Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Study GenieStar ("we", "our", or "us") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website study-geniestar.com or use our climate control services.

This policy complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information:

• Name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
• Information about your property and heating/cooling requirements
• Service history and maintenance records
• Communication preferences
• Payment and billing information

2.2 Technical Information

We automatically collect certain technical information when you visit our website:

• IP address and browser type
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referral source and exit pages
• Device information and screen resolution

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Providing climate control services and installations
• Responding to enquiries and providing customer support
• Scheduling appointments and service visits
• Processing payments and maintaining billing records
• Sending service reminders and maintenance notifications
• Improving our services and website functionality
• Marketing communications (with your consent)
• Compliance with legal obligations

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Contract: To fulfil our contractual obligations for services
• Legitimate Interest: For business operations and improving services
• Consent: For marketing communications and optional services
• Legal Obligation: To comply with statutory requirements

5. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with:

• Trusted service providers and contractors who assist in our operations
• Professional advisers (accountants, lawyers, insurers)
• Regulatory authorities when required by law
• Emergency services if there are safety concerns

All third parties are required to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure server infrastructure with encryption
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on data protection
• Access controls and authentication procedures

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Customer records: 7 years after last service (for warranty and legal purposes)
• Marketing data: Until you withdraw consent
• Website analytics: 26 months
• Financial records: 6 years (as required by law)

8. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data in certain circumstances
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected] or 0161 234 5678.

9. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. For detailed information about our cookie usage, please see our Cookie Policy.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "last modified" date.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not handled your personal data appropriately. Visit ico.org.uk for more information.