Privacy Policy
PRIVACY POLICY
I am committed to protecting your personal information. I want to be open and clear so you understand how I collect and use any personal information you give to me via the Cathy Hopkins website at www.cathyhopkins.com. Personal information means any information which can be used to identify you including, without limitation, your name, email address and age. I will look after the information you give to me and this privacy policy tells you how I collect the information, how I may use the information and how I try to keep it safe.
You must read this page very carefully. If you are under 12, please read this page with your Mum or Dad or guardian. It’s very important. Don’t forget to always ask your Mum or Dad or guardian for permission before you send me any information. I want you to stay safe so always ask them first!
Important Information
Information that may be collected on this site
How will I use your information
How long will I hold your personal information?
Where your data is held
Disclosure of your information
Cookies
Security
Keeping information up to date and access to information
Changes to the Privacy Policy
Other websites
Contact Me – Comments/Complaints
Important Information
If you visit this site or if you provide me with information via this site (for example by filling in the registration form to receive my newsletter or entering competitions) then you agree that I can collect your personal information and use it in the ways I describe below.
If you are under 12, please ask your parent or guardian to read this policy to make sure that they are happy for you to use this site and provide personal information to the site.
If you do not want to agree to this policy or if you are under 12 and your parent or guardian is not happy for you to provide personal information to this site then you can still look at the site but please do not submit any personal information to this site.
Information that may be collected on this site
You do not have to provide personal information to look at most parts of the site. However you may not be able to view certain areas and you will not be able to receive my newsletter if you do not provide some personal information.
Personal information may be collected:
- · When you voluntarily register to receive a newsletter. If you wish to stop receiving a newsletter or other material from me, you can un-register by clicking on the link in the newsletter or other material..
- When you enter a competition on the site, you will be asked to provide certain personal information about yourself which may include your name and email address. I may need to contact your parents or guardian for consent for you to receive the prize (for example if it is an expensive item).
- If you contact me via the site (for example by sending an email to me, I may keep a record of that email or comment).
- I may collect details of your visits to the site (including when you visit the site and what you look at).
How will I use your information?
The information you provide via the site will help me to:
- Run the site (for example by publishing your competition entry in one of my newsletters if you enter a competition, run the competitions and notify the winners).
- Send you the Cathy Hopkins newsletters and other information if you have requested them.
- Allow Simon & Schuster to send you updates and other information about my books if you requested them.
- Make the site better (for example I may look to see which is the most popular part of the site or which features you like to visit on the site and use this when I develop the site in the future).
How long will I hold your personal information?
I will not hold your information for longer than is necessary. For example, if you enter a competition, I will delete your personal information relating to the competition entry once I have fully administered the competition unless you tell me that you are happy for me to use your email address to send you my newsletter or other exciting news about the Cathy Hopkins site. If you have given me your personal information to send you newsletters, once you let me know that you do not want to receive the newsletter anymore I will delete the personal information used to send you the newsletter.
Where your data is held
The personal information you provide via the site is stored on servers located outside the European Economic Area in the USA. Please note that countries outside of the European Economic Area do not always have the same level of data protection laws as the United Kingdom. However, I, and the companies engaged by me, take the protection of your data seriously and will always take such steps as are necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely, in accordance with this privacy policy and all applicable data protection laws. By submitting your personal data, you agree to the transfer, storing or processing of your information on the US servers.
Disclosure of your information
The information you provide to me may be accessed by people employed by me who help me publish the site or provide the competitions. I may pass aggregate information on the use of this site to third parties (ie the number of people who visit this site per day or how many boys and how many girls enter competitions) but this will not include personal information which could be used to identify you.
Except as set out above or if I am required by law or regulatory authority or if necessary to protect the personal safety of users of the Cathy Hopkins site, I will not otherwise sell or give any personal information you provide to this site to any other person unless you agree that I can.
Cookies
I may use cookies on this site to help improve the site and/or deliver a better site or personalise the content of the site for you.
Cookies are small text files which are stored on your computer when you visit certain online pages that record your preferences. They transfer information to your
computer hard drive. Cookies may make it easier for you to use the site during future visits. They also allow me to track visitor use (for example to check the number of people looking at the site and downloading items, entering competitions) and other site traffic. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but, if you prefer, you may set up your computer to reject cookies by changing the privacy settings for your web browser (usually located under the Tools menu – choose Internet Options, then Privacy). If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to use certain features on the site. If you would like more information or further details on cookies, please see www.aboutcookies.org.
Security
Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although I will do my best to protect your personal data, I cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to the site and any transmission is at your own risk. Once I have received your information, I will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent access by unauthorised persons and protect against any unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage. I also take steps to ensure that anyone employed by me or acting on my behalf takes adequate security measures.
Keeping information up to date and access to information
Please help me to keep your information accurate and up to date by notifying me of any relevant changes in the personal information I hold about you (for example if you change your email address).
You can notify me of any changes by emailing me at support@cathyhopkins.com.
You have the right to request a copy of the personal information I hold about you. Please contact me by post or by email at the addresses set out below if you would like a copy of some or all of your personal information or if you would like further information on this. I may make a small charge for this service.
Changes to the privacy policy
I keep this privacy policy under regular review and any changes I may make to this privacy policy in the future will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, sent to you by e-mail.
Other websites
This site may contain links to other websites (including to the Million Dollar Mates microsite published by Simon & Schuster). The privacy policy only applies to this site so when you look at other websites you should read their privacy policies to make sure you are happy with them.
Contact Me – Comments/Complaints?
If you or your parent or guardian has any questions, comments and requests regarding this privacy policy these are welcomed. Similarly, if you have any questions or complaints in the way in which I use your personal information, you can contact me by emailing me at support@cathyhopkins.com.
This policy was last updated on 14 May 2010.
© Cathy Hopkins 2010