Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Finance Hacks Ltd ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website finance-hacks.com and use our services.

This policy applies to all personal data we process about you, whether you are a website visitor, customer, or business partner. By using our website and services, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Contact us through our website forms
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Request a consultation or quote
• Use our services
• Communicate with us via email or phone

This information may include:

• Name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
• Business information (company name, job title, industry)
• Financial information (for tax advisory services)
• Home office setup details and requirements
• Communication preferences
• Any other information you choose to provide

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• IP address and location data
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our website
• Referring website addresses
• Device information (mobile, desktop, tablet)

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and use personal information about you. For detailed information about our cookie practices, please see our Cookie Policy.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

3.1 Service Provision

• Providing home office consultation and design services
• Delivering tax advisory and financial services
• Processing and fulfilling service requests
• Communicating about your projects and services
• Providing customer support

3.2 Business Operations

• Operating and maintaining our website
• Processing payments and managing accounts
• Sending administrative information and updates
• Responding to inquiries and customer service requests
• Conducting business analysis and improving our services

3.3 Marketing and Communications

• Sending newsletters and marketing communications (with your consent)
• Informing you about new services and special offers
• Conducting market research and surveys
• Personalising your experience on our website

3.4 Legal and Compliance

• Complying with legal obligations
• Protecting our rights and interests
• Preventing fraud and security threats
• Resolving disputes and enforcing agreements

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

4.1 Consent

Where you have given us clear consent to process your personal data for specific purposes, such as:

• Newsletter subscriptions
• Marketing communications
• Non-essential cookies

4.2 Contract Performance

Where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you, including:

• Providing our services
• Processing payments
• Customer support

4.3 Legitimate Interests

Where we have a legitimate interest in processing your data, such as:

• Improving our website and services
• Direct marketing to existing customers
• Fraud prevention and security
• Business analytics and research

4.4 Legal Obligation

Where we need to process your data to comply with legal requirements, such as:

• Tax and accounting obligations
• Record keeping requirements
• Regulatory compliance

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information in the following situations:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business, including:

• Web hosting and cloud storage providers
• Email marketing platforms
• Payment processing services
• Analytics and advertising platforms
• Professional service providers (accountants, lawyers)

5.2 Business Partners

We may share information with business partners when providing joint services or when you have requested services that require partner involvement, such as:

• Furniture suppliers and manufacturers
• Technology vendors and consultants
• Insurance providers

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or in response to:

• Court orders or legal processes
• Regulatory investigations
• Law enforcement requests
• Protecting our rights and interests

5.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of our business, your information may be transferred to the new owners as part of the transaction.

We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security measures include:

6.1 Technical Safeguards

• SSL encryption for data transmission
• Secure hosting environments
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication systems
• Data backup and recovery procedures

6.2 Organisational Measures

• Staff training on data protection
• Confidentiality agreements
• Regular review of access permissions
• Incident response procedures
• Vendor security assessments

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including:

7.1 Retention Periods

• Customer data: 7 years after the end of the business relationship (for tax and legal compliance)
• Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe or 3 years of inactivity
• Website analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
• Inquiry data: 2 years if no business relationship develops
• Financial records: 6 years (UK legal requirement)

7.2 Deletion Process

When the retention period expires, we will securely delete or anonymise your personal information unless:

• We are required by law to retain it longer
• It is needed for legal proceedings
• You have consented to longer retention

8. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

8.1 Right of Access

You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you, including information about how we process it.

8.2 Right to Rectification

You can ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

8.3 Right to Erasure

You can request that we delete your personal data in certain circumstances, such as when it's no longer necessary for the original purpose.

8.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You can ask us to limit how we use your personal data in certain situations.

8.5 Right to Data Portability

You can request a copy of your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format to transfer to another service provider.

8.6 Right to Object

You can object to our processing of your personal data, particularly for marketing purposes or when we rely on legitimate interests.

8.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we process your data based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

8.8 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +44 20 7946 0958
• Post: Finance Hacks Ltd, 42 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4SA

We will respond to your request within one month, though this may be extended in complex cases.

9. International Data Transfers

We primarily process your data within the United Kingdom. However, some of our service providers may be located outside the UK/EEA. When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

• Adequacy decisions by the UK government
• Standard contractual clauses approved by the UK authorities
• Binding corporate rules
• Certification schemes and codes of conduct

We will only transfer your data to countries or organisations that provide an adequate level of protection for your personal data.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can delete such information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending email notifications for significant changes (where we have your email address)
• Displaying prominent notices on our website

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Supervisory Authority

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's supervisory authority:

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Website: ico.org.uk
Phone: 0303 123 1113

13. Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

• "Personal Data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person
• "Processing" means any operation performed on personal data, including collection, storage, use, and deletion
• "Data Controller" means Finance Hacks Ltd, which determines the purposes and means of processing personal data
• "Data Processor" means any third party that processes personal data on our behalf
• "UK GDPR" means the UK General Data Protection Regulation