1. Who we are
[legal name to be added] trading as AS Computers ("AS Computers", "we") is the controller of the personal information described here. This means we decide how it's used and we're responsible for looking after it.
- Address: [business address to be added]
- Email: info@ascomputers.co.uk, or use our contact form and choose "My personal data"
- ICO registration number: [to be added]
2. What we collect
| Information | Examples |
|---|---|
| Account details | Name, email address, phone number (optional), password (stored scrambled - we can't read it), and whether you've verified your email. |
| Addresses | Delivery addresses you save or enter at checkout. For "We sell it for you", the address buyers collect from. |
| Orders and payments | What you bought or sold, prices, delivery or collection choices, tracking numbers, collection codes, and refunds. Card payments are handled by Stripe - we never see or store your full card number. |
| Listings and photos | PC details, descriptions and photos you upload. We remove hidden information such as location data from photos when you upload them. |
| Messages | Messages you send to other users or to us through the site, and contact form messages. |
| Selling services | Valuation and custom build requests, and details of PCs we sell for you. |
| Payout details | If you sell, the bank account name, sort code and account number we pay you to. These are stored encrypted. |
| Reviews | Star ratings and reviews you leave after a purchase. |
| Technical and security information | Your IP address, browser type, when you log in, and a record of important actions on your account (such as password changes, orders and listing changes). |
| Visit counts | Which pages are visited, the website that sent you (if any), whether you're on a phone, tablet or computer, and searches made on the marketplace. We don't use cookies for this and don't store your IP address: visits are grouped under an anonymous code that is scrambled and changes every day, so it can't be traced back to you or used to follow you over time. |
| Analytics (only if you agree) | How you use the site, such as pages visited, collected by Google Analytics. See our Cookie policy. |
Most of this comes from you. Some comes from other users (for example, a buyer's review of your sale) and from Stripe (confirmation that a payment or refund went through).
3. How and why we use it
The law says we need a reason (a "lawful basis") for using your information. Ours are:
| What we do | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Run your account, process orders and payments, arrange delivery and collection, pay sellers, handle refunds, and send you emails about your orders, listings and account | Contract - we need it to provide the service you asked for |
| Give valuations, prepare custom build quotes, and sell PCs for you | Contract |
| Keep financial records and invoices, and report seller income to HMRC where the digital platform reporting rules require it | Legal obligation |
| Check listings and reviews, prevent fraud and misuse, keep the site secure, keep records of important actions, and handle disputes and complaints | Legitimate interests - keeping AS Computers safe and fair for everyone |
| Answer messages you send us | Legitimate interests, or contract if it's about an order |
| Count visits and searches (without cookies) to see which pages and PCs are popular and improve the site | Legitimate interests - the information is anonymous and can't identify you |
| Understand how the site is used so we can improve it (Google Analytics) | Consent - only if you accept analytics cookies. You can change your mind at any time. |
| Marketing emails | Consent - we only send these if you've opted in, and every one has an unsubscribe link |
Our instant valuation guides and build recommendations are worked out automatically from the details you give. They're suggestions only - a person checks every valuation, and nothing that significantly affects you is decided automatically.
4. Who we share it with
- Other users, only as needed for a sale. Listings show the seller's first name, last initial and the town the PC is in. When a PC sells, the seller sees the buyer's name, phone number and (for delivery) address so they can send it. For collections from a "We sell it for you" owner, the buyer sees the collection address after paying.
- Stripe, our payment provider, to take payments and make refunds.
- Fasthosts, who host our website, database and email.
- Google, for website analytics - only if you've accepted analytics cookies.
- HMRC, where the law requires us to report sellers' details and income.
- The police, courts or regulators, if the law requires it or to prevent fraud or crime.
- Professional advisers, such as our accountant or lawyer, under a duty of confidentiality.
- If the business is ever sold, the buyer would take over your information and this policy.
We never sell your personal information.
5. Outside the UK
Stripe and Google may process information in the United States and other countries. When this happens, it's protected by UK safeguards such as the UK-US data bridge or the UK's International Data Transfer Agreement.
6. How long we keep it
- Your account: while it's open. When you close it, we delete your name, email, phone, saved addresses, payout details and saved PCs, and take down your listings.
- Orders, invoices and payouts: 6 years after the end of the financial year they relate to, because tax law requires it. Messages about a sale are kept with it in case of a dispute.
- Contact form messages: 2 years after we've dealt with them.
- Security and activity records: 2 years. Email sending records: 1 year.
- Anonymous visit counts and searches: about 2 years, so we can compare this year with last year.
7. Keeping it safe
The site uses HTTPS encryption throughout. Passwords are scrambled so nobody can read them, payout bank details are encrypted, and only authorised AS Computers staff can see account information, with access limited to what their job needs and recorded in an activity log. If there's ever a data breach that puts you at risk, we'll tell you and the ICO as the law requires.
8. Your rights
You have the right to:
- see the personal information we hold about you (a "subject access request")
- have it corrected if it's wrong - you can change most details yourself in your account
- have it deleted, where we don't need to keep it
- restrict or object to how we use it, including objecting to anything we do for our legitimate interests
- get a copy in a portable format
- withdraw consent at any time, for example to analytics cookies on our Cookie policy page
To use any of these rights, use our contact form and choose "My personal data", or email us. There's no charge. We may need to check your identity, and we'll reply within one month.
9. Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, please complain to us first. We'll acknowledge your complaint within 30 days and tell you what we're doing about it.
You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint, phone 0303 123 1113, or write to Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
10. Other things to know
- AS Computers is for people aged 18 and over. We don't knowingly collect information about children.
- Links to other websites (such as couriers) are covered by those sites' own privacy policies.
- We'll update this policy if how we use information changes, and tell you about important changes by email.