Privacy Notice

At Cardale Finance limited (CFL) we always respect the privacy of our customers and are committed to protecting their privacy at all times. This policy gives an explanation of the way we collect customer data and how it may be used.

How we collect information about customers:

• Data can be collected and processed during the use of our website or when customers communicate directly with us, such as through e-mail, phone or letter;
• When customers are referred on to CFL from Business Partners;
• any calls made to us or our Agents may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes; and/or
• after a customer agreement has been completed, we may keep records of any feedback customers give us about the service provided.

The type of data collected may include personal information such as customer name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, date of birth and employment details. It may also include details of the contacts or agreements customers have had with us in the past.
Customers may also disclose sensitive information to us (such as, information about the customer’sphysical and mental health, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, sexual life, medical information), which we may hold and process.
Customers are responsible for providing valid, accurate and up to date information. When customers give us information about another individual or organisation it is on the basis that customers confirm that they have specifically agreed to this and understand how and why their information will be used.

Use of Customer Information

Customer data will always be dealt with responsibly and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Regulation EU 2016/679 (and both as amended). Information stored or collected about customers helps us improve our service and helps to make sure that any agreement a customer has with us is run smoothly. Customer information may be used to:

• Identify customers when customers contact us
• carry certain credit checks through licensed credit-referencing agencies and a record of this search may be made on customer’s credit profile;
• make credit decisions about customers and check the details that customers have provided to us are complete and accurate;
• administer and manage any application customers make to us and pass customer details on to Panel Lenders.
• monitor and analyse our business including conducting internal audits, using statistical analysis to develop and improve our products and services and conducting market research;
• contact customers by e-mail, text message, post, telephone or in any other way about our products and services. However, we will not pass customer details to any third-parties for marketing purposes
• to identify, prevent, detect or tackle fraud, money laundering, terrorism and other crimes;
• trace a customer’s whereabouts and recover any debt customers owe us; and/or
• comply with our regulatory obligations.

Before personal information is collected, CFL will consider: what details are necessary for the purposes of the customer’s application. Previous customer information is used to assess any future loan applications, but information will be kept for a maximum of 6 years after the loan has expired, after which time the data will be deleted.

CFL may transfer personal information abroad to countries outside the UK or the EEA but if we do so we will ensure that the information is handled securely and to standards at least as good as in the UK.

Credit Reference Agency (CRA) Data

CFL may perform initial “soft search” credit checks through TransUnion for initial broker enquiries to help establish suitability and Approval in Principle with appropriate Panel Lenders.
For cases where CFL are assessing a loan application that will be funded by CFL a full credit assessment will be made with TransUnion.

In the cases where credit referencing is undertaken the following will apply;

• A customer’s loan application may be registered on the customer’s credit report under the name Cardale Finance Limited. Should customers require more information on any Credit Reference Agency we work with they can visit the relevant CRA website. We may undertake a search with at least one of the aforementioned agencies or in some cases both when customers apply for credit thereby reviewing a customer’s credit record as well as anyone financially associated with the customer. The agency will keep a record of this search and may place a "footprint" on the customer’s file, whether or not the application proceeds.
• Information we and other organisations provide to the CRAs may be used by us and them to;
  • help make decisions when checking applications, managing credit related accounts and facilities, recovering debt, checking on insurance claims, checking job applicants
  • detect and prevent money laundering, crime and fraud
  • verify identity
  • trace customer’s whereabouts
  • undertake research, statistical analysis and system testing.

Information We Share

CFL currently share customer information with;

• Panel Lenders;
• regulators, government authorities, our trade association or other authorities to assist in the resolution of a complaint, to help prevent or detect fraud or terrorism, or for any other reasonable purpose identified by such an authority; and/or
• any company or person to whom we sell or transfer our business or our rights under any agreement we may have with customers.

We will only ever share customer data with third parties for the purposes explained in this policy. All third-party companies we deal with are carefully selected and trusted companies and wherever possible contracts are put in place with them to ensure that customer information is kept safe. We will only disclose customer information to third parties where such a disclosure is permitted by law or where we have customer’s permission.

Personal Data Storage and Security

We know how important it is to keep customer data safe, so all information collected is stored on secure servers. Transaction data is encrypted for customer safety and we employ up to date security technology to ensure customer data remains safe.

Customers should understand that providing data via online transmission is not always completely secure. We cannot guarantee full protection in this respect, but we do commit to customers that we will do everything we can to protect information sent to us electronically.

Our website and forms may contain links to third parties’ websites, which have their own privacy policy and terms of use. CFL is not responsible, nor do we accept responsibility for third party websites as we have no control over them.

Cookie Policy

A cookie is a small text file which is stored on a user’s computer. It can contain information about the user and the way they interact with the internet and can help make a user’s online experience more efficient. We use encrypted information gathered from them to help improve your experience of the site. For example, they help us to identify and resolve errors, or to determine relevant information to show you when you're browsing.

We give this information to customer’s as part of our initiative to comply with legislation, and to make sure we're honest and clear about your privacy when using our website.

We use cookies to improve experiences on our websites and to analyse how and when our sites are used. We use a number of cookies to do this:

• Session cookies: These are cookies which are necessary for the operation of the site. However, these cookies are temporary, so they will be removed from your computer as soon as you close your browser.
• Persistent cookies: These are cookies that remain on your computer even after you close our website and your browser. These types of cookies allow our website to remember details about customers should they visit the site again, like how they previously used the site.
• Analytical cookies: These are cookies that help us understand and analyse the use of our website. They record things like the number of times a customer visits, how long they stay on the site and how they reached our site. These cookies only track use of our site and do not track use of other sites on the internet.
• Third party cookies: When a customer completes information on our application form, the form is linked to third party lenders who may use cookies to process the application.

Customers can decline the use of non-essential cookies by changing their browser settings to block some or all cookies.

If customers choose to block all cookies, our site will not function as intended and they will not be able to use or access many of the services we provide. If they have blocked all cookies and wish to make full use of the features and services we offer, they will need to enable your cookies.

Accessing Information

The Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) makes provision for customers to be able to access any information we may hold on them. This is called a Data Subject Access Request, which a customer can make by contacting CFL in writing or via email.

To help us ensure the data we hold about a customer is accurate and up to date, a customer may ask us to correct or remove any data that they believe is inaccurate by contacting CFL in writing or via email.

When they request information we hold about them, CFL will provide this information to them within 30 days.

Customers also have the right to request Credit Reference Agencies to provide them with information that they hold about them but to access such information they must contact them directly.

Contacting CFL and Opting Out

Customers can “opt-out” (or “opt-in”) of any marketing contact from CFL at any time by contacting us by email, letter or telephone. If they do so, they will not receive any communication apart from that concerned with their application or account.

Customers are also free to contact us with queries, requests, or comments on any data issues by contacting CFL.

Our contact details are as follows:

Cardale Finance Ltd.
PO Box 908
Harrogate
HG1 9EJ