Privacy policy

How we handle your information when you use Smart Money Answers.

This policy explains what personal data Smart Money Answers collects, why, how we use and protect it, and the rights you have. It is written to reflect the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

1. Who we are (data controller)

Smart Money Answers ("we", "us", "our") operates the website at smartmoneyanswers.com and is the "data controller" for personal data collected through it. For any privacy question, or to exercise your rights, contact us at hello@smartmoneyanswers.com.

Before publishing, insert the name and (if applicable) registered address of the individual or company that operates the site, so visitors know exactly who the controller is.

2. The personal data we collect

  • Information you give us — for example your name, email address and message when you use our contact form, or your email address when you subscribe to our newsletter.
  • Technical & usage data — collected automatically, such as your IP address, approximate location, device and browser type, the pages you view, and how you arrived at and move around the site.
  • Cookie & advertising data — identifiers set by cookies and similar technologies for essential functions, analytics and advertising (see section 5).

We do not intentionally collect "special category" data (such as health or financial account details), and you should not send us such information. This site is intended for adults and is not directed at children under 18.

3. Why we use your data and our lawful bases

Under UK GDPR we must have a lawful basis for using your personal data. Ours are:

  • Respond to enquiries you send via the contact form — legitimate interests (running and supporting the site).
  • Send our newsletter — consent, which you give by subscribing and can withdraw at any time via the unsubscribe link.
  • Analytics to measure and improve the site — consent (given through our cookie banner where required).
  • Show advertising to keep the site free — consent for personalised ads and any non-essential advertising cookies.
  • Security, preventing misuse and meeting legal obligations — legitimate interests and legal obligation.

4. Advertising (Google AdSense)

This site uses Google AdSense to display advertising. Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads. Google and its partners may use them to show ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.

5. Cookies and consent

We use three broad categories of cookies:

  • Strictly necessary — required for the site to function (these do not need consent).
  • Analytics/performance — help us understand how the site is used.
  • Advertising — used by Google and partners to select and measure ads.

In line with PECR, we ask for your consent before setting non-essential (analytics and advertising) cookies via a cookie banner, and you can accept, reject or change your choices at any time. Analytics and advertising should be blocked until consent is given. You can also control cookies through your browser settings, though blocking some cookies may affect how the site works.

6. Who we share data with

We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with trusted service providers ("processors" or, where they act as independent controllers, third parties) who help us operate the site, including:

  • Google (AdSense advertising, and analytics if enabled)
  • Our web hosting provider
  • Our email/newsletter provider (if you subscribe)
  • A form-handling service (if you use the contact form)

Each has its own privacy policy. We may also disclose data where required by law or to protect our rights.

7. International transfers

Some providers (such as Google) may process data outside the UK. Where that happens, we rely on appropriate safeguards recognised under UK data protection law — such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses, or an adequacy decision — so your data remains protected.

8. How long we keep it

We keep personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes above: contact-form messages for as long as needed to handle your enquiry and a reasonable period afterwards; newsletter data until you unsubscribe; and analytics/advertising data according to the retention periods of the relevant provider. We then delete or anonymise it.

9. How we protect your data

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures (including HTTPS encryption in transit) to protect personal data against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

  • be informed about how your data is used;
  • access a copy of your data;
  • have inaccurate data corrected;
  • have your data erased ("right to be forgotten");
  • restrict or object to processing;
  • data portability; and
  • withdraw consent at any time (without affecting processing already carried out).

To exercise any of these, email hello@smartmoneyanswers.com. If you're unhappy with how we handle your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk, though we'd appreciate the chance to put things right first.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be posted on this page with an updated date below.

Last updated: 2026. This policy has been prepared to reflect how this website operates; for a business-specific review, consider a final check by a qualified data-protection professional.