Privacy Policy

This privacy policy was last updated on 6 March 2024.

This notice outlines how we handle your information.

By clicking the 'Confirm' button during sign up, visiting www.seftonbubble.com, or using our apps, you acknowledge and accept the practices detailed in this Privacy Notice.

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What Personal Information Do We Collect from Users?

Bubble Approved Traders ("we", "us", or "BAT") collects and uses certain personal information about you. We are regulated under Data Protection Laws, including the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). These laws apply across the European Union (including the United Kingdom), and we are responsible as the 'controller' of your personal information. The information we gather helps us personalise and enhance your experience with Bubble Approved Traders.

• Information You Provide: Any information you enter on our platform or provide to us in any way is received and stored. By registering with Bubble Approved Traders, you agree to the practices outlined in this Privacy Notice.

• Automatically Collected Information: We receive and store certain types of information when you interact with us. This includes data collected through cookies when your Web browser accesses our platform.

• Mobile/Tablet: If you download or use our apps, we may receive information about your location and device.

• Email Communications: We may track email interactions to improve our communication with you.

• Social Media Integration: You can link your account with social media platforms. By doing so, you authorise us to collect certain information available on or through your social media account.

• Information From Other Sources: We may receive additional information about you from other sources and add it to our records.

 

What About Cookies?

We use cookies to improve your experience on our platform. You can adjust your browser settings to manage cookies preferences.

Interest-Based Ads

We may display interest-based ads on our platform or on third-party websites. These ads are tailored to your interests based on your interactions with our platform.

Prevention of Fraud

We may use your personal information to prevent or detect fraud, as required by law.

Sharing Your Information

We do not share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes or other purposes unless required by law for police or court case.

Security Measures

We take appropriate measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorised access or disclosure.

Access to Your Information

You can access and update your personal information through contacting us directly by email or telephone.

Choices You Have

You can opt-out of receiving marketing communications from us by adjusting your preferences in your account settings.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred outside the UK or European Union as necessary for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Notice.

Updates to Our Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time, and any changes will be posted on our platform.

For any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy, please contact us.

 

Cookies that may be in use on our website:

Type of Cookie: Cookies necessary for essential website purposes.

What it does: These cookies are crucial to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features, such as access to secure areas. They enable us to supply you with certain online features like transactional pages and secure login accounts.

How to block: You may disable any of these cookies via your browser settings. However, if you do so, various functions of the website may be unavailable to you or may not work as intended.

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Type of Cookie: Functionality Cookies

What it does: Functionality cookies record information about choices you've made and allow us to tailor the website to you. They ensure that when you continue to use or return to the website, we can provide you with our services as you've requested them. For example, these cookies allow us to save your location preferences, remember settings you've applied (such as layout, text size, preferences, and colors), show you when you're logged in, and store accessibility options.

How to block: You may disable any of these cookies via your browser settings. However, if you do so, various functions of the website may be unavailable to you or may not work as intended.

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Type of Cookie: Advertising Cookies (Interest-Based Ads)

What it does: Bubble Approved Traders displays interest-based advertising on its website and on unaffiliated websites, using information that you make available to us when visiting the website. Interest-based ads (also referred to as personalised or targeted ads) are displayed based on information from activities such as your visits and use of these websites. Information about the types of information that we gather is set out in the Automatically Collected Information section of this Privacy Policy.

How to block: You may disable any of these cookies via your browser settings. However, if you do so, various functions of the website may be unavailable to you or may not work as intended.

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Interest-Based Ads

Bubble Approved Traders utilises cookies and interest-based ads to enhance your browsing experience. In conjunction with these practices, we employ web beacons and other tracking technologies to gain insights into the advertisements you encounter and interact with across our platform and beyond. This enables us to deliver more tailored and relevant ads to you. For instance, by understanding which ads you've already seen, we can ensure you aren't repeatedly shown the same ones. Rest assured, your interaction with external websites remains unlinked to your personal identity when receiving interest-based ads from us.

In instances where tracking technologies aren't supported, such as certain mobile devices and applications, we resort to alternative anonymous methods to achieve the same goal. When serving ads within mobile applications, we collect anonymous identifiers, such as the Google Advertising ID or IDFA, specific to your device's operating system. These identifiers consist of random character strings, encrypted using a non-reversible method, to uniquely identify your device for our partners.

It's important to note that while we do not share personal information with advertisers or third-party websites displaying our interest-based ads, these entities may assume that users interacting with personalised ads are part of the targeted audience. Additionally, some third parties may furnish us with information about your online activities and demographics from various sources, both offline and online, to improve the relevance of our advertising.

Furthermore, advertisers or their representatives may employ technology to serve ads directly to your browser when visiting our website, obtaining your IP address in the process. These entities may also utilise tracking technologies to gauge ad effectiveness and customise ad content. It's crucial to recognise that we lack control over the information practices of these advertisers and third-party websites, and their use of tracking technologies is not governed by this Privacy Notice. For more details regarding their privacy practices, we recommend reaching out to them directly or visiting their respective websites.

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Fraud Prevention Measures

At Bubble Approved Traders, safeguarding your personal information against fraudulent activities is paramount. When you register on our platform, we conduct thorough checks using various records and resources:

1. Fraud Prevention Agencies (FPAs): We verify information through FPAs to ensure authenticity.

2. Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs): For directors, we confirm residential addresses against the restricted register of directors’ usual addresses at Companies House through CRAs.

3. Partnership with iOvation: Working with iOvation, a third-party service, we utilise a central database to detect and prevent fraudulent activities across our platform and beyond. Any detected fraudulent activity and relevant data are promptly reported to the iOvation database.

4. Collaboration with Government Bodies: We share customer data, as necessary, with government bodies like the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) to prevent and detect fraud.

5. False or Inaccurate Information: If false or inaccurate information is provided and fraud is suspected, we record and may share this information with relevant organisations involved in crime and fraud prevention.

6. Business Records Checks: We may examine your business records at CRAs, which is essential for us to establish contractual arrangements with you as a Trade Business. Failure to pass these checks may result in disqualification, with an option to appeal.

7. Identity Verification: We conduct identity verification checks to prevent crime and money laundering. Periodic searches at CRAs and FPAs are also conducted to manage accounts, especially for Professionals.

8. Creditworthiness Assessment: To process your application, we provide your personal information to CRAs, enabling us to assess creditworthiness, verify identity, manage accounts, and prevent criminal activity.

9. International Collaboration: We and other organisations may access and utilise information recorded by fraud prevention agencies from other countries.

For more information on CRAs in the UK, you can contact the following:

• CallCredit: PO Box 491, Leeds, LS3 1WZ or call 0870 060 1414.

• Equifax PLC: PO Box 3001, Bradford, BD1 5US or call 0870 010 0583 or visit equifax.co.uk/crain.

• Experian: PO Box 8000, Nottingham, NG80 7WF or call 0844 481 8000 or visit experian.co.uk.

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Data Sharing Practices

Bubble Approved Traders values the privacy of its members and employs strict controls when sharing information. Below are the circumstances under which we share information, ensuring adherence to our Privacy Notice:

1. Request for Services: When a client posts a request for services, we share their information (full name, postcode, email address, and phone number) with trade businesses responding to the request. Trade businesses must adhere to our Trade Business Code of Conduct regarding client interaction and information usage.

2. Response to Service Requests: We share trade business information (name, full address including postcode, email address, and phone number) with clients when they respond to service requests. This ensures contractual obligations are met. In case of disputes, additional pertinent personal information may be shared to facilitate fair resolution.

3. Affiliated Businesses: We collaborate with various businesses, offering products and services through our platform. Member information may be shared with these entities to fulfill requested services. However, personal information is shared only with consent or in anonymous, aggregate form for research and marketing purposes.

4. Third-Party Service Providers: We engage third-party companies and individuals as data processors to assist in providing services. Personal data may be shared with these processors to facilitate service delivery. They are granted access only to necessary information and are bound to use it solely for service provision.

5. Promotional Offers: Occasionally, we run promotions or offers in collaboration with other businesses, ensuring member consent before sharing personal information. Members can adjust their contact preferences at any time to control the receipt of such offers.

6. Business Transfers: In the event of business developments, such as acquisitions or sales, user information may be transferred as a business asset, subject to pre-existing privacy agreements.

7. Website Protection: Account and personal information may be disclosed when deemed necessary to comply with the law, enforce agreements, or protect the rights and safety of our website, users, or others. This includes collaborating with identity data providers for identity verification purposes.

8. Consent-Based Sharing: Apart from the aforementioned scenarios, users will be notified and given the opportunity to opt out before any information sharing takes place.

9. Search Engine Inclusion: User profile information may be included in search engine results to facilitate discovery. This includes company names, profile pictures, service areas, offerings, and reviews.

10. Social Media Integration: We facilitate content sharing on social media platforms, allowing users to explore and engage with trade business content. Public information may be shared for promotional purposes, with user consent.

11. Payment Data: Payment and financial data collected during subscription sign-up or service payment is processed by third-party payment processors. This information, including unique tokens and partial payment card details, enables seamless transactions. Invoicing information may be shared with our invoicing marketplace provider for credit checks and invoicing purposes, subject to their privacy policy.

By implementing these data sharing practices, Bubble Approved Traders prioritises user privacy and ensures transparency and control over personal information.

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Ensuring Information Security

At Bubble Approved Traders, we prioritise the security of your information through various measures:

1. Data Encryption: Your information is safeguarded during transmission using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software, ensuring encryption of input data.

2. Credit Card Protection: For payment transactions, only the last four digits of your credit card numbers are disclosed, enhancing security.

3. Password Protection: It's essential to prevent unauthorised access to your password and computer. Remember to sign off when using a shared computer to ensure data security.

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Third-Party Advertisers and External Links

Bubble Approved Traders may feature third-party advertising and links to external websites across our platform, apps, and electronic media. When accessing these external websites through provided advertising or links, be aware that the operators of those websites may collect and utilise your information as per their privacy policies, which may differ from ours. For further details regarding third-party advertising on our website, please refer to our Cookies policy.

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Accessing Your Information

Our website and other platforms operated by Bubble Approved Traders grant you access to a wide array of information concerning your account and interactions with our platform. This access is provided for the sole purpose of viewing and, in certain instances, updating your information.

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Your Choices and Privacy Preferences

At Bubble Approved Traders, we respect your choices regarding the information you provide and how it's used. Here are some options available to you:

1. Information Provision: While certain information may be required to access the full features of our website, you always have the choice not to provide it.

2. Information Update: You have the ability to add or update specific information on our website pages, as outlined in the 'What Information Can I Access' section. When updates are made, we typically retain a copy of the previous version for record-keeping purposes.

3. Communication Preferences: If you prefer not to receive email or other mail from us, you can adjust your Marketing Preferences accordingly. However, please note that legal notices, such as this Privacy Notice, govern your usage of the website, and it's your responsibility to review them for any changes.

 

International Data Transfers

Bubble Approved Traders ensures the protection of your personal information, even if and when it's transferred outside the UK or European Union (EU). While countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), including the UK, maintain similar legal standards for data protection, we may analyse your information and utilise third-party suppliers located in countries outside the EEA, such as the USA and India, which may not have equivalent data protection laws. In such cases, we require your personal information to be safeguarded to at least UK standards.

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Conditions of Use, Notices, and Updates

By visiting our website, you acknowledge that your visit and any privacy disputes are subject to our Privacy Notice and User Agreement, including provisions regarding damages, dispute resolution, and application of English Law. If you have privacy concerns, please contact us with a detailed description, and we'll strive to address them promptly. Our business evolves continuously, and as a result, our Privacy Notice and User Agreement may also undergo revisions. While we may send periodic reminders of our notices and conditions via email, we encourage you to check our website regularly for recent updates. Unless stated otherwise, our current Privacy Notice applies to all information we have about you and your account. We are committed to never materially altering our policies and practices in a manner that diminishes the protection of member information collected in the past without prior notification to affected members.

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Information Collection and Use

At Bubble Approved Traders, we collect various types of information to provide you with the best possible experience on our platform. Here's a breakdown of the information we gather and how we use it:

1. Information You Provide:

   • When you register as a Member, post service requests, or interact with our platform, you provide us with personal information such as your name, address, phone number, and payment details.

   • We use this information to identify you, address your queries, and communicate with you regarding your account and our services. Additionally, we may share this information with selected partners for identity screening, credit checks, and fraud prevention purposes.

2. Automatically Collected Information:

   • We collect and analyse technical data, including IP addresses, browser information, and device identifiers, to understand our Members' online behavior and manage fraud prevention measures.

   • This information helps us tailor our services, analyse usage patterns, and improve our platform's functionality.

3. Information from Other Sources:

   • We may receive information from third-party sources, such as credit bureaus and fraud prevention agencies, to enhance our fraud detection capabilities and offer screening services to our Trade Businesses.

   • This data is used for aggregate analysis, online marketing management, and fraud prevention.

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Your Privacy Rights and Data Security

Bubble Approved Traders is committed to safeguarding your personal information and respecting your privacy rights. Here's what you need to know:

1. Data Retention: We retain your personal information as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill our legal obligations. After the termination of our contractual relationship, we may retain certain information for regulatory compliance purposes and to maintain the integrity of our platform.

2. Your Rights: Under Data Protection Laws, you have various rights, including the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information. You also have the right to object to certain types of data processing.

   • To exercise your rights or raise concerns about your information, you can contact our Data Protection Officer by email info@seftonbubble.com or through our customer service number which is 01704 86 3030.

   • We may require proof of identity and specific details to process your requests effectively.

3. Data Security: We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. Only authorised personnel with a legitimate business need can access this information, and they are bound by strict confidentiality obligations.

   • In case of a suspected data security breach, we have procedures in place to promptly investigate and notify you, as required by law.

We value your trust and strive to maintain the highest standards of data protection and privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about our practices, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

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How to File a Complaint

While we aim to address any concerns you have regarding the use of your information, we understand that issues may arise. Here's how you can file a complaint:

1. Contact Us:

   • If you have any queries or concerns about how we handle your information, please reach out to us directly. We're here to help and will strive to resolve your issue promptly.

2. Data Protection Laws:

   • You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe your data protection rights have been violated.

   • In the UK, the Information Commissioner serves as the supervisory authority. You can contact them via their website at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.

 

We value your privacy and are committed to addressing any issues you may encounter. Your feedback helps us improve our practices and ensures compliance with data protection regulations. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance or wish to file a complaint.

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