Privacy Policy

Dated: 25 February 2023

HB Associates understand that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your data is being used. In addition, we will always respect and value the privacy of every user who visits our website www.hbassociates.co.uk. Personal data is only collected and used in the ways described below and is consistent with our obligations and your rights under UK law.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand its contents fully. Your acceptance of this Privacy Policy is deemed to occur if you continue using our website.

If you DO NOT agree to our Privacy Policy, please do not use our services and stop using our website immediately.

This privacy notice for HB Associates (“Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), describes how and why we might collect, store, use, and/or share (“process”) your information when you use our services such as:

Visiting our website at https://www.hbassociates.co.uk, or any website of ours that links to this privacy notice

Engage with us in other related ways, including any services rendered, marketing or events

This Privacy Policy is only in relation to our website as above. We have no control over how your data is handled, collected or stored by other websites and therefore cannot be held responsible. Please check an individual’s website Privacy Policy to learn how they handle your data before providing them with your data.

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. It created a consolidated data protection legal framework across all European Union member states in 2018. 

Under this framework, personal data is described as ‘any data that relates to an identified or identifiable individual.

It could be as simple as a name, number or other information such as IP addresses or cookie identifiers. If it is possible to identify you from the data being processed, it is likely to be classified as personal data. 

When you visit, use or navigate our website, we may process personal information. This will be dependable on how you interact with HB Associates and the services and choices you make. It will also be dependable on the website features you use.

We do not process any sensitive information.

We do not receive any information from third parties.

HB Associates collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you express an interest in obtaining information about us or our services. The following data may be collected when you contact us:

Name

Telephone Number

Email Address

All personal information you provide to us must be true, complete and accurate. If this information changes, you must notify us of any amendments.

We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use or navigate our website services. This information does not reveal your specific identity i.e. name or contact information, but may include device and usage information. Device and usage information can be but not limited to, IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URL’s, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our services and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our services, and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes.

Like many businesses, we also collect information through cookies and similar technologies. The information we collect includes:

This is service related, diagnostic, usage and performance information. Our servers automatically collect this when you access or use our services and which we record in log files. Depending on how you interact with us, this log data may include your IP Address, device information, browser type and settings. The log data may also show your activity in the services i.e. date/time stamps associated with your usage, the pages and files viewed and any other actions you take when using our website.

We collect device data such as information about your computer, phone, tablet or other device you use to access the services. Depending on the device used, this device data may include information such as your IP Address( or proxy server). Device/application numbers, location, browser type, hardware model, internet service provider and/or mobile carrier, operating system and system configuration information may be obtained.

We collect location data such as information about your device’s location which can either be precise or imprecise. How much information we collect depends on the type and settings of the device you use to access the services. We may use GPS and other technologies to collect geolocation data that tells us your current location (based on your IP Address). You can opt out of allowing us to collect this information either by refusing access to the information or by disabling you location settings on your device. However, if you choose to opt out, you may not be able to use certain aspects of the service.

We process your information to provide, improve and administer our services. Your personal data is used to communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention and to comply with the law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent. Your personal data is only processed when we have a valid legal reason to do so.

You will always have the opportunity to opt out of any marketing and advertising. With your permission and where we are permitted by law, we may use your personal data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you by email, telephone or by post with information of our latest updates and services. HB Associates will not send you any unlawful marketing or spam. We will always look to fully protect your rights and comply with our obligations under the Data Protection Legislation.

We will only use your personal data for the purpose it was collected. If we have reasonable belief that another purpose is compatible with the original purpose we will use it for that use too. If you wish us to explain the new purpose and why it is compatible, please contact us on [email protected].

We will always contact you if we need to use your personal data for a purpose other than what it was originally collected for and gain your consent.

There are some instances whereby we may process your personal data without your knowledge or consent. This will only be done when required by law and within the restrictions of the Data Protection Legislation and your legal rights.

We do not share your information with any third parties.

We have organisational and technical processes and procedures in place to protect your personal information. However, no electronic transmissions over the internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. We therefore cannot guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals or other unauthorised third parties will not be able to defect our security and improperly collect, access steal or modify your information. 

We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the reason it was initially collected. A longer period may be required or permitted by law in relation to tax, accounting and other legal requirements.

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time by contacting us at [email protected]

You can access certain areas of our website without providing any personal information. However, to use all our website features and to contact us to answer your enquiries, you may need to consent or allow the collection of personal data.

You have a right to a copy of the personal data that we hold about you. To access this please contact us at [email protected] and put in a subject access request. All subject access requests must be made in writing.

We do not usually charge a fee for a subject access request. If your request is excessive i.e. you make repetitive requests or unfounded requests, we may charge a fee to cover administrative costs in responding.

We aim to respond to your subject access requests no later than 30 days. We will provide a complete response including your personal data within 30 days also. If your request is more in-depth, this can take up to a maximum of 60 days from when we receive your request. We will always keep you up to date of the progress of your request.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to operational, legal or regulatory reasons. Any such changes will become binding on you on your first use of our website after the changes have been made. You are therefore advised to revisit this Privacy Policy page regularly to stay informed about our data usage.

This website is owned and operated by HB Associates who is a registered accountancy firm with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or other technologies, please email our Data Protection Officer Hayley Jones at [email protected]. 

The data controller of your personal information is HB Associates.