Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you submit enquiry forms, contact us, or sign up for communications, we may collect:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Your enquiry details or messages

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and general location (city/region level)
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Click patterns and interactions
• Referring website addresses
• Date and time of visits

Consent Records

When you opt in to marketing communications, we record:

• Timestamp of consent
• IP address at time of consent
• The specific consent given

2. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Consent: When you opt in to receive marketing emails or submit enquiry forms
• Legitimate interests: For website analytics, fraud prevention, and improving our services
• Legal obligation: When required to comply with applicable laws

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Provide and improve our pawn shop directory service
• Respond to your enquiries and requests
• Show you relevant pawn shops based on your location
• Send marketing communications (only with your explicit consent)
• Analyse site usage to improve user experience
• Detect and prevent fraud or abuse
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Marketing Communications & Consent

How We Obtain Consent

• We obtain explicit opt-in consent via clear, unticked checkboxes on our forms
• Consent for marketing is separate from form submission
• We record the timestamp, IP address, and specific consent given
• We never use pre-ticked boxes or assume consent

Your Right to Opt Out

• Every marketing email includes a clear unsubscribe link
• Clicking unsubscribe immediately removes you from our mailing list
• You can also email us at privacy@pawnshopsfinder.com to opt out
• Opt-out requests are processed within 24 hours

5. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• View what cookies are stored
• Delete cookies individually or all at once
• Block third-party cookies
• Block all cookies

Note: Disabling essential cookies may affect site functionality.

Google AdSense

Google uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.

6. Third-Party Services

We use third-party services that may collect information about you:

When you click affiliate links, those partners may collect data per their own privacy policies.

7. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: With trusted partners who help us operate our business (e.g., email providers, hosting)
• Aggregated data: Non-personally identifiable, aggregated information may be shared for analytics
• Legal requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary:

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data:

• Secure HTTPS encryption on all pages
• Regular security updates and monitoring
• Access controls limiting who can view personal data
• Secure data storage with reputable providers

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your own, including the United States. When we transfer data outside the UK/EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• Standard Contractual Clauses approved by relevant authorities
• Transfers to countries with adequate data protection laws

11. Your Rights

For UK/EEA Residents (GDPR)

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your information ("right to be forgotten")
• Restriction: Request we limit processing of your data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior processing)

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@pawnshopsfinder.com. We will respond within 30 days.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. In the UK, this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk

For California Residents (CCPA)

You have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell personal information)
• Non-discrimination for exercising your rights

For US Residents (CAN-SPAM Compliance)

All marketing emails we send:

• Include clear identification of us as the sender
• Have accurate, non-deceptive subject lines
• Include our physical postal address
• Contain a clear, one-click unsubscribe mechanism
• Honour opt-out requests within 10 business days

12. Children's Privacy

Our service is not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the new policy on this page with an updated date
• Sending an email to subscribers if the changes are significant

We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:

Email: privacy@pawnshopsfinder.com

For GDPR-related enquiries, we aim to respond within 30 days.

15. Email Compliance Monitoring

We use industry-standard email service providers that provide:

• Automatic bounce management
• Unsubscribe processing and suppression lists
• Delivery and engagement monitoring
• Compliance tracking and reporting

We maintain suppression lists to ensure opted-out users do not receive further marketing communications.