The short version
We hold the minimum data needed to run a field-service app. Your customer list, jobs and invoices belong to you and never get sold, shared with advertisers, or used to train anything. We use Google's Firebase to send you push notifications and to collect basic, privacy-hardened usage statistics (which screens get used, and crashes) so we can improve the app, with advertising identifiers switched off. You can wipe your account at any time from inside the app, and request a copy of your data by email.
Who we are
TradeLinkers is operated by TradeLinkers Ltd ("we", "us", "our"), a company registered in England & Wales. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. Questions: contact us here or email hello@tradelinkers.co.uk.
What we collect
Information you give us
- Account info — your name, business name, email, phone number, optional VAT and bank details for invoicing.
- Customer records — names, addresses, phone numbers and emails of your customers as you enter them.
- Job data — descriptions, photos, signatures, certificates and notes you attach to a job.
- Payments — we don't take card payments yet; if you log a payment we store the date, amount and method (e.g. "bank transfer").
Information collected automatically
- Device & diagnostics — Android version, app version, device model and crash reports, used to keep the app stable.
- Usage analytics — via Google Analytics for Firebase, we record which screens and features get used, in-app events (such as creating a job or sending an invoice), session length and how often the app is opened. We use this only in aggregate to improve the app. We have switched off advertising-ID and Android-ID collection and ad-personalisation, so this is measurement, not ad tracking.
- A first-party analytics ID — Firebase assigns an app-instance identifier so usage can be counted without knowing who you are. It is not an advertising identifier and is not shared with advertisers.
Information we deliberately do not collect
- No advertising identifiers, no cross-app tracking, no behavioural profiles or ad-personalisation.
- No Facebook Pixel, no Hotjar, no session-recording of what you type.
- No microphone, contacts or camera access without explicit prompt at the moment of use.
Opting out of analytics
Usage analytics are non-essential. If you would rather we did not collect them, email hello@tradelinkers.co.uk with "analytics opt-out" and we will exclude your account, and you can limit ad tracking at any time in your Android device settings. The core app works fully either way.
How we use it
- To run the app, sync your data across devices, and let you generate quotes and invoices.
- To send essential service emails (sign-in confirmations, password resets, invoice receipts you trigger).
- To send push notifications (for example when a customer submits an enquiry), via Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging.
- To understand, in aggregate, which features are used so we can improve the app, and to measure whether our own advertising works (we link Firebase to Google Ads to count installs and sign-ups, with ad-personalisation switched off, so Google reports totals to us but does not build a profile of you).
- To investigate crashes and fix bugs.
- To respond when you contact support.
We will never email you marketing without explicit opt-in. We will never sell or rent your data, or your customers' data, to anyone.
Where it lives
Your account, customer, job and invoice data is stored on UK-based servers operated by our hosting provider in London. Backups are encrypted and held in a second UK region.
Two technical services we rely on are operated by Google and may process limited data (a push-notification token, and aggregate usage analytics with advertising identifiers disabled) on Google infrastructure outside the UK: Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications and Google Analytics for Firebase for usage statistics. Google acts as our processor for these, and any transfer outside the UK is covered by the UK International Data Transfer Addendum / standard contractual clauses. Your customer list, jobs and invoices are not sent to these services.
How long we keep it
- Active accounts — for as long as the account is open.
- Closed accounts — wiped within 30 days of the close request, except where we are legally required to retain (e.g. invoice records under UK accounting law, currently 6 years).
- Crash reports and diagnostic logs — 90 days.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- Access a copy of your data — email hello@tradelinkers.co.uk and we'll send you a structured export of your account, customers, jobs and invoices within 30 days.
- Correct inaccurate data — edit in-app, or ask us.
- Delete your data — Settings → Delete account in the app (instant, with confirmation), or follow our deletion request guide if you can't sign in. We'll confirm before doing anything irreversible.
- Restrict or object to processing.
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office.
Permissions the Android app requests
The TradeLinkers Android app declares two permissions: Internet, used to sync your data with our backend, and Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS), used to alert you when a customer submits an enquiry. Notifications are optional and Android asks you to allow them; you can decline or turn them off at any time in your device settings without affecting the rest of the app. We don't request access to your camera, photos, contacts, location or microphone. If a future version adds any of those, this section and the in-app permission prompts will tell you when and why.
Cookies on this website
This marketing site (tradelinkers.co.uk) uses no third-party tracking cookies and no analytics. The only cookies set are strictly necessary ones for things like remembering whether you've dismissed a notice. That's why there's no cookie banner — there's nothing to consent to.
Children
TradeLinkers is for working tradespeople and is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 16.
Changes to this policy
If we change anything material we'll email account holders at least 14 days before it takes effect. The latest version, with a "last updated" date, will always live at tradelinkers.co.uk/privacy.html.
Get in touch
Email hello@tradelinkers.co.uk or use the contact form. For data-protection enquiries specifically, write "GDPR" in the subject line and we'll route it appropriately.
TradeLinkers Ltd · Registered in England & Wales · UK GDPR registration number to follow on launch.