Scotland Trusted Trader is a website operated by Trusted Directory Services Ltd (TDS). This website hosts several Council operated Trusted Trader schemes.
Cookie data
TDS uses cookies to enhance your experience on this website. Cookies are small files that are placed on your computer by websites as you surf the internet. These files can help personalise your visit, for example by remembering the last time you visited, or what you searched for previously. Other cookies collect anonymous statistics, such as Google Analytics, which help websites like us improve the service we can offer to visitors.
Any cookies used on TDS are 100% anonymous and do not collect any personal information or information that can be used to identify an individual. We utilise first party cookies (originating from us, such as session IDs) and third party cookies (originating from partners such as Google and Facebook).
If you would like more information about third party cookies and would like to know your options in relation to not having this information used by these companies, then please visit this Google link.
If you want to opt out of Google Analytics tracking, then you can install a browser add-on which will block any Google Analytic traffic from any website: Google Analytics opt-out.
We are unable to offer a cookie-free version of our website, as this will affect the functionality and experience of your visit. If you do not want to receive any cookies, then the only option we can offer is not to use our website. To remove any cookies we may have already placed, empty the cookie cache on your browser by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete simultaneously and following the instructions. If this does not work, please consult your browser's help file.
Your personal data
TDS will be what’s known as the ‘Controller’ of the personal data you provide to us.
What we need and why we need it
For people signing up as a Trusted Trader member, we will collect certain data about you including name, address, email, business information and other contact details. This information will be used by TDS and Trading Standards in order to carry out the vetting of an applicant Trusted Trader. The full breakdown of the vetting activities can be seen here: Scheme Vetting Process
Trusted Trader applicants and members will receive email communications in order for the normal operation of their membership. This may include but is not limited to system emails such as password resets, consumer enquiries via trader contact forms and communications from TDS or Trading Standards in relation to their scheme membership. Members will also be able to opt in to regular newsletters containing important scheme updates and news. These newsletters can be opted out at any time.
Anybody leaving a review for a trusted trader, we will capture your name and telephone number to allow moderation and review verification. Except for your name which you can choose to hide or disclose, no personal details will be published or passed to any third party without your express permission. Published review content may be republished by the reviewed trader or other official sources as agreed by TDS.
For members of the public requesting the services of one of our members, if filling out a contact form, we will ask for your name, email address and first half of your postcode, so members have a rough idea of how far away you are. If you don't wish to leave this information, you can telephone the member directly from the telephone number on their profile.
For any other means of contact by either online, telephone or hardcopy, we may capture name, telephone number and email address to enable us to deal with the enquiry or problem.
Children under 13 years of age are required to have permission from their parent or legal guardian before disclosing any information on this website.
What do we do with it?
All the personal data we process is processed by us in the UK however for the purposes of IT hosting and maintenance this information is located on servers within the UK. No third parties have access to your personal data unless the law allows them to do so. We will not share or sell your data to any third party.
We have a Data Protection regime in place to oversee the effective and secure processing of your personal data.
How long do we keep it?
For members, we will keep your personal data (name, address, contact details etc) whilst we are operating our business, until we cease trading or until you advise us that you no longer consent to us keeping your data. For members that have provided business documentation for review as part of the vetting process, any customer data, application and audit data is removed once your membership is approved or deleted.
For reviewers, we will keep your name, telephone and email if supplied, whilst we are operating our business, until we cease trading or until you advise us that you no longer consent to us keeping your data. This will allow us to provide a robust review system and allow us to automatically spot duplicate or suspicious reviews.
For any complaints data, contact details, emails and case notes are kept for up to two years. After this point data will be anonymised.
For any member work requests or general contact form enquiries, this data will be kept up to two years. After this point data will be anonymised.
Generic anonymised data is kept for as long as we are operating our business or until we cease trading to enable trends and data analysis to help form future decision making.
What are your rights?
If at any point you believe the information we process on you is incorrect you request to see this information and have it corrected or deleted, save in circumstances where we have a legal obligation or justification to retain data. If you wish to raise a complaint on how we have handled your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer who will investigate the matter.
If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are processing your personal data not in accordance with the law you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) - ico.org.uk
Our Data Protection Officer is Steve Richardson who can be contacted on 0333 444 2198 or at info@trustedtrader.team. Our data protection registration number is ZA081479.
