Privacy policy

This privacy policy explains how Scaffolder Near Me (scaffoldernearme.co.uk) and related ScaffOps™ services collect, use, store, and share personal data. It applies when you post a scaffolding job, receive quotes, use your customer dashboard, message us on WhatsApp, or otherwise use our customer-facing websites and applications.

Scaffolding businesses that subscribe to ScaffOps™ on scaffer.co.uk are also subject to this policy in respect of data we process on their behalf as a data processor, and as a controller for their own account and billing data.

1. Who is responsible for your data?

The data controller for Scaffolder Near Me customer services is the operator of the Platform (referred to in this policy as “we”, “us”, or “our”). For privacy enquiries, use the contact options published on scaffoldernearme.co.uk or your account dashboard.

2. Personal data we collect

Depending on how you use the service, we may collect and process:

• Identity and contact details — name, email address, phone number, and (for contractor accounts) company name and team members you invite.
• Job and site information — site address and postcode, property type, dimensions, access notes, timing requirements, photos of the property or scaffold area, and free-text descriptions of the work you need.
• Account and authentication data — login email, one-time PIN or password credentials, session tokens, and notification preferences.
• Quote and commercial records — quotes sent to you, prices, acceptance or decline status, invoices where applicable, and communications relating to a job.
• WhatsApp data — your WhatsApp phone number, display name (if provided by Meta), message content, image captions, and photos you send when posting a job via WhatsApp.
• Technical and usage data — IP address, browser type, device identifiers, pages visited, referral source, and server logs used for security and service improvement.
• Marketing preferences — whether you have opted in to hear about related services (we do not sell your data to third-party advertisers).

3. How we collect data

• Directly from you — when you complete the post-a-job form, create an account, accept a quote, or contact support.
• Via WhatsApp — when you message our WhatsApp business number to request scaffolding quotes.
• From scaffolding businesses — when a scaffolder you have engaged sends you a quote or invoice through the Platform.
• Automatically — through cookies, session management, and similar technologies (see our cookie policy).

4. Job leads and the marketplace

When you post a job on Scaffolder Near Me, we use your job details to create a marketplace lead and match you with scaffolding businesses whose published coverage area includes your site postcode.

• What scaffolders see — job type, site postcode and area, timing, scope summary, and any photos you attach. We do not publish your full name, email, or phone on the public job listing; registered businesses receive enough detail to prepare a quote.
• Notifications — we may notify relevant businesses by email, in-app alert, or push notification that a new job is available in their area.
• Your dashboard — you can track open jobs, compare responses, and manage your request from your customer dashboard after signing in with the email you used when posting.
• Retention — job records are kept while the job is active and for a reasonable period afterwards for dispute resolution, fraud prevention, and legal compliance.

5. Quotes

Quotes are prepared and sent by independent scaffolding businesses using ScaffOps™. We facilitate delivery and record-keeping; the contract for scaffold work is between you and the quoting business unless we state otherwise in writing.

• Quote delivery — quotes are typically sent to your email with a secure link. The link may contain a token so you can view, accept, or decline without logging in. Do not share quote links with people you do not trust.
• Data in quotes — a quote may include your name, site address, line-item prices, VAT details, terms, and attachments (e.g. drawings or photos). This information is visible to the quoting business and, where you use a link, to anyone with that link.
• Acceptance — if you accept a quote, we record your decision and share confirmation with the scaffolding business. Further site and project data may be created in their ScaffOps™ workspace (e.g. live project, handover records).
• Analytics — businesses may see when a quote was opened or viewed, to help them follow up appropriately.

6. WhatsApp job posting

You can post a scaffolding job by sending a WhatsApp message to our business number. This service is powered by the Meta WhatsApp Cloud API. By messaging us on WhatsApp, you acknowledge the following:

• What we receive — your WhatsApp ID (phone number), optional profile display name, text of your message, image captions, and photos you attach.
• How we use it — we parse your message (including with automated tools) to extract postcode, address, job type, and timing, then create a marketplace job on your behalf. We reply on WhatsApp with confirmation and a link to your dashboard.
• Placeholder email — if you have not provided an email address, we may assign a system-generated address tied to your phone number so the job can be saved and linked to your account. You can add or update your email when you access your dashboard.
• Sharing with scaffolders — the same job-lead rules in section 4 apply: relevant businesses in your area are notified with job details needed to quote.
• Meta — Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd (and its affiliates) processes WhatsApp messages as an infrastructure provider. Meta's own privacy policy applies to your use of WhatsApp. We receive message data only after you contact our business number.
• Automated processing — we use software (including AI-assisted parsing) to read your message and extract job fields. You may always post a job via the website form instead if you prefer not to use WhatsApp.
• Opting out — stop processing by ceasing to message us. To delete a job created via WhatsApp, contact us through your dashboard or support channels.

7. How and why we use your data (purposes)

• Provide the marketplace — post jobs, match scaffolders, deliver and track quotes.
• Operate your customer dashboard, Scaff Connect™ client portal (where offered), and account security.
• Send service messages — job confirmations, quote notifications, PIN login codes, and hire reminders.
• Improve and secure the Platform — analytics, debugging, fraud prevention, and abuse detection.
• Comply with law — tax, regulatory, and law-enforcement requests where required.
• Marketing — only with your consent; you may unsubscribe at any time.

8. Legal bases (UK GDPR)

We rely on the following legal bases, depending on the activity:

• Contract — processing necessary to provide the service you request (e.g. posting a job, delivering quotes, operating your account).
• Legitimate interests — operating and improving the Platform, matching jobs with businesses, preventing fraud, and ensuring network security, balanced against your rights.
• Consent — where required for non-essential cookies, marketing emails, or optional features you choose to enable.
• Legal obligation — retaining records where tax or other law requires it.

9. Who we share data with

• Scaffolding businesses — job and quote data needed to respond to your request and perform contracted work.
• Service providers (processors) — hosting (e.g. Vercel), database (e.g. Neon), email delivery, file storage, payment processing (Stripe), WhatsApp/Meta, AI parsing providers, and analytics — under contract and only as needed to run the service.
• Professional advisers — lawyers, accountants, or insurers where reasonably necessary.
• Authorities — regulators, courts, or law enforcement when required by law or to protect rights and safety.

We do not sell your personal data.

10. International transfers

Data is primarily processed in the United Kingdom and European Economic Area. Some providers (including Meta/WhatsApp, Vercel, and OpenAI) may process data in the United States or other countries. Where we transfer data outside the UK, we use appropriate safeguards such as UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, or standard contractual clauses approved for UK GDPR.

11. How long we keep data

• Account data — while your account is active and for a period after closure as needed for legal and accounting purposes.
• Job and quote records — typically up to seven years where needed for tax, insurance, or dispute resolution, or shorter where law allows.
• WhatsApp intake logs — retained for operational monitoring and deduplication; deleted or anonymised when no longer needed.
• Server logs — usually rotated within months unless needed for a security investigation.

12. Security

We use technical and organisational measures appropriate to the risk, including encryption in transit (HTTPS), access controls, and secure hosting. No online service is completely secure; please use a strong, unique login and keep quote links private.

13. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you may have the right to:

• Access a copy of your personal data
• Rectify inaccurate data
• Erase data in certain circumstances
• Restrict or object to processing in certain circumstances
• Data portability for data you provided, where processing is automated and based on consent or contract
• Withdraw consent at any time, without affecting prior lawful processing

To exercise these rights, contact us through your account or the details on scaffoldernearme.co.uk. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

You may lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

14. Children

The Platform is not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will change when we do. Significant changes may also be notified by email or a notice on the website. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

16. Contact

For privacy questions, data subject requests, or concerns about job leads, quotes, or WhatsApp processing, contact us via your customer dashboard or the contact options published on scaffoldernearme.co.uk.