This policy explains what HCS Auctions Ltd does with personal information, and what rights you have. It applies to this website, to our online bidding platform, and to valuations, clearances and sales we carry out.
Who we are
HCS Auctions Ltd (House Clearance Specialists Auctions) is the data controller for the information described here. Our contact details are on the contact page. If you have a question about how we handle your data, that is the quickest way to reach us.
What we collect
- Enquiry details — your name, email address, telephone number and whatever you tell us in your message, when you use a form on this site or email us.
- Bidding account details — the name, address, contact details, identification and payment information you give when registering to bid.
- Transaction records — lots bid on, lots bought or sold, invoices, statements and payments.
- Clearance and valuation records — property addresses, appointment notes, inventories and quotations.
- Technical data — IP address and basic request information recorded by our web server and used for security and to limit form abuse.
Why we use it, and our lawful basis
- To answer your enquiry — legitimate interests: you have asked us to get in touch.
- To run your bidding account, take payment and hand over lots — performance of a contract.
- To settle with sellers and keep accounting records — performance of a contract, and legal obligation.
- To meet our obligations under money-laundering, waste-carrier and tax law — legal obligation.
- To keep the site secure and prevent abuse of our forms — legitimate interests.
- To send you sale notifications — consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
Who we share it with
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for anyone else’s marketing. We do share it with:
- the online bidding platform that hosts our catalogues and takes bids;
- our payment providers, for card payments and refunds;
- our accountants, and where necessary our professional advisers;
- carriers and couriers, where you have asked us to arrange delivery;
- law enforcement, HMRC or a regulator, where we are legally required to.
How long we keep it
- Enquiries that do not become business — up to 24 months, then deleted.
- Bidding accounts — for as long as the account is open, and 6 years after the last transaction.
- Sale, invoice and settlement records — 6 years after the end of the relevant financial year, as tax law requires.
- Identification held for money-laundering purposes — 5 years from the end of the business relationship.
Cookies
This website sets only the cookies WordPress needs to work — for example to keep you signed in if you have an account here, and to remember that you have submitted a form. Our online bidding platform sets its own cookies, which are covered by that platform’s own policy. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though parts of the bidding platform may then stop working.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to ask us for a copy of your personal data; to have inaccurate data corrected; to have data erased where we no longer need it; to restrict or object to how we use it; and to receive it in a portable format. Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.
To exercise any of these, contact us using the details on the contact page. We will respond within one month. If you are not satisfied with our response you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Changes to this policy
We review this policy periodically. Any material change will be published on this page.