Privacy – The Classified

Our Privacy Policy

Last updated: 1st September 2026

1. ABOUT THIS PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored and shared when you visit or interact with the website at theclassified.biz and its associated pages (the “Website”).

The Website is operated by [Data Controller Legal Name] (“theClassified”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

For the purposes of applicable UK data protection law, the data controller is:

[Data Controller Legal Name]
[Company Number]
[Registered Office]
[Privacy Contact Email]

This Privacy Policy applies primarily to the theClassified corporate, informational and promotional Website.

Separate privacy information may apply where you use a theClassified marketplace, application, licensed territory or other service. Where separate privacy information applies, it will be made available in connection with that service.

2. PERSONAL INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT

The personal information we collect depends on how you use the Website.

We may collect the following categories of information.

2.1 Information you provide to us

You may provide personal information when you:

(a) contact us;

(b) submit an enquiry;

(d) subscribe to a newsletter or other communication;

(e) complete a form;

(f) correspond with us by email or another communication channel; or

(g) otherwise provide information voluntarily.

This information may include:

(a) your name;

(b) email address;

(d) postal or business address where relevant;

(e) company or organisation details;

(f) the nature of your enquiry;

(g) your interest in a particular theClassified territory, licence, product or service; and

(h) any other information you choose to provide.

2.2 Technical and usage information

When you use the Website, certain technical information may be collected automatically.

This may include:

(a) your IP address;

(b) browser type and version;

(d) date and time of access;

(e) pages viewed;

(f) referring and exit pages;

(g) technical information about how you interact with the Website; and

(h) information collected through cookies and similar technologies.

Some of this information may constitute personal data under applicable law.

2.3 Information from other sources

In some circumstances we may receive personal information from another source, for example:

(a) a person or organisation that refers an enquiry to us;

(b) a business contact;

(d) a service provider acting on our behalf; or

(e) another source where the disclosure is lawful.

Where required by law, we will provide appropriate privacy information concerning personal data obtained from another source.

3. HOW WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may use personal information for the following purposes.

3.1 Enquiries and communications

We use information you provide to:

(a) respond to enquiries;

(b) provide information you request;

(d) follow up an expression of interest; and

(e) provide administrative or service-related communications.

3.2 Licence and commercial opportunity enquiries

Where you express an interest in a theClassified licence, territory or other commercial opportunity, we may use your information to:

(a) understand your enquiry;

(b) discuss suitable opportunities;

(d) assess or progress an application or expression of interest;

(e) arrange meetings or further communications; and

(f) take steps requested by you before entering into a potential agreement.

3.3 Website operation and security

We may process technical and usage information to:

(a) operate and maintain the Website;

(b) diagnose technical problems;

(d) detect or prevent misuse, fraud or malicious activity;

(e) understand Website performance; and

(f) improve the reliability and usability of the Website.

3.4 Analytics and Website improvement

Where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent, we may use analytics or similar technologies to understand:

(a) how visitors use the Website;

(b) which content is most useful;

(d) how the Website can be improved.

Further information about cookies and analytics is provided in our Cookie Policy.

3.5 Marketing communications

Where permitted by law, we may use your contact details to send information about theClassified, including news, opportunities, products, services or developments that may be relevant to you.

Where consent is required, we will obtain it before sending such communications.

You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe facility provided in the communication or by contacting us at [Privacy Contact Email].

3.6 Legal and regulatory purposes

We may process personal information where necessary to:

(a) comply with applicable law;

(b) respond to lawful requests from courts, regulators or public authorities;

(d) enforce our contractual or legal rights; or

(e) protect the rights, property or safety of theClassified, our users or others.

4. OUR LAWFUL BASES FOR PROCESSING

UK data protection law requires us to have a lawful basis for processing personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may rely on one or more of the following lawful bases.

4.1 Consent

We may rely on your consent where you have actively agreed to a particular use of your personal information, for example certain marketing communications or non-essential cookies.

Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

4.2 Contract and steps before entering into a contract

We may process personal information where this is necessary:

(a) to perform a contract with you; or

(b) to take steps at your request before entering into a contract.

This may apply, for example, where you ask us to progress a licence or commercial opportunity enquiry.

4.3 Legitimate interests

We may process personal information where this is necessary for our legitimate interests or those of a third party, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.

Our legitimate interests may include:

(a) operating and improving the Website;

(b) responding to enquiries;

(d) protecting our systems and business from fraud or misuse;

(e) understanding how the Website is used;

(f) administering theClassified business; and

(g) communicating appropriately with existing or prospective business contacts.

4.4 Legal obligation

We may process personal information where necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.

5. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

The Website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Some cookies are necessary for the Website to operate.

Other cookies, including certain analytics or marketing cookies, will be used only where permitted by law and, where required, after you have given your consent.

You can manage your cookie preferences through the cookie controls provided on the Website.

Further information about the cookies we use, their purposes and how to manage them is provided in our Cookie Policy.

6. HOW WE SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We do not sell your personal information.

We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to the following categories of recipient.

6.1 Service providers

We may use third parties to provide services such as:

(a) Website hosting;

(b) IT and technical support;

(d) analytics;

(e) communications;

(f) customer relationship management;

(g) security;

(h) data storage; or

(i) professional or administrative services.

These providers may process personal information on our behalf and will be required to handle it appropriately.

6.2 Professional advisers

We may disclose relevant information to professional advisers such as accountants, solicitors, auditors, insurers or consultants where reasonably necessary.

6.3 Legal and regulatory disclosures

We may disclose information where required or permitted by law, including to:

(a) courts;

(b) regulators;

(d) government bodies; or

(e) other competent authorities.

6.4 Business transfers

If the ownership or operation of theClassified business changes, or if some or all of its assets are sold, reorganised or transferred, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction where lawful and appropriate.

7. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

Some organisations that provide services to us may process personal information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred outside the UK, we will ensure that the transfer is made in accordance with applicable UK data protection law.

Where required, this may include relying on:

(a) UK adequacy regulations;

(b) an approved international data transfer agreement or addendum;

(d) another lawful transfer mechanism.

You may contact us at [Privacy Contact Email] if you would like further information about safeguards relevant to your personal information.

8. HOW LONG WE KEEP PERSONAL INFORMATION

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, regulatory, accounting and business requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason we hold it.

Our intended retention approach is:

(a) general enquiries – [Enquiry Retention Period];

(b) licence or commercial opportunity enquiries – [Commercial Enquiry Retention Period];

(c) marketing subscription information – until you unsubscribe or the information is no longer required, subject to retaining limited suppression information where necessary to respect your marketing preference;

(d) contractual and financial records – [Contractual/Financial Retention Period] or such longer period as required by law;

(e) Website security logs – [Security Log Retention Period]; and

(f) analytics information – in accordance with the retention settings of the relevant analytics service and our Cookie Policy.

Where no specific retention period applies, we determine retention by considering:

(a) the purpose for which the information was collected;

(b) whether it remains necessary for that purpose;

(d) the sensitivity of the information;

(e) the risk associated with retaining it; and

(f) whether the information can be securely deleted or anonymised.

9. SECURITY OF YOUR INFORMATION

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:

(a) unauthorised access;

(b) accidental or unlawful loss;

(d) disclosure;

(e) destruction; or

(f) misuse.

No internet-based service or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

We therefore cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable and proportionate measures to protect personal information.

10. YOUR DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS

Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis on which we process your information, you may have rights under UK data protection law.

These may include the following.

10.1 Right of access

You may ask whether we process your personal information and request a copy of personal information we hold about you.

10.2 Right to rectification

You may ask us to correct personal information that is inaccurate or incomplete.

10.3 Right to erasure

In certain circumstances, you may ask us to delete your personal information.

10.4 Right to restriction

In certain circumstances, you may ask us to restrict the way we use your personal information.

10.5 Right to data portability

Where applicable, you may have the right to receive certain personal information in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or ask us to transfer it to another organisation.

10.6 Right to object

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO CERTAIN PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING PROCESSING BASED ON LEGITIMATE INTERESTS IN APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR DIRECT MARKETING.

10.7 Right to withdraw consent

Where we rely on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time.

Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

10.8 Exercising your rights

To exercise a data protection right, please contact:

[Privacy Contact Email]

We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

Data protection rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exemptions or conditions.

11. COMPLAINTS

If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address them.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection.

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

You can find further information about making a complaint on the ICO website.

12. MARKETING

We will send electronic direct marketing only where permitted by applicable law.

Where consent is required, we will seek your consent before sending marketing communications.

You can ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time.

If you unsubscribe, we may retain limited information on a suppression list so that we can respect your request and avoid sending further marketing communications.

13. CHILDREN

The Website is intended for a general adult and business audience and is not designed specifically for children.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children through the Website except where there is a lawful and appropriate reason to do so.

If we become aware that personal information relating to a child has been collected inappropriately, we will take reasonable steps to address the matter.

14. AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING

We do not currently use personal information collected through the Website to make decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects on individuals.

If this changes, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide any additional information required by law.

15. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

The Website may contain links to websites or services operated by other organisations.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

If you follow a link to another website, you should review that organisation’s privacy information before providing personal information.

16. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

(a) our processing activities;

(b) the Website or our services;

(d) our business structure; or

(e) applicable law or regulatory guidance.

The latest version will be published on this page and the “Last updated” date will be amended accordingly.

Where a change materially affects how we use personal information, we will take reasonable steps to bring the change to the attention of affected individuals where required.

17. CONTACT US

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how we use personal information, or your data protection rights, please contact:

[Data Controller Legal Name]

[Registered Office]

Email:
[Privacy Contact Email]

Telephone:
[Privacy Contact Telephone]

Company number:
[Company Number]

Registered in:
[Jurisdiction]