Privacy Policy

How we process your data

Our privacy policy relates only to information that we obtain from you. We do not pass your information to third parties except to our parent company Formica Corporation and its subsidiaries, and to other third party data processors who process personal data strictly in accordance with our instructions. We do not pass your information to any linked web site. If you visit a web site operated by a third party through a link included on this web site, your information may be used differently by the operator of the linked web site.

The information you provide to us when using this web site will be processed for the following reasons:
· to administer your user account with us;
· to process any request for advice or information to be supplied by us;
· to notify you of our bulletins, information packs and services;
· to customise this web site according to your interests;
· to comply with our statutory and regulatory obligations.

The data we collect

The type of information we will collect about you includes:
· your name and address;
· your phone number and email address;
· your occupation;
· details about the services you specifically request;
· information you complete in relation to our client surveys.

We will never collect sensitive information about you without your explicit consent.

How we store, protect and maintain your data

Any information that we collect about you is stored electronically on our database. It may also be printed and stored in our filing system.

We will keep your personal information confidential except to the extent that we are compelled to disclose it by law (for example where fraud or other crime is involved) or to comply with an instruction of a regulatory body of competent jurisdiction.

From time to time we may be called upon to demonstrate our maintenance of certain professional standards as set by appropriate authorities and/or to satisfy our auditors and/or to comply with regulations in relation to money laundering or other statutory requirements. If you do not consent to our production of your details for this purpose, as an exception to our duty of confidentiality, you can let us know by checking the appropriate box on the Registration and/or Contact Details forms.

If you believe that the information we hold about you is inaccurate, or if you wish us to cease processing your data for any particular purpose or purposes, please write to us at: Formica Limited, 11 Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE27 0QJ.
To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 we adhere to strict security procedures. Personal information will be held securely to ensure that there is no unauthorised disclosure or access.

We appoint an Internet service provider to host our web site on our behalf. This ISP may be situated outside the European Economic Area. By agreeing to the Terms and Conditions for use of our web site you consent to any transfer of your personal information outside the European Economic Area. This may be necessary for us to achieve the purposes set out above.

It is sometimes necessary for us to send data to Formica Corporation in the United States of America. All data received by Formica Corporation from the EU will be handled in accordance with EU law. This privacy policy complies with the requirements of the U.S. Safe Harbor Principles.

The circumstances in which we may contact you

If you are an existing customer of Formica Limited, we may contact you (including by email or telephone) to tell you about our services. If you do not want to be contacted concerning our services then please ensure that the appropriate box on the Registration and/or Contact Details forms remains unchecked.

If you are not an existing customer, we will not contact you in the future unless you have given us your consent. If you would like us to contact you (including by email or telephone) concerning our services and career opportunities that may be of interest to you then please check the appropriate box on the Registration and/or Contact Details forms.

You may refuse any marketing communication from us in the future at any time by emailing us at formica.limited@formica.co.uk.

The data we hold about you

Should you wish to obtain a copy of the personal data that we hold on you, please send an email to the following address: axiom.info@formica.co.uk . As soon as we are satisfied as to your identity, we will send to you, within 40 days, a copy of all the data that we hold concerning you.

When you visit our web pages, tracking technologies may automatically record information about you. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store only the following information about your visit:
· the internet domain and IP address from where you access our web site;
· the type of browser software and operating system you use to access our web site;
· the date and time you access our web site;
· the pages you enter, visit and exit on our web site; and
· if you linked to our web site from another web site, the address of that web site.

We use this information to help us identify click stream patterns, to improve our web site, and to learn about the number of visitors to our web site and the types of technology our visitors use. We use this information only to ensure that our web pages stay compatible with a selection of browsers and systems and thereby to ensure that the pages appeal to a wide audience. We do not track or record information about individuals and their visits.

Cookies

A cookie is a text file saved on your computer by your browser to store certain types of data that you are using on the web site. The Formica Limited web site uses a cookie only to gather and save the data that you select by activating the Item Store and/or the Request Samples tool (but not the Fast Samples function).

Under The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, Regulation 6(4)(b) provides an exemption from our need to obtain your express permission to use this cookie because 'such storage is strictly necessary for the provision of an information society service requested by the .... user.' By activating the Item Store and/or the Request Samples tool you are initiating such a request.

If you wish to avoid the cookie, simply avoid use of the Item Store and the Request Samples tool.

Alternatively, turn off cookies in your browser. This will disable the Item Store and the Request Samples tool. The method will vary according to the type and version of your browser and whether you use a PC or an Apple Macintosh, but will roughly follow these steps.

Internet Explorer
· with PC: Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookie settings.
· with Apple Macintosh: Edit > Preferences > Receiving files > Cookies > Cookie settings.

Netscape
· Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Cookies radio buttons.

Mozilla
· Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookie settings.
You will normally be able to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, accept certain types of cookie, and/or receive a warning before accepting a cookie.

Complaints

If you have a complaint regarding any breach of this privacy policy, please contact us at Formica Limited, 11 Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE27 0QJ. When we receive the complaint, we will review it and ensure that we are in compliance with our privacy policy and all applicable laws. We will contact you within 40 days of receiving your complaint to inform you of the results of this review.

Formica Limited
March 2008