Privacy Policy
BACKGROUND:
Property118 Ltd understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website,
www.property118.com (“Our Site”) and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with Our obligations and your rights under the law.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it. Your acceptance of Our Privacy Policy is deemed to occur upon your first use of Our Site
. If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using Our Site immediately.
- Definitions and Interpretation
In this Policy the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Account” |
means an account required to access and/or use certain areas and features of Our Site; |
“Cookie” |
means a small text file placed on your computer or device by Our Site when you visit certain parts of Our Site and/or when you use certain features of Our Site. Details of the Cookies used by Our Site are set out in section 13, below; |
“Cookie Law” |
means the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003; |
“personal data” |
means any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data. In this case, it means personal data that you give to Us via Our Site. This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions provided in the EU Regulation 2016/679 – the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”); and |
“We/Us/Our” |
Means Property118 Ltd , a limited company registered in England under company number 10295964, whose registered address is 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB. |
- Information About Us
- Our Site is owned and operated by Property118 Ltd, a limited company registered in England under company number 10295964, whose registered address is 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB.
- Our VAT number is 990 0332 34.
- Our Data Protection Officer is Neil Patterson, and can be contacted by email at npatterson@property118.com, by telephone on 01603 489118, or by post at 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB.
- What Does This Policy Cover?
This Privacy Policy applies only to your use of Our Site. Our Site may contain links to other websites. Please note that We have no control over how your data is collected, stored, or used by other websites and We advise you to check the privacy policies of any such websites before providing any data to them.
- Your Rights
- As a data subject, you have the following rights under the GDPR, which this Policy and Our use of personal data have been designed to uphold:
- The right to be informed about Our collection and use of personal data;
- The right of access to the personal data We hold about you (see section 12);
- The right to rectification if any personal data We hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete (please contact Us using the details in section 14);
- The right to be forgotten – i.e. the right to ask Us to delete any personal data We hold about you (We only hold your personal data for a limited time, as explained in section 6 but if you would like Us to delete it sooner, please contact Us using the details in section 14);
- The right to restrict (i.e. prevent) the processing of your personal data;
- The right to data portability (obtaining a copy of your personal data to re-use with another service or organisation);
- The right to object to Us using your personal data for particular purposes; and
- If you have any cause for complaint about Our use of your personal data, please contact Us using the details provided in section 14 and We will do Our best to solve the problem for you. If We are unable to help, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office.
- For further information about your rights, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
- What Data Do We Collect?
Depending upon your use of Our Site, We may collect some or all of the following personal data (please also see section 13 on Our use of Cookies and similar technologies):
- Name;
- Date of birth;
- Address and post code;
- Business/company name and trading status;
- Number of properties owned;
- Accountants details;
- Contact information such as email addresses and telephone numbers;
- Proof of residence and ID;
- Financial information such as income and tax status;
- Landlords insurance renewal dates;
- Property Portfolio details such as value and mortgage outstanding;
- How Do We Use Your Data?
- All personal data is processed and stored securely, for no longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. We will comply with Our obligations and safeguard your rights under the GDPR at all times. For more details on security see section 7, below.
- Our use of your personal data will always have a lawful basis, either because it is necessary for our performance of a contract with you, because you have consented to our use of your personal data (e.g. by subscribing to emails), or because it is in our legitimate interests. Specifically, we may use your data for the following purposes:
- Providing and managing your access to Our Site;
- Supplying our products and or services to you (please note that We require your personal data in order to enter into a contract with you);
- Personalising and tailoring our products and or services for you;
- Replying to emails from you;
- Supplying you with emails that you have opted into (you may unsubscribe or opt-out at any time by the unsubscribe link at the bottom of all emails;
- Analysing your use of our site and gathering feedback to enable us to continually improve our site and your user experience;
- Provide information to our partner service and product suppliers at your request.
- With your permission and/or where permitted by law, We may also use your data for marketing purposes which may include contacting you by email and or telephone with information, news and offers on our products and or We will not, however, send you any unsolicited marketing or spam and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that We fully protect your rights and comply with Our obligations under the GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
- You have the right to withdraw your consent to us using your personal data at any time, and to request that we delete it.
- We do not keep your personal data for any longer than is necessary in light of the reason(s) for which it was first collected. Data will therefore be retained for the following periods (or its retention will be determined on the following bases):
- Member profile information is collected with your consent and can be amended or deleted at any time by you;
- Anti-Money Laundering information and tax consultancy records are to be kept as required by law for up to seven years.
- How and Where Do We Store Your Data?
- We only keep your personal data for as long as We need to in order to use it as described above in section 6, and/or for as long as We have your permission to keep it.
- Some or all of your data may be stored outside of the European Economic Area (“the EEA”) (The EEA consists of all EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein). You are deemed to accept and agree to this by using our site and submitting information to Us. If we do store data outside the EEA, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated as safely and securely as it would be within the UK and under the GDPR
- Data security is very important to Us, and to protect your data We have taken suitable measures to safeguard and secure data collected through Our Site.
- Do We Share Your Data?
- We may share your data with other partner companies in for the purpose of supplying products or services you have requested.
- We may sometimes contract with third parties to supply products and services to you on Our behalf. Where any of your data is required for such a purpose, We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your data will be handled safely, securely, and in accordance with your rights, Our obligations, and the obligations of the third party under the law.
- We may compile statistics about the use of Our Site including data on traffic, usage patterns, user numbers, sales, and other information. All such data will be anonymised and will not include any personally identifying data, or any anonymised data that can be combined with other data and used to identify you. We may from time to time share such data with third parties such as prospective investors, affiliates, partners, and advertisers. Data will only be shared and used within the bounds of the law.
- In certain circumstances, We may be legally required to share certain data held by Us, which may include your personal data, for example, where We are involved in legal proceedings, where We are complying with legal requirements, a court order, or a governmental authority.
- What Happens If Our Business Changes Hands?
- We may, from time to time, expand or reduce Our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of Our business. Any personal data that you have provided will, where it is relevant to any part of Our business that is being transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this Privacy Policy, be permitted to use that data only for the same purposes for which it was originally collected by Us.
- How Can You Control Your Data?
- In addition to your rights under the GDPR, set out in section 4, we aim to give you strong controls on Our use of your data for direct marketing purposes including the ability to opt-out of receiving emails from Us which you may do by unsubscribing using the links provided in Our emails.
- Your Right to Withhold Information
- You may access certain areas of Our Site without providing any data at all. However, to use all features and functions available on Our Site you may be required to submit or allow for the collection of certain data.
- You may restrict Our use of Cookies. For more information, see section 13.
- How Can You Access Your Data?
You have the right to ask for a copy of any of your personal data held by Us (where such data is held). Under the GDPR, no fee is payable and We will provide any and all information in response to your request free of charge. Please contact Us for more details at info@property118.com, or using the contact details below in section 14.
- Our Use of Cookies
- Our Site may place and access certain first party Cookies on your computer or device. First party Cookies are those placed directly by Us and are used only by Us. We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of Our Site and to provide and improve Our products AND/OR We have carefully chosen these Cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy and personal data is protected and respected at all times.
- All Cookies used by and on Our Site are used in accordance with current Cookie Law.
- Before Cookies are placed on your computer or device, you will be shown a cookie prompt requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies you are enabling Us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; however certain features of Our Site may not function fully or as intended. You will be given the opportunity to allow only first party Cookies and block third party Cookies.
- Certain features of Our Site depend on Cookies to function. Cookie Law deems these Cookies to be “strictly necessary”. These Cookies are shown below in section 13.5. Your consent will not be sought to place these Cookies, but it is still important that you are aware of them. You may still block these Cookies by changing your internet browser’s settings as detailed below in section 13.9, but please be aware that Our Site may not work properly if you do so. We have taken great care to ensure that your privacy is not at risk by allowing them.
- The following first party Cookies may be placed on your computer or device:
Name of Cookie |
Purpose |
Strictly Necessary |
JSESSIONID |
Used only to collect performance data, with any identifiable data obfuscated |
No |
__cfduid |
This cookie is strictly necessary for Cloudflare's security features and cannot be turned off. |
Yes |
- Our Site uses analytics services provided by Google Analytics and Facebook. Website analytics refers to a set of tools used to collect and analyse anonymous usage information, enabling Us to better understand how Our Site is used. This, in turn, enables Us to improve Our Site and the products AND/OR services offered through it. You do not have to allow Us to use these Cookies, however whilst Our use of them does not pose any risk to your privacy or your safe use of Our Site, it does enable Us to continually improve Our Site, making it a better and more useful experience for you.
- The analytics service(s) used by Our Site use(s) Cookies to gather the required information.
- The analytics service(s) used by Our Site use(s) the following Cookies:
Name of Cookie |
First / Third Party |
Provider |
Purpose |
__utma, __utmb, __utmc, __utmt, __utmz |
First |
Google |
Helps to understand how their visitors engage with our website |
_fbp |
First |
Facebook |
Helps to understand how their visitors engage with our website |
- In addition to the controls that We provide, you can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser. Most internet browsers also enable you to choose whether you wish to disable all cookies or only third party cookies. By default, most internet browsers accept Cookies but this can be changed. For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser or the documentation that came with your device.
- You can choose to delete Cookies on your computer or device at any time, however you may lose any information that enables you to access Our Site more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to, login and personalisation settings.
- It is recommended that you keep your internet browser and operating system up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser and manufacturer of your computer or device if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.
- Contacting Us
If you have any questions about Our Site or this Privacy Policy, please contact Us by email at info@property118.com, by telephone on 01603 489118, or by post at 1st Floor, Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AB. Please ensure that your query is clear, particularly if it is a request for information about the data We hold about you (as under section 12, above).
- Changes to Our Privacy Policy
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time (for example, if the law changes). Any changes will be immediately posted on Our Site and you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Privacy Policy on your first use of Our Site following the alterations. We recommend that you check this page regularly to keep up-to-date.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up10:36 AM, 17th February 2012, About 13 years ago
I share your cynicism and I have been using your strategy for about 20 years.
It is common sense; but as you have suggested such sense isn't common!?
In fact I would be very dubious about offset mortgages; in principle a great idea; I used to work the system with free credit card money and my Direct Line mortgage saving myself a lot of mortgage interest as I was rolling about
£50000 through my mortgage monthly at ZERO cost to myself.
That game has really come to an end now as you can't really obtain free credit card money like you used to.
The big issue is if you pay too much in your offset mortgage they might reduce your LTV and you won't be able to borrow back the monies you have overpaid.
So despite the savings being the best if you pay into the offset mortgage I wouldn't trust a bank as far as I could throw them so I keep my small cash pile separate, even though this is not the best way to save on mortgage interest.
I prefer to be in contol and keep my monies in diferent acounts who have no organisational contact .
I know all the banks and who belongs to who; so I won't get caught out with a Sainsbury mortgage and savings in a Halifax account.
You've got to get up earlier than that to catch me out!?
Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up10:50 AM, 17th February 2012, About 13 years ago
I share your cynicism Paul and I don't have an offset mortgage either for exactly that reason. However, as a generic article it would have been remiss of me not to mention Offset Mortgages because if I hadn't I'm pretty certain an FSA bod or a qualified mortgage adviser would have soon pointed that out to me. I must dismiss my own predjudices when writing articles like this as I'm sure offset mortgages will be right for some people and circumstances, especially those who are prepared to take the risk that their lender will not hide behind their small print when people want to borrow back their over payments. I had quite a few comments on the article I've linked to in orange text from landlords who got caught out that way with the Mortgage Express Choices overpayment facility.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up23:35 PM, 17th February 2012, About 13 years ago
Funny that I'm with M Express and they didn't con me; I was far too wise to be caught out by their blandishments.
I do understand you have to think in generic terms for articles irrespective of your own personal methodologies.
It is a real shame the banks behave like this because in principle an offset mortgage is a fantastic money saving product.
I think there is a threshold of savings at which it is viable to have an offset mortgage of about £30000.00.
This is due to the higher interest rate that offset mortgages generally charge.
I do remember at the height of the credit crunch Abbey, as was, reduced an offset mortgage facility on a businessman's mortgage which was inconvenient to say the least for him on the basis that a large sum of money that he had put into the offset mortgage was due to be paid to HMRC!!
How he got out of that situation I don't know.
But I do remember panicking at the time of Lehmans, when first announced.
I could see what was was going to happen.
I had convinced a childhood friend of mine that an Abbey offset mortgage was the ideal one for him.
Believe me I had a hard job convincing him that now he should take out ALL his savings from Abbey and put them in a completely different company from Abbey even though this was clearly of less benefit to him.
Not that he was going to do anything with those savings but that wasn't the point.
The clincher as far as he was concerned that if he left the savings in the account he may not be able to access the positive equity facility if he chose later on.
Anyway he agreed with my new suggestion and is now safe with a large Santander offset facility with which he makes interest only payments topped up by a capital payment from his savings which he keeps topped up in a non-Santander account.
He is therefore able to have his own repayment stategy based on the fact that he only has to make an interest only payment and if he wishes he can choose to add to that monthly payment as part of his capital repayment plan.
At the time Abbey actually hadn't reduced anyones's LTV offset mortgage facility.
There was nothing in the public domain at the time that this would occur, it was only later that it came out in an obscure mortgage condition that Abbey could arbitrarily reduce the LTV facility.
Of course one could be really cynical on the basis that if everyone used the efficiency of an offset mortgage there would be a massive hole in govt finances as they receive a lot of tax from people's savings accounts.
So the last thing govt wants is for everyone to be on an offset mortgage product.
In extremis I think there was also a condition that if the LTV fell below 90% then due to reduced property value then Abbey could request more lump sum monies into the mortgage facility.
Fat chance of anybody doing that and how would Abbey enforce such a condition; they'd have no chance.
So ostensibly whilst the offset idea is a great idea in principle the banks can't be trusted and for that reason for most people the product is a no no.
I would suggest much to the relief of HMRC who would have lost millions in credit interest tax!
These offset products would be a brilliant way for people to manage their financial affairs; but it seems to me to be so much of platitudes from the banks, who don't really like the idea of someone being in charge of their own debts and maximising circimstances for their own benefit.
Of course the big risk with offset is down to the borrower as it puts temptation in their way.
It essentially allows one to spend easily the bricks in your house, whereas at some stage all the bricks have to be put back to have built the total house and to end up having no mortgage debt.
So perhaps as lots of borrowers have stated that they wouldn't trust themselves with easy access to their equity.
So perhaps the resultant effect of the non-efficacy of these offset mortgages has been to protect borrowers from themselves.
Sometimes for some people total empowerment is not a good thing!?.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up6:37 AM, 23rd February 2012, About 13 years ago
Hi Mark
Thanks for your article. I have recently been stung by Morgage Express's Choices product as my LTV was 112.72% at the time they persuaded me to take up the product. I was not aware of this at the time. Having made overpayments I am not able to now access the overpayments. The Financial Ombudsman Service's adjudicator have reached an assessment in my favour however Mortgage Express won't act on it so it is now being referred to an ombudsman which could take 14 months.
I now you don't offer an arbitration service. But can you 1. Recommend any other course of action. 2. How can i found out about other cases brought against Mortgage Express or other providers offering similar products.
Regards
Michael
Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up7:32 AM, 23rd February 2012, About 13 years ago
Hi Mike, the FSA principles governing Financial Promotions is that they must be "clear, fair and not misleading". I am not aware as to whether the Mortgage Express Choices product has been tested in law or not and I would suggest you refer to a solicitor or a barrister to obtain that information. As you are taking action against Mortgage Express some of the stories shared by their customers on this website may go some way to help your argument that you do not believe the promotion was "clear, fair and not misleading". I hope this helps.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up7:46 AM, 23rd February 2012, About 13 years ago
Thanks Mark for your reply.
I am hoping the written assessment from the adjudicator will help my case. However I am concerned that I could caught up in excessive legal costs if I instruct a solicitor / barrister as there are no guarantees. Do you know if the adjudicators assessment holds much weight or do I need an ombudsman's report.
Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up8:31 AM, 23rd February 2012, About 13 years ago
Sorry Mike, I don't know. Have you considered talking to a no win no fee solicitor? If you Google "Unfair banking no win no fee" there seem to be several companies offering that service. If you manage to find one willing to take on your case I would be very interested in covering your story as it progresses and also talking to your appointed legal advisers.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up9:43 AM, 23rd February 2012, About 13 years ago
Mike, given
the assessment from the
adjudicator you may find that one of the TV consumer protection programs would
be interested in your case.
The problem is
I don’t know if Morgage Express wishes to protects there “band image”…. If not they may not back down when the TV company
comes to interview them.
The problem is
I don’t know if Morgage Express wishes to protects there “band image”…. If not they may not back down when the TV company
comes to interview them.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up16:34 PM, 26th February 2012, About 13 years ago
Hi Ian
Thanks for that. Do you know any particular contacts?
I am hoping that as Mortgage Express is now state owned that they would have more pressure to act in the interest of the customer.
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up16:37 PM, 26th February 2012, About 13 years ago
Hi Mark
No I haven't maybe i should. Will google it.
Thanks for your interest in covering the story. I have adjudicators letters which find in my favour. If you let me have your email address I can forward it on to you.