold.

7. Your Rights

As a data subject, you have important rights under data protection law. Subject to legal limitations, you may have the right to:

access the personal data we hold about you;
rectify inaccurate or incomplete information;
erase your data in certain circumstances;
restrict how we process your data in certain situations;
object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing;
data portability where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
complain to the relevant data protection authority if you believe your rights have been infringed.

We may need to verify your identity before responding to a rights request. If a request is clearly unfounded, repetitive, or excessive, we may refuse it or charge a reasonable fee where permitted by law.

8. International Transfers

If personal data is transferred outside the UK, we will only do so where appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the information and ensure it receives an equivalent level of protection. Such safeguards may include adequacy regulations or approved contractual measures.

9. Children???s Data

Our services are intended for adults and business clients. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children except where it is incidental to a household move and necessary for the service. In such cases, the information is limited to what is reasonably required and handled with care.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal obligations, or data handling practices. The most recent version will apply to all Harringay Removals customers in the area from the date it is published. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Summary of Our Commitment

Harringay Removals is committed to protecting your privacy and using personal data responsibly. We collect only what we need, use it for clear and lawful purposes, retain it for no longer than necessary, and share it only with trusted processors or where required by law. We respect your rights and aim to handle all information in a transparent and secure manner.

This policy applies to all Harringay Removals customers in the area.