Privacy Policy

I respect your privacy. As a local business visiting people’s homes and handling their personal devices, trust is everything. This policy explains what data I collect, why I need it, and how I keep it safe.

1. Who we are

Marple Tech Help is a trading name of Cactara Ltd. We are the "Data Controller" for any personal information you provide to us.

If you have any questions about your data, you can email me at martyn@marpletech.co.uk or write to us at our registered address below.

2. Information I collect

I only collect the information I need to do the job. This typically includes:

• Contact details: Your name, email address, and phone number so I can reply to your enquiries.
• Location data: Your home address if I am visiting you for a setup or repair.
• Technical details: Notes about your device (e.g., "Dell Laptop, Windows 11") to help me fix the problem.
• Passwords: Occasionally, I may need a password to log in to your device to fix it. I do not store these permanently unless you specifically ask me to (e.g., writing them down for you in a secure note).

3. How I use your information

I use your data for three simple reasons:

1. To communicate with you: Replying to your messages and arranging visits.
2. To do the work: Visiting your home to fix issues. For existing clients, I may use remote access for follow-up tasks, but only with your express permission each time.
3. For business records: Sending invoices and keeping tax records (which is a legal requirement).

4. Access to your computer and files

This is the most important part. When I am fixing your computer, I may have access to your personal files (photos, documents, emails).

My promise to you:

• I only access files if strictly necessary to fix the problem (e.g., checking if data recovery worked).
• I never copy, share, or look through your personal files out of curiosity.
• I treat your device and data with total confidentiality.

5. Sharing your data

I do not sell your data. Ever.

I only share data with trusted third-party tools that help me run the business. Currently, this includes:

• Google (Gmail): To send and receive emails.
• Web Hosting: My website is hosted on a secure server.

If I need to use a specific tool for your repair (like a remote support tool), I will tell you what it is and ask for permission first.

6. How long I keep your data

I keep personal information only as long as needed for support, admin and basic record-keeping, then delete it.

• Enquiries: Emails are kept for up to 2 years for reference in case you contact me again.
• Invoices: Financial records are kept for 6 years (required by HMRC).
• Passwords: Any passwords written down during a job are destroyed or handed over to you once the job is finished.

7. Your rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have rights over your data, including:

• The right to access: You can ask what data I hold about you.
• The right to deletion: You can ask me to delete your data (unless I need to keep it for tax reasons).
• The right to correction: If your details change, let me know and I will update them.

To exercise any of these rights, just email martyn@marpletech.co.uk.

8. Cookies & Analytics

This website uses only the minimal cookies needed for it to function. I do not run advertising trackers or third-party analytics that collect personal data.

9. Lawful Basis and Your Rights

My lawful basis for processing your data is primarily "performance of a contract" (doing the work you hired me for) and "legitimate interests" (running my business). You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you are unhappy with how I have handled your data. You can find their contact details on the ICO website.

10. Contact Form Processor

The contact form on this website is processed by a custom PHP script running on my secure web server. When you submit the form, the data is sent directly to my Gmail account and is not stored on the website itself. This process is protected by standard encryption (SSL/TLS).