Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

RealityCheck UK ("we", "us", "our") operates the website and mobile application at https://realitycheckuk.co.uk. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy.

Contact us about privacy matters at privacy@realitycheckuk.co.uk.

2. What data we collect and why

2.1 Account data

When you register, we collect your full name, email address, country of origin, UK city, university, course name and course start date. This data is necessary to create and manage your account and personalise your experience (legal basis: performance of a contract).

2.2 Subscription and payment data

If you subscribe to a paid plan, your payment is processed by Stripe, Inc. We store your Stripe Customer ID and Subscription ID, but never your card number or bank details — those remain with Stripe. Legal basis: performance of a contract.

2.3 Content you create

Community posts, student stories, job applications, saved properties, university applications, AI chat messages and support conversations are stored to provide the service. Legal basis: performance of a contract.

2.4 Usage data

We may collect anonymised usage data (pages visited, features used, session duration) to improve the platform. Where analytics cookies are used, we rely on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time via our Cookie Policy page.

2.5 Support conversations

When you contact our AI support or escalate a ticket, we store the conversation to resolve your issue and improve the service. Legal basis: legitimate interests.

2.6 Education referrals

If you apply to a university through RealityCheck UK, we share the necessary application data (name, contact details, chosen course) with the receiving university. We may receive a commission from the university if you enrol. We are transparent about this commercial relationship. Legal basis: performance of a contract and consent.

3. Third-party services

We use the following sub-processors who may handle your personal data:

Where data is transferred outside the UK/EEA (e.g. to Stripe or OpenAI in the USA), we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK ICO.

4. How long we keep your data

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove your personal data within 30 days, except where we are legally required to retain it (e.g. financial records for 6 years under UK tax law).

AI chat and support messages are retained for 12 months to allow us to resolve ongoing issues and improve the AI.

5. Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of access — Request a copy of the data we hold about you.
• Right to rectification — Ask us to correct inaccurate data.
• Right to erasure — Ask us to delete your data ("right to be forgotten").
• Right to restriction — Ask us to limit how we use your data.
• Right to portability — Receive your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to object — Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Right to withdraw consent — Where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@realitycheckuk.co.uk. We will respond within 30 days.

6. Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication and, with your consent, optional analytics cookies. Full details are in our Cookie Policy.

7. Children's privacy

RealityCheck UK is intended for users aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at privacy@realitycheckuk.co.uk.

8. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint · Helpline: 0303 123 1113

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you via email or an in-app notification. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page always reflects the most recent version.