How We Use Your Data
Last updated: 5 April 2026
This page explains, in plain language, exactly what happens with your information at each stage of using If It Happens.
When you look up an area report
- You enter an outward postcode (e.g. "SW1A"). This covers thousands of households and cannot identify you.
- We use it to look up publicly available data about your area.
- No account or login is required.
- We do not log which postcodes are searched.
When you fill in the personalised plan questionnaire
- Your answers are saved in your browser's localStorage as you go — they stay on your device.
- Nothing is sent to our server until you generate a PDF.
- You can close the page, come back later, and your answers will still be there (on the same browser).
- Clearing your browser data will remove these answers.
When you generate a PDF
- Your browser sends your questionnaire answers to our server in a single encrypted (HTTPS) request.
- Our server combines your answers with area data to build a personalised PDF.
- The PDF is sent back to your browser as a download.
- Sensitive fields (medical equipment, medications, dietary needs, allergies) are used only for that one request and are immediately discarded. They are not written to any database, log file, or backup.
- Non-sensitive preferences (household size, heating type, property type) are saved to your customer record so we can improve your plan on future regenerations.
What we store on our server
| Data | Stored? | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Email address | Yes | Plan recovery if you lose your link |
| Outward postcode | Yes | Generate area-specific content for your plan |
| Household size, heating, property, vehicle, garden | Yes | Personalise non-sensitive plan sections |
| Gumroad transaction reference | Yes | Link your payment to your plan |
| Medical conditions or equipment | No | Used in-memory only during PDF generation |
| Medications | No | Used in-memory only during PDF generation |
| Dietary needs and allergies | No | Used in-memory only during PDF generation |
| Payment card details | No | Handled entirely by Gumroad |
How to delete your data
Browser data (localStorage)
Open your browser settings, find "Site data" or "Storage" for this site, and clear it. This removes all questionnaire answers from your device.
Server data (customer record)
Contact us and we will delete your customer record within 30 days.
Affiliate links
Some product recommendations in PDF reports include affiliate links (currently Amazon). If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links do not influence our recommendations — we suggest the same products regardless.
Questions?
If anything on this page is unclear, get in touch. We believe transparency builds trust.