This Privacy Policy outlines how South Essex Auctions ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal data when you use our services, including house clearance, auctions, and registering to bid either in person or online. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that we comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and any other applicable data protection legislation.

1. Who We Are

South Essex Auctions
127-128 Windmill Street, Gravesend, Kent DA12 1BL 
info@southessexauctions.co.uk
07729 200472
Company Registration Number: 16374113

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following personal information:

• Contact details: name, address, email address, telephone number
• Identification data: a copy of a photo ID (for high-value items or bidder verification)
• Payment details: bank details or card information (via secure third-party providers)
• Account details: usernames, passwords, and bidding history (if registering on our online platform)
• Transaction data: items purchased or sold, invoices, payment records
• House clearance information: photographs, descriptions of items, and property access details
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, location data, and device identifiers

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to:

• Register you for bidding and manage your account
• Process payments and issue invoices
• Communicate auction details and house clearance updates
• Deliver auction and clearance services
• Comply with legal obligations (e.g. anti-money laundering)
• Improve our website and services
• Send you marketing communications (only if you opt in)

4. Legal Bases for Processing

Under GDPR, we rely on the following legal bases:

• Consent – where you have given us explicit permission
• Contract – where processing is necessary for the performance of a contract
• Legal obligation – for compliance with laws or regulations
• Legitimate interests – for day-to-day operations of our business, where your rights do not override our interests

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with:

• Payment service providers (e.g. PayPal)
• Online auction platforms (e.g. Easy Live Auction, The Saleroom)
• Couriers and logistics partners (for delivery of auction items)
• IT service providers (to maintain our website and data security)
• Legal or regulatory bodies, if required by law
• All third parties are contractually obliged to protect your data and use it only for the specified purposes.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to:

• Fulfill the purposes we collected it for
• Satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting requirements (e.g. 6 years for financial records)
• Enforce our terms and protect our rights
• When no longer required, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised.

7. Your Data Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request erasure of your data (“right to be forgotten”)
• Object to or restrict processing
• Data portability (receive your data in a usable format)
• Withdraw consent at any time (for marketing or optional services)
• Lodge a complaint with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@southessexauctions.co.uk. 

8. Registration to Bid

To bid at one of our auctions, either in person or via a commission bid, you must register with valid contact details and may be asked to provide proof of identity. This information is used solely for the purpose of managing auction participation, issuing invoices, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.

9. Cookies and Website Tracking

Our website uses cookies to:

• Improve user experience
• Track website performance
• Enable secure login and user sessions

You can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. 

10. Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:

• Secure servers and encrypted data transfers (SSL)
• Access controls and password protection
• Regular security audits and staff training

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with the updated date. Continued use of our services after changes indicates your agreement to the new terms.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact:

South Essex Auctions
Email: info@southessexauctions.co.uk
Phone: 07729 200472

Last Updated: April 2025