Privacy Policy

Last updated: 21 April 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what personal data DC Tree Care ("we", "us", "our") collects from you, how we use it, and the rights you have under UK data protection law. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data openly and securely.

1. Who We Are

DC Tree Care is a tree surgery, fencing and landscaping business based in Staffordshire, operating across Staffordshire and the wider Midlands. For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, DC Tree Care is the data controller of the personal data we collect about you.

Contact details:

Phone: 0800 092 1053
Email: info@dctreecare.co.uk
Address: Staffordshire, UK (B79 0AP area)
Website: dctreecare.com

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We only collect the personal data we need to respond to your enquiry, quote a job or carry out work for you. Depending on how you interact with us, this may include:

Contact details — your name, email address, phone number and postal address
Enquiry information — details of the work you're asking us to quote or carry out
Site and job details — photographs, measurements and notes taken during a site visit or quote
Payment records — invoice details and payment history (we do not store bank card details)
Website data — basic technical information such as your IP address, browser type, pages visited and approximate location, collected via cookies and analytics (see Section 8)

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16.

3. How We Use Your Data & Lawful Basis

Under UK GDPR, we must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. We rely on the following:

Performance of a contract — to prepare quotes, carry out work and raise invoices when you instruct us
Legitimate interests — to respond to enquiries, follow up on quotes, improve our services and keep our records accurate
Legal obligation — to comply with tax, accounting, health & safety and waste-carrier regulations
Consent — where you've actively opted in (for example, to receive marketing updates or optional cookies)

4. Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell your personal data. We only share it where necessary, with trusted third parties acting on our behalf, including:

Our accountants and bookkeepers (for invoicing and tax purposes)
Our website host and email provider (to operate our website and correspondence)
Payment processors (to take card or bank payments)
Insurance providers (where a claim or incident requires it)
HMRC, local authorities or law enforcement (where legally required)

All third parties are required to keep your data secure and only use it for the agreed purpose.

5. International Transfers

Your personal data is stored within the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) wherever possible. If any provider stores data outside the UK/EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or Standard Contractual Clauses) in line with UK GDPR requirements.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

We only keep personal data for as long as necessary:

Enquiry and quote records — typically up to 2 years from last contact
Customer records (contracts, invoices, job notes) — 6 years after the last job, to meet HMRC and insurance requirements
Website analytics — up to 14 months
Marketing contacts — until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent

After these periods, data is securely deleted or anonymised.

7. How We Keep Your Data Secure

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including encrypted email, secure password-protected systems, limited staff access and secure disposal of paper records. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, but we take all reasonable steps to protect your information.

8. Cookies & Website Analytics

Our website uses a small number of cookies to help the site function and to understand how visitors use it. These include:

Strictly necessary cookies — required for the site to work (no consent needed)
Analytics cookies — such as Google Analytics, which help us measure traffic and improve the site (set only with your consent)

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. For more information, visit the ICO's cookie guidance.

9. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the following rights over the personal data we hold about you:

Right to be informed — how your data is used (this policy)
Right of access — request a copy of your data
Right to rectification — ask us to correct inaccurate data
Right to erasure — ask us to delete your data (subject to legal retention rules)
Right to restrict processing — ask us to limit how we use your data
Right to data portability — receive your data in a portable format
Right to object — particularly to direct marketing
Rights related to automated decision-making — we do not use automated decision-making

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 1. We will respond within one calendar month.

10. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, please contact us first so we can put things right. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Website: ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Please check back occasionally to stay informed.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please get in touch on 0800 092 1053 or via our contact page.