Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 2026

SocialMate Agency respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit https://socialmateagency.co.uk/, contact us, request information, or use our services.

This policy is written for our website visitors, prospective customers and clients.

This notice explains the information people should be given about what happens to their personal data, why it is used, who it may be shared with, how long it is retained and what rights individuals have.

1. Who We Are

The organisation responsible for your personal information is:

SocialMate Agency

Email: contact@socialmateagency.co.uk

For questions about how we use your personal information, contact us using the email address above.

2. Personal Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with SocialMate Agency, we may collect information such as:

  • Your name
  • Business name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number, where you provide one
  • Business address or other location information, where relevant to the service
  • Information you provide through contact or enquiry forms
  • Details about the services you are interested in
  • Information provided when communicating with us by email or other agreed communication methods
  • Payment and billing information where necessary to provide our services
  • Website, social media or Google Business Profile access information where you specifically provide access for us to carry out a service

We do not normally need to collect sensitive personal information.

Please do not provide sensitive personal information through this website unless it is specifically requested and there is an appropriate reason for doing so.

3. How We Collect Information

We may collect personal information when you:

  • Contact us by email
  • Complete a form on our website
  • Request information about our services
  • Become a client
  • Purchase or use our services
  • Communicate with us about an existing service
  • Provide information to us directly for the purpose of completing work

We may also automatically receive limited technical information when you visit our website, depending on the cookies, analytics tools and other technologies in use.

4. How We Use Your Personal Information

We may use your personal information to:

  • Respond to enquiries and messages
  • Provide requested information
  • Prepare quotations or proposals
  • Provide and manage our services
  • Communicate with clients about ongoing work
  • Process payments and invoices
  • Maintain records relating to our business relationships
  • Make changes or updates requested by clients
  • Provide website management and maintenance
  • Provide social media management
  • Provide Google Business Profile optimisation
  • Improve our website, services and customer experience
  • Protect our website, systems and business against fraud, misuse or security threats
  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We only use personal information for purposes that are relevant to our business and the service or communication involved.

5. Our Lawful Bases for Processing

UK data protection law requires organisations to have a lawful basis for processing personal information. The appropriate basis depends on the reason the information is being used.

Depending on the circumstances, SocialMate Agency may rely on:

Contract

We may process information where it is necessary to provide a service you have requested or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract.

Legitimate Interests

We may process information where it is reasonably necessary for legitimate business purposes, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.

This may include managing our client relationships, responding to business enquiries, maintaining records and protecting our services.

Legal Obligation

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

Consent

Where consent is the appropriate lawful basis, we will ask for it before processing the information concerned. Where consent is relied upon, you may withdraw it at any time.

6. Website Enquiries and Contact Forms

When you contact SocialMate Agency through our website, we may collect the information you submit, such as your name, email address, business details and information about what you require.

We use this information to respond to your enquiry and, where appropriate, discuss or provide the services you have requested.

We do not sell enquiry information to third parties.

7. Client Information

If you become a client, we may hold information necessary to provide and manage your services.

For example, depending on the service, this may include business details, website information, social media account information, Google Business Profile information, project information and billing records.

Where account or platform access is required, we will use the information or access provided for the purposes of carrying out the agreed work.

8. Payment Information

Where payment is required, payment information may be processed through the payment provider used by SocialMate Agency.

We do not normally need to store complete payment card details ourselves.

Payment providers may process information according to their own privacy policies and terms.

9. Website Hosting, WordPress and Third-Party Services

Our website and the websites we manage may use third-party services, software, hosting providers, plugins, analytics tools, payment providers or other technologies.

These providers may process information on our behalf or independently depending on how their services operate.

Where personal information is shared with another organisation, we aim to do so only where necessary for the relevant purpose and where an appropriate legal basis applies.

The exact third parties used by SocialMate Agency may change over time as services, website technology and business requirements change.

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Some cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. Other cookies may be used for purposes such as analytics, preferences or other features.

Where consent is required for non-essential cookies, we will request consent before placing or using those cookies.

You can also adjust cookie settings through your browser.

The ICO states that visitors should be told when cookies are used and that consent is generally required for cookies that are not strictly necessary.

11. Analytics

We may use analytics or similar technologies to understand how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited, how users interact with the site and general technical information.

This information helps us understand website performance and improve the website.

Where analytics technology uses personal information or non-essential cookies requiring consent, it will be handled in accordance with the applicable consent requirements.

12. How We Share Personal Information

We may share personal information with trusted third parties where necessary to operate our business or provide Services.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

  • Website hosting providers
  • Domain providers
  • Payment providers
  • Email providers
  • Website software and plugin providers
  • Analytics providers
  • Cloud storage or business software providers
  • Professional advisers where necessary
  • Government, regulatory or law-enforcement authorities where legally required

We do not sell your personal information.

We only share information where there is a legitimate reason to do so and where appropriate safeguards apply.

13. International Data Transfers

Some third-party service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, appropriate safeguards will be used where required by applicable data protection law.

14. How Long We Keep Personal Information

We do not keep personal information indefinitely.

The length of time we retain information depends on what it is and why we need it.

For example, we may retain:

  • Enquiry information for as long as reasonably necessary to deal with the enquiry and related records
  • Client information for the duration of our business relationship and for a reasonable period afterwards
  • Financial and accounting records for the period required by applicable legal and tax requirements
  • Marketing information until you withdraw consent or object where applicable

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete or dispose of it.

The ICO advises organisations to explain how long personal information is kept, or how the retention period is determined.

15. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You should also take reasonable steps to keep your own account credentials and devices secure.

16. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may have rights including:

  • The right to be informed about how your personal information is used
  • The right to access your personal information
  • The right to request correction of inaccurate information
  • The right to request deletion of your information in certain circumstances
  • The right to restrict processing in certain circumstances
  • The right to object to certain processing
  • The right to data portability in certain circumstances
  • The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

These rights are not absolute and may not apply in every situation.

The ICO provides guidance on these individual rights under UK data protection law.

17. How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise a data protection right or ask a question about your personal information, email:

contact@socialmateagency.co.uk

Please provide enough information for us to understand your request and verify your identity where necessary.

We will deal with valid requests in accordance with applicable data protection law.

18. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first at:

contact@socialmateagency.co.uk

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your personal information has been handled unlawfully or your data protection rights have not been respected.

The ICO is the UK’s independent supervisory authority for data protection.

You can find information about making a complaint through the ICO’s website.

19. Children’s Privacy

Our website and Services are intended for businesses and general audiences.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children through our website.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can review the situation and take appropriate action.

20. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of external websites.

You should review the privacy policy of any third-party website you visit.

21. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, website, services, technology or legal requirements.

The latest version will be published on this page with the relevant Last Updated date.

We recommend reviewing this page periodically.

The ICO recommends reviewing privacy information regularly and updating it when processing activities change.

22. Contact Us

For questions, requests or concerns relating to this Privacy Policy or the way SocialMate Agency handles personal information, contact:

SocialMate Agency
Email: contact@socialmateagency.co.uk

Last Updated: September 2026