Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 2026

Family Things ("we", "the app") helps families catalog and organise their household items. This policy explains what we collect, why, and your choices. Questions: support@familythings.co.uk.

Information we collect

• Account data: your email, display name, and (if you sign in with Google) your Google profile name and photo.
• Content you add: photos of your items and the details you enter (name, category, size, season, location, notes, child profiles).
• Purchase data: subscription status is managed by RevenueCat and the app stores (we do not store your card details).
• Technical data: basic logs needed to operate and secure the service.

How we use your information

• To provide core features: cataloging, storage locations, seasonal lists and family sharing.
• To recognize items from your photos using AI (see "AI processing").
• To manage your subscription and enforce the free-tier limit.
• To secure the service and prevent abuse.

AI processing of photos

When you add an item by photo, the image is sent to our AI provider (OpenAI, via the Emergent platform) to suggest a category, size and season. Photos are processed to generate these suggestions and are not used to train third-party models. You can always add items manually without a photo.

Where data is stored

Item details are stored in our database (MongoDB) and photos in secure object storage. Photos are served only through short-lived signed links. Data is scoped to your household and visible only to invited members.

Third-party services

• Google Sign-In — authentication (if you choose it).
• RevenueCat & App Store / Google Play — subscription management and payments.
• OpenAI / Emergent — AI photo recognition and search.
• Crisp — website support chat. If you use the chat, your messages and any contact details you provide are processed so we can reply.

Children's data

Family Things is intended for use by parents and adults, not by children. "Child profiles" store only the information a parent chooses to enter (e.g., a name and clothing sizes) to plan a wardrobe. We do not knowingly collect data directly from children.

Data retention & deletion

We keep your data while your account is active. You can delete individual items, child profiles, or your entire account from within the app; you may also request deletion by emailing us. Deleting your account removes your personal data from active systems. See our Account & Data Deletion page for step-by-step instructions and what gets removed.

Your rights

Depending on where you live and the applicable data protection law, you may have rights in relation to your personal data, including the right to:

• Access your data — request confirmation of whether we process your personal data and obtain a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct your data — ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Delete your data — ask us to delete your personal data in certain circumstances. You can also delete your Family Things account using the account deletion option within the app.
• Data portability — where applicable, request personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.
• Restrict or object to processing — where applicable, ask us to restrict certain processing or object to how your personal data is used.
• Withdraw consent — where we rely on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@familythings.co.uk.

Request a copy of your personal data

You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you. To make a request, contact us at support@familythings.co.uk. We may need to verify your identity before providing your data. We will normally respond within one month, as required by applicable data protection law.

Security

We use encrypted connections, hashed passwords, household-level access isolation and signed photo links. No method is 100% secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect your data.

Changes

We may update this policy; the "Last updated" date will change accordingly.