YOUR INFORMATION
Privacy in plain English.
Here is what we collect, what another member can see, and how long information stays. This page applies to ForSaleOrSwap.
What stays private
Your sign-in email, full address and phone number are not shown to buyers. We use them to run your account, contact you about essential account or advert matters, and help keep the service safe.
What buyers can see
Your chosen display name, public advert, approximate area and its photos can be seen by buyers. Your bio and account image appear only if you separately choose to show each one. Ratings and optional comments about a confirmed exchange become public after both people submit or five days pass.
Private messages
Only conversation participants and authorised safety staff can access private messages. A recipient may retain a read-only copy for up to six months after your last message if you delete your account.
What information we use
Account and advert details
We hold your email and sign-in record; your private address and phone if you sell; your chosen public name and optional bio/image; advert titles, descriptions, categories, approximate location, prices and photos; and your notification choices. Passwords are handled by our sign-in provider, not displayed to other members.
Messages, reports and safety
We hold private conversations, read/unread state, blocks and reports to let members communicate and to handle safety concerns. A report may require a restricted hold while it is reviewed.
Exchange feedback
After a seller completes an advert, they may invite the person in its private advert conversation to confirm the exchange. We keep the confirmation, any optional one-to-five-star ratings and comments, and email delivery records. Feedback is private until both people submit or five days pass; then ratings and comments can appear on member storefronts. Confirmed-exchange milestones count participation, not positive ratings. Feedback invitation emails can be turned off in notification settings.
Technical information
Our hosting and sign-in services may process technical information such as IP addresses and device/browser details to deliver the site and protect accounts. We do not display those details on adverts.
Why we use it and who helps us
We use account and advert information to provide the marketplace, and messages to connect members who choose to contact each other. We use limited information for abuse prevention, account security and essential notices. Optional public bio and photo choices are controlled separately by you. We do not send site-news emails unless you turn that option on.
Cloudflare provides site hosting and private image storage; Supabase provides sign-in and the database; SiteGround carries service email; and Mapbox supplies the map background when you choose Map view. Mapbox may receive technical details such as your IP address and the area of the map you view. We send approximate advert pins, not sellers’ private addresses or collection postcodes. These providers process information to operate the service. We do not sell your personal details to buyers or advertisers.
Some provider teams or systems may handle information outside the UK. Cloudflare and Supabase publish UK transfer terms for restricted transfers. Ask us if you want details about a particular provider or transfer.
Our reasons for using information
We use details needed to create an account, publish an advert and deliver messages because they are needed to provide the service you ask for. For security, abuse prevention, safety reports and a short private copy of a conversation for the other participant, we rely on our legitimate interests in protecting members and running a trustworthy marketplace. We limit who can see this information and how long it stays.
Optional site-news email is a separate choice. You can turn it off in notification settings. We may also use or keep limited information when a law requires it or to handle a genuine legal claim.
Most details come from you and your use of this site. Another member can send us a report about an advert or conversation.
How long information stays
Unrenewed adverts and their linked photos and enquiries are removed from the live service six months after publication or renewal. Confirmed-exchange records and published feedback can remain after an advert is removed, so a member’s feedback history remains useful; they are removed when the linked member account is deleted. When you delete your account, adverts and your public profile are hidden immediately; remaining live account details and images are normally removed within a day. The other participant's private, read-only conversation history lasts no longer than six months after the last message, unless an open safety report requires a separately justified hold.
Encrypted database recovery archives expire on an approximately 30-day schedule. Deleted information in an archive is kept beyond everyday use and must not be brought back if a backup is restored. Private deletion markers are kept long enough to prevent that restoration mistake.
Your choices and rights
You can edit account details, change your public bio/image choices, pause adverts, change optional notification settings, or delete your account. You can ask us about your information, request a copy, or ask for correction or erasure by emailing support@forsaleorswap.com. You can complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office if you remain concerned.
Erasure requests are reviewed under UK data protection law. Certain information may need to be retained for a legal obligation or a genuine legal claim; we will explain any such decision rather than silently keeping it.
Who to contact
John Sweet operates ForSaleOrSwap. Email support@forsaleorswap.com.
John Sweet5 Buckton Vale Mews
Carrbrook
Stalybridge
SK15 3SE
Last reviewed: 8 November 2026.