Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Director First ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website www.directorfirst.co.uk ("Website") or use our services.

We comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR).

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our Website or services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

3. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal data:

Information You Provide

• Contact Information: Name, email address, telephone number
• Company Information: Company name, position/role, company registration number
• Enquiry Details: Information about your business situation that you share with us
• Communication Records: Records of correspondence with us via email, telephone, or other means

Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, referral source
• Cookie Data: Information collected through cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy)

Special Category Data

We do not intentionally collect special category data (such as information about health, race, religion, or sexual orientation). If you provide such information during our discussions, we will treat it with the utmost confidentiality.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your personal data on the following legal bases:

• Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent to process your data for specific purposes
• Contract: Where processing is necessary to provide services you have requested
• Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided these do not override your rights
• Legal Obligation: Where we are required to process your data to comply with the law

6. Sharing Your Information

We treat your information as confidential. We may share your personal data with:

• Licensed Insolvency Practitioners: Where you have requested a referral or consultation
• Professional Advisers: Such as lawyers or accountants, where necessary to provide our services
• Service Providers: Third parties who provide services on our behalf (e.g., website hosting, email services)
• Legal and Regulatory Bodies: Where required by law or to protect our legal rights

We will never sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

The retention period depends on the nature of the data and the purposes for which it is processed:

• Enquiry records: 6 years from the last contact
• Website analytics data: 26 months
• Marketing communications: Until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent

9. Data Security

We take the security of your personal data seriously and have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

10. International Data Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to, and processed in, countries outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data, such as:

• Transfers to countries with an adequacy decision from the UK government
• Standard contractual clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
• Other appropriate safeguards as permitted under UK GDPR

11. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, please contact us first so we can try to resolve your concerns.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's supervisory authority for data protection:

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.