Privacy Policy

THIS PRIVACY POLICY EXPLAINS HOW NEXT2ME LTD (“NEXT2ME”, “WE”, “US”, OR “OUR”) COLLECTS, USES, STORES, AND SHARES YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WHEN YOU USE THE NEXT2ME MOBILE APPLICATION (THE “APP”) AS A SERVICE PROVIDER OR CUSTOMER.

BY ACCESSING OR USING THE APP, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL BE PROCESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PRIVACY POLICY.

NEXT2ME PROCESSES PERSONAL DATA IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE UK GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION (UK GDPR), THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 2018, AND IS REGISTERED WITH THE UK INFORMATION COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE (ICO) AS A DATA CONTROLLER.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 PERSONAL INFORMATION

FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

• Name: For account creation, identity verification, and identification within the App.
• Phone Number: For communication with customers and the Platform, including one-time password (OTP) verification.
• Email Address: For account management, notifications, and service-related updates.
• Address / Service Location: To match you with customers in your operating area.
• Profile Information: Including profile photo and service descriptions.
• Payment Details: Bank account information required to process payouts for completed services.
• Identity Verification Documents: Government issued identification documents such as passport, driving licence, national ID card, or biometric residence permit, collected for identity verification and compliance purposes.
• Professional Information: Qualifications, certifications, trade licences, registration documents, and insurance documentation where applicable.

FOR CUSTOMERS

• Name: To identify you within the app.
• Email Address: For account registration, verification, and service communication.
• Phone Number: For registration, OTP verification, and communication with Service Providers.
• Payment Information: Required where digital payment methods are used within the App.
• Address / Service Location: To enable matching with nearby Service Providers.

1.2 SERVICE AND USAGE DATA

• Service Activity: Details of services requested or provided, including service type, status, timestamps, pricing, and feedback.
• Payment Method Information: Whether payment was processed through the App or made directly to the Service Provider.
• Real-Time Location: Used, where enabled, to match Users with nearby Service Providers and facilitate service delivery.
• Device and Technical Information: Including IP address, device type, operating system, and app usage analytics.

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

• Service Matching: To connect Customers with relevant Service Providers.
• Booking Management: To record, manage, and administer service requests and confirmations.
• Payment Processing: To facilitate digital payments and process Provider payouts where applicable.
• Platform Operations: To maintain service records, calculate commissions, and manage account activity.
• Communication: To send service notifications, booking confirmations, updates, and important account information.
• Customer Support: To respond to enquiries, disputes, or complaints.
• Performance Monitoring: To evaluate service quality, user satisfaction, and platform functionality.
• Security & Fraud Prevention: To detect, prevent, and investigate unauthorised or unlawful activity.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and law enforcement requests.
• Identity Verification: To verify the identity of Service Providers, confirm eligibility to provide services, and maintain platform safety and trust.

2.1 LAWFUL BASIS FOR PROCESSING 

• We process personal data where necessary to:
• Perform a contract between you and NEXT2ME
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
• Pursue legitimate business interests, including fraud prevention and platform improvement
• Obtain consent where required under applicable law

3. SHARING YOUR INFORMATION

Your information may be shared in the following circumstances:

• With Customers: When a Service Provider accepts a booking, relevant information such as name, profile details, service history (where applicable), and location may be shared with the Customer.
• With Service Providers: When a Customer submits a service request, the selected Service Provider may receive the Customer’s name, contact details, and service location for the purpose of fulfilling the request.
• Third-Party Providers: We may share information with trusted third parties, including:
• Payment processors
• Identity verification providers
• Cloud hosting and IT service providers
• Analytics and security providers

These third parties process data only in accordance with our instructions and applicable data protection laws.

• Legal Requirements: We may disclose personal information where required to comply with legal obligations, regulatory authorities, court orders, or law enforcement agencies.

3.1 INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

• Where personal data is transferred outside the United Kingdom, we ensure appropriate safeguards are implemented in accordance with UK data protection law, including the use of approved contractual mechanisms where required.

4. DATA SECURITY

• We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal data, including identity and verification documents, against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
• Sensitive documents are stored using encrypted storage systems with restricted access controls. Access is limited to authorised personnel who require such access for verification and compliance purposes.
• While no system can guarantee absolute security, we apply industry-standard safeguards to protect your information.

5. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request Erasure of your personal data, subject to legal retention obligations
• Restrict Processing in certain circumstances
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Data Portability, where applicable

6. RETENTION OF INFORMATION

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

• Account Data: Personal data is retained for the duration of your active account.
• Financial and Transaction Records: Financial records may be retained for up to six (6) years where required for tax, accounting, or legal compliance purposes.
• Identity Verification Documents: Government issued identity documents are retained only for the period necessary to complete identity verification and ensure platform security. Where verification has been successfully completed, identity documents may be securely deleted, and a record of verification retained instead.
• Professional Certificates and Compliance Documents: Professional documentation is retained for as long as the Service Provider account remains active or as required for regulatory or fraud prevention purposes. Documents are securely deleted when no longer required.
• All data is securely deleted or anonymised once retention periods expire.

7. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

• The NEXT2ME App is not intended for individuals under the age of 18.
• We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we become aware that such data has been collected, we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

8. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

• We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, operational practices, or technology.
• Where significant changes are made, we will provide notice via the App or by email.
• Continued use of the App constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

9. CONTACT US

• NEXT2ME LTD is the data controller responsible for processing your personal data.
• If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy or how your personal data is handled, please contact: Email: compliance@next2me.co.uk