1. About this policy
This policy explains how Collectra handles information in the iPhone app and on collectra.uk. The app uses an account and keeps supported collection data on your device and in the cloud. Collectra is responsible for how it uses this information; contact support@collectra.uk with privacy questions.
2. Your account and collection
We use your email address, chosen username, display name and optional profile photo to provide your account. Google Firebase Authentication manages sign-in and password resets. Your password is not stored in Collectra’s collection database. Individual username availability can be checked when choosing a name.
Supported collection information is stored locally and synchronised using Google Firebase Firestore and Cloud Storage. It includes:
- Products, collection entries, dates and countries
- Optional locations, notes and selected entry photos
- Favourites, tags, comparisons and personal rankings
- Collection preferences and derived progress, totals and achievements
These records and photos are private account data. The current app does not provide a public journal or a social collection feed. You need an account for account-based features; notes, photos and location details are optional.
3. Personal journal pages
Your personal journal’s written text, page layouts, photos, stickers and automatic journal milestones are currently stored on your device, separately from collection sync. They are not restored from the Collectra cloud when you sign in. Your device backup may include app data, depending on your Apple settings.
Wait for collection sync to finish before relying on another device. Do not delete the app assuming that every journal page or unsynced change is backed up to your account.
4. Camera, photos and location
Camera. Camera permission supports retail barcode scanning.
Photos. When you select an image, Collectra may read available location metadata to suggest a country. The updated app prepares newly imported images without copying their original embedded GPS metadata. A country or location you keep is stored separately with the entry. Previously stored images and copies in device backups may retain older metadata.
Location. Optional foreground location can suggest where an entry or journal page was recorded. Apple’s location and geocoding services may process coordinates for this purpose. The app does not require background location access. You can choose a country manually.
Change camera, photo and location permissions in iPhone Settings. Withdrawing permission stops future access; it does not automatically remove information already saved with an entry.
5. Barcode lookup and service providers
Collectra checks its local catalogue and cached barcode matches first. An unrecognised barcode may be sent to Open Food Facts to look up a product name and brand. This lookup does not include your password, notes, photos or collection history. The receiving service may receive technical connection information such as an IP address.
Google Firebase provides account authentication, cloud database and photo storage, and account-deletion processing. Apple provides system services including optional location and device backup. Our website is hosted through OpenAI’s Sites service. Hosting and email providers process the technical information needed to deliver the site and messages.
Providers may process identifiers, connection information and diagnostics to operate and secure their services, and may process information internationally. Their privacy and data-processing terms describe their handling and applicable transfer safeguards: Firebase, Apple, OpenAI and Open Food Facts. Contact us for information about the arrangements relevant to your data.
6. Website, support and waitlist email
Browsing this website does not create a Collectra app account. The hosting service may process your IP address, browser information, request times and security logs.
When you join the website waitlist, we store your email address, the time you joined and your agreement to receive launch updates in the website’s Cloudflare-hosted database. If you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you include in the message. We use support messages to answer your request. If you ask for launch updates, we use your email address for those requested updates; you can stop them by replying or contacting support@collectra.uk. Do not send passwords or authentication codes.
7. Purposes, choices and tracking
Account and collection information is processed to provide the service you request. Technical and support information is used to operate the service, respond to requests and protect it against misuse. Where data-protection law requires a lawful basis, these purposes rely on providing the requested service and our legitimate interests in reliable, secure operation and support. Optional launch updates rely on your request and consent, which you can withdraw.
The reviewed app does not contain advertising or cross-app tracking and does not send custom events through an analytics SDK. Firebase components can still process service diagnostics. Collectra does not sell personal information. Collection progress and rankings are personal app features, not decisions that determine legal rights or access to essential services.
8. Retention and account deletion
Your collection is retained to provide your account until you remove supported items or delete the account. Local changes need to sync before the cloud copy is updated. Signing out is not account deletion.
Permanent account deletion is available in the app’s Profile settings. A recent sign-in may be required. The process removes the account’s cloud collection, photos, reserved username and authentication account, and clears that account’s local collection and journal on the device completing deletion. If it fails or is interrupted, follow the retry instructions or contact support; do not assume an error means deletion completed.
Deleting an account cannot remotely erase copies in your existing device backups or on an offline device that has not received the change. Temporary deletion-status information may be retained to prevent conflicting writes while cleanup completes. Provider backups and operational logs may have separate retention, rather than disappearing immediately with the active account.
Support correspondence and technical records are kept only as needed to resolve the request, operate and protect the service, and meet applicable legal obligations. We consider the purpose of the record, outstanding requests or incidents, and relevant legal requirements when deciding retention. Contact us if you need details about a particular record or a deletion request.
9. Your rights
Depending on your location and the processing involved, you may have rights to access, correct, erase or obtain a portable copy of your information, or restrict its use. We may need to verify that a request relates to your account. Contact support@collectra.uk to make a request.
Right to object. Where processing relies on legitimate interests, you may object based on your circumstances. You can object to marketing at any time and withdraw consent to requested updates without affecting earlier lawful processing.
You may also complain to your relevant data-protection authority. In the UK, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.
10. Children, changes and contact
Collectra is not directed to children. Users must follow the age requirements and laws applicable to products in their location.
We update this policy when features or data handling change. The latest version remains at collectra.uk/privacy with its revision date. For privacy questions, contact support@collectra.uk.