Privacy Policy

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Thorne Commercial Surveyors Limited Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 04 November 2024

Please Read Carefully:

Thorne Commercial Surveyors Limited ("we", "our", "us") are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our services or interact with us, both online and offline.

1. Introduction

We are a professional chartered surveying and consultancy practice based in the UK, offering commercial property surveying services. In the course of providing our services, we collect and process certain personal data. We are required to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)and the Data Protection Act 2018, which set out the rules for how we process personal data.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal data in various ways, including when you contact us directly, use our website, or engage in our services. The types of personal data we may collect include:

• Identity Data: Name, job title, and role.
• Contact Data: Email address, phone number, postal address.
• Transactional Data: Details of services provided, including contractual information,      invoices, and payments.
• Technical  Data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone, browser plug-in      types and versions, operating system, and other technology on the devices      you use to access this website.
• Usage Data: Information on how you use our website and services, including      pages visited and the actions taken.
• Marketing and Communications Data: Preferences for receiving marketing      communications from us and your communication preferences.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide services: Delivering surveying services, conducting property management      services, surveys, valuations, and managing contracts.
• To communicate with you: Responding to enquiries, providing updates, and      sending invoices or statements.
• To improve our services: Analysing usage trends to enhance our website and service offerings.
• To meet legal obligations: Complying with financial, regulatory, and      legal requirements.
• Marketing and promotions: If you opt in, we may send you marketing      communications about our services.

4. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data

Under the GDPR, we must have a legal basis to process your personal data. We process your personal data based on the following:

• Contractual Necessity: To perform services you have requested or agreed upon.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with legal or regulatory requirements (e.g., tax and accounting laws).
• Legitimate Interests: To pursue our legitimate business interests, such as      improving services, marketing, and responding to enquiries.
• Consent: Where required, we will seek your consent before processing certain      personal data, such as for marketing communications.

5. Sharing Your Data

We do not share your personal data with third parties except in the following situations:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors or subcontractors who assist us in providing our services (e.g., IT support, contractors, payment processors).
• Legal Requirements: If required by law, such as in response to a court order or to comply with legal obligations.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your      personal data may be transferred.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, loss, or destruction. These measures include encryption, access controls, and secure storage systems. However, no data transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Transfers Outside the UK/EEA (Including USA)

Our data may be hosted outside of the UK/EEA via website providers and/or their servers. In this instance personal data may be transferred and stored in the USA. Safeguards are in place to ensure that these transfers comply with UK data protection laws. This includes;  

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• Data Protection Measures: 

This includes:

1. Backups of services to enable data to be restored in case of unforeseen circumstances

2. Security Audits to ensure websites remain secure

3. Cleaners to wipe data when required without disrupting service delivery 

4. Firewalls, IDS/IPS monitoring and other modern protection systems  

8. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy and to comply with legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations. Typically, we will retain your data for a minimum of 6 years following the completion of services or the last point of contact, in line with legal requirements for tax and accounting purposes.

9. Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have certain rights regarding your personal data, including:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or   incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: In certain circumstances, you can request that we delete your personal data.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain cases.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request that we transfer your personal data to another service provider.
• Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your data for specific purposes, including direct marketing.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in the "Contact Us" section.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us understand how you use our site, personalise content, and improve functionality. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

11. Changes to This Privacy 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 any significant changes by updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, notifying you directly.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about how we handle your personal data, or if you wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us:

Thorne Commercial Surveyors Limited

The Triangle, 

Donnington,

Moreton-in-Marsh

Gloucestershire

GL56 0XX

01451 600358
office@tcsurveyors.com
https://tcsurveyors.com