Privacy Policy

O'Connor's Waste Removal Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how O'Connor's Waste Removal collects, uses, stores and shares personal data relating to its customers in the service area. It also explains the rights that individuals have under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the EU General Data Protection Regulation, together referred to as GDPR. This policy applies to all customers of O'Connor's Waste Removal in the area where services are provided, including domestic and commercial customers.

Who We Are and Scope of This Policy

O'Connor's Waste Removal is a waste collection and removal service provider. In the course of providing our services, we act as a data controller for the personal data of our customers and prospective customers. This Privacy Policy applies to personal data collected through our service bookings, invoices, written correspondence, and any other interactions with customers in our service area.

By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy and understand how and why we process your personal data in accordance with GDPR.

Personal Data We Collect

We collect and process different categories of personal data in order to provide waste removal services and manage our relationship with customers. The types of data we may collect include:

Identity and contact details such as name, business name where relevant, service address, billing address, and any other contact information you choose to provide in written correspondence.

Service and contract information such as details of the services requested, frequency of collections, bin or container details, access instructions, contract start and end dates and related notes required to fulfil the service.

Billing and payment information such as invoicing details, payment status, records of payments made, and information required for accounting and tax purposes. We do not store full payment card details if payments are processed via a secure third party payment processor.

Communication records such as written correspondence or enquiry details when you contact us to ask questions, request a quote, make a complaint or provide feedback.

Technical and usage data where relevant such as basic device and interaction data generated when you visit any websites or online tools we operate, including date and time of access and pages viewed. We only collect what is necessary for security, analytics and service improvement purposes.

How We Collect Personal Data

We may collect personal data in the following ways:

Directly from you when you request a quote, make a booking, sign a contract, provide instructions, or correspond with us.

From third parties involved in service delivery or referral, for example a letting agent, property manager or business partner who provides your contact details so that we can arrange waste removal services for a property.

Automatically through limited technical data when you engage with any online platform or tools that we operate, subject to applicable laws and your preferences.

Lawful Basis for Processing

We only process personal data where we have a lawful basis under GDPR. Depending on the context, we rely on the following lawful bases:

Contract. We process personal data where it is necessary to enter into, or perform, a contract for waste removal services, for example to schedule collections, issue invoices and respond to service requests.

Legal obligation. We process data where necessary to comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including tax, accounting, waste management regulations and record-keeping requirements.

Legitimate interests. We may process data where it is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms. This can include managing customer relationships, improving our services, preventing fraud, protecting our vehicles and staff, and keeping appropriate business records.

Consent. In limited circumstances, we may rely on your explicit consent, for example where required for specific types of optional communications or where no other lawful basis is available. Where processing is based on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

How We Use Personal Data

We use personal data for the following purposes:

To provide and manage waste removal services, including booking and scheduling collections, accessing properties as instructed and handling any changes or cancellations.

To manage billing and payments, including issuing quotes, invoices, receipts, credit notes and following up overdue accounts in accordance with applicable laws.

To respond to enquiries and communications, including complaints, feedback, and requests for information about our services.

To manage our relationship with customers, including maintaining accurate records, assessing service requirements, and improving the efficiency and safety of our operations.

To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including retaining records for audit, tax and regulatory purposes and cooperating with competent authorities where required.

To protect our legitimate interests, including preventing misuse of services, resolving disputes, and protecting our vehicles, equipment, staff and customers.

Data Sharing and Processors

We do not sell personal data. However, we may share data with carefully selected third parties where necessary for the purposes set out in this policy and in accordance with GDPR. These third parties include:

Service providers acting as data processors who supply operational support, such as information technology and hosting providers, payment processors, route planning and scheduling tools, document storage systems and professional advisers. These providers are only permitted to process data on our instructions and must implement appropriate security measures.

Professional and legal advisers where necessary for legal, accounting, insurance or risk management purposes.

Public authorities, regulators and enforcement bodies where we are required to do so under law, or where disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, the rights of others or to assist in the prevention or investigation of crime.

Other parties involved in a business transaction relating to O'Connor's Waste Removal, such as a merger or transfer of business, where personal data may be shared as part of the transaction in accordance with data protection laws.

Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including meeting any legal, accounting or reporting requirements. Retention periods may vary depending on the category of data and the context in which it was provided.

In general, we will keep customer and service records for the duration of any contract or service arrangement and for a period after the end of the relationship where required by law or where retention is reasonably necessary to resolve disputes, respond to enquiries or enforce agreements.

We regularly review the personal data we hold and apply retention criteria consistent with legal obligations and good practice. Where data is no longer required, we will delete it, anonymise it or securely archive it.

International Transfers

Where we use data processors or service providers located outside the UK or European Economic Area, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal data in accordance with GDPR. This may include using standard contractual clauses or ensuring that the recipient country has an adequacy decision issued by the relevant data protection authority.

Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, accidental loss, destruction or damage. Measures may include access controls, secure storage, staff training and internal policies designed to protect data confidentiality and integrity. While no system can be completely secure, we aim to ensure that the level of security applied is appropriate to the risks associated with the data and our operations.

Your Data Protection Rights

Under GDPR, individuals whose data we process in the course of providing services in our area have a number of rights in relation to their personal data. These rights may be subject to certain conditions and legal exemptions, but generally include:

Right of access. You have the right to request confirmation of whether we hold personal data about you and to request a copy of that data, together with information about how we use it.

Right to rectification. You have the right to request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data about you.

Right to erasure. In certain circumstances, you may have the right to request that we delete your personal data, for example where it is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected or where you withdraw consent and there is no other lawful basis for processing.

Right to restriction. You may request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in specific circumstances, such as while a complaint about accuracy is being investigated.

Right to data portability. Where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means, you may have the right to request that we provide your personal data in a commonly used, machine-readable format or transfer it to another controller where technically feasible.

Right to object. You may have the right to object to processing based on our legitimate interests, on grounds relating to your particular situation. We will stop processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override your interests, rights and freedoms or where processing is required for legal claims.

Right to withdraw consent. Where we rely on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe that your data protection rights have been infringed.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements or data protection practices. Any updated version will apply to all O'Connor's Waste Removal customers in our service area from the date it is published. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal data.