You’ve probably heard a lot about GDPR by now – whether it’s from the countless emails from companies you weren’t aware you were still signed up to, or from the companies you care about and don’t want to lose touch with.
In case you’re still not sure what all the fuss is about, GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation that came into force on 25th May 2018. The GDPR replaced the Data Protection Act which has been around since the 90s – and means personal data will be used more accurately, and honestly.
This regulation means that organisations will now be held much more accountable for all the personal data that they store. The aim is to enforce complete transparency and put consumers at ease, knowing exactly how their personal information is being stored and used.
What is personal data?
Personal data is anything that can be used to identify you as an individual, and now it’s in your control more than ever. No one has the right to do anything with that information unless stated directly by you.
Personal data should be kept secure and treated with care – and that’s exactly what we’re committed to doing! In a nutshell, that is what it takes to be GDPR-compliant.
So, what do you need to know?
It’s likely that most companies you purchase from or receive updates from, have an updated Privacy Policy. Take 5 or 10 minutes to give it a read. This will explain exactly how your data is being stored and used – and this will be explained clearly in a way that is simple to understand.
The control is in your hands – but don’t shut yourself off. The reason we get such good service from companies is that they deliver extra value to us that goes beyond the product we’ve purchased. It makes our experience with them even better, getting to know us as individuals so they can tailor their services to us. If you’re a customer of ours, you can update your contact settings using our User Preferences Centre, which you can access on your account. If you don’t update these, we won’t be able to send you updates such as competitions, events and offers.
Your personal data in our organisation is secure – we will never share your data with any external organisations other than our web developers and the venues that you attend lessons in. The purpose of this is clearly stated in the privacy policy and will never be used for any other reason.
When you land on a website, your cookies are tracked. But the good news is, there is no way to identify you as an individual through that cookie. Tracking simply allows the company to understand their website functionality more and how its advertisements are working – helping them grow and deliver better value and experience to both customers and general site visitors. You can find out more about how we use cookies on our Cookies Policy. Some of these cookies are mandatory as they help with the functionality and your navigation around the site, and others simply enhance your experience with both the site and the brand.
Golden rule: Always make sure you’re aware of what you’re signing up for and that it’s clear to you. Companies nationwide are building more trust than ever with individuals, and providing literature and policies to ensure that customers are fully informed on their rights and what happens beyond the ‘sign up’ button. Take the time to read them and understand them, so there’s no ambiguity.
SwimStars are dedicated to making sure you are fully aware of how we store your data – and making sure you know that it’s used strictly for its purpose, and not for anything else that doesn’t impact your child’s swimming lessons.
It’s important to us that we offer more than just a service to you, and that we really make a difference in your child’s life. Keeping in touch with you will help us to continue to do that – we hope you agree!