Privacy policy
Last updated September 28, 2026
HandsNearby ("HandsNearby", "we", "us") runs handsnearby.com and the HandsNearby Pro app. This policy explains what we collect, why, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and the choices you have. It covers people who post jobs ("customers") and the independent pros who take them ("pros").
What we collect
When you post a job
- The job: what needs doing, your ZIP code, when you need it and your budget.
- Your contact details: your full name, email address and mobile number.
- A confirmation of your mobile number. We text you a one time code through Google Firebase, and we keep a record that the number was confirmed.
- Your consent: which wording of the consent line you saw, whether you ticked the box for text messages from HandsNearby, the page you posted from, and when. We store these with a one way hash of your phone number and email, not the numbers themselves.
- Technical details: your browser's user agent, a one way hash of your IP address (to stop abuse and limit how often a form can be sent), and signals from Google reCAPTCHA that help tell people from bots.
- How you found us, if the link you followed says so (for example a campaign tag in the address).
When you join as a pro
- Your application: your name, the kind of work you do, the area you cover, your vehicle, and photos you add.
- Your email address and mobile number, each confirmed with a code.
- If an ID check is turned on: your legal name, date of birth and home address, and the result of an identity check run by Stripe. The photos of your ID and your face stay with Stripe; we store the result, not the images. We compare the date of birth on your ID with the one you gave us and do not store the one read from the ID.
- Billing: your plan and payment status. Card details go straight to Stripe and never reach us.
- How you use the app: the jobs offered to you, what you did with them, notes you add, and your device's notification token.
How we use it
- To send your job to a pro who covers your area and can take it, and to give that pro what they need to call you.
- To keep you updated about your job by email, and by text if you asked for texts.
- To read the kind of job from your description. An AI model (Google Gemini) sorts the job into a category and writes a short summary for pros. The summary never includes your name, phone, email or address.
- To run pro accounts, subscriptions and billing, and to check a pro's identity when that check is on.
- To stop spam, fraud and abuse, and to keep the service working.
- To follow the law and respond to lawful requests.
Who we share it with
- The pro who takes your job. Only that pro gets your name, phone number, email and job description, so they can call you about it. Pros who are offered the job before one takes it see a summary only: the kind of job, the area, the day and the budget. If the job moves to another pro, the first one loses access.
- Companies that run parts of the service for us, under contracts that limit how they use it: Google (Firebase and Google Cloud for our database, sign in, file storage, notifications and the AI that reads jobs; reCAPTCHA), Vercel (hosting this website), Twilio (text messages) and Twilio SendGrid (email), and Stripe (payments and ID checks for pros).
- The law. When required by law, or to protect people's safety or our rights.
- A new owner, if HandsNearby is sold or merged, under this policy.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for advertising. This website uses no advertising or analytics trackers.
Text messages
HandsNearby job updates are text messages about a job you posted: its status link, a check that the pro reached you, and a follow up after the job. You get them only if you tick the box for texts on the job form. Ticking it is optional and is not needed to post a job.
- Up to 3 texts per job. Message frequency varies with your job.
- Message and data rates may apply.
- Reply STOP to stop the texts at any time. Reply HELP for help, or email info@handsnearby.com.
- Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt in data and consent are not shared with any third parties. This does not stop us from giving your phone number to the pro who takes your job so they can call you, as described above.
The code that confirms your number is a separate one time text you ask for on the form. The pro who takes your job may call or text you from their own phone; those messages come from the pro, not from HandsNearby.
We email you about your job or your pro account only: that it was posted, who took it, reminders and similar updates. We do not send marketing email.
How long we keep it
- A customer's contact details and job description: deleted 90 days after the job's date (or after posting, when there's no date). If a pro books the job, 18 months after its date; if it closes without a booking, 90 days after it closes.
- The consent record (hashed phone and email, the wording and when): 5 years, to show that you agreed.
- Emails and texts we send: our copy is deleted after 30 days.
- Pro accounts: as long as the account is open. When a pro deletes the account, we delete their personal details, photos and devices, and keep a record of the agreement they accepted, their account's history without personal details, and that their phone number was used, so the same person can't open a second account. Stripe keeps its own payment and ID check records as the law requires.
- Job records without anything that identifies you (the kind of job, the area, what happened) may be kept to run and improve the service.
Your choices and rights
- To stop texts, reply STOP. To see, correct or delete your information, email info@handsnearby.com.
- Pros can delete their account in the app (Account, Delete account), or on the web without signing in.
- Depending on where you live, you may have rights to know what we hold, correct it, delete it, or get a copy. We honor these requests for everyone, wherever you live, and we won't treat you differently for making one.
Security
Your details are stored encrypted in Google Cloud in the United States, and only the people and pros described above can read them. No system is perfectly secure; if something goes wrong that affects your information, we will tell you as the law requires.
Children
HandsNearby is for adults. You must be 18 or older to post a job or join as a pro, and we don't knowingly collect children's information.
Changes
If we change this policy, we update the date at the top. If a change matters, we tell you by email before it applies to you.
Contact
Questions about privacy or texts: info@handsnearby.com.