Privacy Policy - The Collector App

This Privacy Policy explains how The Collector App (“we”, “our”, “us”) collects and uses personal data when you use our website and services. We aim to be transparent, sensible, and minimal with what we collect.

1. Who we are

The Collector App is operated in the United Kingdom. If you have questions about privacy, you can contact us via the site contact methods or email: [ADD YOUR PRIVACY EMAIL HERE]

2. What we collect

Depending on how you use the site, we may collect:

Account data – e.g., email address, username, password (stored securely in hashed form).
Profile data – any optional profile fields you choose to add.
Collection data – products you mark as owned, needed, or wishlisted; collection progress; and related stats.
Community / activity data – e.g., submissions, suggestions, marketplace activity, messages (if enabled).
Contact data – if you message us (name, email, and message contents).
Technical data – basic device/browser information, pages viewed, and approximate location inferred from IP.

We do not collect payment card data unless you use a third‑party payment provider that handles it directly.

3. How we use your data

We use your data to:

Create and manage your account
Provide the features of the app (collections, wishlists, tracking, community features)
Improve reliability, performance, and user experience
Respond to enquiries and support requests
Protect the site from abuse, fraud, and security threats

4. Legal basis (UK GDPR)

We process data under one or more of these lawful bases:

Contract – to provide your account and the services you request
Legitimate interests – to operate, improve, and secure the website
Consent – where you have a genuine choice (e.g., optional marketing, optional cookies)
Legal obligation – when we must comply with the law

5. Cookies & analytics

We may use cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember preferences (like dark mode), and understand site usage. We may also use analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to measure traffic and improve features.

You can control cookies using your browser settings. If we use non‑essential cookies, we’ll provide a consent option where required.

6. Sharing your data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share limited data with trusted service providers only when needed to run the site, such as:

Hosting / infrastructure providers
Email delivery services (for essential account emails)
Analytics providers (traffic measurement)

These providers must process data securely and only for the purposes we specify.

7. Security

We use reasonable safeguards to protect your information (such as hashed passwords and restricted admin access). No system is 100% secure, but we take security seriously and continuously improve protections.

8. Data retention

We keep your data for as long as necessary to provide the service, comply with legal obligations, and keep the site secure. You can request account deletion at any time (see “Your rights” below).

9. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you can:

Request a copy of your data (access)
Correct inaccurate data (rectification)
Request deletion (erasure) in certain cases
Restrict or object to processing in certain cases
Request portability of certain data
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK regulator: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

10. Children

The Collector App is intended for a general audience. If you believe a child has provided personal data without appropriate consent, please contact us and we will take steps to remove it where appropriate.

11. Third‑party links

Our website may link to external sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third‑party websites. Please review their policies separately.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will always reflect the latest version.