1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains in detail the types of personal data we may collect about you when you interact with us. It also explains how we’ll store and handle that data and keep it secure.

We know that there’s a lot of information here, but we want you to be fully informed about your rights, and how we use your data.

We hope the following sections will answer any questions you have but if not, please do get in touch with us.

Binding Sciences Limited is the data controller for this website.

2. The legal context explained

The law on data protection sets out a number of different reasons for which a company may collect and process your personal data, including:

Consent

In specific situations, we can collect and process your data with your consent.

This includes giving you the option to opt-out of receiving promotional materials when providing us with your personal information.

 You will also be given the option to opt-out of receiving promotional materials in any subsequent electronic communications.

 When collecting your personal data, we’ll always make clear to you which data is necessary in connection with a particular service.

Contractual obligations

In certain circumstances, we need your personal data to comply with our contractual obligations.

For example, when you place an order from us, we’ll collect your address details to deliver your purchase, and pass them to our delivery service providers. 

Legal compliance

If the law requires us to, we may need to collect and process your data.  

Legitimate interest

In specific situations, we require your data to use in ways that one might reasonably expect as part of running our business and which does not materially impact your rights, freedom, or interests.

For example, we may use your purchase history to send you or make available personalised offers. 

We may combine the anonymised shopping histories of many customers to, for example, identify trends and/or to  develop new products/services. 

3. When do we collect your personal data?

• When you visit this website
• When you make an online purchase
• When you create an account with us
• When you engage with us on social media
• When you contact us by any means requesting information or have a query or complaint
• When you take part in any surveys we send you

4. What sort of personal data do we collect?

• If you have a web account with us: your name, billing/delivery address, orders and receipts, VAT declarations, and telephone number. For your security, we’ll also keep an encrypted record of your login password
• Details of your interactions with us via email, telephone and social media.

For example, we collect notes from our conversations with you, details of any complaints or comments you make, details of purchases you made, items viewed or added to your basket, promotional discounts redeemed, web pages you visit and how and when you contact us.

• Details of your visits to our website and which site, if any, you came from to ours.
• Information gathered by the use of cookies in your web browser. 

• Payment card information
• To deliver the best possible web experience, we collect technical information about your internet connection and browser, country in which your computer is located, and the web pages viewed during your visit
• Your social media username, if you interact with us through such channels, to help us respond to your comments, questions, or feedback.

5. How and why do we use your personal data?

We use the data we hold on you to provide what we hope is excellent customer service.

Data privacy law allows this in order to enable us to understand our customers and provide excellent service.

If you wish to change how we use your data, you’ll find details in the ‘What are my rights?’ section below.

Here’s how we’ll use your personal data and why:

·         To process your online orders and payments. If we don’t collect your personal data during checkout, we won’t be able to process your order and comply with our legal obligations, for example, to record your VAT Relief declaration. In addition, your details may need to be passed to a third party to supply or deliver the product or service that you ordered, and we may keep your details for a reasonable period afterward in order to fulfil any refund or warranty obligations, for example.

• To respond to your queries, refund requests, and any complaints.

·         To protect your account and our business from fraud and other illegal activities. This includes using your personal data to maintain, update and safeguard your account. For example, by using automated monitoring of IP addresses to identify possible fraudulent log-ins from unexpected locations.

• To process payments and to prevent fraudulent transactions. We do this on the basis of our legitimate business interests. This also helps to protect our customers from fraud.
• With your consent, we will use your personal data, preferences and details of your transactions to keep you informed by email, web or text about relevant products and services including special offers and so on. Of course, you are free to opt-out of hearing from us by any of these channels at any time.
• To send you communications required by law or which are necessary to inform you about our changes to the services we provide you. For example, product recall notices, and legally required information relating to your orders.
• To comply with our contractual or legal obligations to share data with law enforcement. For example, if a court orders us to share data with law enforcement agencies or a court of law.
• To send you survey and feedback requests to help improve our product and services. These messages will not include any promotional content and do not require prior consent when sent by email or text message. We have a legitimate interest to do so as this helps make our products or services more relevant to you.

6. How we protect your personal data

Data security is critically important to both our customers and to us. We therefore secure access to all transactional areas of our websites and using ‘https’ technology.

Access to your personal data and payment card information is password-protected using two-step authentication.

We continuously monitor our systems for possible vulnerabilities and attacks.

7. How long will we keep your personal data?

Whenever we collect or process your personal data, we’ll only keep it for as long as is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

At the end of that retention period, your data will either be deleted completely or anonymised, for example by aggregation with other data so that it can be used in a non-identifiable way for statistical analysis and business planning. When you place an order, we’ll keep the personal data you give us for 7 years so we can comply with our legal and contractual obligations.

8. Who do we share your personal data with?

We sometimes share your personal data with trusted third parties, for example, with our logistics and delivery service providers. 

In particular:

• We provide only the information they need to perform their specific services
• They may only use your data for the exact purposes we specify in our contract with them
• We work closely with them to ensure that your privacy is respected and protected at all times
• If we stop using their services, any of your data held by them will either be deleted or rendered anonymous

Examples of the kind of third parties we work with are:

• IT companies who support our website and other business systems
• Operational companies such as delivery couriers

For further information please contact us.

9. What are your rights over your personal data?

You have the right to request:

• Access to the personal data we hold about you, free of charge in most cases
• The correction of your personal data when incorrect, out of date, or incomplete
• That we stop using your personal data for direct marketing (either through specific channels, or all channels)
• That we stop any consent-based processing of your personal data after you withdraw that consent

You have the right to request a copy of any information about you that we hold at any time, and also to have that information corrected if it is inaccurate. To ask for your information, please contact Customer Services, Binding Sciences Limited, The Seed House, Cropredy, OX17 1PX or email support@bindingsciences.com. To ask for your information to be amended, please update your online account, or contact our Customer Services team.

If we choose not to action your request we will explain to you the reasons for our refusal.

Your right to withdraw consent

Whenever you have given us your consent to use your personal data, you have the right to change your mind at any time and withdraw that consent.

Direct marketing

You have the right to stop the use of your personal data for direct marketing activity through all channels, or selected channels. We must always comply with your request.

Checking your identity

To protect the confidentiality of your information, we will ask you to verify your identity before proceeding with any request you make under this Privacy Notice. If you have authorised a third party to submit a request on your behalf, we will ask them to prove they have your permission to act.

10. How can you stop the use of your personal data for direct marketing?

There are several ways you can stop direct marketing communications from us:

• Click the ‘unsubscribe’ link in any email communication that we send you. We will then stop any further emails to you
• If you have an account, log into the Account section, visit the ‘My Account’ area and change your preferences
• Write to Customer Services, Binding Sciences Limited, The Seed House, Cropredy, OX17 1PX or email support@bindingsciences.com

Please note that you may continue to receive communications for a short period after changing your preferences while our systems are updated.

11.  Contacting the Regulator

If you feel that your data has not been handled correctly, or you are unhappy with our response to any requests you have made to us regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

You can contact them by calling 0303 123 1113.
Or go online to www.ico.org.uk/concerns (please note we can’t be responsible for the content of external websites)

If you are based outside the UK, you have the right to lodge your complaint with the relevant data protection regulator in your country of residence.

12. Any questions?

We hope this Privacy Notice has been helpful in setting out the way we handle your personal data and your rights to control it.

If you have any questions that haven’t been covered, please contact Customer Services, Binding Sciences Limited, The Seed House, Cropredy, OX17 1PX or email support@bindingsciences.com 

This notice was last updated on 26/05/2022