Privacy Policy

Dixon Alderton Law respects your right to privacy and confidentiality is at the heart of our business. we are committed to safeguarding and preserving the privacy of our visitors. This Policy explains what happens to any personal data that you provide to us, or that we collect from you whether this is obtained in paper form or electronically, and how we use cookies on this website.

Dixon Alderton Law will ensure that any data received will be processed in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and this Policy
This Policy sets out how we will use the personal information that we obtain, generate and process. Your personal information will be held and used in accordance with this Policy.

 Information That We Collect

We may collect information in the course of providing legal services to you or as a result of our day to day dealings with you or any of our clients, for example:

• Name, address, telephone, email address
• Occupation and professional history
• Contact preferences
• Information contained in any documentation which you send to us either in paper or electronic form or information that we collect, use and process in the course of our business
• Information that you provide to us by completing surveys or entering prize draws

How We Use Your Personal Information

We use the information that we collect from you to provide our services to you. In addition to this we may use the information for one or more of the following purposes:

• To provide information to you that you request from us relating to our products or services or services.
• To provide information to you relating to other products that may be of interest to you. Such additional information will only be provided where you have consented to receive such information
• To inform you of any changes to our website, services and products or services.
• If you have previously purchased goods or services from us we may provide to you details of similar goods or services, or other goods and services, that you may be interested in.
• To manage our business to prevent money laundering and/or terrorist financing
• For any other legitimate use in the course of our business
• To enforce or protect our rights

We never give your details to third parties unless required for the provision of our services or required by the law or in the event that we sell any or all of our business to the buyer.  Sometimes we may need to give information to our agents and subcontractors for the purpose of providing legal services. In these instances, we always ensure that the information is safe and secure.

We have systems that protect our clients and ourselves against fraud and other crime.  We may use your personal information to prevent crime and trace those responsible.  We may check your details with fraud prevention agencies.  If you give us false or misleading information and we suspect fraud, we will record this.  We and other organisations may use and search these records to help us trace and prevent fraud and manage your accounts or check your identity to prevent money laundering.  With regards to money laundering checks we obtain documentation from you but also use a third party who carry out a variety of electronic checks.

Our Website

In running and maintaining our website we may collect and process the following data about you:

• Information about your use of our site including details of your visits such as pages viewed and the resources that you access. Such information includes traffic data, location data and other communication data
• Information provided voluntarily by you. For example, when you register for information.
• Information that you provide when you communicate with us by any means.

Parts of the website contain links to third party website and we are not responsible for any site you choose to visit in this way.  The website does not have a secure transmission method.  It is possible that the information can be intercepted, lost, redirected, changed and read by other people. Links provided from the website are not covered by this Policy. Where we provide a link it does not mean that we endorse or approve that site’s policy towards visitor privacy. You should review their privacy policy before sending them any personal data.

Use of Cookies

Cookies provide information regarding the computer used by a visitor. We may use cookies where appropriate to gather information about your computer in order to assist us in improving our website. We may gather information about your general internet use by using the cookie. Where used, these cookies are downloaded to your computer and stored on the computer’s hard drive.

Such information will not identify you personally; it is statistical data which does not identify any
personal details whatsoever. Our advertisers may also use cookies, over which we have no control. Such cookies (if used) would be downloaded once you click on advertisements on our website. You can adjust the settings on your computer to decline any cookies if you wish. This can be done within the “settings” section of your computer. For more information please read the advice at AboutCookies.org.

Storing Your Personal Data

We do our utmost to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to make sure that your data is stored securely.  Unfortunately the sending of information via the internet is not totally secure and on occasion such information can be intercepted. We cannot guarantee the security of data that you choose to send us electronically, sending such information is entirely at your own risk.

All information which you provide to us in an electronic form will be stored securely on servers in the UK

Any paper documentation which we hold will be held securely at our office or at a secure storage facility.

Both paper and electronic files will in the normal course of business be kept for periods set out below:

• Will Files: 75 years
• Estate administration files: 15 years
• Continuing trusts: 50 years
• Any other matters: 6 years
• Initial enquiries made: 1 year
• Anti-money laundering: 6 years
• Client surveys: 6 years

On an annual basis, we compile a list of all files where the storage period has expired.  We then destroy all paper and electronic files (including anti-money laundering information). We do not retain any identifiable data after this point without your consent.

Access to Information

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, you have the right to access any information that
we hold relating to you. We are obliged to provide this to you in an easily accessible form within 28 days of receiving your written request. Under the Data Protection Act 2018, we are entitled not to respond or to charge a reasonable administrative fee if a request is manifestly unfounded or excessive. If we decide not to respond we will clearly explain the reasons for this and provide you with details of the relevant supervisory authority. Evidence or proof of your identity will be required.

Complaints

You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office if you are concerned about the way in which we are collecting and using your data. The ICO is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights.  See www.ico.org.uk

Contacting Us

Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any matter relating to this Privacy and Cookies Policy.
We may update this Policy from time to time to comply with guidance and regulation so please do review this Policy regularly. This policy was last reviewed in October 2018.