Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Tate Autolink ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses and protects personal information when you contact us or use this website. We process personal data in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who we are

We are a sole trader business trading as Tate Autolink, based in the Peterlee and Horden area, providing an online car marketplace and vehicle referral services.

For privacy queries you can contact us by telephone on 07831 489723 or by WhatsApp on the same number.

2. What information we collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal information:

• Name and contact details (telephone number, and any other details you choose to give us)
• Details of your vehicle enquiry (make, model, budget, preferred viewing or test drive times)
• Correspondence you send us by phone or WhatsApp
• Information needed to introduce you to an approved vehicle provider
• Technical data automatically collected by your browser when you visit this website (such as IP address, browser type and pages viewed), where our hosting provider logs this information

Personal information is typically received when you call or message us directly.

3. How we use your information

We use personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries about vehicles, viewings, test drives and finance
• Introduce customers to approved car dealers and vehicle providers
• Communicate about listings, appointments and the progress of an enquiry
• Comply with legal and accounting obligations
• Improve the security and performance of this website

4. Lawful bases for processing

Under UK GDPR we rely on one or more of the following lawful bases:

• Contract - where processing is necessary to take steps at your request before entering a contract, or to perform a contract with you
• Legitimate interests - to run and promote our marketplace, respond to enquiries and keep appropriate business records, where your interests do not override ours
• Legal obligation - where we must retain records for tax, accounting or other legal requirements
• Consent - where you have given clear consent for a specific purpose (for example optional marketing, if offered)

5. Sharing your information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share it only where necessary with:

• Approved vehicle providers, where you have asked us to introduce you in connection with a specific car or enquiry
• Service providers who support our business (for example phone and WhatsApp providers, and website hosting)
• Professional advisers such as accountants where required
• Authorities if we are legally required to do so

Any third parties we use are expected to handle personal data securely and only for the purpose we specify.

6. International transfers

Our website may be hosted on servers that process data within the UK or the European Economic Area. WhatsApp (Meta) may process messages on servers outside the UK. If any provider processes data outside the UK, we will take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by UK GDPR.

7. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as needed for the purposes set out in this policy. Enquiry details that do not lead to a completed introduction are usually kept for a short period (typically up to 12 months) unless you ask us to delete them sooner. Records relating to completed referrals and invoices may be kept for up to six years to meet legal and accounting requirements.

8. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request erasure of your data in certain circumstances
• Request restriction of processing
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Data portability, where applicable
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in section 1. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection: ico.org.uk.

9. Cookies and similar technologies

This website uses only essential technical storage required for the site to function (for example session data used by the hosting environment). We do not use advertising or analytics cookies that require consent. If that changes, we will update this policy and, where required, ask for your consent.

10. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so please only share information you are comfortable sending by phone or WhatsApp.

11. Children

Our services are aimed at adults buying or supplying motor vehicles. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children through this website. If you believe a child has provided personal data to us, please contact us so we can delete it.

12. Third-party links

This website may link to third-party sites such as Google Maps or WhatsApp. Those sites have their own privacy policies and we are not responsible for their content or practices.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will change when we do. Please check this page periodically for the latest version.

14. Contact

Questions about this policy or how we handle personal data can be raised by calling 07831 489723 or by WhatsApp on the same number.