At SwitchU, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you engage with our services. By using our website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy, which may be updated from time to time.
Who are we?
We are a Marketing, Research, and Demand Generation Company. Our registered company name is Switchu-UK Ltd.
We are registered as a Data Controller and Data Processor with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) (ZB749665) and comply with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) regulations.
We adhere to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act (2018), and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR, 2003) to ensure that the information provided to us is used only for the purposes stated at the time of collection.
We operate under the brand names Consumer Insights, National Survey, 121 Utilities, Business Insights, and conduct lifestyle questionnaires, Hotkey programs and Sales Campaigns for leading UK brands.
We conduct questionnaires via telephone, always displaying a valid telephone number that can be used to identify us. We do not contact individuals registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). To register, please visit www.tpsonline.org.uk.
Our offices are located at 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, England, N1 7GU.
How will we use your data?
We collect data through marketing questionnaires for Marketing Purposes. With your explicit consent, we may share your details with selected companies who may contact you regarding relevant products and services. You can opt out at any time.
Under UK GDPR, we process data based on:
1) Consent: You have provided explicit consent for a specific channel of communication from specific brands for marketing purposes.
2) Legitimate Interest: We may contact you based on legitimate interest, meaning we believe certain products and services may be relevant to you based on your responses. We ensure that this does not override your privacy rights and conduct a Legitimate Interest Assessment (LIA) to justify such processing.
Personal Data & Information We Collect
We may collect the following personal data voluntarily provided by you during our surveys:
- Your name
- Your telephone number(s)
- Your postal address
- Additional demographic information (age, gender, etc.)
- Responses to specific questions (e.g., telecom provider, utility provider, mobile phone provider, etc.)
We will only share your information with your consent within our group of companies, named clients, and marketing partners.
Data Sharing & Our Partners
With your explicit consent, we may share your data with our trusted sponsors and partners, including but not limited to:
- Scottish Power Energy Retail Limited
- Financial Services Specialists, including Life and Health Insurers
- SO Energy
- Sky
- Virgin Media
- Sun Life
- O2
- EE
- PCP Claims Providers
We ensure that all third parties comply with UK GDPR and only use your data for the agreed purposes. Data is not shared beyond the specified period necessary for marketing purposes.
Data Storage & Security
All collected data is stored securely in the UK on encrypted servers managed by a vetted data team. We conduct regular security audits to maintain data protection standards.
Marketing to Children
We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under 18 years of age.
International Data Transfers
Some of the personal data we collect may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the European Union (EU). Where this occurs, we take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal data remains protected in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Data Retention Policy
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary, in accordance with the purpose for which it was collected. Typically, we store data for up to 24 months from the date of collection. If you opt out, your data will be immediately removed from our active database.
Your Rights & How to Access Your Data
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Access your data (Subject Access Request)
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data
- Object to processing based on legitimate interest
- Withdraw consent for marketing at any time
To exercise your rights, please contact: SAR@switchu.co.uk.
Opt-Out & Do Not Call Requests
You may opt out of future communications at any time by:
- Emailing dnc@switchu.co.uk
- Writing to Switchu-UK, 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, England, N1 7GU
- Calling +44 (0) 8000 314 069 (or any number you received a call from)
We will add your details to our internal Do Not Call list to ensure you are not contacted again.
Useful Information
For more information about data protection, please visit:
- Telephone Preference Service (TPS): www.tpsonline.org.uk
- Direct Marketing Association (DMA): www.dma.org.uk
- Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): www.ico.org.uk