Privacy Policy
Last updated: 8 August 2026
Who we are
Asku helps people find local businesses through WhatsApp.
We are the data controller for personal data used to operate the Asku service.
Contact: info@asku.co.uk
What this policy covers
This policy explains what personal data we collect, why we use it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and the rights available under UK GDPR.
What data we collect
From customers:
- WhatsApp phone number
- job description / summary
- postcode area
- service category and urgency
- consent records
- message content needed to process the request
- technical logs needed for security and delivery
From businesses:
- WhatsApp phone number
- business name
- service category
- coverage areas
- Asku Balance / payment records
- message content needed to operate alerts and onboarding
We do not ask customers for full home addresses in the standard flow.
Why we use personal data
We use personal data to:
- understand the customer request
- match relevant local businesses
- share the customer's contact details with businesses that unlock the enquiry
- send service messages on WhatsApp
- process business top-ups and unlocks
- prevent abuse and keep the service secure
- meet legal obligations
Lawful basis
For customers, our main lawful basis is consent.
Customers confirm before we share their details with matched businesses.
For businesses, we process data to operate the service they signed up for, including sending job alerts, managing balance, and providing unlock access.
Who we share data with
Customers:
If a customer consents, we may share their phone number and job details with up to 3 matched local businesses that unlock the enquiry.
Service providers:
We use trusted providers to operate the service, including:
- messaging infrastructure
- payment processing
- hosting / server infrastructure
They only process data as needed to provide their service to us.
We do not sell personal data.
How long we keep data
We keep personal data only as long as needed for the service and legal requirements.
In normal use:
- customer job data is retained for a limited period after the enquiry closes
- customers can request earlier deletion
- business account and payment records may be retained longer where needed for accounting, fraud prevention, or legal reasons
Customer controls
Customers can:
- reply STOP on WhatsApp to withdraw consent and request deletion
- email info@asku.co.uk to ask for access, correction, or deletion
Business controls
Businesses can:
- reply STOP to stop job alerts
- contact info@asku.co.uk for account or data requests
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you may have the right to:
- access your data
- correct inaccurate data
- request deletion
- restrict or object to certain processing
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, including restricted access and encrypted storage of sensitive fields where applicable.
No method of transmission or storage is completely secure.
Children
Asku is not intended for children. We do not knowingly collect data from under-16s.
Updates
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will be published on this page.
Contact
Questions about privacy: info@asku.co.uk