Privacy Policy

This policy explains how BearWalk handles personal data. It should be read alongside our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. We process personal data in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Controller and processor roles

BearWalk is the controller for the personal data relating to your account and your business (for example, your name, email, login details and how you use the platform). For that data, this policy tells you how we use it.

For the personal data you enter about your own clients and their pets (names, contact details, addresses, dog information and similar), you are the controller and BearWalk acts as your processor. That means we only handle your clients' data on your instructions, to provide the service to you. You remain responsible for having a lawful basis to collect and share that data with us and for responding to your clients' privacy requests.

2. What personal data we collect

• Account details: your name, email address, password (stored hashed) and any profile information you provide.
• Business information: your business name, contact details, timezone, billing settings and preferences.
• Usage data: how you interact with the app, device and log data, and diagnostic information used to keep the service secure and working.
• Limited payment metadata: subscription status and identifiers from our payment processor. We never see or store your full card details. Those are handled directly by Stripe.

3. Lawful bases

We rely on: performance of a contract, to provide the service you have signed up for; legitimate interests, to secure, improve and support the platform and to prevent fraud and abuse; and consent, where you have opted in to marketing communications. Where we rely on legitimate interests, we balance them against your rights and freedoms.

4. How we use personal data

We use personal data to create and manage your account, provide and maintain the platform, process your subscription, provide support, keep the service secure, understand and improve how BearWalk is used, and, with your consent, send you product and marketing updates you can opt out of at any time.

5. Who we share it with

We share personal data only with trusted service providers who process it on our behalf, under contract and only for the purposes we set. These include: Stripe (subscription, card and Direct Debit payment processing), our email delivery provider (transactional and, where consented, marketing email), our hosting and infrastructure providers (to run the platform), and our error-monitoring provider (to detect and fix faults). We do not sell your personal data.

6. Retention

We keep personal data for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period afterwards to meet legal, accounting and dispute-resolution obligations. When data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it. Client and pet data you enter is retained on your instructions and deleted when you delete it or close your account, subject to short technical backup windows.

7. Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, including encryption in transit, hashed passwords, access controls and monitoring. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your data and to respond promptly to any incident.

8. International transfers

Some of our providers may process data outside the UK. Where they do, we rely on appropriate safeguards recognised under UK data protection law (such as adequacy regulations or standard contractual clauses with UK-specific provisions), so your data receives an equivalent level of protection.

9. Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict and port your personal data, to object to certain processing, and to withdraw consent for marketing at any time. For your own BearWalk account data, contact us using the details below. BearWalk also provides in-app tools to export and erase the data you hold about your clients. Where BearWalk acts as a processor for your clients' data, your clients should exercise their rights directly with you as their controller, and we will support you in responding.

10. Cookies

BearWalk uses only strictly necessary cookies. For details of what we use and how to control them, see our Cookie Policy.

11. Children

BearWalk is a business tool intended for use by adults running a dog-walking business. It is not directed at children and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

12. Complaints

If you have a concern about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first so we can try to resolve it. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. If we make a material change we will give you reasonable notice, for example by email or an in-app notice.

14. Contact

For any privacy question or to exercise your rights, email us at privacy@bearwalk.co.uk.