Privacy policy

This privacy policy explains how Kerbnow ("we", "us", or "the app") collects, uses, stores, and protects your information when you use the Kerbnow app and website. The short version: we keep as little as we can get away with, and what we do keep we explain below in plain English.

Who we are

Kerbnow is an independent product built by Shack Solutions. We are not affiliated with any local authority, parking enforcement company, or government body. Verdicts from the app are advisory, always double-check the sign if you are in any doubt.

Information we collect

We collect the minimum data needed to provide and improve Kerbnow. Here is what that looks like in practice:

Sign photos

• On-device processing: Photos you take of a parking sign are processed on-device wherever possible. Most scans never leave your phone.
• Cloud assistance: Some particularly difficult signs (faded, unusual layouts, low light) are sent to our servers for OCR. They are processed in memory and not stored unless you opt in to "help improve Kerbnow" in settings.
• Reported signs: If you tap "report this sign", we keep the photo and the verdict so we can retrain the model and improve it for everyone.

Account information

• Authentication data: If you sign in with Apple or Google, we receive your email address and (with Apple) optionally a name. We store your email for account management. You can choose to hide your email when signing in with Apple.
• Anonymous accounts: If you use Kerbnow without signing in, we create an anonymous local account with a random identifier. No personal information is collected.

Device and technical information

• Device model and platform
• Operating system version
• App version and build number
• Push notification token (if notifications are enabled)

Usage analytics

We use PostHog (EU-hosted) for product analytics and debugging:

• Which screens you view and features you use
• Scan outcomes (e.g. "verdict shown", "report sent"), never the photo contents themselves
• App performance and crash signals

Permissions and on-device data

The app may request optional permissions when you use specific features:

• Camera: Used to scan parking signs.
• Photo library: Used if you choose to read a sign from a photo you already took.
• Location (optional): Helps Kerbnow add things that are not always on the sign itself, controlled-zone hours, residents' permit boundaries, council-specific rules. Location is never stored as a history; it is used in the moment and dropped.
• Notifications: Used for reminders ("your free hour is up in 10 minutes") and important product updates.

In-app purchases

If you subscribe to a paid Kerbnow tier:

• We do not collect or store your payment details. All payments are processed by Apple (App Store) or Google (Play Store).
• We use RevenueCat to validate purchases and manage entitlements. RevenueCat receives transaction identifiers associated with your app user ID.
• We store a record of your purchase (product, duration, timestamp) to provide the service.

Website cookies and local storage

On kerbnow.com, we use cookies and local storage for analytics and consent preferences. We use a cookie banner so you can choose whether to allow analytics tracking.

If you opt out, we store that preference and disable analytics for the site.

Information we do not collect

• Your registration plate or vehicle details (we have no use for them)
• Your credit card or bank details (payments are handled by Apple/Google)
• Your contacts or calendar data
• A continuous history of where you have parked or driven

How we use your information

• To provide the service: Reading signs, returning a verdict, and remembering scans you saved.
• To improve the model: Retraining on signs reported as misread (only with photos you explicitly submitted).
• To keep the service reliable: Understanding which screens crash and which flows lose people.
• To communicate: Sending service notifications and important product updates.
• To process purchases: Activating paid features and recording purchase outcomes.

Data storage and security

• Where: App data is stored using AWS and Neon infrastructure providers, both in EU regions.
• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit (TLS). Storage protections are managed by our infrastructure providers.
• Access: Access is limited to authorised maintainers and service providers who need it to operate the service.
• Security: We apply reasonable technical and organisational safeguards, but no system is completely risk-free.

Third-party services

We use these trusted third-party services:

Service	Purpose	Privacy policy
AWS	API hosting (Lambda), file storage (S3/CloudFront), and scheduled tasks (EventBridge)	aws.amazon.com/privacy
Neon	PostgreSQL database	neon.tech/privacy
PostHog	Analytics	posthog.com/privacy
Expo	Mobile app framework and notification infrastructure	expo.dev/privacy
Apple Sign In	Authentication (if you choose)	apple.com/legal/privacy
Google Sign In	Authentication (if you choose)	policies.google.com/privacy
RevenueCat	In-app purchase management	revenuecat.com/privacy

Your rights

You have full control over your data:

• Access: View your saved scans any time in the app.
• Correction: Update your preferences in settings.
• Deletion: Delete your account from within the app.
• Portability: Contact us to request an export of your data.
• Opt-out: You can use the app anonymously without creating a full account, and website visitors can opt out of analytics cookies.

Data retention

• Active accounts: Data is retained while your account exists.
• Deleted accounts: When you delete your account, personal information (email, push token, preferences, saved scans) is scrubbed immediately. Reported sign photos retain only the photo and verdict; identifying account info on them is removed.
• Analytics: Retained according to provider settings and operational/legal needs.

Children's privacy

Kerbnow is intended for drivers, who in the UK are 17 or older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 16. If you believe we have collected data from a child, please contact us immediately.

International data transfers

Your data may be processed in countries outside your residence, including through our third-party providers. We rely on provider safeguards for international transfers where required.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Significant changes will be announced through the app or website. The "Last updated" date at the top shows when this policy was last revised.

Contact us

Questions about this privacy policy or your data? Email us at kerbnow@shack.solutions.