Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
At Metronet UK (“we”, “our”, or “us”), accessible at metronetuk.com, we are deeply committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and share your information. We handle personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the EU GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other relevant privacy laws. Your trust is paramount to us, and we strive to uphold the highest standards in data protection.
2. Scope of this Policy and Data Controller Role
This Privacy Policy applies to personal data collected through metronetuk.com and associated services. For the purposes of applicable privacy laws, Metronet UK is the Data Controller responsible for your personal data.
This Policy governs your use of our website and services and clarifies the practices in connection with information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be linked to an identifiable individual.
3. Categories of Personal Data We Collect
We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:
a) Usage Data
This includes information about your interactions with metronetuk.com, such as IP addresses, browser type and version, referral sources, pages viewed, and session timing information.
b) Account Data
Data you provide when creating an account, including your full name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number.
c) Profile Data
Data you provide when you register preferences, complete surveys, save purchases, or participate in promotions, including behavioral and preference-based information.
d) Communication Data
Includes records of communications sent to or received from you, such as support queries, feedback, or contact history via email or direct messages.
e) Technical Data
This encompasses device type, device identifiers, operating system, browser plug-in types and versions, time zone settings, and system configuration information.
f) Transaction Data
Collected when you make purchases through our site, including payment method details (processed via third-party providers), billing/shipping address, order details, and fulfilment status.
g) Preference Data
Information relating to your marketing and communication choices, notification settings, and interests as submitted through your profile or during interactions.
4. Legal Bases for Processing Personal Data
We only process personal data when we have a lawful basis to do so. These legal bases include:
– Contractual Necessity: When processing your information is required to fulfil a contract with you (e.g., to deliver services or products you’ve purchased).
– Consent: Where you have given clear permission for us to process data for a specific purpose (e.g., for marketing).
– Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., improving the website, preventing fraud, or ensuring security), provided your interests or fundamental rights do not override those interests.
– Legal Obligation: When we are required to process data in order to comply with a legal requirement.
5. Your Rights
Under data protection laws, you have the right to:
– Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
– Rectification: Request correction of incomplete or inaccurate information we hold about you.
– Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to eligibility and legal exceptions.
– Restriction: Request restriction of processing where applicable (e.g., if accuracy is contested).
– Portability: Request transfer of your data to you or another provider in a structured, commonly used format.
– Objection: Object to our processing where based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact [email protected]. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
6. Security Measures
We implement robust technical and organizational measures to protect your data. These include:
– End-to-end encryption for sensitive data and secure storage practices.
– Access control mechanisms that grant user access on a need-to-know basis.
– Routine backups and disaster recovery protocols.
– Staff training on confidentiality, data protection, and cybersecurity awareness.
While no system is entirely immune to cyber threats, we continuously enhance our safeguards to protect your data.
7. International Data Transfers
Wherever your data is transferred outside of the UK or EEA, including instances of cloud storage or third-party processors, we ensure that such transfers are secured by appropriate safeguards. These include standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission or other lawful transfer mechanisms recognized by relevant data protection authorities.
If you are accessing metronetuk.com from outside the UK, please be aware that your data may be transferred to and stored in countries whose data protection standards differ from those of your originating country.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal data only as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or to comply with legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations.
We apply the following retention timeframes:
– Account and Profile Data: Retained as long as your account is active and for up to 6 years thereafter, subject to tax and legal compliance requirements.
– Communication Data: Retained for 3 years from the date of your last interaction.
– Technical and Usage Data: Retained for 18 months to support performance optimization and analytics.
– Transaction Data: Retained for 7 years in accordance with financial and accounting laws.
– Marketing and Preference Data: Retained until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe.
9. Cookie Policy
We use cookies on metronetuk.com to enhance user experience, analyze traffic, and personalize content and advertising. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.
Cookies used include:
– Essential Cookies: Required for core functionality (e.g., login, shopping cart).
– Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced user experiences (e.g., remembering preferences).
– Analytics Cookies: Track site usage and interaction for reporting and site improvement.
– Performance Cookies: Help us understand the effectiveness of features and content.
10. Cookie Management and Regulatory Compliance
Upon visiting metronetuk.com, you are presented with a cookie banner that offers the option to accept or customize your cookie preferences. Non-essential cookies will not be set unless explicitly accepted.
We comply with GDPR requirements on consent and cookie transparency and with the CCPA by providing opt-out options for the “sale” of data as defined under that law.
You can also manage your cookie preferences at any time via your browser settings or internal cookie management tools provided on our site.
11. Children’s Privacy
Metronet UK does not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from individuals under the age of 13. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child under this age, we will delete that data promptly.
If you believe that a child under 13 may have provided information to us, please contact us immediately at [email protected].
12. Policy Updates and Notification
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or applicable regulations. Users are encouraged to periodically review the Privacy Policy posted on metronetuk.com.
Significant changes will be communicated through website notifications, email updates (where available), or via your user account.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact us at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.metronetuk.com
We remain committed to maintaining transparency, accountability, and compliance with data protection laws. Your privacy matters to us—please do not hesitate to reach out with any inquiries.