Privacy Policy

Protecting your privacy is our utmost priority. We kindly request that you carefully review this privacy policy as it contains crucial information about who we are, how we collect, store, use, and share your personal data, as well as the reasons behind it. Additionally, it outlines your rights regarding your personal data and provides instructions on how to contact us or relevant supervisory authorities if you have any complaints. As we handle your personal data, we adhere to the regulations set forth in the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In the context of the GDPR, we act as the 'controller' of your personal data. Our utilization of your personal data is subject to your instructions, the GDPR, other applicable UK legislation, and our professional obligation to maintain confidentiality.

Key Terms

• We," "us," or "our" refers to Business  energy claims guru
• Personal data" refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual.
• Special category personal data" refers to sensitive personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic or biometric data, data concerning health, sex life or sexual orientation.
• Processing" refers to any operation or set of operations performed on personal data, such as collection, recording, storage, use, or disclosure.

Personal data we collect about you

At Ethical Utilities Ltd, we are committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal data. This policy outlines the types of personal data we collect about you and how we handle and process that information.

How your personal data is collected

We primarily collect the aforementioned information directly from you, either through our secure online client portal or during direct interactions. However, there are instances where we may obtain information from other sources, including

• Publicly Accessible Sources: We may gather information from publicly accessible sources like Companies House or HM Land Registry.
• Third-Party Sources: In certain cases, we may acquire information directly from third parties, such as your bank or building society, other financial institutions or advisors, your employer and/or trade union, professional bodies, pension administrators, consultants, or other professionals involved in your matter
• Medical and Health Professionals: We may collect information from your doctors, medical practitioners, occupational health professionals, or similar sources relevant to your situation.
• Sanctions Screening and Credit Reference Agencies: We may engage with sanctions screening providers and credit reference agencies to obtain information related to compliance and risk assessment.
• Client Due Diligence Providers: In the interest of conducting necessary due diligence, we may obtain information from providers specializing in client verification and background checks.
• Website and IT Systems: Information may be collected through our website, utilizing cookies as explained in our cookies policy. Additionally, data may be gathered from our internal IT systems, including case management, document management, and time recording systems. We may also collect data from door entry systems, reception logs, CCTV, access control systems, and other technical systems for automated monitoring and security purposes.

How and why we use your personal data

We utilize your personal data through various means and for specific purposes. Here is an explanation of how and why we use your personal data:

• Service Provision: We use your personal data to provide you with the services you have requested from us. This includes tasks such as processing transactions, managing your accounts, and delivering any relevant information or documentation.
• Communication: We may use your personal data to communicate with you, including sending important updates, notifications, and responding to your inquiries or requests.
• Compliance with Legal Obligations: We process your personal data to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal obligations. This includes conducting identity verification, anti-money laundering checks, and complying with regulatory requirements.
• Contractual Obligations: If you have entered into a contractual agreement with us, we may process your personal data to fulfill our contractual obligations. This may involve sharing necessary information with third parties involved in the provision of services.
• Improving Our Services: We may analyze your personal data to evaluate and enhance our services, ensuring that they meet your needs and expectations. This includes conducting research, data analysis, and market surveys.
• Marketing and Promotions: With your consent, we may use your personal data to send you marketing communications about our products, services, or special promotions. You have the right to opt-out of such communications at any time.
• Security and Fraud Prevention: We process personal data for security purposes, such as detecting and preventing fraud, unauthorized access, or other unlawful activities. This helps safeguard our systems, clients, and business operations
• Legal Proceedings and Protection: In certain circumstances, we may process your personal data to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims. This includes cooperating with law enforcement authorities or regulatory bodies.
• Aggregated or Anonymized Data: We may aggregate or anonymize your personal data for statistical or research purposes. This data does not identify you personally and is used to analyze trends, patterns, and demographics.

It is important to note that we only process your personal data when there is a lawful basis to do so, such as your consent, contractual necessity, legal obligations, or legitimate interests. We take appropriate measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data throughout the process.

Promotional communications

We may utilize your personal data to provide you with updates, information, and promotional communications through various channels such as email, text messages, telephone, or post. These communications may include legal developments that are relevant to you, details about our services, exclusive offers, promotions, or new products.

When it comes to promotional purposes, we have a legitimate interest in processing your personal data, as explained in the section on "How and why we use your personal data" above. In most cases, we do not require your consent to send you promotional communications. However, if consent is necessary, we will request it separately and transparently.

Rest assured that we treat your personal data with the utmost care and respect, and we do not share it with other organizations for marketing purposes. You have the right to opt out of receiving promotional communications at any time. You can exercise this right by contacting us through email at info@businessenergyclaimsguru.co.uk or by using the 'unsubscribe' link in our emails or the 'STOP' number provided in text messages.

In certain circumstances, such as when you request further services from us in the future or when there are changes in the law, regulations, or our business structure, we may ask you to confirm or update your marketing preferences.

We are committed to ensuring that your marketing preferences are respected and that you have control over the communications you receive from us. If you have any questions or need clarification regarding our promotional communications or marketing preferences, please don't hesitate to contact us.

It is important to note that we only process your personal data when there is a lawful basis to do so, such as your consent, contractual necessity, legal obligations, or legitimate interests. We take appropriate measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data throughout the process.

Who we share your personal data with

We share your personal data with various parties as part of our normal business operations. These parties include:

• Professional advisers: We may share your personal data with professional advisers, such as barristers, medical professionals, accountants, tax advisors, or other experts, who we engage on your behalf or refer you to for specialized services.
• Third parties involved in your instructions: In order to carry out your instructions effectively, we may need to share your personal data with other third parties, such as your mortgage provider, HM Land Registry, or Companies House.
• Credit reference agencies: We may disclose your personal data to credit reference agencies for the purpose of credit checks or assessing financial eligibility.
• Insurers, brokers, and legal funding providers: If applicable to your situation, we may share your personal data with insurers, brokers, or legal funding providers to facilitate necessary arrangements.
• External auditors or accountants: We may share your personal data with external auditors or accountants for purposes such as accreditation, auditing our accounts, or compliance with financial regulations.
• Our bank: We share personal data with our bank as part of normal financial transactions and banking services.
• External service suppliers, representatives, and agents: To enhance the efficiency of our business operations, we may share personal data with external service providers, representatives, or agents, such as typing services, marketing agencies, or document collation or analysis suppliers.

We ensure that any third-party service providers or recipients of your personal data have appropriate measures in place to protect your information. We require them to only use your personal data for the specific services they provide to us and you, as outlined in our contractual agreements.

In addition, we may disclose and exchange information with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies as necessary to fulfill our legal and regulatory obligations.

Furthermore, in certain circumstances, we may need to share personal data with other parties, such as potential buyers in a business sale or during a restructuring process. While we strive to anonymize information whenever possible, there may be instances where full anonymization is not feasible. In such cases, the recipient of the information will be bound by confidentiality obligations to protect your personal data.

Transferring your personal data out of the UK

In order to provide you with our services, there may be instances where we need to transfer your personal data outside of the United Kingdom. Rest assured, we will ensure that any such transfers are conducted in compliance with data protection laws, and appropriate measures will be taken to maintain the security of your personal data.

Where your personal data is held

Your personal data may be stored at various locations, including our offices, third-party agencies, service providers, representatives, and agents as outlined in the section 'Who we share your personal data with'. It's important to note that some of these third parties may be located outside the UK.
For detailed information on how we ensure the security of your personal data when such transfers occur, please refer to the section titled 'Transferring your personal data out of the UK' below.

How long your personal data will be kept

Once we have completed our advisory or representation services for you, we will retain your personal data for specific reasons:

• The right to be informed: You have the right to be informed about how your personal data is being used and processed.
• The right of access: You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you and to receive a copy of that data.
• The right to rectification: If you believe that the personal data we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request its correction or completion.
• The right to erasure: Also known as the "right to be forgotten," you have the right to request the deletion or removal of your personal data under certain circumstances.
• The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request the restriction or limitation of the processing of your personal data in certain situations.
• The right to restrict processing: You have the right to request the restriction or limitation of the processing of your personal data in certain situations.
• The right to object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances, such as for direct marketing purposes.
• Rights in relation to automated decision-making and profiling: You have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling, that produce legal effects or significantly affect you.
• The right to withdraw consent: If we rely on your consent as the legal basis for processing your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.
• The right to lodge a complaint: If you have concerns about how we are handling your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority.

Please note that these rights are not absolute and may be subject to certain exemptions or limitations. To exercise your rights or if you have any questions or concerns about your personal data, please contact us using the contact details provided in this privacy policy.