At Ancient Whispers (“we,” “our,” “us”), accessible from ancient-whispers.com, we are committed to protecting your privacy in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website and purchase books through our platform.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal and non-personal information:

  • Personal Information: Your name, email address, billing address, shipping address, phone number, and payment details when you make a purchase.
  • Account Information: If you create an account, we may collect login details such as your username and password.
  • Transaction Data: Purchase history, order details, and transaction records.
  • Communication Data: Any messages, inquiries, or customer support requests sent via email (info@ancient-whispers.com) or contact forms.
  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, and website usage statistics collected through cookies and analytics tools.
  • Marketing Preferences: Your preferences regarding receiving marketing communications from us.

2. Lawful Basis for Processing Personal Data

Under the UK GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following lawful bases:

  • Contractual Necessity: To fulfill your orders and provide customer support.
  • Legitimate Interests: To improve our website, prevent fraud, and analyze website traffic.
  • Legal Obligations: To comply with tax, accounting, and legal requirements.
  • Consent: For sending marketing emails (where applicable). You can withdraw your consent at any time.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

  • To process and fulfill book orders, including payments and deliveries.
  • To manage your account and provide customer support.
  • To improve user experience and website functionality.
  • To communicate with you regarding orders, promotions, and customer service inquiries.
  • To comply with legal obligations and prevent fraud.
  • To analyze website traffic and performance through cookies and third-party analytics.
  • To send you marketing communications, only if you have opted in.

4. Amazon Affiliate Program Disclosure

Ancient Whispers participates in the Amazon Affiliate Program, meaning some books advertised on our website contain affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These links help support our website and allow us to continue providing valuable content.

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. However, we may share your data with:

  • Payment Processors: To securely process transactions.
  • Shipping Partners: To deliver your purchased books.
  • Legal Authorities: If required by law or to protect our rights.
  • Third-Party Services: Such as analytics providers to track website performance.
  • Marketing and Email Service Providers: If you have opted in to receive promotional content.

6. International Data Transfers

Some of our third-party service providers may be located outside the UK. When transferring data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the UK government or other legal mechanisms.

7. Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or loss. These measures include encryption, access controls, and secure data storage practices. However, no data transmission over the internet is entirely secure.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. The retention period varies depending on the type of data:

  • Order and transaction data: Retained for at least 6 years for tax and accounting purposes.
  • Marketing data: Retained until you withdraw your consent or opt out.
  • Website analytics data: Retained as per our analytics provider’s policy.

9. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal exceptions.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Request to limit the processing of your data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured format for transfer to another service.
  • Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: If processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: If you believe we are not handling your data lawfully, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@ancient-whispers.com.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience, analyze traffic, and improve services. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can manage cookie settings in your browser.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including Amazon. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites. Please review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update this policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
Email: info@ancient-whispers.com
Website: ancient-whispers.com

By using our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your personal data as described herein.