Galvanised Specialists need to collect and use personal data about people including past, present and prospective customers in order to carry on its business and meet its customers' requirements effectively. We recognise that the lawful and correct treatment of personal data is very important to successful operations and to maintaining our customers' confidence in ourselves.

Any personal data which we collect, record or use in any way whether it is held on paper, on computer or other media will have appropriate safeguards applied to it to ensure that we comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 ("Act"). We fully endorse and adhere to the eight principles of Data Protection as set out in the Act. These principles state that personal data must be:-

1. fairly and lawfully processed
2. processed for specified and lawful purposes and not in any other way which would be incompatible with those purposes
3. adequate, relevant and not excessive
4. accurate and kept up to date
5. not kept for longer than is necessary
6. processed in line with the data subject's rights
7. kept secure
8. not transferred to a country which does not have adequate data protection laws.

Our purpose for holding personal data is for our administration and system processing.  We will not disclose information to any third party unless we believe it is lawful to do so.

You may inspect this or obtain a copy from the Information Commissioner's Office. In order to meet the requirements of the principles, we will:

observe the conditions regarding the fair collection and use of personal data meet our obligations to specify the purposes for which personal data is used collect and process appropriate personal data only to the extent that it is needed to fulfil operational needs or to comply with any legal requirements ensure the quality of personal data used
apply strict checks to determine the length of time personal data is held ensure that the rights of individuals about whom the personal data is held, can be fully exercised under the Act
take appropriate security measures to safeguard personal data ensure that personal data is not transferred abroad without suitable safeguards.

Where we collect any sensitive data, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that we have explicit consent to hold, use and retain the information. Sensitive data is personal data about an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, physical or mental health, sex life, details of the commission or alleged commission of any offence and any court proceedings relating to the commission of an offence.

We have a responsible marketing policy and do not give your details, or details of related individuals, to any other company outside Galvanised Specialists.

Under the Act, you may write to the Data Protection Co-ordinator as above and request a copy of the information which we hold about you.