This privacy notice tells you what to expect when Energylinx collects personal information. It applies to information we collect about:
When someone visits www.energylinx.co.uk or any website that we power on behalf of any other party we collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. We collect this information in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting either of our websites or the websites which we power on behalf of other parties). We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any personally identifying information from any source. If we do want to collect personally identifiable information through our website, we will be up front about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and will explain what we intend to do with it.
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.
Energylinx believes that the first step in understanding the use of cookies is to assess the intrusiveness level of the cookies a website utilises.
Energylinx believes that cookies can be categorised as follows:
Intrusiveness Level: Zero
Any cookies that have the sole purpose of making the website work. They will always be first party, and for the most part session cookies. Energylinx use these type of cookies solely to enable site navigation, effectively this allows you to navigate through the search and results pages of the energy comparison section and then onto the actual signup pages where the information you input on the previous page is 'stored' simply to allow you to move forward to the next page in the process.
Intrusiveness Level: Low
These are cookies that are designed to enhance the core user experience on the site, or help with measuring site performance.
Cookies for text size or colour preferences are a good example, Energylinx however took the decision to remove these during late 2011/early 2012 so these no longer exist on Energylinx platforms.
Analytics cookies, these simply allow us to monitor on a non-personal basis the likes and dislikes of our users in terms of the pages that you use and how often these pages are used. These cookies record no personal information.
This category will always be first party, but may include both session and persistent cookies. However if that persistent cookie has a longer life span - say more than 30 days - then it might reasonably be pushed into the next category up. Energylinx took the view though that our session and persistent cookies could all be capped at a maximum level of 10 days and therefore we believe that our analytics cookies fall into the low intrusiveness category.
Intrusiveness Level: Medium
These are cookies that might be used to store more personally identifiable information, or can be used for limited tracking cross-site tracking.
This category would also include first party cookies that track or control the user experience within a site, in a way that might not be obvious to the user or under their control. Especially it is a persistent cookie that can do this across multiple visits.
A cookie that enables a website to present content based on previous visits by that user, or based on personal information would be good examples.
This category would also include third party cookies that enable certain types of plug-ins and widgets to be added to a site to enhance user functionality, but are not identifying visitors or tracking behaviour across other domains, unless they have otherwise opted-in or signed up directly with that provider.
Energylinx does not have any cookies on its platforms that operate in this manner save where Google Analytics are used and their _utma cookie has an expiration of 2 years from being set or updated
The table below explains the Google Analytics cookies in further detail:
Cookie |
Name |
Purpose |
More information |
Google Analytics |
_utma |
These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. |
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, including Energylinx visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
If you're using Internet Explorer 6.0, 7.0 or 8.0:
1.Choose Tools, then
2.Internet Options
3.Click the Privacy tab
4.Click on the 'Advanced' button
5.Check the 'Override automatic cookie handing' box and select Accept, Block or Prompt for action as appropriate.
If you're using Mozilla Firefox:
1.Choose Tools, then
2.Options...
3.Privacy
4.Cookies
5.Set your options as required
If you're using Opera 8+:
1.Choose Tools, then
2.Preferences
3.Advanced
4.Select Cookies
5.Select your settings using the available options
If you're using Safari:
1.Choose Safari, then
2.Preferences
3.Security
4.Select options by Accept Cookies as required.
4.How do you know which of the sites you've visited use cookies?
If you're using Internet Explorer:
1.Choose Tools, then
2.Internet Options
3.Click the General tab
4.Click Settings
5.View Files.
If you're using Mozilla Firefox:
1.Choose Tools, then
2.Options...
3.Privacy
4.Cookies
5.Click the Show Cookies button.
If you're using Opera 8+:
1.Choose Tools, then
2.Advanced
3.Click Cookies.
If you're using Safari:
1.Choose Safari, then
2.Preferences
3.Security
4.Click Show Cookies button.
YouTube cookies
We may embed videos from our official YouTube channel using YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode. This mode may set cookies on your computer once you click on the YouTube video player, but YouTube will not store personally-identifiable cookie information for playbacks of embedded videos using the privacy-enhanced mode. To find out more please visit YouTube’s embedding videos information page.
Energylinx offers various services to the public.
The main service that we provide is allowing you to impartially compare energy prices of all energy suppliers and after locating the best deal on offer for your home or business is then to allow you to arrange transfer your energy tariff (price plan) to another energy tariff either with the same energy supplier you are currently with or an alternative energy supplier.
Where you do arrange a transfer we do pass to the energy supplier of the new tariff the personal information that you have provided, together with notification of any consents you have provided or withheld in relation to the use of your personal information. This allows the energy supplier to process your request.
In addition, we send out publications and distribute an electronic newsletter related to either the general energy supply business or related to a specific energy supplier.
We have to hold the details of the people who have requested the service in order to provide it. However, we only use these details to provide the service the person has requested. For example, we might use information about people who have requested a publication to carry out a survey to find out if you are happy with the level of service received. When people do subscribe to our services, you can cancel your subscription at any time and are given an easy way of doing this.
You should be aware that Energylinx will at no time share or rent your personal details to any third party save as noted when you arrange an actual transfer.
When you call our energy helpline we collect Calling Line Identification (CLI) information. We use this information to help improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
Energylinx tries to meet the highest standards when collecting and using personal information. For this reason, we take any complaints we receive about this very seriously. We encourage people to bring it to our attention if they think that our collection or use of information is unfair, misleading or inappropriate. We would also welcome any suggestions for improving our procedures.
This privacy notice was drafted with brevity and clarity in mind. If you require any additional information please address any requests for additional information to the address at the foot of this page.
When we receive a complaint from a person we make up a file containing the details of the complaint. This normally contains the identity of the complainant and any other individuals involved in the complaint.
We will only use the personal information we collect to process the complaint and to check on the level of service we provide. We do compile and publish statistics showing information like the number of complaints we receive, but not in a form which identifies anyone.
We will keep personal information contained in complaint files in line with our retention policy. This means that information relating to a complaint will be retained for four years from closure. It will be retained in a secure environment and access to it will be restricted according to the ‘need to know’ principle.
Similarly, where enquiries are submitted to us we will only use the information supplied to us to deal with the enquiry and any subsequent issues and to check on the level of service we provide.
When individuals apply to work at Energylinx, we will only use the information you supply to us to process their application and to monitor recruitment statistics. Where we want to disclose information to a third party, for example where we want to take up a reference or obtain a ‘disclosure check’ we will not do so without informing you beforehand.
Personal information about unsuccessful candidates will be held for 12 months after the recruitment exercise has been completed, it will then be destroyed or deleted.
Once a person has taken up employment with the Energylinx, we will compile a file relating to your employment. The information contained in this will be kept secure and will only be used for purposes directly relevant to that person’s employment. Once your employment with Energylinx has ended, we will retain the file in accordance with the requirements of our retention schedule and then delete it.
Energylinx tries to be as open as we can be in terms of giving people access to your personal information. Individuals can find out if we hold any personal information by making a ‘subject access request’ under the Data Protection Act 1998. If we do hold information about you we will:
To make a request to the Energylinx for any personal information we may hold you need to put the request in writing addressing it to our Information Governance department who address is noted at the foot of this page. To ensure integrity and security of data any request does need to be in writing and sent by post.
If you agree, we will try to deal with your request informally, for example by providing you with the specific information you need over the telephone.
If we do hold information about you, you can ask us to correct any mistakes by, once again, contacting the Information Governance department.
Rarely do we carry any links to any external website but where we do this will be very clearly marked. This privacy notice does not cover those links. We encourage you to read the privacy statements on the other websites you visit.
We keep our privacy notice under regular review. This privacy notice was last updated on 17th May 2012.
Requests for information about our privacy policy can be mailed to:
Information Governance
Energylinx Limited
Hilton House
Whins Road
Alloa
FK10 3SA