Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

TradeMatch UK Ltd ("TradeMatch", "we", "us") is the data controller responsible for your personal data. We are committed to protecting your privacy and processing your data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, who we share it with and your rights under data protection law.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data:

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, postal address and password.
• Profile information: for tradespeople, this includes qualifications, trade certifications, insurance details and business information.
• Job and quote data: descriptions of work requested, quotes submitted, messages between users and project photos.
• Payment data: bank details and transaction records processed through our secure payment provider.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, cookies and usage analytics.
• Communications: emails, support tickets and feedback you send us.

3. How We Use Your Data

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

• To provide and operate the TradeMatch marketplace platform.
• To verify tradesperson identity, qualifications and insurance.
• To match homeowners with suitable tradespeople.
• To process payments and prevent fraud.
• To send service-related communications and notifications.
• To improve our platform through analytics and user research.
• To comply with legal obligations.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We rely on the following lawful bases under the UK GDPR:

• Contract: processing necessary to perform our contract with you as a user of the Platform.
• Legitimate interest: improving our services, preventing fraud and marketing our platform.
• Legal obligation: complying with tax, regulatory and legal requirements.
• Consent: for optional marketing communications, which you can withdraw at any time.

5. Data Sharing

We share personal data only where necessary and with appropriate safeguards:

• Between homeowners and tradespeople to facilitate job matching and communication.
• With payment processors to handle transactions securely.
• With identity verification providers for tradesperson vetting.
• With law enforcement or regulatory bodies where required by law.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account closure, we retain data for up to 6 years to comply with legal and regulatory obligations. Anonymous analytics data may be retained indefinitely.

7. Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Request deletion of your data (right to be forgotten).
• Object to or restrict certain processing activities.
• Request data portability in a machine-readable format.
• Withdraw consent for optional processing at any time.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

8. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, analyse usage and support marketing. Essential cookies are required for the Platform to function. Analytics and marketing cookies are optional and can be managed through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, regular security audits and incident response procedures.

10. International Transfers

Your data is primarily processed within the United Kingdom and European Economic Area. Where data is transferred outside these regions, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the ICO.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or a notice on the Platform. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised.