Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

The Auto Locksmiths Association is a professional association representing auto locksmiths.

Our website allows members of the public to find ALA members and submit enquiries relating to vehicle locksmith services.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, the Auto Locksmiths Association is responsible for the personal information it collects through this website.

2. Information We May Collect

When you use our website or submit an enquiry, we may collect information including:

• Your name
• Telephone number
• Email address, where provided
• Postcode or location
• Vehicle registration number
• Vehicle make and model
• Details of the service you require
• Information you provide within your enquiry
• Technical information such as your IP address, browser and device information
• Information about how you use our website

Please only provide information that is necessary for us or an ALA member to deal with your enquiry.

3. How We Use Your Information

We may use your personal information to:

• Process your enquiry
• Help identify suitable ALA members
• Pass your enquiry to an appropriate ALA member or members
• Allow an ALA member to contact you regarding your enquiry
• Respond to questions or requests
• Operate and improve our website and services
• Prevent misuse, fraud or security issues
• Maintain appropriate records
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

Submitting an enquiry through the ALA website does not guarantee that an ALA member will accept or complete the work.

4. Sharing Your Enquiry With ALA Members

Where you use the website to request assistance from an auto locksmith, information from your enquiry may be shared with an appropriate ALA member or members so that they can respond to your request.

This may include your:

• Name
• Telephone number
• Postcode or location
• Vehicle registration
• Vehicle details
• Type of locksmith service required
• Other information included in your enquiry

ALA members receiving an enquiry may use this information to contact you, provide a quotation, determine whether they can assist you and, where agreed with you, provide the requested service.

Once an ALA member receives your personal information, they may also have their own responsibilities under data protection law. Any information you subsequently provide directly to that locksmith will normally be handled in accordance with their own privacy practices.

We do not sell your personal information to ALA members or other third parties.

5. Our Legal Basis for Using Your Information

Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for processing personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may process your information because:

• It is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into a contract
• It is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating the ALA website and connecting members of the public with ALA members
• We have a legal obligation to process or retain certain information
• You have provided consent where consent is required

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we consider whether those interests are balanced against your privacy rights.

6. Vehicle Registration Information

If you enter a vehicle registration number, we may use it to identify relevant vehicle information and assist with your enquiry.

Vehicle information may be obtained using third-party vehicle data services.

We will only use this information for legitimate purposes connected with operating our services and processing your enquiry.

7. How Long We Keep Your Information

We only retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including dealing with enquiries, maintaining appropriate records and meeting legal, accounting or security requirements.

Information that is no longer required will be deleted or anonymised in accordance with our retention practices.

ALA members who receive your enquiry may have their own retention requirements for information they receive or subsequently collect from you.

8. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate correctly, remember preferences, understand how visitors use the website and improve its performance.

Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used after you have given your consent.

You can manage your cookie preferences through the cookie controls provided on the website.

9. Third-Party Services

We may use trusted third-party service providers to help operate our website and services.

These may include services providing:

• Website hosting
• Email and communications
• Vehicle information
• Mapping and location services
• Website analytics
• Security and fraud prevention

These providers may process personal information on our behalf where necessary to provide their services.

Where personal information is transferred outside the UK, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that it receives an appropriate level of protection as required by UK data protection law.

10. Keeping Your Information Secure

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

However, no website or electronic communication system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

11. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you the right to:

• Request access to your personal information
• Ask us to correct inaccurate information
• Ask us to delete your information
• Ask us to restrict how your information is used
• Object to certain uses of your information
• Request transfer of your information where applicable
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

These rights are subject to certain legal conditions and exemptions.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided on our website.

12. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact the Auto Locksmiths Association in the first instance so that we can investigate.

You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.

13. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to websites operated by ALA members or other third parties.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. You should review their privacy policies before providing personal information directly to them.

14. Children's Privacy

The ALA website and enquiry service are not intended for children.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our public enquiry service.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our website, services or legal requirements.

The latest version will always be published on our website with the date it was last updated.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how your personal information is handled, or you wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact:

Auto Locksmiths Association

Contact details are available through the ALA website.