Privacy Policy - Bermondsey Removals

This Privacy Policy explains how Bermondsey Removals collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal data when providing removals, packing, storage support, and related services. It applies to all Bermondsey Removals customers in the area, including prospective customers, individuals requesting quotes, and anyone whose personal data is processed in connection with our services.

We are committed to handling personal information lawfully, fairly, and transparently in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. We only process personal data when we have a valid legal basis and we apply appropriate safeguards to keep information secure.

1. Who We Are

Bermondsey Removals provides home and business removal services, packing assistance, transport, and related logistical services. In the course of delivering these services, we may process personal data belonging to customers, tenants, property owners, business contacts, employees, contractors, and other relevant individuals.

This policy applies to all Bermondsey Removals customers in area and to individuals whose personal data is collected or used in connection with our services, whether the service is booked directly or through a third party.

2. Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

Identity data such as name, title, and identification details where needed for service verification or security purposes.
Contact data such as address, email address, and telephone number.
Service data such as move details, property access requirements, inventory lists, item descriptions, packing preferences, dates, and special handling instructions.
Billing and transaction data such as payment status, invoices, and records of services purchased.
Communication data such as messages, requests, complaints, and notes from calls or correspondence.
Technical data such as device or browser information if you interact with our digital systems, where applicable.
Security and access data such as access codes, parking restrictions, or building entry instructions needed for safe delivery of services.

We generally do not seek to collect special category data. However, if you voluntarily provide information that may reveal sensitive circumstances, we will only use it where necessary and with suitable protection. We ask that you do not provide unnecessary sensitive information.

3. How We Collect Data

We may collect personal data directly from you when you:

request a quote or make an enquiry;
book or use our services;
communicate with us by phone, email, or other channels;
complete forms or provide service instructions;
make payments or receive invoices.

We may also receive data from third parties such as landlords, estate agents, business customers, property managers, or other individuals involved in arranging a move. In limited cases, we may collect information from publicly available sources or from service providers assisting with operations.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

We only process personal data where we have a lawful basis under the UK GDPR. Depending on the context, our lawful bases may include:

Contract – processing is necessary to enter into or perform a contract with you, such as arranging and completing a removal service.
Legal obligation – processing is necessary to comply with legal or regulatory requirements, including accounting, tax, insurance, or record-keeping obligations.
Legitimate interests – processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as managing operations, improving services, handling enquiries, preventing fraud, and maintaining security, provided your rights do not override those interests.
Consent – where required by law, we will rely on your consent, for example for certain optional communications or specific uses of information. You may withdraw consent at any time where consent is the lawful basis.

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we assess the impact on your rights and freedoms and ensure that our interests are not unfairly prejudicial to you.

5. How We Use Personal Data

We may use personal data for the following purposes:

providing removal, packing, storage coordination, and related services;
preparing quotes, estimates, and service schedules;
communicating with customers and responding to enquiries;
managing payments, invoicing, and accounting;
planning routes, access, staffing, and vehicle requirements;
maintaining service records and resolving disputes;
protecting property, personnel, and operational security;
meeting legal, regulatory, tax, or insurance obligations;
improving service quality and customer experience;
preventing misuse, fraud, or unlawful activity.

We only use personal data for the purposes for which it was collected, unless we reasonably determine that a compatible further use is permitted by law.

6. Data Sharing and Processors

We may share personal data with trusted third parties where necessary to provide our services or meet legal obligations. These third parties may act as processors or, in some cases, independent controllers. We ensure that any processors we use are bound by appropriate contractual safeguards and process data only on our instructions.

Examples of processors may include:

IT and cloud storage providers;
payment processing providers;
accounting and invoicing software providers;
customer communication and scheduling systems;
vehicle tracking or operational support services;
professional advisers acting under confidentiality obligations;
insurers or claims handlers where relevant.

We may also disclose data to:

law enforcement or regulatory authorities where required by law;
courts, tribunals, or legal advisers in connection with claims or disputes;
property-related contacts, such as landlords, managing agents, or building staff, where necessary for access or delivery purposes and where appropriate.

We do not sell personal data.

7. International Transfers

If any processor or service provider stores or accesses personal data outside the United Kingdom, we will take steps to ensure an adequate level of protection. This may include using approved contractual safeguards or relying on an adequacy decision where applicable. We remain responsible for ensuring that appropriate transfer protections are in place.

8. Data Retention

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying legal, accounting, tax, insurance, and reporting requirements. Retention periods vary depending on the type of data and the reason it is held.

In general, we may retain:

customer and service records for the duration of the contract and for a reasonable period afterward;
financial records for the period required by tax and accounting law;
complaints or dispute records for as long as needed to manage claims or legal matters;
operational records for a period proportionate to business needs and risk management.

When personal data is no longer required, we will securely delete, anonymise, or archive it in a manner consistent with applicable law.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data from unauthorised access, accidental loss, destruction, alteration, or disclosure. These measures may include access controls, secure storage, staff confidentiality obligations, and restricted sharing of information on a need-to-know basis.

However, no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot promise absolute security, but we do act responsibly and proportionately to protect your information.

10. Your Rights

Under data protection law, you may have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

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 situations.
Right to data portability – to receive certain data in a structured, commonly used format where applicable.
Right to object – to object to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing.
Right to withdraw consent – where we rely 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. Some rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exceptions or limitations.

11. Automated Decision-Making

We do not use personal data to make decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects. If this changes in the future, we will update this policy and provide any required information about the logic involved and your rights.

12. Children’s Data

Our services are intended for adults and business contacts. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children except where it is incidentally provided in connection with a household move and is necessary for service delivery. Where this occurs, we will process such data only as needed and with care.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, operations, or data handling practices. Any updates will take effect when published or otherwise communicated. We encourage customers to review the policy periodically to remain informed about how we protect personal data.

14. Contact and Complaints

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how your personal data has been handled, you may raise the matter through the appropriate channels used for our service administration. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office if you believe your data protection rights have been infringed.

We aim to handle personal data responsibly, securely, and in accordance with the law, and we will review concerns carefully and promptly.