Privacy Policy

At DDOGZ, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services. Please read this policy carefully. By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and company name when you fill out our contact form or request a quote.
• Project Information: Details about your project requirements, budget, timeline preferences, and any content or materials you share with us.
• Account Information: If you use our client portal, we collect login credentials, project files, and communication history.
• Payment Information: Billing address and payment details when you pay for our services. Note: We do not store full credit card numbers; these are processed securely by our payment providers.
• Communication Records: Emails, messages, and any other communications you have with us.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, and screen resolution.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and navigation patterns.
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on your IP address.
• Cookies and Tracking: Information collected through cookies and similar technologies. See our Cookie Policy for details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Purpose	Legal Basis (GDPR)
To provide and deliver our services	Contract performance
To communicate about projects and inquiries	Contract performance / Legitimate interest
To process payments	Contract performance
To improve our website and services	Legitimate interest
To send marketing communications (with consent)	Consent
To comply with legal obligations	Legal obligation
To protect against fraud and security threats	Legitimate interest

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

3.1 Service Providers

Third-party companies that help us operate our business, including:

• Web hosting providers
• Payment processors
• Email service providers
• Analytics services
• Cloud storage providers

3.2 Business Partners

When necessary to complete your project, we may share information with trusted partners such as photographers, copywriters, or developers. We ensure these partners maintain appropriate confidentiality.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

3.4 Business Transfers

If DDOGZ is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Project Data: Retained for 7 years after project completion for legal and tax purposes.
• Contact Form Submissions: Retained for 2 years if no project is initiated.
• Marketing Preferences: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
• Website Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely; individual session data retained for 26 months.

5. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR and data protection laws, you have the following rights:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
• Right to Restriction: Request that we limit how we use your data.
• Right to Portability: Request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for marketing purposes.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent to process your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@ddogz.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure, encrypted storage for sensitive data
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls limiting who can view personal data
• Secure password policies and two-factor authentication

While we take reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

7. International Transfers

We primarily store and process data within the United Kingdom and European Economic Area. If we transfer data outside these regions, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on our website with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: hello@ddogz.com
• Website: ddogz.com

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's supervisory authority for data protection: ico.org.uk