Poetry of Spices Privacy Policy (UK/EU)
Last updated: 1st October 2025
Website: https://poetryofspices.com
Data controller: Poetry of Spices
Contact email: info@poetryofspices.com
As the owner of this website (the “Site”), Poetry of Spices (“we” “us” or “our”) understand that your privacy is of critical importance. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, how we keep it safe, and the rights you have under UK and EU data protection laws.
This Policy is intended to meet transparency requirements under the UK GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018 and the EU GDPR (where applicable).
What personal data we collect and why we collect it
We only collect personal information when it’s necessary and relevant. Wherever possible, we explain why we need your data before you provide it, unless it’s obvious from the situation.
1. Information you give us
You may provide personal information when you:
- create an account
- update your profile or settings
- join a membership
- contact us
- comment on the site
- upload content
- make a purchase
This may include:
- your name
- email address
- age or date of birth (where required)
- billing details (processed securely by payment providers)
- information you include in content you share with us (for example, names mentioned in posts or comments)
Why we collect this information
We use this data to:
- create and manage your account
- provide access to content and memberships
- respond to enquiries and support requests
- process payments and subscriptions
- keep our services running smoothly
2. Account registration
When you register for an account, we collect basic information such as:
- email address
- username
- age (if required)
This allows us to:
- identify you
- secure your account
- provide the appropriate level of access
3. Device and usage information
When you visit our website, we automatically collect limited technical information, including:
- IP address
- browser type
- device type (computer, phone, tablet)
- pages viewed and time spent on the site
Why we collect this
This information helps us:
- understand how the website is used
- improve performance and user experience
- maintain security
- prevent misuse or fraud
4. Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect:
- the data shown in the comments form
- the visitor’s IP address
- the browser user-agent string
This information helps us detect spam and protect the website.
If you use Gravatar, an anonymised version of your email address (a hash) may be shared with the Gravatar service to check if you have a profile image.
Gravatar’s privacy policy is available at: https://automattic.com/privacy/
Once approved, your comment and profile picture (if applicable) are visible to the public in the context of your comment.
5. Media uploads
If you upload images to the website, please avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors to the site may be able to download images and extract any location data included in them.
6. Contact forms
When you contact us via a form, we collect:
- your name
- your email address
- the message you send
Why we collect this
We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry or provide support.
We do not use contact form submissions for marketing unless you have explicitly agreed to it.
7. Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help the website function properly.
We use cookies to:
- remember your preferences
- keep you logged in
- enable comments and forms
- understand how the site is used
Examples of cookies we use include:
- comment cookies (saved for up to one year if you opt in)
- login cookies (lasting two days, or two weeks if “Remember Me” is selected)
- screen preference cookies (lasting up to one year)
- temporary cookies to check whether your browser accepts cookies
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings.
For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.
8. Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content such as videos, images, or social media posts. Embedded content behaves in the same way as if you visited the external website directly. These websites may:
- collect data about you
- use cookies
- embed third-party tracking
- monitor your interaction with the embedded content
We do not control how third-party websites handle your data.
9. Analytics and advertising
We use analytics tools to understand how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most often and how users move through the site.
This data helps us improve content, layout, and performance and is generally collected in an aggregated or anonymised form.
We may also display advertising. Advertising partners may use cookies or similar technologies to measure performance and show relevant ads.
You can manage your cookie and advertising preferences through our cookie banner and your browser settings.
Who we share your data with
We may share personal data with trusted service providers who help us operate the website, such as:
- website hosting providers
- payment processors
- membership and email service providers
- analytics and advertising partners
- security and spam-prevention services
We do not sell your personal data. All third parties we work with are required to keep your data secure and use it only for agreed purposes.
How long we retain your data
- Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely to help recognise and approve follow-up comments automatically.
- Personal information associated with user accounts is kept while your account remains active.
- You can view, edit, or delete your personal information at any time (except your username).
- Website administrators may access and edit information for management and support purposes.
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary or legally required.
Your rights over your data
Under UK and EU data protection laws, you have the right to:
- access the personal data we hold about you
- request corrections to inaccurate data
- request deletion of your personal data
- restrict or object to certain types of processing
- request a copy of your data in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:
info@poetryofspices.com
Some data may need to be retained for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Where we send and store your data
Visitor comments may be checked through automated spam-detection services. Some companies that provide services to us operate outside the UK and the European Economic Area. Where this happens, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal data.
How we protect your data
We design our services with security in mind and use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information.
However, no online service can be completely secure. If you believe your account or personal information may have been compromised, please contact us immediately at info@poetryofspices.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy & Data Protection Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your personal data, you can contact us at:
Poetry of Spices
Website: https://poetryofspices.com
Email: info@poetryofspices.com