Last updated: August 2026 · Version: 1.0 · Effective: 18 August 2026
Welcome to Helpcona ("we," "us," "our," or "Company"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about how we collect, use, and protect your personal data. By using Helpcona (including our website, mobile app, and services), you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Who we are & who this applies to
Helpcona ("Company," "we," "us") is a UK-registered company providing a platform that connects users ("Help Finders") who need household help with trusted helpers ("Helpers") who provide services. This policy applies to Help Finders, Helpers, and anyone visiting helpcona.com without an account.
2. The data we collect
Data you provide directly
- Account registration: full name, email, phone number, date of birth (18+ verification), home address or service area, optional profile photo, payment information, and anything you add to your profile.
- Payment & billing: payment method details, billing address, transaction history, refund requests. We do not store full card details — Stripe Connect handles this under PCI DSS; we only keep the last 4 digits, expiry date, and billing name/address.
- Voice memos & task information (Help Finders): the audio file, its transcription (OpenAI Whisper API), the structured task breakdown (Claude AI), recording metadata, task details, and which Helper you assign. These may contain sensitive information and are handled with strict confidentiality.
- Photos: proof-of-completion photos, Helper profile-verification photos, and anything else you upload.
- Communications: messages between Help Finders and Helpers, support messages, notifications, and shared documents.
- Helper vetting data (Helpers only): government ID, DBS check results, references, bank account details for payouts, work history, qualifications, availability, service area, and ratings.
Data we collect automatically
- Usage & analytics: pages/features accessed, time on page, clicks, search queries, device type/OS, IP address, browser type, and approximate location — via Google Analytics, LogRocket, and Sentry.
- Cookies: session cookies (keep you logged in), functional cookies (preferences), analytics cookies (usage), and marketing cookies (ad attribution, with consent). See Section 11.
- Device information: device ID, type and OS, app version, screen resolution, and permitted unique identifiers.
Data from third parties
Stripe Connect (transactions, disputes, payouts), Stripe Identity/IDology (ID verification), the DBS (criminal record checks for Helpers), Twilio (SMS delivery), Resend (email delivery), and referral partners (if you were referred by a friend).
3. How we use your data
- To provide the service (contract performance): create/manage accounts, process tasks and payments, connect Help Finders with Helpers, run AI task breakdown and transcription, track completion.
- To verify identity & ensure safety (legal obligation / legitimate interest): identity verification, Helper background/DBS checks, fraud and AML compliance.
- To improve Helpcona (legitimate interest): usage analysis, bug fixing, new features, matching-algorithm improvements.
- To communicate with you (contract / legitimate interest / consent): transactional emails, service announcements, opt-in marketing, reminders, support responses.
- For compliance & legal reasons (legal obligation / legitimate interest): UK GDPR compliance, lawful requests, enforcing our Terms.
- For safety & security (legitimate interest): encryption, threat detection, fraud prevention, dispute investigation.
4. Who we share your data with
Within the platform: Help Finders share task details, contact name/phone, address, and instructions with the assigned Helper; Helpers share their name, photo, ratings, service areas, and proof photos with Help Finders.
| Service | Purpose | Data shared |
|---|---|---|
| Supabase | Database | All platform data (encrypted) |
| Stripe Connect | Payments & payouts | Payment info, transaction history |
| OpenAI Whisper API | Voice transcription | Audio files, transcriptions |
| Anthropic Claude API | Task breakdown | Transcribed text |
| Google Analytics / LogRocket | Usage & error analytics | Usage data, device info |
| Twilio | SMS notifications | Phone number, message content |
| Resend | Email delivery | Email address, message content |
| Stripe Identity | Identity verification | Government ID (processed, not stored by us) |
| DBS | Helper background checks | Name, DOB, address (Helpers only) |
All service providers have signed Data Processing Agreements committing them to GDPR compliance. We may also disclose data to law enforcement, regulators (including the UK ICO), or courts when legally required.
We do not sell your data to advertisers, share it with competitors, or monetise it beyond what's necessary to operate Helpcona.
5. Data retention & deletion
| Data type | Retention |
|---|---|
| Account information | While active + 2 years after closure |
| Voice memos & audio | 7 years from recording |
| Transcriptions & task breakdowns | 7 years from completion |
| Proof-of-work photos | 7 years from upload |
| Payment & transaction data | 7 years (HMRC compliance) |
| Messages | 2 years after last message |
| DBS / background checks | 5 years from check date |
| Activity & usage logs | 12 months |
| IP address logs | 6 months |
You can request deletion of your data at any time by emailing privacy@helpcona.com with "Deletion Request" — we respond within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g. 7-year transaction records).
6. International data transfers
Helpcona operates primarily in the UK; your data is stored on UK/EU-based servers (Supabase, EU-hosted). Some providers process data in the US — OpenAI Whisper, Anthropic Claude, and Google Analytics — under UK ICO–approved Standard Contractual Clauses.
7. Your rights under UK GDPR
- Right of access — request a copy of your data (privacy@helpcona.com, "Data Access Request," 30-day response).
- Right to rectification — correct inaccurate data via your profile or by emailing us.
- Right to erasure — request deletion, subject to Section 5.
- Right to restrict processing — limit specific uses of your data.
- Right to data portability — request a portable export (CSV/JSON).
- Right to object — opt out of marketing, analytics, and similar uses.
- Right to complain — to the UK Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF · 0303 123 1113 · ico.org.uk.
8. Special categories of data
Health, family/childcare, financial, or criminal-record data you share (e.g. in a voice memo, or via a Helper's DBS check) is treated as a special category under GDPR: stored encrypted, shared only where necessary for the service, never used for marketing, and deletable on request.
9. Child safety & protection
Helpcona is not intended for anyone under 18. If we discover an underage account, we suspend it immediately and delete personal data within 30 days. Helpers working with children must pass enhanced DBS checks, and we report suspected child-safety concerns to the relevant UK authorities.
10. Security
Data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest (AES-256), access is restricted to authorised staff, two-factor authentication is available, and we run regular security audits. If a breach affects your data, we'll notify you within 72 hours as required by GDPR.
11. Cookies & tracking
| Type | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Session | Keep you logged in | Browser session |
| Persistent | Remember login preferences | 365 days |
| Analytics | Usage statistics | 24 months |
| Security | Fraud detection | Session |
| Marketing | Ad effectiveness | 90 days |
Manage cookies in your browser settings, opt out of Google Analytics at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout, or email us to disable specific tracking.
12. Marketing & communications
Marketing emails are opt-in only — unsubscribe via the link in any email or your account settings. Push notifications can be disabled in the app. SMS is opt-in; reply "STOP" to opt out.
13. Third-party links
Helpcona may link to third-party sites (e.g. Google Maps, payment processors) not covered by this policy. Review their own privacy policies before providing data.
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy at any time; material changes are emailed to you, and the "Last updated" date above reflects the current version.
15. Contact us
Data Protection Officer: privacy@helpcona.com
Helpcona Ltd., 66 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NA, England
We respond within 10 business days.
16. Supplementary information for Helpers
We additionally process employment/verification data (government ID, DBS certificate, references, bank details, qualifications), performance data (ratings, completion rate, review/complaint history), and location/availability data (GPS only during an active task, service area, calendar) — kept 7 years after your last task.
17. Supplementary information for Help Finders
We retain payment history (refunds, HMRC compliance, fraud prevention), task history and preferences (matching and personalisation), and Helper communications — all for 7 years from task completion.