Privacy policy

Who I am

This website is run by Marni Smyth, trading as Marni Smyth VA ("I", "me"). I'm responsible for the personal information you give me through this website, and I'm the person to contact about it: [your email address].

ICO registration number: [your ICO data protection fee registration number, if you have one]

What I collect

When you fill in the contact form, I collect:

• your name
• your business name
• your email address
• your Instagram handle or website, if you give it
• what you'd like help with, and anything else you choose to tell me
• a rough monthly budget, if you choose to give one

If you email me or message me on social media, I'll have whatever you send me there too.

If we go on to work together, I'll also keep the details I need to run that work, such as your contact details, invoices and payment records, and anything we agree in writing.

Why I use it

• To reply to your enquiry and talk about whether I can help. I do this because you've asked me to, and because it's a step before us agreeing to work together.
• To provide my services if you become a client. I need your details to carry out our agreement.
• To keep business and tax records, which the law requires.

I won't add you to a mailing list, and I won't sell or pass on your details to anyone for their marketing.

Who else sees it

Only the services I use to run my business, and only as far as they need to: my email provider ([e.g. Google Workspace or Microsoft 365]), the service that delivers messages from the contact form ([form provider, once chosen]), and my accountant and invoicing software ([e.g. Xero, QuickBooks]). Some of these may store information outside the UK. Where they do, they're required to protect it to UK standards.

How long I keep it

• Enquiries that don't go further: up to 12 months, then I delete them.
• Client records: up to 6 years after our work ends, because I need them for tax and legal reasons.

Your rights

You can ask me to:

• tell you what information I hold about you and give you a copy
• correct anything that's wrong
• delete your information (unless I have to keep it by law)
• stop or limit how I use it
• send it to you, or someone else, in a common format

Just email me at [your email address]. I'll reply within one month, and it's free.

If you're unhappy with how I've handled your information, please tell me first so I can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

Visiting this website

This website doesn't use cookies, analytics or tracking, and it doesn't load anything from other companies while you browse. Like almost every website, the server that hosts it keeps short-term technical logs (such as IP addresses) to keep it secure and working. See the cookie notice for more.

Changes

If I change this policy, I'll update it here and change the date at the top.