Privacy Notice
Who I am
I'm Tom Ryan, trading as fmdesigns — an independent web designer based in Buckinghamshire, working across the UK. I'm the data controller for any personal data described here, and I handle it myself. There is no team and no third party managing it on my behalf.
You can write to me at Camellia, Wexham Street, Stoke Poges, SL3 6NX.
What data I hold
If I've emailed you out of the blue, what I hold is limited to:
- your business name, business email address and business phone number, and the address of your website;
- where I found those details — usually your own website, a public directory or a public company record;
- any notes I made about your current site in order to write to you, and any reply you send me.
If you go on to become a client, I'll also hold what's needed to do the work and get paid: the contact details you give me, project correspondence, and invoicing records.
Where it came from
Publicly available business sources — your website, public directories, or public records. I don't buy contact lists and I don't scrape personal social media accounts.
Why I hold it, and the lawful basis
- To contact you about my work. Lawful basis: legitimate interests — offering a relevant business service to a business, using business contact details, in a way I judge you would reasonably expect. You can object at any time and I'll stop.
- To carry out work you've asked for. Lawful basis: performance of a contract.
- To keep invoicing and tax records. Lawful basis: legal obligation.
What I don't do
- I don't sell, rent or share your data with anyone for marketing.
- I don't run advertising trackers, analytics or cookies on this site. It sets no cookies at all.
- I don't use your data to make automated decisions about you.
- I don't add you to a mailing list or newsletter.
Who else sees it
My email and file storage providers process data on my behalf as part of running an ordinary business inbox, and my accountant sees invoicing records. That's the extent of it. If any provider stores data outside the UK or EEA, it's under the safeguards required by UK data protection law.
How long I keep it
If you don't reply, or you ask me not to contact you again, I delete your details — beyond a minimal record of the fact you asked, so I don't contact you again by mistake. Client records are kept for as long as we're working together, and invoicing records for six years after that, as tax law requires.
How to opt out
Reply to my email and say so, or write to tom@fmdesigns.uk. Saying "remove me" is enough — you don't need to give a reason and I won't ask for one. I'll action it and confirm.
Your rights
You can ask me for a copy of the data I hold about you, ask me to correct it, ask me to delete it, ask me to restrict what I do with it, or object to my using it. Email tom@fmdesigns.uk and I'll respond within one month. There's no charge.
If you're not happy with how I've handled it, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk, or on 0303 123 1113. I'd rather you told me first so I can put it right.