Privacy & Cookies Policy

As a part of our terms and conditions, this policy explains how we collect use and share any personal data. We ask that you review this information so that you understand fully our method and how we provide security in safeguarding your information.

Who we are

At Barefoot Retreats, we take pride in dealing with our clients in a fair, honest and transparent way. With the newly implemented GDPR regulations, we have now taken the opportunity to make clear how, and what, client data we handle and how this information is properly used and securely protected. Barefoot Retreats does not inappropriately share and will never sell your information.

While we are aware that reading this type of document is not to everyone’s liking, we have looked to write this policy in an easy to follow manner. In reading it, we do hope that you will find clear reassurance of how we comply with the GDPR legislation. If any questions should arise from the reading of this document, we would urge you to contact us directly on 01328 730383 or email us at chris@barefootretreats.co.uk.

When referring to Barefoot Retreats, it should be known that this is the trading name of Barefoot Norfolk Ltd. Our registered trading address is Barefoot Retreats, 3 Emma’s Court, 74 Market Place, Burnham Market, Norfolk, PE31 8HD.

The information that we collect and how we use it

When booking a holiday cottage through Barefoot Retreats, we require your name, home address, contact telephone number, names and ages of all party members over the age of 13. These are contractual obligations that are essential to the booking process and all information is stored securely in a Third Party Booking Software.

As part of the registration process for our monthly e-newsletter and mailing list, we collect personal information such as email address, name and postcode. We use that information for a couple of reasons: to tell you about stuff you’ve asked us to tell you about; to contact you if we need to obtain or provide additional information; to check our records are right and to check every now and then that you’re happy and satisfied. We don’t rent or trade email lists with other organisations and businesses.

Homeowners that work with Barefoot Retreats are asked to provide name, contact details, bank account details and information on the property. This is securely held within our password protected systems and only available to authorised persons that require the information for the purpose of carrying out works authorised by the homeowner.

Information provided by suppliers to Barefoot Retreats is kept to a minimum and typically is restricted to company name, contact name, address details and banking information that relates to payments issued for services and/or good rendered.

How your Information is Shared

We use a third-party provider, MailChimp, to deliver our newsletter. We gather statistics around email opening and clicks using industry standard technologies to help us monitor and improve our e-newsletter. For more information, please see MailChimp’s privacy notice. You can unsubscribe to general mailings at any time of the day or night by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails.

When making a payment to Barefoot Retreats, if the transaction is carried out with a debit or credit card, your information will be shared with us via our secure banking facilities. These are provided by Barclays Banks and Securetrading Ltd respectively. Information held by these providers is done so securely and only authorised people within the Barefoot Retreats team have access to these details.

Email communication through our ‘@barefootretreats.co.uk’ email accounts, are protected in numerous ways. By using the Microsoft 365 software, we are afforded a very high level of security. All email activity is also restricted to company terminals that are fully updated with the latest software and virus protection.

In the drawing of our accounts and in relation to financial matters, information specifically related to our accountancy and book keeping will be shared with TBS Norwich Ltd, 12 Ashgrove, Drayton NR8 6AY and Clenshaw Minns Chartered Accountants, 30 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7QH. This done so protected by contract preventing unlawful sharing of information.

Google Analytics

When someone visits www.barefootretreats.co.uk we use a third-party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website.

Cookies Policy

Like most websites, the Barefoot Retreats website uses cookies to collect information.  Cookies are small data files which are placed on your computer or other devices (such as smart ‘phones or ‘tablets’) as you browse this website.  They are used to ‘remember’ when your computer or device accesses our websites.  Cookies are essential for the effective operation of our websites and to help you book holidays with us through our online service.

Information collected

Some cookies collect information about browsing and purchasing behaviour when you access this website via the same computer or device.  This includes information about pages viewed, products purchased and your journey around a website.  We do not use cookies to collect or record information on your name, address or other contact details.  Barefoot Retreats can use cookies to monitor your browsing and purchasing behaviour.

How are cookies managed?

The cookies stored on your computer or other device when you access our websites are designed by:

– Barefoot Retreats, or on behalf of Barefoot Retreats, and are necessary to enable you to a make purchases on our website;

– third parties, such as Google Analytics, who participate with us in marketing programmes; and

– third parties, such as Google Analytics, who broadcast web banner advertisements on behalf of Barefoot Retreats.

What are cookies used for?

The main purposes for which cookies are used are: –

1. For technical purposes essential to effective operation of our websites, particularly in relation to on-line transactions and site navigation.
2. For Barefoot Retreats to market to you, particularly web banner advertisements and targeted updates.
3. To enable Barefoot Retreats to collect information about your browsing and shopping patterns, including to monitor the success of campaigns, competitions etc.

You may refuse to accept cookies by activating the setting on your browser which allows you to refuse the setting of cookies.  However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality and features of this website.

Access to your Personal Information

Barefoot Retreats will always respond proactively to any request by an entitled person to view, amend or delete the personal information that we hold. Email any request enquiries@barefootretreats.co.uk.

If you are someone that has made a payment to Barefoot Retreats, we may securely retain, for up to 6 years, basic information on the nature of the purchase and the parties involved in the monetary transaction.

If you are a homeowner or guests that has worked/stayed with us, we may securely retain your basic contact details, correspondence and details related to our financial dealings for up to 6 years.

Links to other websites

This website may include links to third-party websites and applications.  Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect and share data about you.  We do not control those third party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements.

Further Updates to this Privacy Policy

This policy was updated last on 31st December 2024.