Privacy Policy

01

Who we are

George Stevens trading as The Carpet Dye Guy operates this business as a sole trader. George Stevens is the data controller: the person responsible for deciding how and why your personal information is used.

In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” mean George Stevens trading as The Carpet Dye Guy.

02

Information we collect

Depending on how you contact us or use our services, we may collect:

• your name, email address and telephone number;
• your postcode and, if you book, the service address;
• details about the service, item and condition being assessed;
• messages, calls, emails, social messages and your preferred reply method;
• photographs or videos you send and photographs taken during a job;
• quotation, booking, job, invoice and payment records;
• marketing choices and records of permission or withdrawal;
• reviews or feedback you provide or publish; and
• IP address, browser, device, security logs and website usage where collected.

We usually receive information directly from you. We may also receive it from someone contacting us on your behalf, a referral, a review or social platform, or a payment or professional service involved in your job.

We do not routinely ask for health, disability or other sensitive information. Please only provide it if it is genuinely relevant to the work or an accessibility need. We will use only what is necessary and seek any additional permission the law requires.

03

How and why we use your information

Data-protection law requires a reason, known as a lawful basis, for each use of personal information. The practical reasons and legal bases are set out below.

We also use relevant information to handle complaints, legal claims, insurance matters and privacy requests where required by law or necessary to protect legal rights. When we rely on a legitimate interest, we consider its effect on you first.

04

Photographs and videos

Photographs sent for an initial assessment help George understand the enquiry and consider whether a service may be suitable. Photographs taken during a job may form part of the private job record.

You can withdraw promotional-photo permission at any time by emailing george@thecarpetdyeguy.com. We will stop new use and remove the material from channels we control within a reasonable period. We may not be able to retrieve printed material already distributed or independent copies made by others.

Some professional reference photographs on the site were created by another professional and are used with express permission. They are credited with the relevant work and are not presented as jobs carried out by George or The Carpet Dye Guy.

05

Marketing and reviews

Optional marketing from The Carpet Dye Guy

If you choose to receive marketing, your choice covers The Carpet Dye Guy and the contact channels you select. It does not sign you up for marketing from other businesses. We do not sell customer information or pass it to other businesses for their own marketing without your separate permission.

Every electronic marketing message will provide a simple way to opt out. If we ever rely on the existing-customer rules instead of separate consent, we will do so only for our own similar services, only where the law permits it, and only where an opt-out was offered when the details were collected and in every later message. We keep a minimal suppression record after an opt-out so we do not contact you again accidentally.

Reviews

We may reproduce genuine reviews from platforms such as Google or Facebook and identify the original platform where practical. Unless you agree otherwise, we use only a first name or initials and a general area, without a profile photograph. A review may be shortened for layout with a way to read the full wording; its meaning will not be changed.

06

Who receives information

We share information only where it is needed to provide the service, run the business, comply with the law or protect a legitimate right. The main providers currently used are listed below. Each receives only the information needed for its role.

We may also share relevant information with our accountant or bookkeeper, insurers, professional advisers, confidential IT support, courts, regulators, law-enforcement bodies or public authorities where necessary or legally required.

If you contact us through WhatsApp or a social platform, that provider handles information under its own privacy terms as well. Please do not send highly sensitive information through social media.

07

Information processed outside the UK

Some technology providers operate internationally and may process information outside the UK. Where a country is not covered by UK adequacy regulations, we require an appropriate safeguard, such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or UK Addendum, and carry out the required data-protection test where applicable. You can ask us about the safeguard used for a particular provider.

08

How long we keep information

We do not keep personal information indefinitely simply because it may be useful one day.

Enquiries that do not become bookings

Normally 12 months after the last meaningful contact, including assessment photographs.

Completed jobs and financial records

Normally six years after completion where needed for tax, accounting, insurance, complaint or legal purposes.

Complaints

Normally six years after the complaint is resolved.

Approved promotional photographs

Until permission is withdrawn or the material is no longer needed, whichever comes first.

Photograph-permission evidence

While the material is in use and for a reasonable period afterwards, so the permission or withdrawal can be demonstrated.

Marketing opt-outs

A minimal suppression record for as long as needed to respect the request not to be contacted.

Cookie and analytics information is kept for the periods shown in our Cookie Policy and the live service settings. We may retain information longer when a legal claim, insurance matter or legal duty requires it. When it is no longer needed, we delete it securely or remove identifying details.

09

Security, AI and children

How we protect information

We use proportionate safeguards including access controls, two-step verification, encrypted services and restricted business storage. Private customer photographs are kept in protected business storage rather than the public website media library. Access is limited to people and providers who genuinely need it. No system can be guaranteed completely secure, but we review our arrangements and act promptly if we identify a problem.

Automated decisions and AI

We do not use solely automated decision-making to decide suitability, whether to accept a job or what service you should receive. George reviews those decisions. There is no AI chatbot on this website. If one is introduced later, it will be clearly identified and this policy will be updated before it collects customer information.

Children

The website and services are not designed or marketed for children. The site is not age-gated, but a confirmed booking must be authorised by an adult aged 18 or over. We do not ask for dates of birth.

10

Your choices and rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may ask us to:

• give you a copy of your personal information;
• correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
• delete information we no longer have a lawful reason to keep;
• restrict how information is used;
• provide certain information in a portable format;
• stop using information where you have a right to object; or
• stop marketing or withdraw consent at any time.

Email george@thecarpetdyeguy.com to make a request. We may ask for proportionate information to confirm your identity. We respond without undue delay and normally within one month. Some rights have legal limits, and we will explain if a request cannot be fulfilled in full. There is normally no charge for exercising these rights.

11

Questions or complaints

Please contact George first if you have a privacy question or concern. Email is preferred because it creates a clear record, although a reasonable alternative is available where accessibility or circumstances require it. We will investigate fairly, keep you informed and respond without undue delay.

If you remain unhappy, you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) or call its helpline on 0303 123 1113.

12

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, providers or legal duties change. The latest version will appear here with its updated date. We review this page whenever the services or providers used by the website change. If a later change materially affects information already collected, we will take reasonable steps to tell the people affected and obtain fresh permission where required.