Privacy at a Glance

We collect only what's necessary to provide our service
We never sell your personal data to third parties
You can access, export, or delete your data at any time
We use encryption to protect your information
You control what information is visible on your profile

1. Introduction

LocalAunty Ltd ("LocalAunty," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website, mobile applications, and services (collectively, the "Service").

We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and other applicable data protection laws.

2. Data Controller

LocalAunty Ltd is the data controller responsible for your personal data. If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at:

LocalAunty Ltd

Data Protection Officer

Email: privacy@localaunty.com

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide

Account Information: Name, email address, password, date of birth, gender, location
Profile Information: Photos, biography, preferences, religion, interests
Communications: Messages exchanged with other users
Verification Data: Photos or documents for identity verification
Payment Information: Processed securely by Stripe (we do not store card details)
Support Communications: When you contact customer support

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type
Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on the Service
IP Address: For security, fraud prevention, and approximate location
Cookies: As described in our Cookie Policy

3.3 Special Category Data

Some information you provide (such as religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation) may be considered "special category" data under GDPR. By providing this information, you explicitly consent to its processing for the purpose of matching you with compatible users.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your data under the following legal bases:

Purpose	Legal Basis
Providing the Service	Contract performance
Processing payments	Contract performance
Matching users	Contract performance / Consent
Safety and fraud prevention	Legitimate interests
Service improvement	Legitimate interests
Marketing communications	Consent
Legal compliance	Legal obligation

5. How We Use Your Information

To create and manage your account
To match you with other users based on preferences
To facilitate communication between users
To process payments and provide Premium features
To verify your identity and prevent fraud
To provide customer support
To send service-related notifications
To improve and personalize the Service
To enforce our Terms of Service
To comply with legal obligations

6. Information Sharing

We do NOT sell your personal data to third parties.

We may share your information with:

Other Users: Your public profile information is visible to other users
Service Providers: Companies that help us operate (payment processing, hosting, email)
Legal Authorities: When required by law, court order, or to protect our rights
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

7. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as:

Your account is active
Necessary to provide you with our services
Required by law (e.g., financial records for 7 years)
Needed to resolve disputes or enforce our agreements

When you delete your account, we delete or anonymize your data within 30 days, except where we are legally required to retain it.

8. Your Rights (GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

Right of Access

Request a copy of your personal data

Right to Rectification

Correct inaccurate or incomplete data

Right to Erasure

Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")

Right to Restrict Processing

Limit how we use your data

Right to Data Portability

Receive your data in a machine-readable format

Right to Object

Object to processing based on legitimate interests

Right to Withdraw Consent

Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)

To exercise these rights, email privacy@localaunty.com or use the settings in your account. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
Secure password hashing (bcrypt)
Regular security audits and testing
Access controls and employee training
Secure data centers with physical security

While we use commercially reasonable measures, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the UK. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK ICO, to protect your data when transferred internationally.

11. Children's Privacy

LocalAunty is intended for users aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we discover that we have collected information from a minor, we will delete it immediately. If you believe a minor has provided us with their data, please contact us.

12. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

Stripe: Payment processing (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Web Services: Cloud hosting
Cloudflare: Security and performance

These services have their own privacy policies governing their use of your data.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice on the Service. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, data requests, or complaints:

LocalAunty Ltd - Data Protection