Our data protection policies and GDPR compliance

The information below serves to explain how we collect and use personal information to support our contractual arrangements with you or your organisation as a supplier of qPCR training and services.

All data that we hold about you or your organisation are maintained solely for the use of qStandard in conducting our normal business. We never sell your information or pass it on to a third party unless we are required to do so to meet legal obligations, for example, if information is requested by HM Revenue and Customs.

Data held for financial purposes

We are legally obliged to hold certain information about you for the purpose of invoicing you or your organisation. This information comprises your name; address (this is usually your work address) and address to which invoices should be sent, if different; and your contact email and/or telephone number. We will hold this information for six years from your last purchase plus the current financial year after the end of the contract and will dispose of records after this period has elapsed.
If we purchase goods or services from you or your organisation, we may also hold your bank account name, sort code and number in order to pay invoices that you issue to us.

Data held for communication purposes, and how we use them

When you register to attend one of our workshops, or you purchase goods or services from us, we assign an account number to you and enter your name, address, email and telephone number into our customer database.
Our usual means of communication is by email. If you are a workshop attendee, you will first receive an automated email confirming your registration, and another email one to two weeks before the workshop in order to provide you with information you need in order to participate in the workshop (such as background information on techniques, a timetable, directions to the venue etc.). If you purchase goods or services we will usually communicate by email to establish what your requirements are or send you a quote for services. Telephone communication about goods or services is conducted only at your request.
We may use your personal telephone number (mobile or work) only if we need to contact you urgently about your attendance at a workshop. If an invoice that we have issued has not been paid and is more than two weeks overdue we may telephone you or the finance department for your organisation in order to expedite payment.
Because a major proportion of our workshop attendees hear about us from previous participants we sometimes send an email to existing customers to inform them of the next workshop dates. We ask you to pass on this information to anyone you know who may be interested in attending. We may also send you an email to inform you of new products and services that may be of interest to you. We pledge never to send you more than four of these ‘marketing emails’ per year. If you choose to receive these emails you may opt out of receiving them by replying to the message and putting unsubscribe in the subject header or by emailing us directly on info@qstandard.co.uk.

Your rights

You have the right to request what information we hold about you, to request that we amend any inaccuracies, or to have your personal data removed as long as this does not conflict with our legal obligations (for example data held for financial purposes must be retained for six years plus the current financial year).
You also have the right to know how we use your data. The information in our privacy policy serves to inform you of this.

We seek to resolve directly all complaints about how we handle personal information and we request that you contact us should you wish to complain. You may do this by completing the web form on our ‘contact us’ page, by emailing our general email address or telephoning the contact numbers also on that page. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office. They can be contacted at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ or 0303 123 1113.