Last Updated: 24 March 2026
At The Story Tellers’ Room, I take your privacy and the confidentiality of your family’s history incredibly seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit my website or enquire about my videography and archiving services.
As a UK-based business, I comply fully with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. Data Controller
For the purposes of data protection legislation, the data controller is John Szabanowicz, trading as The Story Tellers’ Room. If you have any questions about how your data is handled, you can contact me at: Email: storytellersroomjs@gmail.com Location: Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
2. Information I Collect
When you interact with my website, I may collect the following types of information:
Information you provide directly
When you use the contact form on this website, you voluntarily provide me with personal details so that I can respond to your enquiry. This typically includes:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Your telephone number (optional)
- Details regarding the services you require and the contents of your message
Technical data and server logs
Like all websites, the server hosting this site automatically records standard diagnostic data when you visit. This data is essential for maintaining the security and performance of the web server. It includes your IP address, browser type and version, time zone setting, and the pages you request.
Self-hosted, privacy-first analytics
I do not use invasive third-party tracking software such as Google Analytics or the Meta/Facebook Pixel. Your browsing behaviour is not shared with or sold to advertising networks.
To understand how my website is performing, I use a self-hosted analytics solution running directly on my own server. This plugin collects aggregated, anonymised data about page views and visitor sources without setting tracking cookies or transferring your personal data to external third parties.
3. How I Use Your Information
I will only use your personal data for the following purposes:
- To respond to your enquiries and provide quotes for my services.
- To carry out my obligations arising from any contracts entered into between you and me (e.g., producing your film or digitising your archive).
- To ensure my website is presented in the most effective and secure manner for you and your device.
4. Cookies
Because I have opted out of using external advertising and tracking networks, this website uses only the strictly necessary cookies required for the underlying content management system to function securely. You will not be tracked across the internet after visiting The Story Tellers’ Room.
5. Data Storage and Security
This website and its associated databases are hosted on secure servers located in London, United Kingdom.
I employ strict physical, electronic, and administrative security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure. As a professional handler of irreplaceable family archives and sensitive biographical interviews, confidentiality and data security are foundational to my business operations.
6. Data Retention
I will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
If you enquire about a service but we do not proceed with a booking, your contact details and associated correspondence will be securely deleted after 12 months.
7. Your Legal Rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Request access to your personal data.
- Request correction of the personal data that I hold about you.
- Request erasure of your personal data.
- Object to processing of your personal data.
- Request restriction of processing of your personal data.
- Request the transfer of your personal data to you or to a third party.
If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, please contact me using the details provided in Section 1. You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data.
8. Changes to this Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or my business practices. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.