Privacy Policy

Safe and secure.

Introduction

This privacy policy covers how BuildFact^[1] treats your personal information that is received and collected on this website.^[2]

In UK law, you have certain legal rights with regard to your privacy and I have certain legal duties. I highly value your privacy and have made this policy available to you, to assist you in understanding how this website handles personal information. I want you to feel confident about how this website treats your privacy and security.

This policy applies to you, regardless of whether you are: a casual user^[3], a registered user^[4] or a business user.^[5]

By using this website, you consent to: the collection, use, and disclosure of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Contents

1. Information collected.
2. Information Usage and Sharing.
3. Email Address.
4. Cookies.
5. IP Address.
6. Web Beacons.
7. Consent.
8. Changing your Preferences and Personal Information.
9. Security and Confidentiality.
10. Data Protection Act.
11. External Links.
12. Privacy Policy Changes.
13. Disclosure.
14. Contact BuildFact.
15. Definitions.

1: Information Collected

The amount of information that BuildFact has about you depends on how you use this website, and which type of user you are:

1. Casual User.
2. Registered User.
3. Business User.

Casual User

If you only read this BuildFact website, no more information is collected about you than is typically collected by websites in general. Like most websites, BuildFact uses website analytics and keeps web server access logs.

Web Logs and Analytics

This website uses analytics to automatically gather limited information about its visitors, and stores this information in server access log files. This information does not identify you individually or contain personal information. I use these access log files to analyse site usage and statistics. Log file analysis, helps me to understand website usage patterns, and to make improvements to this website.

Every time you visit this website, your web browser will send information to my web server, and as such my web server access logs may contain the following anonymous information about your activity this website.

1. IP address.^[6]
2. Browser type.^[7]
3. Operating System.^[8]
4. Access time.^[9]
5. Referring URL.^[10]

Using this information, it is not possible to identify you personally.

In addition, during your session on this website, I may store information that you have supplied in order to provide additional services that you have requested. Services include using this website's search box or any other tool that I may have provided. This information is only retained while you are using the service, or for the length of your site session, as appropriate. In addition, I may keep anonymous aggregate information to help improve the services provided.

Registration is not required in order to use or access this website. However, this website may make some content, comments, forums, blogs, or similar, available only to registered users.

Registered User

Everything that applies to casual users also applies to registered users. In addition, I will collect and retain some further information, but this will only be the minimum amount required to identify you, and provide you with the services you require.

Additional information I may collect include:

1. First name and surname.
2. Username.^[11]
3. Email address.

If you do register, and in the process provide me with personally identifiable information, rest assured that any such information you provide will not be shared with any third-party organization, except with your express consent.

I may provide you with the opportunity to opt-in to receive communications from me. In this case, I will ask you for your name and email address. These communications may include a regular newsletter, product promotions or any other information that I feel may be relevant to you. You can opt-out of receiving any, or all, of these communications by: logging into your user account and changing your preferences, by clicking on the 'unsubscribe' link in any email I send you, or by visiting the contact page.

If you’re personally identifiable information changes, or if you no longer wish me to possess your information, you may complete any corrections or updates by logging into your user account. Alternatively you may request: correction, updating, or deletion of your information by using any of the methods available on the contact page.

Business User

Everything that applies to casual and registered users also applies to business users.

In addition, I will collect and retain further information in order to provide you with the required services. With the scope of that information appropriate to the nature of the services provided.

Additional details I may collect include, but are not limited to:

1. First name and surname.
2. Position.
3. Company name.
4. Company address.
5. Telephone number.
6. Email address.
7. VAT registration details.

2: Information Usage and Sharing

I am not in the business of selling personal information, and BuildFact does not share personal information I learn about you, from your use of this website, with others except as described in this policy.

BuildFact may use or share your personal information where it is necessary: to complete a transaction, to operate or improve BuildFact products and services, or to do something that you have asked me to do.

When you register with BuildFact, I collect your submitted account information, such as your username and email address, to identify you, and send you notifications related to your use of BuildFact.

When you post content on a BuildFact, you have the ability to post content which may include personally identifiable information about yourself and others. If you post personal information online, that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return.

As I continue to develop this business, I may choose to sell all or part of this business. In such transactions, personally identifiable information you have shared with me is generally considered one of the business assets, and as such, its ownership may be transferred to others. However, any transferred personally identifiable information will remain subject to the promises made in this privacy policy, or subsequent policies to which you have consented.

3: Email address

I may need your email address to provide you with various services, and to ensure the correct operation of the BuildFact website. If you do not have an email address or you do not wish to disclose it, some services on this website may not be available to you.

As a registered or business user, you may need your email address together with a password to access your account. In the event that you forget your password, I will use your email address to send you a reminder or a new password. I may also use it to confirm your details and identity.

In addition, I may use your email address to send you information that you have requested.

I may also use the information you've given me to send you important news such as: functionality changes to the BuildFact website, or new services, or special offers you might find valuable. However these are only sent to users who have chosen to opt-in when registering, and each time I email you, you can choose not to receive any further messages.

4: Cookies

A cookie is a small text file that a website transfers to the cookie folder, of the web browser, on your computer, so that the website can remember who you are. A cookie will typically contain the name of the domain^[12] from which the cookie has come, the lifetime of the cookie, and a value, usually a randomly generated unique number. Most websites use cookies. Cookies cannot by themselves be used to identify you. This website's cookies do not contain any personally identifiable information you have submitted.

Cookies come in two different flavours, session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie expires when your browser is closed, while a persistent cookie may stay on your hard drive for an extended period and expire some time in the future, possibly a long time. Session cookies are necessary in order to provide some short term website functionality, such as filling in forms. Persistent cookies are necessary to provide longer term functionality, such as storing encrypted passwords or unique identifiers, so you do not have to login every time you visit a website.

Once you close your browser, or go to a different website, my access to cookies created by this website terminates.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can normally modify your browser setting to decline them. The web browsers, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox both provide the option to decline some or all cookies.

If you reject cookies, you may not be able to use some BuildFact services. However the majority of information on this website will still be available to you.

Using cookies is useful in optimising and securing this website. I also use cookies to get information on the number of visitors to different parts of this website and to monitor which areas are most popular.

Sites that link to or from BuildFact may also use cookies. I have no access to or administration over any cookies that are created or used by them.

5: IP Address

An IP address is a number assigned to your computer by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), so that you can access the internet. It is generally considered to be not personally identifiable information. This is because for most users their IP address will be dynamic (it changes each time you connect to the internet or changes while your connected), rather than static (unique to a particular user's computer).

BuildFact may obtain and store user IP addresses for various purposes, including to:

1. Diagnose and prevent service problems.
2. Estimate the number of users BuildFact has in a particular geographic region.
3. Taylor content specific to users in a particular geographic region.
4. Help determine which users have access permission for certain content and services.
5. Monitor and prevent fraud and abuse.

6: Web beacon

A web beacon (clear GIF, pixel tag, or web bug) is a tiny, normally transparent, single pixel image that maybe included in a web page or email. It is used to monitor users visiting a website or opening emails. Web beacons are normally used by third party websites for advertising purposes. For more information on web beacons, see the Wikipedia web beacons page.

BuildFact does not at present use web beacons, although this may change in the future.

7: Consent

By submitting your information to BuildFact, you consent to the use of that information as set out in this policy.

If I change this privacy policy, I will post the changes on this page, and may also place notices on other pages on this website. Your continued use of BuildFact will signify that you agree to any such changes.

8: Changing your Preferences and Personal Information

If you are a registered or business user, you can edit, update or delete your BuildFact account details at any time by logging into your user account. You may make changes to any of the information you have given me. Please note however that if you delete your account some personal information, primarily your contact information, may remain on record. This is to protect my legal interests or comply with regulatory requirements.

If you have said that you would like to receive information by email from me, about BuildFact products or services, but no longer wish to receive such information, please click on the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any of my emails or change your preferences by logging into your user account.

9: Security and Confidentiality

It is my goal to ensure that your personal information is keep secure and confidential.

To achieve this goal, I have implemented physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information as required by the UK Data Protection Act 1998. These safeguards cover the storage, handling and disclosure of any information you have provided, and the prevention of unauthorised access to that information.

As such, your user account is password protected and that password is stored using an encryption algorithm. In addition, in certain appropriate areas, BuildFact uses industry standard encryption to protect data transmission.

However, please note, I cannot guarantee that your personal information will not be accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed by a security breach, since no method of electronic storage or transmission can ever be fully secure.

If BuildFact learns of a security breach, I may attempt to notify you by email so that you may take appropriate action. By using BuildFact and providing personal information to me you agree that I can communicate with you by email regarding security, privacy and administration issues relating to your use of this website. Alternatively or in addition, in the event of a secuity breach being detected I may choose to post a notice on this website.

If you have any questions regarding security at BuildFact, please contact me.

10: Data protection Act

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to know what information is held about you, and ensures that the information is handled properly.

The Act works in two ways.

First, it states that anyone who processes your personal information must comply with eight principles. These make sure that your personal information is:

1. Fairly and lawfully processed.
2. Processed for limited purposes.
3. Adequate, relevant and not excessive.
4. Accurate and up to date.
5. Not kept for longer than is necessary.
6. Processed in line with your rights.
7. Secure.
8. Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection.

Second, the Act provides you with important rights, including the right to find out what personal information is held about you on computer. Should you feel you're being denied access to your personal information, or feel your information has not been handled according to the eight principles, then you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office for help. Complaints are usually dealt with informally, but if this isn't possible, enforcement action maybe taken.

Therefore, under the Data Protection Act, you have a right to view any personal information I hold about you, by making a data protection act request and paying a statutory fee. If you would like to find out what information I hold about you, please contact me. If any information held is inaccurate, I will make the necessary changes and contact you with confirmation.

11: External Links

This website contains links and references to other websites that are not under my control. I am not responsible for their content or privacy policy. Consequently, I encourage you to review the privacy policy of each website you visit. This is particularly important if you intended to enter into a transaction with them, or supply them with personal information.

A link on this website to another should not be seen as a recommendation or approval of that website.

12: Privacy Policy Changes

BuildFact reserves the right to revise, modify or update this Privacy Policy. I will notify you about significant changes in the way I treat personal information either by sending a notice to you by email or by placing a prominent notice on this site. Your use of BuildFact will be deemed consent to the privacy policy revision in place at the time of usage.

13: Disclosure

BuildFact reserves the right to disclose your personally identifiable information under the following circumstances:

1. As required by applicable law or government regulation.
2. In response to court orders, legal process or to defend against legal action.
3. To establish or exercise my legal rights.
4. To investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities or suspected fraud.
5. In response to violation or suspected violation of this website's various terms of use.
6. If in my judgment such circumstances exist that disclosure is required or appropriate.
7. Such disclosures are necessary to fulfil my service obligations to you.

By using BuildFact you give me your permission to such disclosure.

14: Contact BuildFact

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this privacy policy, or how BuildFact uses personal information, you can contact me using any of the following methods:

Email me at: privacy@buildfact.co.uk

Or write to me at the following address:
Privacy
BuildFact
PO Box 4055
Brierley Hill
DY5 1TZ

15: Definitions and Explanations

1. BuildFact ("BuildFact,", "I", "me", "we," "us," or "our"): Means me and this website.
2. Website ("Websites"): Means websites owned and/or operated by BuildFact. These include, but not limited to, buildfact.co.uk and buildfact.com.
3. Casual User: Means a normal user who uses this website but does not register.
4. Registered User: Means a user who registers with this website by providing additional information such as an email address.
5. Business User: Means a user who as an individual or acting on behalf of a company, conducts business with BuildFact.
6. IP address (Internet Protocol address): Is a unique address that computers use in order to identify and communicate with each other via the internet. BuildFact's IP address is 78.31.106.124. Unlike a website your computers IP address will probably not be constant.
7. Browser type: Means the type of web browser that you are using, for example: Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari.
8. Operating System: Means the main program running on your computer, for example: Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista or Apple Mac OS X.
9. Access time: Means the time that a web page was requested.
10. Referring URL: The web address of the page that sent you, by clicking on a link, to the web page that you are now on.
11. Username: The name you choose to identify yourself with. This can be more or less whatever you choose. For security reasons it is recommend to choose different usernames for different websites and services.
12. Domain: The address of a website or part thereof, for example: buildfact.co.uk, www.buildfact.co.uk.

This privacy policy was last updated on 18th June 2008.