1. Introduction
Blissful Trek Limited ("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 blissful-trek.com, use our services, or interact with us in any way.
This policy complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. We are the data controller for the purposes of data protection law.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
We collect information you provide directly to us, including:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, postal address
- Property Information: Property preferences, budget, location requirements
- Financial Information: Income details, mortgage information (when relevant to our services)
- Communication Records: Messages, emails, phone call records, meeting notes
- Account Information: Username, password, profile information
- Marketing Preferences: Communication preferences and consent records
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information:
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click-through rates, search queries
- Location Data: General location based on IP address
- Cookies and Tracking: See our Cookie Policy for detailed information
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from:
- Property portals and listing services
- Credit reference agencies (with your consent)
- Land Registry and other official property databases
- Partner estate agents and property professionals
- Social media platforms (if you choose to connect your accounts)
3. How We Use Your Information
3.1 Primary Purposes
We use your information to:
- Provide Services: Deliver property search, valuation, and advisory services
- Process Transactions: Facilitate property purchases, sales, and rentals
- Customer Support: Respond to inquiries and provide assistance
- Account Management: Maintain and manage your account and preferences
3.2 Communication and Marketing
With your consent, we may use your information to:
- Send property alerts and market updates
- Provide newsletter and blog content
- Share relevant property investment opportunities
- Conduct customer satisfaction surveys
3.3 Legal and Business Purposes
We may process your information for:
- Compliance with legal obligations
- Fraud prevention and security
- Business analysis and improvement
- Risk assessment and management
4. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:
- Consent: When you have given clear consent for specific processing activities
- Contract: To perform contracts with you or take steps before entering into contracts
- Legal Obligation: To comply with legal requirements (e.g., money laundering regulations)
- Legitimate Interests: For our legitimate business interests, balanced against your rights and freedoms
5. How We Share Your Information
5.1 Service Providers
We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers:
- Estate agents and property professionals
- Mortgage brokers and financial advisors
- Conveyancing solicitors
- Survey and valuation companies
- IT support and hosting providers
- Marketing and communication platforms
5.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information when required to:
- Comply with legal obligations
- Respond to government requests
- Protect our rights and property
- Investigate fraud or security issues
- Protect the safety of users or the public
5.3 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity, subject to the same privacy protections.
6. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:
- Encryption: Data encryption in transit and at rest
- Access Controls: Restricted access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
- Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
- Staff Training: Regular data protection training for all employees
- Incident Response: Procedures for responding to data breaches
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:
- Active Customers: For the duration of our relationship plus 7 years for regulatory compliance
- Marketing Data: Until you withdraw consent or 3 years of inactivity
- Website Data: Analytics data for 2 years, logs for 1 year
- Legal Requirements: As required by law (e.g., 6 years for tax records)
8. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:
8.1 Right to Information
You have the right to know how your personal data is being processed.
8.2 Right of Access
You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
8.3 Right to Rectification
You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
8.4 Right to Erasure
You can request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
8.5 Right to Restrict Processing
You can ask us to limit how we use your personal data.
8.6 Right to Data Portability
You can request your data in a portable format to transfer to another service.
8.7 Right to Object
You can object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
8.8 Rights Related to Automated Decision Making
You have rights regarding automated processing and profiling decisions.
9. Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of your rights, please contact us using the details below:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +44 20 7123 4588
- Post: Data Protection Officer, Blissful Trek Limited, 45 Regent Street, London, W1B 4LR
We will respond to your request within one month, though this may be extended by two months for complex requests.
10. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website. For detailed information about our use of cookies, please see our separate Cookie Policy.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.
12. International Transfers
We primarily process data within the UK and EEA. If we transfer data outside these areas, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:
- Adequacy decisions by the UK government
- Standard contractual clauses
- Certification schemes
- Codes of conduct
13. Children's Privacy
Our services are not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 16, please contact us immediately.
14. 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 significant changes by:
- Posting the updated policy on our website
- Updating the "Last Updated" date
- Sending email notifications for material changes
- Requesting new consent where required
15. Complaints
If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first using the details above. If you remain unsatisfied, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
- Website: www.ico.org.uk
- Phone: 0303 123 1113
- Post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
16. Contact Information
For any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:
17. Definitions
- Personal Data: Information relating to an identified or identifiable individual
- Processing: Any operation performed on personal data
- Data Controller: The entity that determines the purposes and means of processing
- Data Processor: An entity that processes personal data on behalf of the controller
- Consent: Freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous agreement