How Harbour keeps people safe

Calls only happen with their agreement

The person being called has to agree to the calls. We ask them ourselves before the first call, and the companion tells them at the start of each call that it is Harbour’s AI companion.

You’ll be talking to an AI, not a person. Harbour’s voice is computer-generated, and it says so every time.

If someone cannot decide for themselves, we will only call them with the agreement of a person with legal authority (a health and welfare attorney or deputy), or where it is in their best interests under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Otherwise we will not call. If they seem unhappy or don’t want to talk, the call ends politely.

One number, and no requests for money

Calls always come from the same number. You save it in their phone as “Harbour” so they can see who’s ringing.

Harbour will never ask for bank details, passwords, PINs or money, and will never ask them to press buttons or move to another number. If anyone claiming to be Harbour does, it isn’t us. Please tell them this too.

Worrying things go to you

If something in a call sounds worrying, such as a fall, pain, confusion that’s new, not eating, or talk of being low, it goes at the top of your note. You decide what happens next. Harbour doesn’t contact services or other people on your behalf.

Stopping the calls

Either of you can stop the calls at any time. They can simply tell the companion they don’t want any more calls. You can reply STOP to a note, or email rich@harbourcare.uk. There’s no notice period.

Their information

What they say on a call is private and we treat it with care. Our privacy notice explains what we keep and for how long.