Data retention schedule
“We keep your data only as long as necessary” is not a commitment anyone can check. This table says what is kept, for how long, and what causes it to be deleted.
| Category | Retention period | What triggers deletion | Why this period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enquiry that did not lead to an order | 24 months from last contact | Automatic deletion | No statutory basis to keep it longer |
| Enquiry that became an order | Statutory commercial-records period, then deleted | Scheduled review at the end of the period | Tax and commercial record-keeping obligations |
| Uploaded drawings and specifications | 24 months after the enquiry closes, or on request | Automatic or on request | Needed as evidence if a dispute is raised |
| Order, milestone and payment records | Statutory period for the governing jurisdiction | Scheduled review | Contractual and audit requirements |
| Dispute files and audit trail | Statutory period after the dispute closes | Scheduled review | Necessary to defend the decision if challenged |
| Certificate and verification records | While the supplier is listed, plus the review period | Removed when the supplier leaves the platform | Buyers rely on these records being contemporaneous |
| Spam and quarantine records | 90 days | Automatic deletion | Short-lived; kept only to detect repeated abuse |
| Suppression list (do not contact again) | Indefinite | Never deleted | Holding the request itself is what makes it enforceable |
Requesting deletion
Ask us at sourcing@tradehub.example. If a record must be retained — typically because a commercial-records obligation or an open dispute applies — we will tell you exactly which record and which obligation, rather than replying that deletion is “not possible”.
Note on this deployment. The periods above are the intended policy. Actual retention also depends on the hosting jurisdiction and the operating entity, which must be confirmed before this schedule is published to real buyers. Nothing here is legal advice.