Who controls your information

Hivebyte Technology Ltd is the data controller for the personal information described in this policy. This means we decide why and how that information is used.

Questions or requests about your personal information can be sent to hello@hivebyte.co.uk.

Information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

• Your name, business name, email address and telephone number.
• The service you are interested in and the information included in your enquiry.
• Information needed to prepare a quotation, proposal or contract.
• Project communications, support requests and records of services supplied.
• Billing, payment and transaction records where you become a client.
• Business-directory account, listing and contact information where you use our directory.
• Technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information, referring page and website-security logs.
• Cookie choices and information collected through permitted website cookies.

Please do not send sensitive personal information through our general enquiry forms unless we specifically request it and it is necessary for the service.

How we collect information

We collect information when you:

• Submit a homepage or Contact-page enquiry form.
• Contact us by telephone, email, WhatsApp or another agreed channel.
• Ask for a quotation or become a client.
• Request technical support.
• Create, claim or manage a business-directory listing.
• Browse our website, subject to your cookie choices.

Why we use your information

Enquiries and quotations

We use your details to respond to your enquiry, discuss your requirements and provide a requested quotation or proposal. Our lawful bases are taking steps at your request before entering into a contract and our legitimate interests in responding to potential customers.

Client work and support

We use relevant information to deliver projects, manage our client relationship, provide support, invoice for services and maintain business records. Our lawful bases are performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations and our legitimate interests in operating and protecting our business.

Directory services

Where you create or claim a directory listing, we use the information to provide and administer that service. Business information intended for publication may be visible to directory visitors. Our lawful bases are performance of a contract and our legitimate interests in operating the directory.

Website operation and security

We use limited technical information to operate, secure, diagnose and improve the website. Our lawful basis is our legitimate interest in providing a reliable and secure service. Where consent is legally required for non-essential cookies, we rely on your consent.

Website enquiry forms

When you submit a website enquiry form, the information you enter and associated technical submission data are securely processed and delivered to us so we can respond to your enquiry.

We use a secure third-party form-processing provider acting on our behalf. The provider receives form submission information only so it can process and deliver the enquiry to us.

Who we share information with

We may share relevant information with trusted organisations that help us operate, including:

• A secure form-processing provider for processing and delivering website enquiries.
• Website-hosting, email, cloud-storage, security and IT-support providers.
• Payment, accounting and professional-adviser services where necessary.
• Subcontractors or project partners where required to deliver an agreed service and subject to appropriate confidentiality arrangements.
• Regulators, courts, law-enforcement bodies or other authorities where disclosure is legally required.

We do not sell personal information. We require service providers to protect personal information and use it only for the agreed purpose.

International transfers

Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, we use providers and safeguards intended to protect personal information in accordance with UK data-protection law, such as UK adequacy regulations or approved contractual safeguards.

How long we keep information

• Ordinary enquiries and unsuccessful quotations: up to 12 months after our last meaningful contact.
• Client, contract, invoice and transaction records: generally six years after the relevant financial year or the end of the relationship, where needed for legal, tax or contractual purposes.
• Active project and support records: for the duration of the service relationship and afterwards where reasonably needed for support, legal claims or business records.
• Directory information: while a listing or account remains active and afterwards only for as long as reasonably necessary for administration, disputes or legal obligations.
• Technical and security records: for the operational period set by the relevant service, or longer where necessary to investigate a security incident.

We may retain information for longer where required by law, a legal claim, fraud prevention or a regulatory requirement. When information is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it securely.

Cookies and external content

Our website may use essential cookies and, subject to your choices, other cookies or similar technologies. Some pages may also include external content such as maps. External providers may receive technical information when that content loads.

Please read our Cookie Policy for more information and available controls.

How we protect information

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. No internet service can guarantee absolute security, but we review access and security measures according to the nature of the information and the risks involved.

Your data-protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

• Ask for access to your personal information.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Ask us to erase information where there is no lawful reason to retain it.
• Ask us to restrict how information is used.
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Receive certain information in a portable format.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

To exercise a right, email hello@hivebyte.co.uk. We may need to confirm your identity before completing a request. We normally respond within one month, subject to the rules that apply to the request.

Complaints

Please contact us first if you have a concern so we can try to resolve it. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK data-protection regulator. Visit ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or telephone 0303 123 1113.

Children

Our business services and directory are not intended for children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our general enquiry forms.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, suppliers or legal obligations change. The latest version will be published on this page with an updated date.