Oakharts

Privacy Policy (GDPR & CCPA)

Last updated [October 15th, 2023]

Our Privacy Policy is an integral part of and should be reviewed in conjunction with our website’s Terms and Conditions.

We, operating under the name ‘Oakharts’ (referred to as ‘we,’ ‘us,’ or ‘our’), recognize the paramount importance of safeguarding the privacy of all visitors to our website at www.oakharts.com. Consequently, we may update our policy periodically, and it is incumbent upon you to periodically review it. Our commitment revolves around protecting personal information and privacy in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Should you have any inquiries or concerns about our policy or practices, please feel free to reach out to us at Info@oakharts.com.

As a user of our website and services, you entrust us with your personal information, a responsibility we take with the utmost seriousness. This privacy notice elucidates our privacy policy and delineates how we collect, utilize, and safeguard your information, while also elucidating your rights pertaining to it. We strongly advise you to read this notice meticulously. If you disagree with any of the terms within this policy, we recommend discontinuing the use of our website and services.

ABOUT US

At OakHarts, our love for the enchanting world of aquatic life didn’t begin amidst the vast oceans or grand coral reefs; it started in the serene tranquility of a simple fish tank. We were captivated by how these glass enclosures could bring a slice of nature right into our living rooms. The way they mesmerize our senses and soothe our souls is nothing short of magical.

Our mission is two-fold: to educate and inspire. We believe that the aquatic world holds endless wonders waiting to be explored. Our comprehensive guides cover everything you need, whether you’re just dipping your toes into the mesmerizing world of aquascaping or you’re a seasoned aquarist looking to deepen your knowledge.

We are located in the United Kingdom.

Definition

Interpretation and Definitions: The following definitions are pertinent to this Privacy Policy:

  • Account: This term pertains to the unique account established for users to access the Service.
  • Business: In the context of the CCPA, this term refers to the legal entity responsible for collecting consumers’ personal information and determining the purposes and means of processing said information.
  • Oakharts (referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”): This is the legal entity that owns and operates Oakharts.com.
  • Consumer: Under the CCPA, this signifies a natural person who is a resident of California.
  • Cookies: These are small files placed on your computer, mobile device, or any other device by a website. They contain information about your browsing history on that website and serve various purposes.
  • Data Controller: This designation applies to us, the operators of this website, as the legal entity responsible for determining the purposes and methods of Personal Data processing
  • Device: Encompasses any device capable of accessing the Service, such as a computer, cellphone, or digital tablet.
  • Do Not Track (DNT): This concept, promoted by US regulatory authorities, aims to create a mechanism allowing internet users to manage the tracking of their online activities across websites.
  • Personal Data: Refers to information that pertains to an identified or identifiable individual.
  • Sale: In the context of the CCPA, this refers to actions like selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating a consumer’s personal information to another business or a third party in exchange for monetary or other valuable consideration.
  • Service: Denotes Oakharts.com.
  • Service Provider: This term applies to any natural or legal entity processing data on behalf of us, the operators of this website
  • Usage Data: Signifies data collected automatically, either generated by using the Service or stemming from the Service’s infrastructure itself.
  • Website: Refers to Oakharts.com, which is accessible via https://oakharts.com.
  • You: Pertains to the individual using or accessing the Service, or to the parent company or other legal entity on behalf of which such an individual is utilizing or accessing the Service, as applicable.

Please read this privacy policy carefully as it will help you make informed decisions about sharing your personal information with us.  

  1. INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when expressing your interest in obtaining information about our products, participating in activities on the Site, or contacting us through other channels.

The specific type of personal information we gather depends on your interactions with us and the Site, your choices, and the features and products you use. This may encompass:

Name and Contact Information: This includes your first and last name, email address, postal address, phone number, and similar contact details.

Automatically Collected Information: When you access or use the Site, certain information is automatically collected. However, this data does not reveal your specific identity (e.g., name or contact information). It may encompass details related to your device and usage, such as your IP address, browser type, device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, and technical information regarding how and when you use our Site. If you access our site via a mobile device, we may also automatically gather device details such as your mobile device ID, model, manufacturer, operating system, version information, and IP address. This information is vital for maintaining the security and functionality of our Site, as well as for internal analytics and reporting purposes.

Additionally, similar to many other businesses, we employ cookies and similar technologies to collect information. For more comprehensive information on this topic, please consult our Cookie Policy.

Information Obtained from External Sources: We may acquire information about you from external sources, including publicly available databases, collaborative marketing partners, social media platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter), and other third-party entities.

If you choose to subscribe to our newsletter, your first name, last name, and email address will be shared with our newsletter provider. This allows us to provide you with relevant information and marketing offers. The emails we send to our customers may include various updates, such as transactional messages, shipping notifications, weekly deals, promotions, and activities.

  • WE USE YOUR INFORMATION?

We process your personal information for various purposes, and these purposes are based on different legal justifications. These justifications include our legitimate business interests (“Business Purposes”), the necessity to enter into or fulfill a contract with you (“Contractual”), your consent for such processing (“Consent”), and compliance with legal obligations (“Legal Reasons”). We specify the specific legal basis we rely on for each purpose as outlined below.

We utilize the information we collect or receive for the following objectives:

  • To send you administrative information related to your account, our business operations, and/or for legal compliance. This may involve sending you updates regarding our products, new features, and revisions to our terms, conditions, and policies.
  • To provide targeted advertising to you, based on our Business Purposes and/or your Consent. This entails creating and displaying content and advertisements tailored to your interests and location. We may collaborate with third parties to achieve this (for more details, please consult our Cookie Policy).
  • To request feedback from you, based on our Business Purposes and/or your Consent. We may use your information to solicit feedback about our services and to contact you regarding your experiences on our Site.
  • To safeguard the security of our Site, for Business Purposes and/or Legal Reasons. Your information may be employed as part of our efforts to maintain the safety and integrity of our Site, including activities related to fraud monitoring and prevention.
  • To facilitate user-to-user communications with your Consent. Your information may be employed to enable communication between users, subject to the consent of all users involved.
  • To enforce our terms, conditions, and policies, for Business Purposes and as legally required.
  • To respond to legal requests and prevent harm, as legally required. In the event of a subpoena or other legal request, we may need to review the data we possess to determine our appropriate response.
  • For other Business Purposes. Your information may be used for additional Business Purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, assessing the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, and enhancing our Site, products, services, marketing, and overall user experience.

We highly value your privacy and handle your personal information responsibly, aligning with the purposes mentioned above and the relevant legal bases. If you have any concerns or require further information regarding how we process your data, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • INFORMATION BE SHARED WITH ANYONE?

We are dedicated to protecting your personal information, and we will only share or disclose it in the following situations:

  • Compliance with Laws: If required by law, including government requests, court orders, judicial proceedings, or other legal processes, we may disclose your information. This encompasses responding to court orders, subpoenas, and requests from public authorities for national security or law enforcement purposes.
  • Protection of Vital Interests and Legal Rights: We may share your information if we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action against potential policy violations, suspected fraud, threats to anyone’s safety, unlawful activities, or as evidence in litigation we are involved in.
  • Vendors, Consultants, and Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your data with third-party vendors, service providers, contractors, or agents who perform tasks on our behalf and require access to such information to complete their work.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or part of our business by another company, we may share or transfer your information.
  • Third-Party Advertisers: When you visit our Site, we may use third-party advertising companies to display ads. These companies may use data about your visits to our Site and other websites to deliver ads related to products and services that may interest you.
  • Affiliates: We may share your information with our affiliates, ensuring they adhere to this privacy policy. Our affiliates include our parent company, subsidiaries, joint venture partners, or other entities under our control or common control.
  • Business Partners: We may share your information with our business partners to provide you with specific products, services, or promotions.
  • With Your Consent: For any other purpose not covered above, we will only disclose your personal information with your explicit consent.
  • Other Users: If you share personal information, such as comments or contributions, in public areas of the Site, that information may be viewed and distributed by all users, both within and outside the Site, indefinitely.

We prioritize your privacy and ensure that any sharing or disclosure aligns with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions or need further clarification about how we handle your information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

  • DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

At Oakharts.com, we employ cookies and comparable tracking technologies to elevate your browsing experience and enhance the website’s functionality. These technologies have the potential to gather specific details about your device and browsing activities. You can manage your cookie preferences by adjusting your browser settings.

  • IS YOUR INFORMATION TRANSFERRED INTERNATIONALLY?

The information we collect from you may be stored and processed in various countries worldwide, including the United States, where our company, agents, or contractors may have facilities. By accessing our apps and using our services, you acknowledge and consent to the international transfer of your information.

Please be aware that these countries may have different laws governing data protection, which may not offer the same level of safeguards as your own country. When we share personal data originating from the European Economic Area (EEA) or other regions with stringent data protection laws, we will ensure that appropriate lawful measures are in place for the transfer. This may include relying on mechanisms such as the Privacy Shield framework or implementing the EU standard contractual clauses.

If you reside in the EEA or other regions with data protection regulations, please understand that by providing your personal data, you are explicitly consenting to the cross-border transfer and processing of your information in accordance with this policy. Be assured that we will not transfer your personal information to an international recipient without implementing the necessary measures to protect your privacy

  • OUR STANCE ON THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES?

Oakharts.com may include links to third-party websites for your convenience. Nonetheless, we neither endorse nor exercise control over the content or policies of these websites. We recommend that you take the time to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you choose to visit

  • WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

We will retain your personal information only for the duration necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, unless a longer retention period is mandated or allowed by applicable law, such as for tax, accounting, or legal compliance.

Once we no longer have a legitimate business reason to process your personal information, we will take one of the following actions: either delete or anonymize it, or, if this is not immediately feasible (for instance, when your personal information is stored in backup archives), we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until we can delete it securely.

  • WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

Oakharts.com employs suitable security measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or deletion. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that no method of transmitting data over the internet or storing it electronically can be completely infallible, and we cannot provide an absolute guarantee of security.

  • COLLECT DATA FROM MINORS?

Oakharts.com is designed for use by individuals aged 16 and older. We do not knowingly gather personal information from minors. If you suspect that a minor has shared their information with us without parental consent, please reach out to us, and we will promptly remove the information.

  1. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS UNDER GDPR?

Your personal data may be processed under the following circumstances:

  • With your consent for one or more specific purposes.
  • When the provision of personal data is necessary for the performance of an agreement with you or any pre-contractual obligations.
  • When processing personal data is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
  • When processing personal data is necessary to protect your vital interests or those of another natural person.
  • When processing personal data is related to a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in us.
  • When processing personal data is necessary for our legitimate interests.

We will specify the particular legal basis that applies to the processing and whether providing personal data is a statutory or contractual requirement, or a requirement necessary to enter into a contract.

RIGHTS: The GDPR grants you certain rights regarding your Personal Data, which we are committed to upholding. These rights include the following:

  • The right to access your Personal Data, update it, or request its deletion through your account settings. If you are unable to do this, you can contact us for assistance, and we will also provide you with a copy of your Personal Data.
  • The right to request that we correct any incomplete or inaccurate Personal Data we hold about you.
  • The right to object to our processing of your Personal Data if we are relying on a legitimate interest or using it for direct marketing.
  • The right to request the erasure of your Personal Data if there is no valid reason for us to continue processing it.
  • The right to receive your Personal Data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and transfer it to a third party of your choice (this only applies to automated information that you provided consent for or that we used to perform a contract with you).
  • The right to withdraw your consent for us to use your Personal Data, which may impact your access to certain functionalities of the Service.
  • This Privacy Policy ensures that your Personal Data will be treated with confidentiality and that you can exercise your rights under the GDPR, including:
  • Accessing, updating, or deleting your Personal Data directly within your account settings or contacting us for assistance.
  • Correcting any incomplete or inaccurate Personal Data we hold about you.
  • Objecting to our processing of your Personal Data for legitimate interests or direct marketing.
  • Requesting the erasure of your Personal Data if there is no valid reason for us to continue processing it.
  • Receiving your Personal Data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and transferring it to a third party of your choice (applies to automated information you provided consent for or that we used to perform a contract with you).
  • Withdrawing your consent for us to use your Personal Data, which may impact your ability to use certain Service functionalities.

EXERCISING YOUR RIGHTS

If you wish to exercise your rights concerning the protection of your personal data under the GDPR, such as the right of access, rectification, erasure, and objection, you can reach out to us. However, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request. We will make every effort to respond to your request as promptly as possible.

If you have concerns or complaints about how we collect and use your personal data, you have the right to file a complaint with the Data Protection Authority. If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may contact your local data protection authority for further information.

  1. COPPA – Children’s Online Privacy Policy

At oakharts.com, we are deeply committed to ensuring the safety and privacy of children who visit our site. Our Children’s Online Privacy Policy outlines the specifics of how we collect, share, and obtain parental consent for personal information provided by children under the age of 13 (“child” or “children”). Please note that the terminology used in this policy is defined in our general Privacy Policy.

Collection of Information, Usage, and Communication with Parents

Children can access and view the content on the site without the need to provide any personal information, except for the automatic collection of device “persistent identifiers,” which are explained in more detail below. Our site collects only a limited amount of personal information. In cases where the collected information does not enable contact with the child or the child’s device (including aggregate information), we may use and disclose it for any purpose as permitted by applicable law.

Personally Identifiable Information

In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, we do not intentionally gather personally identifiable data from children under the age of 13 without obtaining verifiable parental consent. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected such personal data without parental consent, we will promptly remove it from our records.

Persistent Identifiers

When children interact with our site, certain technical information may be automatically collected to enhance the site’s functionality and for other internal purposes related to our business. This data may include the type of operating system, IP address or mobile device identifier, web browser, visit frequency, and information about the online or mobile service provider. The collection of this data is facilitated through techniques such as flash cookies, web beacons, and other unique identifiers, as elaborated in our general Privacy Policy within the “Cookies and Other Technologies” section. The data may be collected by us or a third party. The persistent identifier information collected is solely used by Oakharts.com for supporting our internal operations, including ensuring proper site function, conducting research and analysis, and diagnosing and addressing issues.

How Parents Can Raise Questions and Concerns

If a parent has any questions or concerns regarding their child’s use of the site, we encourage the parent to get in touch with us at info@oakharts.com.

  1. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83, commonly known as the “Shine The Light” law, California residents who use our services have the right to request and receive, once a year and at no cost, information regarding the categories of personal information (if any) that we have disclosed to third parties for their direct marketing purposes during the previous calendar year. Additionally, they can obtain the names and addresses of all third parties with whom we shared personal information during that same timeframe. If you are a California resident and wish to make such a request, please reach out to us in writing using the contact information provided below.

ACCESS AND DATA PORTABILITY RIGHTS

You have the right to request certain information from us about our collection and use of your Personal Information over the past 12 months. Once we receive and verify your request, we will provide you with the following details:

• Categories of Personal Information we collected about you.

• Sources from which we collected your Personal Information.

• Business purposes for collecting or selling your Personal Information.

• Categories of third parties with whom we shared your Personal Information.

• Specific pieces of Personal Information we collected about you, if applicable (referred to as a data portability request).

• If we sold or disclosed your Personal Information for a business purpose, we will provide two separate lists identifying the Personal Information categories that each category of recipient purchased or obtained.

DELETION REQUEST RIGHTS

Upon request, we will delete your Personal Information from our records, with certain exceptions. We will fulfill your deletion request once we confirm your verifiable consumer request, except if one of the following exemptions applies:

• To complete a transaction, provide a requested product or service, fulfill a contract, or perform actions reasonably expected within the context of our ongoing business relationship with you.

• To detect security incidents, protect against deceptive, malicious, fraudulent, or illegal activities, or prosecute those responsible for such activities.

• To identify and rectify errors that impair existing intended functionality.

• To exercise a right provided by law.

• To comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act or other legal obligations.

• To engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the public interest, where deleting your Personal Information could make it impossible or seriously impair the research’s achievement, provided you previously gave informed consent.

• For solely internal purposes that align with your expectations based on your relationship with us.

• For other internal, lawful uses that are compatible with the context in which you provided the information.

EXERCISING ACCESS, DATA PORTABILITY, AND DELETION RIGHTS

To exercise your rights related to access, data portability, and deletion, please submit a verifiable consumer request through our website’s messaging system. You, or an authorized individual registered with the California Secretary of State, may submit a request concerning your Personal Information. If you have a minor child, you can also submit a verifiable consumer request on their behalf. Please note that you are allowed to make up to two requests for access or data portability within a 12-month period.

Your verifiable consumer request should contain enough information for us to verify that you are the person for whom we collected Personal Information or an authorized representative. It should also provide a clear description of your request for us to appropriately understand and address it. If we cannot verify your identity or authority to make the request or confirm that the Personal Information pertains to you, we will be unable to respond to your request. Our written response will be sent to you by your preferred method, whether by mail or electronically.

Our responses will cover the 12 months leading up to the receipt of your verifiable consumer request. If we are unable to comply with a request, we will provide an explanation for our decision. For data portability requests, we will select a format that facilitates the easy transmission of the information from one entity to another, typically via electronic mail communication. We do not charge a fee to process or respond to verifiable consumer requests, except if such requests are excessive, repetitive, or manifestly unfounded. In cases where a fee is appropriate, we will provide you with an explanation and an estimate of the cost before proceeding.

OPT-OUT AND OPT-IN RIGHTS

If you are aged 16 or above, you have the option to instruct us not to sell your Personal Information at any time, as outlined in the “right to opt-out.” We do not sell the Personal Information of consumers under 16 years of age unless we receive affirmative consent (the “right to opt-in”) from consumers aged between 13 and 16 years old or from the parents or guardians of consumers under 13 years old. Consumers who have previously given consent for the sale of Personal Information may opt out of such sales at any moment.

To exercise your right to opt-out, you (or your authorized representative) can send us a request via email at info@oakharts.com. Any Personal Information provided in an opt-out request will be used exclusively for assessing and complying with the request.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

We will not take any retaliatory actions against you for exercising your CCPA rights. However, please be aware that some features of our website, products, or services may not be available without your Personal Information. We will not, except as allowed by the CCPA:

• Deny you access to products or services.

• Alter rates, prices, or provide discounts, benefits, or penalties.

• Deliver different levels or qualities of products or services.

• Imply that you will receive varied rates, prices, or levels of products or services.

Nevertheless, we may offer financial incentives allowed by the CCPA, which could lead to distinct rates, prices, or quality levels. Any financial incentive program we offer will be reasonably related to the value of your Personal Information and will include written terms outlining the program’s key features. Participation in a financial incentive program requires your prior opt-in consent, which you can revoke at any time.

If you are a California resident, you can request information regarding our disclosure of your Personal Information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes under California’s “Shine the Light” law (Civil Code Section § 1798.83). To make this request, you can send us an electronic message through our website or write to us at our email address listed on our webpage.

  1. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS POLICY?

Our privacy policy undergoes periodic updates, and the revised version will be identified with a new “Revised” date, becoming effective immediately. In case of substantial changes to this policy, we may notify you through clear announcements of the modifications or direct notifications. We encourage you to routinely check this privacy policy to stay informed about how we safeguard your data

  1. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS POLICY?

If you have questions or comments about this policy, email us at Info@oakharts.com.