Privacy policy

1. Who we are

Autotech Network is operated by Birkhill Technology Ltd. Birkhill Technology Ltd is the controller responsible for deciding how personal information collected through this website is used.

Privacy enquiries and requests can be sent to admin@autotech.network.

2. Information we collect

Depending on how you use the website, we may collect the following information.

Account and membership information

• Your name, display name and email address.
• Your business or employer, job role, country and trade experience.
• Your email-confirmation, membership-approval and account status.
• Your roles, permissions, security information and account activity.

Passwords are processed using the security facilities provided by ASP.NET Core Identity. We do not store passwords in readable form.

Profile and community content

• Your profile details and profile image.
• Forum posts, replies, technical case studies and repair information.
• Vehicle, engine, diagnostic-code and fault information associated with posts.
• Images, documents and other files that you upload.
• Bookmarks, watched discussions and notification preferences.

Information published in a forum, profile or other member-visible area can be seen by other users who have access to that area.

Private messages

We store private messages, participants, dates, read status and associated attachments so that the messaging service can operate. Private messages are not routinely read by administrators. They may be accessed where a message is reported, where reasonably necessary to investigate abuse or unlawful activity, to protect the platform or its users, or where disclosure is legally required.

Sponsor information

If you represent a sponsor, we may process your account details, sponsor organisation, advertising content, campaign dates, approval history and aggregate advert performance.

Contact and correspondence

If you contact us, we may collect your name, email address, message, attachments and any subsequent correspondence.

Technical and security information

Our website and hosting service may process IP addresses, browser information, requested pages, dates and times, login events, error information and security events. This information is used to operate, diagnose and protect the service.

3. How we use information

We may use personal information to:

• Create, verify and manage accounts.
• Review applications from automotive trade users.
• Provide profiles, forums, search, private messaging and notifications.
• Send email-verification, password-reset, approval and security messages.
• Respond to contact-form enquiries.
• Moderate content and enforce community rules.
• Investigate reports, spam, fraud, misuse and security incidents.
• Manage sponsor organisations and first-party advertisements.
• Maintain audit records, backups and the reliability of the website.
• Comply with legal obligations and establish or defend legal claims.

4. Our lawful bases

We rely on one or more of the following lawful bases, depending on the activity:

• Contract: where processing is necessary to create and provide the account or service you request.
• Legitimate interests: to operate a useful and secure trade community, assess applications, moderate content, prevent misuse, administer sponsorship and respond to enquiries.
• Legal obligation: where information must be processed or retained to meet a legal requirement.
• Consent: where we introduce an optional activity for which consent is required. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

5. Email messages

We may send essential service emails concerning:

• Email-address verification and password resets.
• Membership approval, rejection or requests for further information.
• Account security and administrative action.
• Replies, mentions and private messages, depending on your preferences.
• Important changes to the service or its legal terms.

These are service communications rather than third-party marketing. We do not currently use registration details to send unrelated marketing emails.

6. Sponsor advertising

Autotech Network may display advertisements from approved automotive sponsors. These adverts are managed through our own system. We do not use an external behavioural advertising network and do not build advertising profiles from activity on other websites.

We may record aggregate advert impressions and link selections to administer campaigns and report general performance to sponsors. Sponsors are not given members' email addresses, private messages, individual search histories or personally identifiable browsing histories.

7. Cookies

Autotech Network uses cookies and related browser-storage features that are necessary to provide requested functionality and protect the website. These may include authentication, session and antiforgery cookies.

We do not currently use:

• External analytics cookies.
• Social-media tracking pixels.
• Cross-site behavioural advertising cookies.
• Cookies that build a marketing profile of members.

Blocking essential cookies may prevent login, registration and other account functions from working. If non-essential analytics or tracking technologies are introduced later, this policy and the website's consent arrangements will be updated before they are enabled.

8. Who we share information with

We may use trusted organisations that process information on our behalf, including categories such as:

• Website, server and database-hosting providers.
• Email-delivery providers.
• Backup, storage, security and technical-support providers.
• Professional advisers, insurers and auditors where reasonably necessary.

These providers are expected to process information only for the agreed service and to protect it appropriately. We may also disclose information where required by law, to respond to a valid legal request, to investigate serious misuse, or to protect the rights and safety of the company, the platform or its users.

We do not sell personal information.

9. International processing

A service provider may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the transfer has an appropriate legal basis and safeguards, such as UK adequacy regulations or approved contractual protections.

10. How long we keep information

We keep information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including security, dispute-resolution and legal requirements. Our normal approach is:

• Unverified accounts may be deleted after 90 days.
• Rejected applications and related notes may be retained for up to 12 months.
• Active account and profile information is retained while the account remains active.
• Contact enquiries may be retained for up to two years after resolution.
• Security, moderation and audit information is normally retained for up to 12 months, or longer if connected to an investigation or dispute.
• Sponsor, contractual and accounting records may be retained for up to six years where required for business or legal purposes.

Forum posts and replies may be retained after an account closes so that technical discussions remain understandable. Where appropriate, they may instead be associated with an anonymised or deactivated account. Personal information unnecessarily included in a post can be considered for removal on request.

Messages may remain visible to other participants after one participant closes an account. Information may remain in protected backups for a limited period after deletion from the live system.

11. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse, alteration and disclosure. These measures may include encrypted connections, password hashing, access controls, role-based permissions, audit records, backups and security monitoring.

No online service can guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for keeping your password secure and should contact us if you believe your account has been compromised.

12. Information included in posts and uploads

Do not publish unnecessary personal information about customers or other people. Before posting an image, diagnostic report, job card or other document, remove information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, registration numbers, full VINs and customer correspondence.

13. Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law may give you the right to:

• Request access to your personal information.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Ask us to erase information in certain circumstances.
• Ask us to restrict processing.
• Object to certain processing based on legitimate interests.
• Receive information you supplied in a portable format where applicable.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
• Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.

These rights are not absolute and may be limited by legal, security, record-keeping or third-party considerations. To make a request, email admin@autotech.network. We may need to verify your identity.

14. Automated decisions

We do not currently make solely automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects. Membership, suspension and moderation decisions are intended to involve human review.

15. Age restriction

Autotech Network is intended for automotive trade users and is not designed for children. Users must be at least 16 years old. Accounts created contrary to this requirement may be suspended or deleted.

16. External links

Posts, profiles and sponsor adverts may link to external websites. We do not control those websites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review the privacy information supplied by an external website before providing information to it.

17. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the website, our service providers, our processing activities or legal requirements change. The latest version will be published on this page with a revised update date. Significant changes may also be notified through the website or by email.

18. Contact and complaints

Questions, requests or concerns about personal information should be sent to:

Birkhill Technology Ltd
Email: admin@autotech.network

You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office if you are unhappy with how your information has been handled.