Your right to erasure
Article 17 of the UK GDPR gives you the right to have your personal data erased when we no longer have a good reason to keep it. This page explains how to exercise that right, what is removed, and the limited records we are legally required to retain. It is free of charge.
1.Before you delete
Deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed once the 30-day grace period has passed. If your concern is something narrower, one of these may suit you better:
- Too many emails? Turn off marketing in your notification settings, or use the unsubscribe link in any message. Your account stays open.
- Taking a break? Experts can set their availability to unavailable, which stops all job alerts without closing the account.
- Only want a copy of your data? Ask for a copy instead — email info@abxhandyman.co.uk. You may want to do this before deleting, because we cannot retrieve your data afterwards.
- Something wrong with a job? Raise it at info@abxhandyman.co.uk first. Closing your account may make an open dispute or refund harder to resolve.
Settle any outstanding balance and withdraw any pending payout before you delete. Unused account credit and promotional balances are forfeited on closure and cannot be reinstated.
2.Option 1: delete in the app
The quickest route is through the Abx-Handyman mobile app:
- Open the app and sign in.
- Tap Profile in the bottom navigation bar.
- Tap Settings, then Account.
- Tap Delete account at the bottom of the screen.
- Read the confirmation screen, enter your password, and confirm.
You will receive a confirmation email straight away. Removing the app from your phone on its own does not delete your account or your data.
3.Option 2: request deletion here
If you cannot access the app, use the form below. You do not need to be signed in. We will verify your identity by email before acting, to make sure nobody can close your account on your behalf.
4.What happens next
- Immediately. Your profile is hidden, you are signed out of all devices, no new jobs can be booked or accepted, and all marketing stops.
- Within 5 working days. We email you to confirm the request came from you. If we cannot verify your identity we will tell you what else we need.
- 30-day grace period. Your account is recoverable during this window in case the request was a mistake or made without your permission. Sign in and choose Restore account to cancel.
- After 30 days. Your personal data is permanently erased from our live systems, and deletion instructions are sent to the processors who hold it on our behalf.
- Within 90 days. Data is purged from encrypted backups as they age out of rotation. Backups are not restored to recover deleted accounts.
We will complete the request within one month of verifying your identity, as UK GDPR requires. If your request is unusually complex we may extend this by up to two further months, and we will tell you why within the first month.
5.What we delete
- Your name, email address, telephone number, password and profile photo
- Saved addresses, access notes and location history
- Job descriptions and any photos or videos you uploaded to a request
- In-app messages between you and other users
- Payment methods and, for Experts, bank details held for payouts
- Identity documents, qualification certificates and insurance documents you uploaded
- Device identifiers, push notification tokens and marketing preferences
- Support tickets and correspondence, once any dispute is closed
6.What we must keep, and why
The right to erasure is not absolute. Article 17(3) of the UK GDPR allows us to keep a limited amount of data where we have a legal obligation to do so, or where we need it to establish, exercise or defend legal claims. What we keep is kept securely, used only for the stated purpose, and deleted when the period ends.
| What we keep | How long | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Invoices, receipts and transaction records | 6 years from the end of the accounting period | Companies Act 2006 and HMRC record-keeping requirements |
| Minimal job record: date, service type, price, parties | 6 years from completion | Limitation Act 1980 — the period in which a contract claim can be brought against or by us |
| Reviews you left about an Expert | Retained, anonymised — your name is removed | Removing them would distort other users' ratings and mislead future Clients |
| Safety, fraud or serious misconduct records | Up to 6 years | Protecting other users; establishing or defending legal claims |
| A hash of your email address on our suppression list | Indefinitely | So we can honour your opt-out and never market to you again |
| Aggregated and anonymised statistics | Indefinitely | No longer personal data — you cannot be identified from it |
7.Deleting an Expert account
If you provide services through the Platform, a few extra steps apply:
- You must complete or cancel any Job you have accepted before your account can be closed. Deleting your account does not release you from a Service Contract you have already entered into with a Client.
- Withdraw your available balance first. We will pay any remaining settled funds to your registered bank account before closure; unsettled amounts are paid on the normal schedule.
- Your public profile and photo are removed. Reviews of your past work remain on the Platform in anonymised form, attributed to a former Expert rather than to you by name.
- Records of your tax and payout history are retained for 6 years as required by HMRC.
8.Questions
If you have any question about deleting your account, or you are not happy with how we have handled your request, contact info@abxhandyman.co.uk.
For full detail on how we handle personal data, including your other rights and how to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, see our Privacy Policy. For the rules governing use of the Platform, see our Terms and Conditions.