Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 2026
Who we are
PlumbingAdvice.co.uk is a UK-based plumbing and heating diagnostic website operated by a Gas Safe registered engineer. For data protection enquiries, please use our contact form. We are the data controller for personal information collected through this Site.
What information we collect
We collect personal information you voluntarily provide: name, email address, phone number, and message content via contact or job forms. When you create an account, we store your name and email. Engineer profiles additionally store your business name, town, county, trade certifications, Gas Safe or OFTEC registration number, and a short biography. We do not store credit or debit card details — all payment data is handled directly by Stripe (see Payment Processing below). We may collect anonymous usage data through analytics tools such as Google Analytics — this data cannot be used to identify you personally.
Payment processing
Payments for Pro subscriptions, job leads, and other paid features are processed by Stripe, Inc. When you make a payment, Stripe collects and stores your payment card details directly — we never see or store your full card number. We receive and store a Stripe customer ID and subscription ID so we can manage your account status. Stripe's privacy policy is available at stripe.com/gb/privacy. Stripe is certified to PCI DSS Level 1, the highest level of payment security certification. Subscription billing records (amount, date, plan) are retained for seven years in accordance with UK financial record-keeping requirements.
How we use your information
Contact form submissions are used solely to respond to your enquiry or to add requested content. Account information is used to provide your dashboard, saved guides, and maintenance reminders. If you subscribe to Pro, we use your email to send billing receipts and important account notices — we do not send marketing emails unless you have separately opted in. Job posting data is used to match homeowners with relevant local tradespeople. Engineer profile data is displayed publicly on the engineer directory to facilitate enquiries from homeowners. We do not sell, share, or rent your personal information to any third party for marketing purposes.
Engineer directory
If you register as an engineer, your profile information (name, business name, town, county, trades, certification numbers, and biography) is displayed publicly on the engineer directory at plumbingadvice.co.uk/find-engineer. You may request removal or amendment of your listing at any time by contacting us. We do not publish phone numbers or email addresses publicly — homeowners contact you through the job lead system.
Job leads marketplace
When a homeowner submits a job post, the details are stored and matched to relevant engineers. Engineers who purchase a lead receive the homeowner's name, location, and contact details for that job only. Homeowner contact details are not shared with any other party. Job post data is retained for 12 months.
Cookies
This site uses essential cookies required for the site to function correctly (authentication, session management) and optional analytics cookies to understand how the site is used. You can control cookie preferences via the notice shown on first visit. Google Analytics privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy.
Data retention
Contact form submissions are retained for up to 12 months. Account data is retained while your account is active. Payment and subscription records are retained for seven years in line with HMRC requirements. You may request deletion of your account data at any time by contacting us — note that billing records required for legal compliance cannot be deleted early.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of any personal data we hold about you. You also have the right to object to processing, request restriction of processing, and to data portability. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through the contact form. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
Third-party links
This site contains links to external websites including the Gas Safe Register, manufacturers' websites, and affiliate product links. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites and recommend you review their privacy policies independently.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Where changes are material, we will notify you by email or by a prominent notice on the Site. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance. If you have questions, please contact us.