We collect less because we don’t need more.

Last updated: 8 September 2026

Solar quotes can contain personal information, so QuoteCalm is designed to keep as little as possible. You do not need an account or phone number to use the checker.

Who is responsible for your data?

David McGlashan trading as QuoteCalm operates QuoteCalm and is responsible for personal data processed through the service. Privacy questions, rights requests and data-protection complaints can be sent to hello@quotecalm.co.uk.

What happens when you upload a quote?

A solar quote can contain names, addresses, contact details, installer details, equipment, prices and finance information. We process the file so QuoteCalm can produce the check you asked for.

Your original PDF or image

QuoteCalm does not keep the original PDF or image in its own database once the analysis request has finished. The file is sent securely to a document-processing provider so the information needed for your check can be read.

Our current document-processing provider is OpenAI. OpenAI states that API inputs and outputs are not used to train its models by default unless an API customer explicitly opts in to data sharing. OpenAI also states that, except for certain endpoints and eligible retention configurations, API inputs and outputs may be retained for up to 30 days for service delivery and abuse monitoring. Provider policies can change, so we will review this notice if our processing setup changes.

Information we keep briefly

To keep the service reliable and investigate document-reading problems, QuoteCalm may keep a record of the information read from a quote for up to 30 days. This does not include the original uploaded file. A daily database cleanup removes records once that period has expired.

Data used to improve future comparisons

QuoteCalm may keep a smaller set of quote information to build a better picture of the UK solar market. This can include a broad region or postcode area, quote month, price, system size, equipment specification, battery capacity, warranties and important inclusions.

This long-term dataset is designed not to contain names, full addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, raw documents or the identity of a finance provider. We use it to make future quote comparisons more useful and to understand market pricing. If a page shows several package prices and it is not clear which one applies, we leave that price out of long-term price benchmarking. We do not sell homeowner contact details to installers.

Keeping the checker available

To prevent automated abuse and keep the public checker working, QuoteCalm uses short-lived rate-limit records. The network address seen by the server is turned into a one-way keyed value before that record is stored; the raw network address is not stored in the rate-limit table. These records are removed automatically after a short period, normally within three days.

Basic service usage

We collect a small number of first-party events so we can tell whether the service is working and where people get stuck — for example, whether the upload picker was opened, a check started, a report was produced or something failed. These records use a random session identifier rather than an account.

If you arrive through a tagged launch link, we may also keep the campaign values, the page you first landed on and the referring website’s domain. We deliberately do not keep the full referring URL or its query string in this first-party data. These funnel events are removed automatically after 180 days.

Optional feedback

After a completed quote check or comparison, QuoteCalm may ask how useful you found it and whether you would recommend the service. You can also leave an optional comment. We do not ask for your name, email address or phone number as part of that feedback.

Ratings may be combined into aggregate statistics so we can understand whether QuoteCalm is genuinely useful. We will only quote a written comment publicly if you explicitly tick the permission box allowing anonymous use. Comments without that permission are used for product improvement only. Please do not put names, addresses or contact details into the feedback box.

Our lawful basis

Where appropriate, we rely on legitimate interests to provide and improve the service, keep it secure and reliable, develop market comparisons with direct identifiers removed and understand whether QuoteCalm is useful to consumers. We aim to keep the privacy impact low through data minimisation, limited retention and removal of direct identifiers. Where you explicitly allow us to quote an optional feedback comment publicly, that permission is recorded separately from the rating. You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests.

Companies that help us run QuoteCalm

QuoteCalm uses third-party providers to host the website, process documents, store quote data and feedback and, where you agree, measure website usage. The current production setup includes Vercel for hosting, Supabase for database services, OpenAI for document processing and Google Analytics for optional website analytics. They process information on our behalf under their service and data-protection terms.

Some providers may process information outside the UK. Where UK data-protection law restricts a transfer, QuoteCalm relies on an applicable UK adequacy regulation and/or appropriate contractual safeguards made available by the provider, such as recognised UK international data-transfer clauses or addenda. You can contact hello@quotecalm.co.uk for more information about the safeguards relevant to the service.

Google Analytics is optional

Google Analytics only loads after you choose “Accept analytics” on the site. If you decline, the quote checker still works normally. We have disabled Google Signals and advertising-personalisation signals in the site configuration. Your choice is stored in your browser so we can remember it.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law may give you rights to access, correct, erase or restrict the use of your personal information, and to object where we rely on legitimate interests. To make a request, email hello@quotecalm.co.uk.

If you have a complaint

If you think QuoteCalm has not handled your personal information properly, contact us at hello@quotecalm.co.uk so we can look into it. If you remain dissatisfied, you can complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. ICO complaint guidance →

Questions?

If you have a privacy question, contact us before uploading anything you are not comfortable sharing. You can also read our terms and important limitations.