Privacy Statement
At MyAppeal.ie privacy and data protection rights are very important to us. This policy is a statement of our commitment to protect the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with the Data Protection Acts.
In any circumstances where MyAppeal.ie acts as a Data Controller and Data Processor under the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003 all personal data will be maintained in accordance with the obligations of that Act.
Data Protection is the safeguarding of the privacy rights of individuals in relation to the processing of personal data, in both paper and electronic format. The Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 (the “Data Protection Acts”) lay down strict rules about the way in which personal data and sensitive personal data are collected, accessed, used and disclosed. The Data Protection Acts also permit individuals to access their personal data on request, and confer on individuals the right to have their personal data amended if found to be incorrect.
This document outlines the MyAppeal.ie policy to help ensure that we comply with the Data Protection Acts.
Inquiries about this Data Protection Policy should be made to: Data Protection Co-Ordinator, MyAppeal.ie.
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Collecting information.
Where we collect and use information it will be to provide the following services:
- To provide a range of Social Welfare Appeals services and supports to clients in relation to taking appeals to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and to communicate with the Department of Social Protection
- To undertake advertising, marketing, direct marketing and public relation exercises
- To perform accounting and other record-keeping functions. To provide personnel, payroll and pension administration services as may be require in the legitimate operation of the service
- Use of name and address data for identity verification, anti-fraud and anti-money laundering services as may be required.
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Collection and Use of Technical Information
This website does not use cookies, apart from temporary “session” cookies which enable a visitor’s web browser to remember which pages on this website have already been visited. Visitors should ensure that cookies are enabled through the browser to make maximum use of this website.
Technical details in connection with visits to this website are logged for statistical purposes. No information is collected that could be used by us to identify website visitors. The technical details logged are confined to the following items
- the IP address of the visitor’s web server
- the top-level domain name used (for example .ie, .com, .org, .net) – where/if possible
- clickstream data which shows the traffic of visitors around this website (for example pages accessed and documents downloaded)
- the type of web browser used by the website visitor
- the version of the operating system used by the visitor.
We do not attempt to identify individual visitors, or to associate the technical details listed above with any individual. We do not disclose such technical information in respect of individual website visitors to any third party unless obliged to disclose such information by a rule of law. The technical information will only be used for statistical and other administrative purposes.
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Glossary of Technical Terms
– Web Browser: This is the piece of software you use to connect to the internet and read web pages. Examples are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera.
– IP address: When you connect up to the internet your computer is given a ‘location’ address so that you can send and receive information i.e. receive/view webpages and send e-mail. The identifying details for your computer (or your internet company’s computer), are expressed in “internet protocol” code (for example 164.139.69.28). Every computer connected to the web has a unique IP address, although the address may not be the same every time a connection is made.
– Cookies: These are small pieces of information, stored in simple text files, placed on your computer by a website. Cookies can be read by the website on your subsequent visits. The information stored in a cookie may relate to your browsing habits on the web page, or a unique identification number so that the website can “remember” you on your return visit. Generally speaking, cookies do not contain personal information from which you can be identified, unless you have furnished such information to the website.
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Data Protection Principles
We shall perform our responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts in accordance with the following eight Data Protection ‘Rules’:
- Obtain and process information fairly
We shall obtain and process personal data fairly and in accordance with statutory and other legal obligations. - Keep it only for one or more specified, explicit and lawful purposes
We shall keep personal data for purposes that are specific, lawful and clearly stated. Personal data will only be processed in a manner compatible with these purposes as defined in the company personal data usage matrix. - Use and disclose only in ways compatible with these purposes
We shall use and disclose personal data only in circumstances that are necessary for the purposes for which we collected the data, where we have the individuals explicit permission to do so as part of any services provided for or on behalf of an individual. - Keep it safe and secure
We shall take appropriate security measures against unauthorised access to, or alteration, disclosure or destruction of personal data and against its accidental loss or destruction. - Keep it accurate, complete and up-to-date
We adopt procedures that ensure high levels of data accuracy, completeness and that data is up-to-date. - Ensure it is adequate, relevant and not excessive
We shall only hold personal data to the extent that it is adequate, relevant and not excessive. - Retain for no longer than is necessary
We have a retention policy for personal data. - Give a copy of his/ her personal data to that individual, on request
We adopt procedures to ensure that data subjects can exercise their rights under the Data Protection legislation to access their data.
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Responsibility
Overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with Data Protection Acts rests with MyAppeal.ie. However, our responsibility varies depending upon whether we are acting as either a data controller or a data processor. All employees and contractors of MyAppeal.ie who separately collect, control or process the content and use of personal data are individually responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Acts.
The Data Protection Co-Ordinator is the MyAppeal.ie Data Protection Officer, and co-ordinates the provision of support, assistance, advice, and training within MyAppeal.ie to ensure that the company is in a position to comply with the legislation.
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Keeping your Data Secure
Transmitting information over the internet is generally not completely 100% secure, and we can’t guarantee the total and complete security of your data. We have procedures and security features in place to try and keep your data secure once we receive it. Whilst we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of our servers, nor can we guarantee that information you supply through this Website will not be intercepted whilst being transmitted over the Internet.
We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. We won’t share your information with any other organisations for marketing, market research or commercial purposes, and we don’t pass on your details to other websites without your direct explicit consent.
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Retaining Personal Data
We may retain certain information associated with you in our archives, including for analytical purposes as well as for recordkeeping integrity. The periods for which we retain your information depend on the purpose for which we collected it and we use it.
We will not retain your personal information for longer than is necessary for our business purposes or for legal requirements. We may retain some information for a period of time after you have closed your account with us, for instance if this is necessary to meet our legal obligations or to exercise, defend or establish legal rights.
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Sale or Transfer of Ownership
In the event the MyAppeal.ie goes through a business transaction such as a merger, an acquisition by another company, or a sale of all or a portion of its assets to which this privacy policy relates, your information will likely be among the assets transferred and you will be notified via e-mail and/or a prominent notice on our Website of such change in ownership.
Such transfer can only occur where written undertakings and guarantees have been given that the data transferred will be kept securely in accordance with the Data Protection Acts. By use of this website and any associated services you acknowledge and accept that such transfers may occur.
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Procedures and Guidelines
MyAppeal.ie is firmly committed to ensuring personal privacy and compliance with the Data Protection Acts, including the provision of best practice guidelines and procedures in relation to all aspects of Data Protection.
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Revisions to this Privacy Statement
This Privacy Statement may change and be updated when required by law or at any time we deem necessary. We will post a notification of any alternations to this policy on the Website, but we encourage you to periodically refer to this policy to remain up to date.
You may not assume that this policy remains the same and you agree to check our Privacy Statement when using the MyAppeal.ie website. Your continued use of this site always evidences your acceptance our Privacy Statement and any modifications.
