Privacy policy

Who is responsible for your information

Chip Shop is the controller of the personal information described here. We are a Kent-based mail-in technology repair business. You can contact us about privacy at contactus@kentchipshop.com or by calling 01227 230525.

Information we collect

• Your name, email address, optional phone number, return and collection address, and communication preferences.
• Information about your device, its fault, repair history, serial number and any photographs or messages you send.
• Quote, approval, payment, shipping, repair, guarantee and support records.
• Limited technical information needed to keep the website reliable and secure, such as IP address, browser information and error logs.
• Information visible on a device only where access is reasonably necessary to diagnose, repair or test it.

The enquiry form prepares an email in your own email application. The form contents are not stored by this website before you send that email.

How and why we use it

• To answer enquiries, provide quotes, arrange prepaid shipping, perform agreed repairs, take payment, return devices and provide support. This is necessary to take steps at your request and perform our contract with you.
• To keep repair, payment, guarantee and business records and meet tax, accounting, safety and legal obligations.
• To prevent fraud, secure the website, improve our service and establish or defend legal claims where our legitimate interests support this and your rights do not override them.
• To send marketing only where we have the consent or another lawful basis required by UK law. You can opt out at any time.

Please remove SIM and memory cards, back up your device and remove private material where practical before sending it. Do not send us passwords in the enquiry form. If access credentials are needed for testing, we will explain how to provide them separately.

Who we share information with

We share only what is reasonably necessary with trusted providers acting for us, including delivery carriers and shipping-label providers, payment and banking providers, email and communications providers, website hosting, security and technical support providers, professional advisers, and replacement-parts suppliers where an order requires device details.

For example, a delivery provider needs your name, address and contact details to supply the prepaid label, collect or accept the parcel, provide tracking and return your device. We may also disclose information where the law requires it or to protect legal rights. We do not sell personal information.

International transfers

Some technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we require an approved safeguard, such as UK adequacy regulations or the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or Addendum, unless a legal exception applies. This website currently loads fonts from Google, which may receive technical connection information such as your IP address.

How long we keep it

We keep information only for as long as needed for the purpose collected, including providing the repair and guarantee, resolving disputes and meeting legal, tax and accounting duties. Enquiries that do not lead to work are reviewed and deleted when no longer needed. We securely delete or anonymise information at the end of the relevant period.

Device data and security

We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards and limit device access to what the repair and testing require. Repairs can involve unavoidable risks to stored data, so you should keep a current backup before sending a device. We do not intentionally copy personal files from a device unless you specifically request and authorise a data-related service.

Cookies

We do not currently use advertising or analytics cookies. Essential technical storage may be used where necessary to operate and protect the website. If we add non-essential cookies later, we will update this policy and ask for consent where required.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law gives you rights to access, correct, erase or restrict your information, object to certain uses, receive portable information, and withdraw consent without affecting earlier lawful use. Contact us to exercise a right. We may need to verify your identity and normally respond within one month.

You can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint. We would appreciate the chance to address your concern first.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, providers or legal duties change. The date at the top shows the latest revision.