Privacy Policy - Temple Removals

Temple Removals is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all customers in the area. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect personal data in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. It applies to all Temple Removals customers in area, including individuals, households, and business clients who use our removal and related services.

1. Who We Are

Temple Removals provides moving, packing, storage coordination, and related services to customers in area. For the purposes of data protection law, Temple Removals is the data controller for the personal data we collect and process in connection with our services. This means we determine why and how your personal data is used.

2. Personal Data We Collect

We only collect personal data that is necessary for the delivery and management of our services. Depending on the nature of your booking or enquiry, we may collect the following categories of information:

• Identity information such as your name, title, and basic identification details.
• Contact information such as your address, email address, and telephone number.
• Service information such as property details, access instructions, inventory notes, moving dates, and special handling requirements.
• Payment information such as billing details and transaction records.
• Communication records such as emails, messages, booking notes, and complaint correspondence.
• Technical information where applicable, such as limited website or device data used for security and service improvement.
• Special category data only where you voluntarily provide it and where it is necessary for a specific service request, for example information relating to accessibility or health-related moving requirements.

We do not intentionally collect unnecessary personal information. We also ask customers not to provide data that is not relevant to the services requested unless it is required to ensure safe and efficient removals.

3. How We Collect Personal Data

Temple Removals may collect data directly from you when you:

• Request a quotation or make a booking;
• Communicate with us by phone, email, or message;
• Provide instructions, access details, or service preferences;
• Complete forms, declarations, or customer documents;
• Submit a complaint, enquiry, or feedback.

We may also receive personal data from third parties where necessary to provide the service, such as estate agents, solicitors, landlords, property managers, insurers, payment providers, or a nominated representative acting on your behalf.

4. Why We Use Your Data

We use personal data for the following purposes:

• To provide quotations and manage bookings;
• To plan, deliver, and improve removal services;
• To communicate with you about your service;
• To process payments and issue invoices;
• To handle customer support, complaints, and claims;
• To maintain business records and comply with legal obligations;
• To protect against fraud, misuse, and security incidents;
• To improve operational efficiency and customer experience.

We will only use your data in ways that are fair, lawful, and transparent. We will not use your data for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was collected unless we have a valid lawful basis.

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under GDPR, we must have a lawful basis for each type of processing. Temple Removals relies on the following lawful bases:

Contract

We process personal data where it is necessary to enter into or perform a contract with you. This includes managing quotations, confirming bookings, carrying out removals, arranging storage-related services, and communicating about service delivery.

Legal Obligation

We may process data where required to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including tax, accounting, insurance, record-keeping, and dispute resolution requirements.

Legitimate Interests

We may process data where it is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided your rights and freedoms do not override those interests. This may include service improvement, administrative management, fraud prevention, and maintaining business records. We ensure that any such processing is proportionate and limited to what is necessary.

Consent

In limited circumstances, we may rely on your consent, for example where you choose to provide optional sensitive information or where consent is required for a specific communication or service. Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

Vital Interests

In rare situations, we may process personal data to protect someone’s vital interests, such as an emergency involving health or safety during a move.

6. Sharing and Processors

Temple Removals may share personal data with trusted third parties where necessary to provide services or meet legal obligations. We only share the minimum amount of data required and take steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place.

Our processors and service providers may include:

• Payment processors for handling transactions securely;
• IT and cloud service providers for secure data storage, backup, and business systems;
• Accounting and bookkeeping providers for financial administration;
• Professional advisers such as insurers, legal advisers, and auditors;
• Subcontracted service providers who assist in delivering removal-related services under our instructions.

All processors are required to act only on our instructions, keep personal data secure, and process it in accordance with data protection law. We do not sell personal data.

7. International Transfers

If any personal data is transferred outside the UK or the European Economic Area, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place. This may include the use of adequacy regulations, standard contractual clauses, or equivalent legal protections. We will only transfer data where necessary and where the receiving party provides a sufficient level of protection.

8. Data Retention

Temple Removals keeps personal data only for as long as it is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy legal, accounting, and reporting requirements. The retention period depends on the type of data and the reason for processing.

In general:

• Booking and service records are retained for a reasonable period after completion of the service;
• Financial and tax records are kept for the period required by law;
• Complaint and claim records are retained for as long as needed to resolve the issue and manage any follow-up;
• Where consent is the lawful basis, data is kept only until consent is withdrawn or the purpose ends.

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

9. Data Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. These measures may include access controls, secure storage, staff confidentiality obligations, password protection, and regular review of data handling practices. While no system can be guaranteed completely secure, we work to maintain a high standard of protection.

10. Your Rights

Under data protection law, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal data. These rights may be subject to legal limitations or exceptions.

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

If you exercise any of these rights, we may need to verify your identity before responding. We aim to respond within the time limits set by law.

11. Marketing Communications

We do not send unnecessary marketing messages. Where we do contact you for marketing purposes, we will do so only in compliance with applicable law. You can object to marketing communications at any time. If you tell us not to contact you for marketing, we will update our records accordingly.

12. Cookies and Similar Technologies

If Temple Removals uses online systems that employ cookies or similar technologies, these may be used for functionality, security, and basic performance analysis. Any such use will be limited to what is necessary and, where required, subject to consent or browser settings. We do not use cookies to collect unnecessary personal information.

13. Children’s Data

Temple Removals services are not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children unless it is provided by a parent, guardian, or authorised adult in connection with a legitimate service need. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child without appropriate authority, we will take steps to delete it where appropriate.

14. Complaints and Supervisory Authority

If you are concerned about how we handle your personal data, please contact us using the usual service channels so we can address your concern promptly. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection supervisory authority if you believe your rights have been infringed.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, our services, or our data processing practices. The most recent version will apply to your use of Temple Removals services. We encourage customers to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect personal data.

16. Summary

This Privacy Policy explains how Temple Removals collects and uses personal data, the lawful bases we rely on, how long we retain information, which processors may handle data on our behalf, and the rights available to customers. It applies to all Temple Removals customers in area and reflects our commitment to handling personal information with care, transparency, and respect.