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Privacy & Cookie Policy
FundingSearch.com — The Intelligent Funding Search Platform
1. Introduction
Welcome to FundingSearch.com. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and share your personal information. This Privacy & Cookie Policy explains our practices when you visit our website, use our platform, or interact with our services.
By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use our website or services.
2. Who We Are
FundingSearch.com is operated by:
In.Spiritu Ltd
Trading as FundingSearch.com
Company Number: 16130699
ICO Registration Number: ZB830840
Registered Office:
Cooper Buildings
Arundel Street
Sheffield S1 2NS
United Kingdom
We are the "data controller" for the personal information we collect and process through our website and platform. This means we are responsible for deciding how we hold and use personal information about you.
3. Information We Collect
We collect different types of information depending on how you interact with us:
3.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Account information: Name, email address, telephone number, company name, and password when you register for an account
- Business information: Company registration number, trading address, business type, director details, and financial information when you submit a funding application
- Professional credentials: FCA registration details, professional qualifications, and business certifications (for brokers)
- Communication data: Messages you send us through our contact forms, email, or support channels
- Payment information: Billing address and payment card details for subscription services (processed securely by our payment provider)
3.2 Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our website, we automatically collect:
- Technical data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and time zone
- Usage data: Pages visited, links clicked, time spent on pages, search queries, and navigation paths
- Location data: General geographic location based on IP address
- Referral data: How you arrived at our website (search engine, link, direct visit)
3.3 Information from Third Parties
With your consent, we may receive information from:
- Accounting platforms: Financial data from Xero or Sage when you connect your account
- Credit reference agencies: Business credit scores and reports from Creditsafe
- Companies House: Company registration details, director information, and filing history
4. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
4.1 To Provide Our Services
- Creating and managing your account
- Matching borrowers with suitable lenders
- Processing funding applications
- Generating professional documents (quotations, suitability letters, terms and conditions)
- Processing subscription payments
4.2 To Communicate With You
- Responding to your enquiries and support requests
- Sending service-related notifications (application updates, system alerts)
- Sending marketing communications (where you have opted in)
4.3 To Improve Our Services
- Analysing website usage to improve user experience
- Developing new features and services
- Training and improving our matching algorithms
4.4 For Security and Compliance
- Detecting and preventing fraud
- Maintaining audit logs for regulatory compliance
- Complying with legal obligations
5. Legal Basis for Processing
Under UK data protection law, we must have a valid legal basis to process your personal information:
| Legal Basis | When We Use It |
|---|---|
| Contract | To provide our services, manage your account, and process your applications |
| Consent | For marketing emails, non-essential cookies, and accessing third-party data (Xero, credit checks) |
| Legitimate Interests | To improve our services, ensure security, prevent fraud, and for business analytics |
| Legal Obligation | To comply with anti-money laundering laws, tax requirements, and regulatory reporting |
6. Cookie Policy
6.1 What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit our website. They help us recognise your device and remember your preferences, making your experience smoother and more personalised.
6.2 Types of Cookies We Use
| Category | Purpose | Consent Required |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Essential for website functionality and security | No - these are essential |
| Analytics | Help us understand how visitors use our website | Yes |
| Functional | Remember your preferences and choices | Yes |
| Marketing | Marketing | Yes |
6.3 Specific Cookies We Use
| Cookie Name | Duration | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| fs_session | Session | Strictly Necessary | Maintains your logged-in session |
| fs_csrf | Session | Strictly Necessary | Security token to prevent cross-site request forgery |
| fs_consent | 1 year | Strictly Necessary | Stores your cookie consent preferences |
| _ga | 2 years | Analytics | Google Analytics - distinguishes unique visitors |
| _ga_* | 2 years | Analytics | Google Analytics 4 - maintains session state |
| _gid | 24 hours | Analytics | Google Analytics - identifies user session |
| fs_preferences | 1 year | Functional | Stores display and interface preferences |
6.4 Managing Cookies
You can control cookies in several ways:
Our Cookie Consent Tool
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie banner that allows you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of our website.
Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. The methods vary by browser:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies
- Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions
Please note: Blocking essential cookies may prevent our website from functioning correctly.
6.5 Other Tracking Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use:
- Web beacons: Small graphics that track email opens and website visits
- Local storage: Browser storage for caching and performance
- Session storage: Temporary data storage cleared when you close your browser
7. Who We Share Your Information With
We may share your personal information with:
7.1 Platform Participants
- Lenders: When you submit a funding application, your business and financial information is shared with matched lenders to facilitate funding decisions
- Brokers: If you work with a broker through our platform, they will have access to your application information
7.2 Service Providers
We work with trusted third parties who provide services on our behalf:
- Supabase: Database hosting and infrastructure
- Xero/Sage: Accounting data integration (with your consent)
- Creditsafe: Credit reference services (with your consent)
- Airwallex: Payment processing
- Google Analytics: Website analytics
All service providers are contractually required to protect your data and only use it for the purposes we specify.
7.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information when required by law or in response to legal requests from courts, regulators, or law enforcement.
7.4 Business Transfers
If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
8. How We Keep Your Information Safe
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate measures to protect it:
- ✓Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our website is encrypted using TLS 1.3. Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256
- ✓Secure authentication: We use OAuth 2.0 for third-party integrations and support multi-factor authentication
- ✓Access controls: We limit access to personal data to authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis
- ✓Regular security testing: We conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing
- ✓Incident response: We have procedures in place to detect, report, and respond to data breaches
Important: While we implement strong security measures, no system is completely secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and keep your login details confidential.
9. How Long We Keep Your Information
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary:
| Data Type | Retention Period | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Active account data | While account active | Service provision |
| Completed applications | 6 years | Regulatory requirements |
| Financial records | 7 years | HMRC requirements |
| Closed/inactive accounts | 3 years | Limitation period |
| Website analytics | 26 months | Analytics purposes |
| Marketing preferences | Until withdrawn | Your consent |
10. Your Rights
Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR), you have the following rights:
Right to access
Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Right to rectification
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Right to erasure
Request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances
Right to restrict processing
Request that we limit how we use your information
Right to data portability
Receive your data in a portable format
Right to object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for marketing
Right to withdraw consent
Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent to process your data
Rights related to automated decisions
Request human review of automated decisions that significantly affect you
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one month.
11. International Data Transfers
Your personal information may be transferred to countries outside the UK. When this happens, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
- Transfers to countries with UK adequacy decisions
- International Data Transfer Agreements (UK Addendum to EU Standard Contractual Clauses)
- Binding corporate rules where applicable
12. Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly.
13. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any website you visit.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a notice on our website or sending you an email. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last revised.
16. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk
— End of Policy — © 2025 In.Spiritu Ltd. All rights reserved.