Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how AlgarveLocal ("we", "us") collects and uses personal data when you use AlgarveLocal at algarvelocal.pt. We process personal data in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Portuguese data protection law.

1. Who we are (Data Controller)

The data controller is the operator of AlgarveLocal. For any privacy question or to exercise your rights, contact us at geral@algarvelocal.pt.

2. The data we collect

Consumers who post a job: your name, email, phone number, the town and trade, your job description, your budget if you give one, and your language preference.

Businesses: your business name, contact name, email, phone, address, website, the languages you speak, your years in business, your service area, logo and photos, login credentials, and your payment details (handled by our payment provider, see below).

Sourced listing data: for unclaimed listings, we collect publicly available business information such as name, trade, town, phone, website and Google rating data, to help users find local trades.

Content you submit: advice, reviews, descriptions and similar, plus the language it was written in.

Everyone: technical data such as IP address, device and browser type, and usage data, collected through essential and (with consent) non-essential cookies. See our Cookie section.

3. How and why we use your data, and our legal basis

We post a Consumer's job to relevant Businesses so they can provide quotes. Legal basis: performance of the service you requested, and our legitimate interest in operating the directory.

We send a Business the Leads matching their trade and area, and reveal Consumer contact details when the Business unlocks the Lead. Legal basis: performance of our contract with the Business, and legitimate interest in running the marketplace. The Consumer's data is shared with the expectation, made clear when they post, that relevant trades will contact them about their job.

We list Businesses, including sourced listings, so the directory is useful. Legal basis for sourced business-contact data: our legitimate interest in providing a complete local directory, balanced against the limited, business-context nature of the data. Businesses can claim, correct or request removal of their listing at any time.

We translate content automatically into the supported languages using an automated translation service. Legal basis: legitimate interest in serving a multilingual region.

We review submitted content for quality and safety, including by automated screening. Legal basis: legitimate interest in maintaining a useful, safe platform.

We take payments and manage Credits. Legal basis: performance of contract and our legal obligations (for example tax and accounting).

We send service messages by email and SMS (such as new-lead notifications and account notices). Legal basis: performance of contract and legitimate interest. Marketing messages, if any, are sent only with your consent, and you can opt out at any time.

We secure the Platform, prevent fraud and abuse, and comply with legal obligations. Legal basis: legitimate interest and legal obligation.

Where we rely on legitimate interest, you have the right to object (see Your rights).

4. Who we share data with

We share data with: Businesses (Consumer Lead data, as described, on unlock), service providers acting on our behalf (hosting, payment processing, email and SMS delivery, automated translation, automated content screening, analytics), and authorities where legally required. We require our providers to protect your data and to process it only on our instructions.

We do not sell your personal data.

5. International transfers

Some providers may process data outside the European Economic Area. Where they do, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses or an adequacy decision.

6. How long we keep data

We keep Consumer Lead data for 24 months after the job is posted, then delete or anonymise it. We keep Business account and content data while the account is active and for 24 months after closure. We keep payment and invoice records for as long as tax and accounting law requires (typically 10 years in Portugal). Sourced listing data is kept while the listing is live and removed on a valid request.

7. Your rights

Under GDPR you have the right to access your data, correct it, erase it, restrict or object to its processing, port it to another provider, and withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent. To exercise any right, contact geral@algarvelocal.pt. We will respond within the legal time limit.

If a Business shares your data with you as a Consumer's contact details, that Business becomes a separate controller for its own use of that data and is responsible for its own compliance.

You can complain to the Portuguese data protection authority, the Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (CNPD), at www.cnpd.pt, or to your local supervisory authority.

8. Cookies

We use essential cookies to make the Platform work (for example login and language preference). With your consent we use non-essential cookies for analytics and to improve the service. You can manage your choices through our cookie banner and your browser settings.

9. Children

The Platform is not intended for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

10. Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including access controls, encryption in transit, and restricting Lead contact details until a Business unlocks them. No system is completely secure, but we work to protect your information and will notify you and the authorities of a breach where the law requires.

11. Changes

We may update this Policy. We will post the new version with an updated date and, for significant changes, give clearer notice.

12. Contact

AlgarveLocal. Privacy enquiries: geral@algarvelocal.pt.