Privacy notice
Version 1.0 ยท In force from 22 October 2026
This notice explains how Black FX handles personal information: on this website, when you ask us for a quote, when we work on your event, carnet or website, and when you apply to work with us.
Who is responsible
Black FX is a sole trader business based in England. Black FX is the data controller for the personal information described here. To contact us about privacy, email info@blackfx.co.uk or call +44 (0)7585 607719.
When we build or host a website for a client, the client decides what their site collects about its own visitors. For that information the client is the data controller and we act as their data processor, only on their instructions. That client's own privacy notice applies.
What we hold
- Enquiries and quotes: your name, email address, phone number, event date, venue or location, and anything you tell us about your event. Our enquiry form does not send anything to us itself: it opens your own email app with the details filled in, so we receive it as a normal email.
- Clients and bookings: the contact details of the people we deal with, event plans, venue and site contacts, access and delivery details, quotes, invoices and payment records.
- Pyrotechnics and special effects: the names and contact details of venue, safety and local authority contacts we liaise with, and the site details recorded in risk assessments and method statements.
- Carnets and touring: the carnet holder's business name and address, the names of people authorised to use the carnet, equipment lists with descriptions, serial numbers and values, and travel dates and destinations.
- Website clients: the content, images and contact details you give us for your website, and the details needed to register domains and set up hosting.
- Job applicants, crew and freelancers: your CV, contact details, experience, availability and any references you give.
- Website visitors: this website sets no cookies and uses no analytics or tracking. Like every website, our web host records standard server logs (network address, page requested, browser type and time) to keep the site running and secure.
Why we use it
- To reply to your enquiry and prepare a quote (steps before a contract, at your request).
- To plan and deliver your event, hire, carnet or website (contract).
- To plan effects safely and share what venues, safety teams and authorities need (legal obligation and legitimate interests).
- To prepare carnets and move equipment across borders (contract and legal obligation under customs rules).
- To send invoices, take payment and keep accounts (contract and legal obligation).
- To consider applications and arrange work with crew and freelancers (steps before a contract and legitimate interests).
- To keep this website secure and working (legitimate interests).
We do not sell personal information, use it for advertising, or add you to a mailing list unless you ask us to.
Who we share it with
Only who we need to, and only what they need:
- our web hosting and email providers, to run this website and our email;
- venues, event organisers, safety advisers and local authorities, where your event needs it (for example, a pyrotechnics risk assessment);
- crew, transport and equipment partners working on your event;
- the chamber of commerce that issues a carnet, and customs authorities, for carnets and touring;
- domain registrars, for website clients' domain names;
- our accountant, bank and payment providers, for invoices and payments.
We will share information if the law requires it. When your event or carnet takes us outside the UK, we share what is needed with the venues, partners and customs authorities in those countries. Otherwise we do not transfer personal information outside the UK unless UK-approved safeguards are in place.
How long we keep it
| Information | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Enquiries and quotes that don't go ahead | 12 months |
| Client and booking records, invoices and accounts | 6 years after the end of the financial year, as UK tax law requires |
| Risk assessments and method statements | 6 years after the event |
| Carnet applications and equipment lists | 6 years after the carnet is closed |
| Website project files | While we look after your website, then 12 months |
| CVs and applications | 12 months, or less if you ask us to delete them sooner |
| Crew and freelancer records | While you work with us, then 6 years for payment records |
| Website server logs | Only as long as our web host needs them for security, usually a few weeks |
Security
This website is served over an encrypted connection (HTTPS) and loads nothing from other companies. We keep records on password-protected, up-to-date devices and accounts, and share them only with the people who need them for your event or project.
Your rights
You can ask for a copy of your information, ask for it to be corrected or deleted, object to how it is used, or ask for its use to be restricted. Email info@blackfx.co.uk and we will reply within one month. For a website we run for a client, please ask that client first; if you ask us, we will pass your request on.
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please tell us first. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk, 0303 123 1113).
Changes
We will update this notice when how we handle information changes, and update the version and date above.