Privacy Statement for the North East Charities Fund/PCR Scheme.  

The North East Charities Fund has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy.  The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this website: The PCR  Scheme located at http://www.cartridge-recycling.org.uk.

The North East Charities fund does actively log users IP numbers, Windows version and browser type/version. Your IP numbers are special numbers which you ISP will provide you with when ever you log in to their service. Although this data is stored they are 100% anonymous. We are not able to trace them back to users and even in the future should this option become available we will never try. The only time log files are used is for analysis purposes. We do not monitor or trace locations of visitors, however it is stored. The information gathered by our server relating to Windows type and version is not processed in any way. However it is a function provided by our site providers (Netscalibur formerly known as Direct Connection) which we are unable to deactivate. Currently I am using an "Email" based statistical function from Netscalibur. This means every Monday at 2am I get an email with the site statistics. In this email no IP numbers are shared and I only see how many visitors used our site in the week and also which pages were visited the most.

Our site's registration form requires users to give us contact information (like their name and email address. This is only if they wish to sign up to the scheme). We use members contact information from the registration form to send the user requested information about our scheme and to provide them with updates and any equipment (e.g. sacks, boxes and/or envelopes). The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary.  Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings (stop supporting the scheme); see the opt-out section below. We also request that you provide us with information about the printers and cartridges you use. This is so that we are more able to provide support and equipment needed for the collection scheme. It is also requested that you inform us of the frequency of cartridges you will be using so that we are better able to provide you with a usable collection scheme. All information is confidential and will never be distributed to any 3^rd parties (except our recycling companies). We however are not responsible for the privacy policies of any external organisation or company who is connected to the scheme (this includes but is not limited to our Recycling Companies or links to other websites from ours).

While the NECF may log where you came from before signing up to the scheme, this will only be used for statistical purposes or help decide where u wish any funds raised by yourself to be donated. For example if you signup to the scheme via one of our sub-websites (which are still based inside the www.cartridge-recycling.org.uk domain) then this will be noted. However no personal information will be assumed because of this and anonymity is assured.

Should the PCR scheme ever cease trading then user details may be passed onto a new recycling organisation who will continue running the scheme on our behalf. However you shall be informed of this prior to any data transfer and have the option of having your details deleted from the database.

The PCR Scheme also has the option of selling users new and remanufactured printer cartridges as well as other IT goods. Users have the option of purchasing these, however we will never "Cold Call" you about purchasing our goods. You may however receive a leaflet about these items inside any letters we send you.

Our free mailing list (provided by Topica at http://www.topica.com ) is a voluntary signup. We do add new members on to the mailing list who join the scheme and will remove these members from the list we have added. However members for which we do not subscribe are responsible for un-subscribing themselves if the wish to opt out from the list. You do not need to be a member of the mailing list to join the scheme. The list is used to help us cut costs by being able to email users with updates on the scheme rather than sending postal letters. The list is safe from all viruses as staff are the only people able to post to the list. Topica also pays us for hosting the list at Topica in the form of free adverts on other lists - this is another reason to stay on the list - as we are then able to get free adverts to other Topica users/lists about the scheme.

This site contains links to other sites. The North East Charities Fund is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. All sites, however, have been thoroughly researched to check for privacy policies (if required). If you feel that a site linking to us has poor privacy standards or breeched your privacy then you must contact Abuse@cartridge-recycling.org.uk with details of the problem. You may also contact the offending company, however we will do this on your behalf. Although we are sponsored by other companies (whose web sites are linked to from this site), we do not provide them with any contact information for our members. They can however request to see our site statistics which is explained in detail in paragraph 2.

This site makes chat "mailing lists" available to its users via our FREE  list at Topica. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information. Our site does not provides users with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving communications from our partners, this is because partners will not be given your information except at your request via their own website.

Opting Out.

This site gives users the following options for removing their information from our database to not receive future communications or to no longer receive our service:

O     You can send email to a Optout@cartridge-recycling.org.uk in which users MUST describe their wishes.

O     To remove yourself from our email mailing list you must email Cartridge-recycling-unsubscribe@topica.com with a BLANK email. This is an automated service and we do not unsubscribe members unless in exceptional circumstances.

O     This site gives users the following options for changing and modifying information previously provided. This must be sent to Changes@cartridge-recycling.org.uk in which members state their old and new contact information.

Confirmation Emails for all of the above will be sent as soon as the process/update has been completed. Please allow up to 48 hours for a reply. This time limit may be exceeded when demand for the scheme is high and/or when staff are unavailable. Dates and times of staff being unavailable will be posted in advance on the mailing list.

Contacting the Web Site.

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this Web site, you can contact Mark Mc Nichol at the contact information you would have been given at the sign up or as shown in the contact section of the website.