Which? Compare Privacy Policy

Welcome to the Which? Compare website privacy policy.
Which? is committed to protecting and respecting the privacy of our users while providing the highest possible quality of service.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. By visiting the Which? Compare website and sharing information with us you agree to be bound by this privacy policy.

1. Introduction

   This policy sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us. Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it. You should read this policy in conjunction with the terms and conditions that govern your use of the Which? Compare website.

   For the purpose of the Data Protection Act 1998 (‘the Act’), the data controller for personal data that you provide to us is Which? Limited. Which? Compare is operated by Which? Limited. We will only use the information that we collect about you lawfully (in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and any other regulations currently in force).

   Which? Limited is a limited company registered in England, company registration number 00677665 (VAT registration no. GB238534158), whose registered address is 2 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 4DF. The terms \"Which?\", \"we\", \"us\", or \"our\", refer to the operator of the website you're in.

   Price comparison data on the Which? Compare website is supplied by PriceRunner Limited (‘PriceRunner’). PriceRunner is a limited company registered in England, company registration number 04046810, whose registered address is St James House, 13 Kensington Square, London W8 5HD.

   We will not pass your personal information (for example email address, postal address, or telephone number) to any third parties without your permission. We do not process the information collected from you outside the UK but PriceRunner may process information about cookies outside the UK (see further below).

   If you click on a link from the Which? Compare website, you will be re-directed to the website of a third party not owned or controlled by Which?. Any data that you provide to that third party (for example, to a retailer or to PriceRunner) will be processed by that party and it is likely that they will be the Data Controller of that data for the purposes of the Act. Which? is not responsible for the way a third party linked to from the Which? Compare website processes your data and you are strongly advised to read that third party’s privacy policy before providing any data to that party.

   If you have any requests concerning your personal information or any queries about these practices, please contact us.

2. Security

   We are committed to ensuring your information is secure.

   In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

3. Information collected

   We collect the following information:

   1. Where you contact us through enquiry and registration forms, we collect the details you provide to us (typically the personal details include your name, postal address and email address); and

   2. Where you visit this website, we collect information automatically about your visit. The information obtained in this way (for example about your browsing patterns) may be used to track visitor behaviour to provide us with statistics and to assist us in marketing our products and services generally.

4. Use of personal information

   We may process personal and other information collected via our websites for the purposes of:

   • Providing the best possible service to you;

   • Processing any orders you may have made from us;

   • Conducting market research surveys;

   • Running competitions;

   • Providing you with information about products and services we offer;

   • Building up marketing profiles, aiding strategic development and auditing usage of the site; and/or

   • Providing you with information about our campaigns.

   As a result of ordering from us, your name and address may be added to a Which? mailing list.

   Which? offers a range of services and publications designed to keep you up to date on consumer issues. We'd like to contact you about these from time to time, as well as sending you our special promotions.

   Generally we will write, but may email or telephone you, unless you prefer us not to.

   Please provide us with your instructions and contact details at Dept. DNP2, Which?, Castlemead, Gascoyne Way, Hertford, SG14 1YB.

5. Use of cookies

   A cookie is a piece of text which is stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. It contains statistical data about your browsing actions and patterns, and does not identify an individual.

   A session cookie helps us analyse web traffic or lets us know when you visit a particular site.

   We use the software of a third party company on our website to collect the data from a session cookie on our behalf.

   We use a session cookie when you access any Which? website to track patterns of behaviour of visitors to our website, to build up marketing profiles and understand browsing patterns.

   While our session cookies may contain some personal information, such as your name, email address, preferences and whether or not you are a customer of Which?, they do not contain or store information relating to your financial/credit card details. The information that is collected by the session cookie will be used solely for tracking patterns of visitor behaviour to provide us with statistics and to identify groups of users to assist us in marketing our products and services.

   If you log in as a subscriber and tick the ‘remember me’ box, we use a permanent cookie to store your username and password. This is so that you do not have to re-enter this information each time you return to which.co.uk. If you have ticked ‘remember me’ and then want to log out of which.co.uk, you will need to delete the cookie from your browser.

   Most web browsers automatically accept cookies but you may set your browser to prevent this collection or access. Further information about cookies, including how to delete them, is available for Internet Explorer users, Firefox users and Safari users or alternatively visit allaboutcookies.org for more detailed advice on how to disable and enable cookies. If you disable your browser’s ability to set cookies, you may be unable to access parts of the Which? Compare website.

   When you use the Which? Compare website at www.whichcompare.co.uk, PriceRunner may put a permanent cookie on the hard drive of your computer. This cookie will provide PriceRunner with statistical data about your browser activity but you will not be identifiable from this data. The information from these cookies may be used by PriceRunner to monitor your usage of the Which? Compare website and PriceRunner may share this information with third parties or aggregate it with other cookie data. PriceRunner may also use other tacking methods in relation to your use of the Which? Compare website. For further information about how PriceRunner uses cookies, please read their privacy policy.

   Which?'s use of cookies is fully compliant with all United Kingdom and EU data protection and data privacy regulations.

   If you now wish to change your mind in respect of your information being used by our companies please notify us in writing by contacting Dept. DNE, Which?, Castlemead, Gascoyne Way, Hertford, SG14 1YB.

6. Third party opt-in policy

   We know that our members, as well as those who receive our promotional material have a wide range of interests. We do not make access available currently to third party organisations of your data for their marketing purposes. We would not, in any event, pass your email address, or any other details to any third parties without your explicit permission.

7. Information security over the internet

   Transmission of data over the internet is not guaranteed to be completely secure. Third parties may be able to intercept or access your transmissions and/or private communications unlawfully. Which? makes every effort to ensure the integrity of you personal information you provide to us but we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us.

8. Your rights

   The Act gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the Act. Any access request may be subject to a fee of £10 to meet our costs in providing you with details of the information we hold about you.

9. Changes to this privacy policy

   Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by e-mail.

10. Contacting us

    If you have any queries about our privacy policy, requests concerning your personal information: either if you would prefer not to hear from us, or would like to find out more about our products and services, or have any questions or concerns about the Which? Compare website, please contact us either by post or email to Which? to: shopping@which.co.uk