This Privacy Policy applies to queercompass.co.uk and related services operated under the Queer Compass brand. It explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal data.
We apply the requirements of the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 across the Site.
1. Who we are
Queer Compass is a UK-focused directory and discovery platform.
General contact: hello@queercompass.co.uk
Privacy requests: privacy@queercompass.co.uk
2. What personal data we collect
We do not currently ask ordinary visitors to create an account on the public Site.
The main personal data we collect is information submitted directly through our web forms.
Depending on the form, this may include:
- name and contact details, such as email address and phone number;
- job title, owner or manager details, and preferred contact times;
- business details connected to a claim or advertising enquiry;
- supporting information, notes, URLs, certification references, and evidence supplied in free-text fields;
- submission metadata reasonably connected to the form request, such as the page being claimed or the advertising page selected.
3. How we collect it
We collect personal data when you choose to submit it to us through forms on the Site, including listing claim forms and advertising enquiry forms.
We may also receive the same information through follow-up emails or correspondence after you contact us.
4. How we use personal data
We use personal data to:
- review and verify listing claim submissions;
- respond to advertising enquiries and related business messages;
- communicate with submitters about their request, claim, or enquiry;
- keep internal records of business communications and verification history;
- comply with legal, tax, accounting, fraud-prevention, and record-keeping obligations.
5. Our lawful bases
Under UK GDPR, we generally process this data on one or more of the following lawful bases:
- Legitimate interests, where processing is necessary to run, protect, and improve the directory and to respond to business enquiries or verification requests;
- Steps at your request before entering into a contract, for example where you contact us about advertising or another business arrangement;
- Legal obligation, where we must keep or disclose information to comply with tax, accounting, legal, regulatory, or law-enforcement requirements.
6. Who we share data with
We do not sell personal data.
We may share personal data only where reasonably necessary with trusted service providers involved in hosting, email delivery, technical operations, professional advice, compliance, or record management.
We may also disclose personal data where required to comply with the law, enforce our rights, investigate misuse, or respond to lawful requests from regulators, courts, or public authorities.
7. Cookies and tracking
We do not currently use cookies for analytics, advertising, marketing, or visitor profiling on the public Site.
Our dedicated cookies statement explains that position in more detail.
If that changes, we will update this Privacy Policy and, where required, provide an appropriate cookie notice or consent mechanism.
8. How long we keep data
We keep personal data only for as long as it is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer period is required or permitted by law.
For form submissions and routine correspondence, we will usually retain records only for as long as needed to manage the enquiry, claim, follow-up, and internal business record.
However, some information may need to be retained for longer where required for tax, accounting, audit, anti-fraud, or legal record-keeping purposes.
Where data forms part of business transaction or accounting records, we may retain it for retention periods required by applicable UK law, which may include keeping relevant records for up to 6 years from the end of the relevant financial year or for other legally required periods depending on the record type and business structure.
If a dispute, complaint, investigation, or legal claim is ongoing, we may keep relevant data for longer where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
9. Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you may have rights including the right to request access to your personal data, rectification of inaccurate data, restriction of processing, objection to certain processing, and erasure in appropriate circumstances.
You may submit a privacy request, including a request connected to the right to be forgotten, by emailing privacy@queercompass.co.uk.
We will review each request in line with UK GDPR. The right to erasure is not absolute, and we may need to retain some information where processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations or to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
10. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.
No online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we work to keep personal data appropriately protected.
11. International transfers
Where service providers process data outside the UK, we will seek to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place where required by UK data protection law.
12. Complaints
If you have concerns about how we use personal data, please contact us first at privacy@queercompass.co.uk.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been handled unlawfully.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will take effect when the updated version is published on this page.