Owner FAQ

Who can see my name and personal details?

Nobody – until you decide otherwise. Partners who are offered the opportunity to quote for your items cannot see your name, email, phone number, or any identifying information. If you accept a partner's quote and they need to arrange a collection, only then does that specific partner receive your contact details. No other partner – including those who also submitted quotes for the same item – ever sees who you are.

Do I have to share my address with anyone?

Not necessarily. If you choose to handle logistics yourself – delivering an item to the partner directly – your address is never shared with the partner. If a partner is collecting from you, your address is shared only with the partner whose quote you've accepted, and only at the point when collection is being arranged. Partners quoting for your items see your city at most – never your street, postcode, or neighbourhood.

What does Downsizr itself know about me?

We verify your identity through Stripe, the same payment infrastructure trusted by Amazon, Google, and millions of businesses worldwide. Your identity documents, payment details, and bank information are processed and stored by Stripe – not by Downsizr. Your location information is encrypted and accessible only when required to facilitate a transaction you've approved. Even within Downsizr, access to your personal data is strictly controlled and logged.

Can I delete my account and all my data?

Yes. You can request account deletion at any time. Your personal data, item records, photos, and videos are permanently deleted 30 days after your deletion request. Financial transaction records are anonymised and retained for 7 years to comply with UK HMRC and US IRS tax requirements. Audit logs (access records, not personal information) are kept for 2 years for security purposes. We comply fully with UK GDPR and data protection regulations.

Who can see what I own?

Only the specific partners that Downsizr's matching system identifies as relevant for a specific item – and only after you've explicitly requested quotes for that item. A sterling silver ladle is only seen by a sterling silver specialist. A rare lithograph is only seen by an expert print dealer. Your items are individually shown only to the right kind of specialist, experienced in selling items of a similar value to yours, not to a broad audience.

Can any single partner see everything I own?

No. This is fundamental to how Downsizr works. Each item is matched individually to specialist partners based on category, value, and expertise. Unless you've agreed to work with a multi-category partner (i.e. an auction house) on a bundle of items, no single partner ever sees your full inventory. Your collection is distributed across a network of specialists, each of whom sees only the items that are relevant to them.

What about items I'm not selling?

Items in your Undecided and Keep columns are only visible to you. Items in the Gift column are visible to you and your privately selected giftees. Invited partners can only see items you've actively moved to your Sell column and requested quotes for. The Donate column is only visible to you and the charities you have offered your items to.

Are my photos and videos stored securely?

Yes. Any stored files (images, videos, documents, backups, etc.) are encrypted in our databases or storage systems. When present, we automatically strip location metadata (GPS data embedded in photos and videos) before storing anything, so your media cannot be used to identify where your items are located. Access to your media is time-limited – once a quote is rejected or expires, the partner can no longer view your item's images or videos.

How do you choose your partners?

Downsizr identifies, vets, and invites every partner on the platform because we think they are the best possible local, national or global partner to help you sell your item. Partners cannot self-register or sign up through an open application. We find established dealers, auction houses, and specialists with proven track records, verified business registrations, and active insurance. We check their credentials before extending an invitation to join. Every partner registration link is unique, single-use, and time-limited – it cannot be forwarded or shared.

What stops a partner from being a bad actor?

Partners are verified businesses with registered addresses, insurance, and professional track records – all confirmed before they join. They can only see items specifically matched to their expertise, they never see your identity or location during the quoting process, and their access to item information expires once a quote is concluded.

Are partners insured?

Yes. All partners must provide proof of current insurance as part of their onboarding, and we track expiry dates to ensure coverage remains active. Partners operating without valid insurance are suspended from the platform.

Why do you need to verify my identity?

Identity verification protects everyone involved in high-value transactions. It ensures that items are being sold by their rightful owners and that payment reaches the correct party. Verification is handled entirely by Stripe Identity – the same system used by major global platforms. Downsizr does not store your identity documents.

Is my payment information safe?

All payment processing is handled by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor – the highest level of security certification in the payments industry. Downsizr never sees or stores your full card numbers or bank details. This information exists only within Stripe's secure infrastructure.

What happens if something goes wrong with a transaction?

Until the process is automated on the Downsizr platform, we encourage both parties to document item condition at handover – this way if a dispute arises, there is a clear record of the item's condition. Payments for direct purchases are held securely until collection is confirmed. For consignment and auction sales, you receive payment through Stripe's system once the item sells, with full transparency throughout.

How is my data protected?

Your personal data and item information are encrypted both in transit and at rest. Location metadata is stripped from all uploaded media. Access to your data is logged and auditable – we know exactly who accessed what and when. We operate on a principle of data minimisation: we collect only what's necessary, share only what's required for a specific transaction, and retain data only as long as needed.

Could Downsizr be used to case my home for burglary?

This is exactly the scenario we've designed against. Here's why it doesn't work on Downsizr. No partner can browse items freely – they only see items specifically matched to their verified expertise. No partner sees your identity or precise location at any point during quoting. Your full item catalogue is never visible to any single party. Item access is time-limited and revoked when no longer needed. Every partner is a vetted, registered business – not an anonymous user.

Can I add extra security to my account?

Yes. We offer two-factor authentication (2FA) through your account settings under "Login and security." We recommend enabling this, particularly if you're cataloguing high-value items.

Do you sell my data to third parties?

No. We will never sell, share, or monetise your personal data or item information. Your data exists solely to facilitate the services you've asked us to provide.

How do your security measures work for higher-value items?

Our security measures scale with the value of your items. Every transaction benefits from verified partners, encrypted data, and secure payments. For higher-value items, our matching system automatically prioritises established dealers with deeper credentials, and additional safeguards apply throughout the process. You don't need to do anything differently – the platform adapts.

What if I have further security concerns?

We take every concern seriously. Contact us directly at support@downsizr.com and we'll walk you through exactly how your information is protected.