Legal
Privacy Policy
Last updated 10 October 2026
Who we are
Starwebdesign is a web design, SEO and Google Ads studio based in Gravesend, Kent.
Starwebdesign is the trading name of Olga Ishchuk, a sole trader.
Address: Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, United Kingdom.
Email: hello@starwebdesign.uk.
We are the "data controller" for the personal information described on this page. That means we decide how and why it is used.
What this page covers
This page explains what information we collect when you use starwebdesign.uk or contact us, why we collect it, how long we keep it, and what rights you have.
It does not cover the websites we build for clients. Each of those has its own privacy policy.
The information we collect
1. When you contact us
If you use our contact form, email us, call us or message us on WhatsApp, we collect what you give us:
- your name
- your email address and/or phone number
- your website address, if you share it
- your message and, if you choose it, a budget range
2. When you visit the website
If you accept analytics cookies, we collect anonymised information about how the site is used: pages viewed, how long you stayed, roughly where you are (town level), your device and browser type. We do not collect your name or exact location this way. See our Cookie Policy for details.
3. Spam protection
Our contact form uses Cloudflare Turnstile to block spam. Turnstile may process your IP address and browser details to decide whether you are a real person. It does not show you puzzles and does not track you across websites.
4. Technical logs
Our hosting provider records basic technical logs (IP address, time, page requested) to keep the site running and secure. These are kept for a short period and are not used to identify you.
Why we use it, and our legal basis
| What we do | Why | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Reply to your enquiry | To answer your question and, if you ask, prepare a quote | Our legitimate interest in responding to people who contact us; or steps before entering a contract |
| Keep enquiry records | So we can follow up and remember what was discussed | Legitimate interest |
| Deliver work to clients | To carry out a project or retainer | Performance of a contract |
| Analytics | To understand which pages are useful and improve the site | Your consent (you can withdraw it at any time via "Cookie settings" in the footer) |
| Spam protection | To keep the contact form usable | Legitimate interest |
| Accounts and invoices | To meet legal and tax obligations | Legal obligation |
We do not sell your information. We do not use it for automated decisions about you. We do not send marketing emails unless you have asked for them.
Who we share it with
We use a small number of service providers to run the website and our business. They process information only on our instructions:
- Vercel — hosts the website (servers in the EU/US)
- Neon — the database that stores enquiries (servers in London, UK)
- Cloudflare — R2 image storage (EU) and Turnstile spam protection
- Resend — sends the email notification when you submit the contact form (EU servers)
- Google — Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager, only if you accept analytics cookies
- Accounting and banking providers — for clients, to raise invoices and receive payment
We may also share information if the law requires it.
International transfers
Where a provider processes data outside the UK (for example Google and Vercel in the United States), the transfer is covered by the UK's adequacy decisions, the UK–US Data Bridge, or standard contractual clauses approved for UK use.
How long we keep it
| Information | How long |
|---|---|
| Enquiries that do not become a project | 24 months from our last contact, then deleted |
| Client records, contracts, project files | For the length of the project and 6 years after it ends (HMRC requirement for business records) |
| Invoices and payment records | 6 years after the end of the tax year they relate to |
| Analytics data (Google Analytics) | 14 months, then automatically deleted by Google |
| Cookie consent choice | 6 months, stored in your browser |
| Technical hosting logs | A short period set by the hosting provider, typically days, not months |
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you can:
- ask for a copy of the information we hold about you
- ask us to correct it
- ask us to delete it (we may need to keep some records to meet legal obligations)
- ask us to stop using it, or to limit how we use it
- object to our use of it where we rely on legitimate interest
- withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on consent (analytics)
- ask for your information in a portable format
To do any of this, email hello@starwebdesign.uk. We will reply within one month. We do not charge for this.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we handle your information, please tell us first so we can put it right.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
Website: ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113
Children
This website is aimed at businesses. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page.