Privacy Policy
Please contact info@apbc.org.uk if you have any questions
The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors CIC (APBC) Customer Privacy Notice
August 2026
This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information.
- Contact details
- What information we collect, use, and why
- Lawful bases and data protection rights
- Where we get personal information from
- How long we keep information
- Who we share information with
- Sharing information outside the UK
- How to complain
Contact details
Telephone: +44 (0) 7483 429997
Email: info@apbc.org.uk
What information we collect, use, and why
We collect or use the following information to provide services and goods, including delivery:
- Names and contact details
- Addresses
- Purchase or account history
- Account information
- Photographs or video recordings
- Records of meetings and decisions
- Information relating to compliments or complaints
- Information relating to sponsorship
We collect or use the following information for the operation of customer accounts and guarantees:
- Names and contact details
- Addresses
- Purchase history
- Account information, including registration details
- Marketing preferences
We collect or use the following information for service updates or marketing purposes:
- Names and contact details
- Purchase or viewing history
We collect or use the following personal information for dealing with queries, complaints or claims:
- Names and contact details
- Witness statements and contact details
- Relevant information from previous investigations
- Correspondence
Lawful bases and data protection rights
Under UK data protection law, we must have a “lawful basis” for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible lawful bases in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO’s website.
Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights which are set out in brief below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO’s website:
- Your right of access – You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. You can request other information such as details about where we get personal information from and who we share personal information with. There are some exemptions which means you may not receive all the information you ask for. Read more about the right of access.
- Your right to rectification – You have the right to ask us to correct or delete personal information you think is inaccurate or incomplete. Read more about the right to rectification.
- Your right to erasure – You have the right to ask us to delete your personal information. Read more about the right to erasure.
- Your right to restriction of processing – You have the right to ask us to limit how we can use your personal information. Read more about the right to restriction of processing.
- Your right to object to processing – You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data. Read more about the right to object to processing.
- Your right to data portability – You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you. Read more about the right to data portability.
- Your right to withdraw consent – When we use consent as our lawful basis you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Read more about the right to withdraw consent.
If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month.
To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice.
Our lawful bases for the collection and use of your data
Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information to provide services and goods are:
- Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.
- Legal obligation – we have to collect or use your information so we can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability.
Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for the operation of customer accounts and guarantees are:
- Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.
- Legal obligation – we have to collect or use your information so we can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability.
Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for service updates or marketing purposes are:
- Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.
Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for dealing with queries, complaints or claims are:
- Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object.
Where we get personal information from
- Directly from you
- Schools, colleges, universities or other education organisations
- Councils and other public sector organisations
How long we keep information
|
Record Category |
Record Type |
Retention Period |
Disposal Trigger |
|
Membership Data |
Active Member Profiles (names, contact info, tier) |
Permanent |
Throughout active membership status |
|
Membership Data |
Cancelled/Expired Membership Records |
6 years |
After membership lapses or is terminated |
|
Membership Data |
Member Applications (withdrawn or rejected) |
6 years |
From the date of rejection or withdrawal |
|
Finance & Fees |
Direct Debit Mandates & Payment Approvals |
6–7 years |
From the date the mandate is cancelled |
|
Finance & Fees |
Subscription Invoices, Gift Aid Records, Receipts |
6–7 years |
After the end of the financial year |
|
Events & Marketing |
Event Attendance Lists & Booking Records |
6 years |
From the date the event concludes |
|
Events & Marketing |
Email Marketing Consent Logs & Opt-out Lists |
Permanent |
Retain opt-out lists to ensure compliance |
|
Governance |
Board Minutes, AGMs, Articles |
Permanent |
Kept for historic and legal purposes |
|
Disciplinary |
Member Complaints & Grievance Records |
As in line with our Complaints Policy |
After resolution of the final complaint |
For more information on how long we store your personal information or the criteria we use to determine this please contact us using the details provided above.
Who we share information with
Data processors
Another Mother Ltd
This data processor does the following activities for us: Run the admin office for the APBC including: -records management -marketing -calendar management -responding to enquiries -managing the website -setting up members and processing payments -bookkeeping
Echo Digital
This data processor does the following activities for us: -website developer
Others we share personal information with
- External auditors or inspectors (the ABTC)
- Publicly on our website, social media or other marketing and information media
Sharing information outside the UK
Where necessary, we will transfer personal information outside of the UK. When doing so, we comply with the UK GDPR, making sure appropriate safeguards are in place.
Organisation name: Echo Digital
Category of recipient: website developer
Country the personal information is sent to: USA
How the transfer complies with UK data protection law: The International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA)
How to complain
If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a data protection complaint to us:
Email: info@apbc.org.uk
If you remain unhappy with how we’ve used your data after raising a complaint with us, you can also complain to the ICO.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
Website: https://www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint