Cookies & Online Tracking

1. What this Notice covers

1.1 This Notice explains how Talk4 uses technologies that store information on, or access information from, your device when you use Talk4 websites, webapps and mobile apps.

1.2 It should be read with the Privacy Notice. The rules include PECR and, where personal information is processed, UK data-protection law.

2. What are storage and access technologies?

2.1 They include cookies, tracking pixels, local/session storage, device identifiers, scripts/tags, link-decoration/navigational tracking, software development kits and device-fingerprinting techniques.

2.2 The legal rules apply to the technology’s storage/access activity, not simply to whether it is called a “cookie”.

3. Our consent approach

3.1 Unless a legal exception applies, Talk4 will provide clear information and obtain valid prior consent before using storage/access technologies.

3.2 Non-exempt technologies must not be pre-enabled before the required choice. Rejecting optional technologies should be as straightforward as accepting them.

3.3 Consent choices are recorded and can be changed using “Cookie Settings” or the equivalent control in the website/app. Withdrawal of consent does not affect earlier lawful processing.

4. Technology categories

5. Strictly necessary / exempt technologies

5.1 Some technologies may be used without consent where they meet a PECR exception, for example where strictly necessary to provide an online service explicitly requested by you, or another specific statutory exception applies.

5.2 Even where a PECR information/consent exception applies, Talk4 will still provide privacy information where personal data is processed and UK GDPR transparency applies.

6. Analytics and functional technologies

6.1 Talk4 will assess each analytics/functional technology and purpose against the current PECR exceptions. If an exception does not apply, the technology will remain disabled until valid consent is obtained.

6.2 Any analytics exception introduced by law is not treated as a blanket permission for advertising profiling or unrelated cross-service tracking.

7. Advertising and marketing technologies

7.1 Advertising/marketing trackers, pixels, SDKs or identifiers are not loaded or activated before consent where consent is required. Refusal must not cause the core telecoms service to become unavailable unless a lawful and fair model expressly permits otherwise.

8. Third parties

8.1 Where third-party technologies are used, Talk4 will disclose the third party (or sufficiently specific provider/category), purpose and duration and will have appropriate contractual/data-protection arrangements.

8.2 Links to third-party sites may set their own technologies after you leave Talk4’s service; their notices then apply.

9. Cookie/technology inventory

10. Managing choices

10.1 You can use Talk4’s Cookie Settings to accept/reject categories and revisit choices. Browser/device controls may also block/delete technologies, but doing so can affect functionality.

10.2 If a technology is required for a feature you explicitly request, disabling it may prevent that feature from working; Talk4 will explain this where relevant.

11. Retention and expiry

11.1 PECR does not set one universal cookie duration. Talk4 will choose a proportionate duration limited to what is necessary for the purpose and will review persistent technologies regularly.

12. App and device technologies

12.1 The same principles apply in apps and connected devices where information is stored/accessed on terminal equipment, including SDKs, advertising identifiers, local storage and similar mechanisms.

13. Changes and contact

13.1 We update this Notice when the tracker inventory, purposes, providers or law changes. The live inventory should be reviewed whenever new scripts/SDKs/tags are deployed.

13.2 Questions: support@talk-4.co.uk. Data-protection information: Talk4 Privacy Notice.