Privacy Policy

Introduction

wooden-budget Financial Services Ltd ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your data when you use our website or services.

We take our responsibilities under data protection legislation seriously and are committed to handling your personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you engage with our services or contact us, we may collect:

• Your name and contact details including email address and postal address
• Financial information you share during consultations, including income, expenses, debts, and savings
• Information about your financial goals and circumstances
• Any other information you choose to provide when communicating with us

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Technical information including your IP address, browser type, and operating system
• Usage data such as pages visited, time spent on the site, and referring website
• Cookie data as described in our Cookies Policy

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide financial planning services and consultations
• To communicate with you about your enquiries and appointments
• To send you information about our services that may be relevant to you
• To improve our website and services based on user feedback and behaviour
• To comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• To protect our business interests and prevent fraud or misuse of our services

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data on the following legal grounds:

• Contractual necessity: Processing is necessary to fulfil our service agreement with you
• Legitimate interests: We have legitimate business interests in improving our services and communicating with clients
• Consent: Where you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities
• Legal obligation: Where we are required by law to process certain information

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your data in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: We work with trusted third-party providers who assist us with email communications, data storage, and website analytics. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of our business, your information may be transferred to the new owner.

We ensure that any third parties we work with provide adequate data protection safeguards.

Data Security

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

• Encryption of sensitive data during transmission and storage
• Regular security assessments and updates to our systems
• Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Staff training on data protection and security practices

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

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law.

• Client records are typically retained for seven years after the conclusion of our service relationship, in accordance with financial services regulations
• Marketing communications data is retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Website analytics data is retained for up to 26 months

After the retention period expires, we securely delete or anonymise your personal information.

Your Rights

Under data protection legislation, you have the following rights:

• Right of access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
• Right to restrict processing: You can ask us to limit how we use your information
• Right to data portability: You can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to object: You can object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing
• Rights related to automated decision-making: You have rights regarding automated decisions that significantly affect you

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within one month.

Marketing Communications

We may send you information about our services, financial tips, and updates that we believe may interest you. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

• Clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email
• Contacting us directly at [email protected]

Opting out of marketing does not affect our ability to send you service-related communications about appointments or consultations you have scheduled.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

International Data Transfers

Your personal information is primarily stored and processed within the United Kingdom. If we transfer data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with data protection laws.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new "last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Information

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

Email: [email protected]
Address: wooden-budget Financial Services Ltd, 42 Riverside Quarter, Bristol BS1 4RN, United Kingdom

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk