Privacy Policy
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Who Am I Really? is an independent UK family-history research service. This notice explains how information is used when you contact us or commission research. For privacy enquiries, email bartons05@outlook.com.
Who is responsible?
The person operating Who Am I Really? is responsible for the personal information handled by the service. Before accepting clients, the operator's full legal name and a suitable contact postal address should be added here.
What we collect
When you enquire, we collect the name, email address and message you submit. If you commission research, we may also collect information you choose to provide about relatives, such as names, dates, places, relationships, documents and family-history questions. We may keep correspondence, agreed scope, invoices and payment records. Please avoid sending sensitive information about living people in an initial enquiry.
Why we use it
- To respond to enquiries and discuss possible research (our legitimate interests in responding to requests).
- To agree and carry out commissioned research and manage payments (steps before entering into a contract and performance of a contract).
- To maintain accounting and other records where required by law (legal obligation).
Family-history research may reveal sensitive information about living individuals. Where special-category personal data is involved, we will assess the appropriate additional legal condition before processing it and seek explicit consent where required. We may decline research involving living people or sensitive material.
Records and third parties
Research may involve publicly available archives, registries and genealogy resources. We may use Netlify to host the website and process enquiry-form submissions, and Microsoft Outlook for correspondence. These providers may process information on our behalf under their own applicable terms. We will not sell personal information or use enquiry details for marketing without a separate lawful basis.
How long we keep information
Unsuccessful or unconverted enquiries are normally deleted within 12 months of the last meaningful contact, unless there is a reason to retain them. Research correspondence and reports are normally retained for up to 3 years after completion to answer follow-up questions or resolve disputes. Invoices and accounting records are kept for the period required by applicable UK tax law, generally up to 6 years. These periods may be extended where legally necessary.
Security and international processing
We take reasonable measures to restrict access and protect records. No internet transmission is completely risk-free. Some service providers may process data outside the UK; where applicable, we rely on appropriate transfer safeguards.
Your rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may ask for access to your personal data, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, or object to certain processing. You can also withdraw consent where processing relies on consent. Contact bartons05@outlook.com. You may complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
Cookies
We do not intentionally set advertising or analytics cookies on this website. Hosting providers may use strictly necessary technical measures. If analytics or other non-essential cookies are introduced, this notice and any required consent controls will be updated.
Updates
We may update this policy when our practices change. The current version will be published here.