1. Our commitment to your privacy
Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains how we handle personal information when you use our website, contact us, visit one of our locations, enquire about a vehicle or apply for finance or Rent2Buy.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.
2. Information we may collect
Depending on how you deal with us, we may collect identity and contact details, address history, employment and income information, vehicle details, information needed for an application, proof-of-identity documents, communications with us and technical information about use of our website.
Where an application proceeds, relevant information may also be received from or checked with finance partners, credit-reference agencies, identity-verification services and other sources used to assess or administer the application.
3. How we use your information
- To answer enquiries and provide the products or services you request.
- To assess, administer and progress finance or Rent2Buy applications.
- To verify identity, address, affordability and other application information.
- To meet legal, regulatory, fraud-prevention and record-keeping obligations.
- To manage vehicle sales, delivery, warranty and customer-service activity.
- To monitor or record communications for service, compliance, fraud prevention and training.
- Where permitted, to provide relevant service information or marketing and to manage your communication preferences.
4. Who we may share information with
Where necessary for the purpose you have asked us to carry out, information may be shared with appropriate finance partners, credit-reference and identity-verification services, vehicle suppliers, warranty or delivery providers, professional advisers and service providers that help us operate our websites, applications, documents, customer communications and business systems.
We may also disclose information where required by law or to appropriate public, regulatory, fraud-prevention or law-enforcement authorities.
5. Credit and identity checks
If a finance application proceeds, we or a finance partner may carry out identity, affordability and credit-related checks. Credit-reference agencies may keep a record of searches. The checks used depend on the lender, product and individual application.
6. Keeping information secure
We use administrative, technical and physical measures intended to protect information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration or disclosure. Access is limited to people and service providers who need the information for an appropriate business purpose.
7. Keeping your details up to date
Please tell us if your information changes or you believe information we hold is inaccurate. You can contact sales@vanfinancecompany.co.uk or call 0330 133 6376.
8. Your rights
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may have rights to ask for access to personal information we hold about you, correction of inaccurate information, restriction or deletion of information, to object to certain processing, and to withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
We may need to confirm your identity before dealing with a request. Some information may need to be retained where there is a legal, regulatory, contractual, fraud-prevention or legitimate business reason to do so.
9. How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and to meet relevant legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, complaint-handling and record-keeping obligations. When information is no longer required, it is deleted, anonymised or securely disposed of where appropriate.
10. International processing
Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we require appropriate safeguards for the transfer and handling of personal information in accordance with applicable data-protection law.
11. Cookies and website information
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies for essential functionality, preferences, analytics and marketing where permitted. Optional analytics or marketing technologies are used only where permitted and where any required consent has been obtained.
12. External websites
Our website may link to websites operated by other organisations. Their privacy practices are controlled by them, so please review the privacy information on those websites when you leave ours.
13. Call recordings and communications
Calls and other communications may be recorded or retained for customer service, compliance, fraud prevention, dispute handling and training. They are handled in accordance with this policy and our retention obligations.
14. Questions, complaints and updates
If you have questions about how we use your information or want to exercise a data-protection right, contact sales@vanfinancecompany.co.uk. If you remain unhappy with how a data-protection matter has been handled, you may also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office.
We review this policy periodically and may update it when our services, legal obligations or data-processing arrangements change.