Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Finance with Michael is committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store and share personal information when you visit my website, submit an enquiry or use my business finance services.

I handle personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Who I Am

Finance with Michael is a business finance consultancy operated by Michael Andev as a self-employed sole trader.

For data protection purposes, I am responsible for determining how and why personal information is processed in connection with my business activities.

Trading name: Finance with Michael
Business owner: Michael Andev
Email: m.andev@clearbusinessfinance.com
Website: https://www.financewithmichael.co.uk

You can contact me using the email address above with any questions about this policy or how your information is handled.

3. Information I Collect

Depending on your interaction with my business, I may collect the following categories of information.

Personal and contact information

• Name and business contact details.
• Email address and telephone number.
• Business role and professional details.

Business information

• Business name, address and contact details.
• Company registration details and business activities.
• Trading history, annual turnover and financial performance.
• Details of the funding requested and the intended use of funds.

Financial and application information

Where relevant to exploring or arranging finance, I may handle business accounts, financial statements, bank statements, management accounts, existing borrowing details and other information requested by a finance provider.

Information about company directors and other individuals

A funding application may require personal information about company directors, business owners, partners, guarantors or other relevant individuals. Depending on the application, this may include identity and contact details, information about financial circumstances, and other information required by a finance provider to assess an application.

Please only provide information you are authorised to share. Where information about another individual is required, I will handle it in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

Technical and website information

When you visit my website, certain technical information may be collected, such as your device type, browser, IP address and interactions with the website. The information collected depends on the website services, analytics and tracking technologies in use and your cookie preferences.

4. How I Use Your Information

I may use personal and business information to:

• Respond to enquiries about business finance.
• Understand your business and its funding requirements.
• Explore potentially suitable finance products and providers.
• Prepare, support or progress funding enquiries and applications.
• Share relevant information with finance providers where appropriate.
• Communicate with you about an enquiry or service you have requested.
• Maintain business records and meet applicable legal obligations.
• Protect the security and integrity of my website and business.
• Understand website performance and measure marketing activity, where permitted.

I will only process personal information where an appropriate lawful basis applies.

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

The lawful basis I rely on depends on the purpose of the processing.

These may include:

Taking steps at your request before entering into a contract: For example, responding to your request to explore finance options or preparing to provide a service.

Legitimate interests: For example, managing business enquiries, maintaining appropriate business records, developing business relationships and protecting my business, where those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.

Legal obligation: Where processing is necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements.

Consent: Where consent is the appropriate lawful basis, such as for certain non-essential cookies or marketing activities where consent is required.

Where processing involves personal information about company directors, guarantors or other individuals, I will consider the applicable lawful basis and any additional requirements relevant to that information.

6. Sharing Information with Finance Providers

To explore or arrange business finance, I may need to share relevant business and personal information with third parties.

These may include banks, lenders, specialist finance companies, brokers or other finance providers whose products or services may be relevant to your requirements.

Information shared may include:

• Business identification and registration details.
• Business financial information and accounts.
• Funding requirements and intended use of funds.
• Relevant personal details about company directors, owners or guarantors.
• Supporting documentation required to assess or progress an application.

I will seek to share only information that is relevant and appropriate for the purpose.

Finance providers may use the information they receive to assess eligibility, conduct identity and verification checks, assess affordability or creditworthiness, prevent fraud, make lending decisions and meet their own legal and regulatory obligations.

Once a finance provider receives your information, it may process that information as an independent data controller under its own privacy policy.

Where appropriate, I will identify the relevant provider and explain the information required before sharing information for a funding application.

7. Other Service Providers

I may use third-party services to support the operation of my business and website, including website hosting, email, analytics and digital advertising services.

These providers may process information on my behalf or for their own purposes, depending on the service and circumstances.

Where required, appropriate arrangements will be put in place to protect personal information and ensure it is processed lawfully.

8. Advertising, Analytics and Cookies

My website and marketing activities may use services provided by companies such as Meta, LinkedIn and Google.

Depending on the services configured, these may include:

• Meta Pixel and related advertising technologies.
• LinkedIn Insight Tag.
• Google Analytics.
• Other website analytics, conversion measurement or advertising technologies.

These services may collect information about website visits, interactions, device and browser characteristics, and the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

Where required by law, I will obtain your consent before using non-essential cookies or similar tracking technologies. You should be able to review and change your preferences through the cookie controls available on the website, where provided.

For further information, please refer to the website's Cookie Policy.

9. Marketing Communications

I may contact you about an enquiry or service you have requested.

Where I send direct marketing communications, I will comply with applicable data protection and electronic marketing laws. Where consent is required, I will obtain it before sending the relevant communications.

You can ask me to stop sending direct marketing communications at any time.

10. How Long I Keep Your Information

I retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including responding to enquiries, progressing funding applications, maintaining appropriate business records and meeting legal obligations.

The period for which information is retained depends on the nature of the enquiry, whether a funding application proceeds, the type of information involved and any applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

When information is no longer required, I will take appropriate steps to securely delete it or otherwise dispose of it.

11. How I Protect Your Information

I take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Please avoid sending highly sensitive financial documents through a general website enquiry form. If detailed financial information is needed, I will arrange an appropriate method for providing it.

12. International Transfers

Some website, analytics or advertising service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, I will take steps to ensure that the transfer complies with applicable data protection law and that appropriate safeguards are in place where required.

13. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information held about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your information in certain circumstances.
• Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.
• Object to certain processing activities.
• Request data portability where the right applies.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

These rights are subject to applicable legal conditions and exemptions.

To exercise a right, please contact me using the details in this policy.

14. Complaints

If you have concerns about how I handle your personal information, please contact me first so I can try to resolve them.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator.

Further information is available at https://ico.org.uk/.

15. Links to Other Websites

My website may contain links to external websites. I am not responsible for the privacy practices or content of websites operated by third parties.

I recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any external website you visit.

16. Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to my business, website, services or legal obligations.

The latest version will be published on this page, together with the date it was last updated.

17. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:

Finance with Michael
Business owner: Michael Andev
Email: m.andev@clearbusinessfinance.com
Website: https://www.financewithmichael.co.uk