Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Value Cars Basildon("we", "us", "our") is the trading name of Value Cars Basildon LTD, registered in England and Wales. Our registered address is Unit 16, Herons Gate Trading Estate, Paycocke Rd, Basildon SS14 3EU. We are the data controller for personal data collected through this website and our taxi service.

• ICO Registration Number: TBC, pending registration
• Data Protection Contact: We do not have a Data Protection Officer; data enquiries to info@valuecars444.com
• Phone: 01268 525252
• Email: info@valuecars444.com
• Licensing authority: Basildon Borough Council

2. What data we collect

We collect the following categories of personal data:

• Identity: name, title.
• Contact: email address, phone number, pickup and drop-off addresses.
• Booking: pickup, drop-off, vehicle type, journey time, fare quote, special requirements.
• Location: live GPS during an active booking, if granted via the app.
• Payment: card last four digits and billing postcode (full card details are held by our payment processor, not us).
• Account: app username, encrypted password, saved addresses (if you create an app account).
• Communication: messages between you and the driver via app chat, calls to our office.
• Technical: IP address, browser type, device, referrer, collected automatically on every visit.
• Usage: pages viewed, time on page (only if you give analytics consent).

We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 16. If you believe a child has given us data, contact us and we will delete it.

3. Lawful basis

UK GDPR requires a lawful basis for every processing activity. Ours are:

• Contract: to fulfil a taxi booking you have requested (driver allocation, journey, payment).
• Legitimate interest: running the business, aggregate website analytics, fraud prevention, security.
• Consent: non-essential cookies, marketing emails, analytics that identify you.
• Legal obligation: tax, accounting, licensing records, and complying with Basildon Borough Council requirements.

4. Booking data and driver allocation

When you book a taxi with us:

• Your pickup and drop-off addresses are shared with the driver assigned to your booking.
• Your contact phone number is shown to the driver so they can call on arrival.
• Your name is shown to the driver.
• Your live location during the journey is visible to the driver via their driver app and to our dispatch team.

We retain booking records for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes, and live location for 30 days for safety and complaint resolution, then it is deleted.

5. Who we share data with

• Dispatch system provider: booking allocation and journey tracking. UK. Details of our processors are available on request.
• Payment processor: card payments. UK / EU.
• Hosting (Vercel Inc.): serving this website. USA, UK-US Data Bridge and Standard Contractual Clauses apply.
• Analytics (PostHog): site usage, only if you grant analytics consent.
• Basildon Borough Council: driver compliance and regulatory requirements.
• HMRC: tax reporting.
• Accountants and auditors: statutory compliance. UK.
• Law enforcement: where legally required only.

We do not sell your data. We do not share it with third parties for their own marketing.

6. How long we keep it

• Completed booking record, 7 years (UK tax law).
• Live location, 30 days, then deleted.
• Contact enquiries without a booking, 12 months from last contact.
• Card details, not stored; held by payment processor.
• App account (inactive), 24 months from last booking.
• Marketing consent and emails, until you unsubscribe + 1 month.
• Website analytics, 14 months, aggregate.

7. Where your data is stored

Most personal data is stored within the UK and EEA. Some processors (Vercel, PostHog) are based in or operate from the USA. We rely on the UK-US Data Bridge (Data Privacy Framework) and Standard Contractual Clauses to ensure equivalent protection to UK GDPR.

8. Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

• Access: request a copy of the data we hold about you.
• Rectification: correct inaccurate data.
• Erasure: ask us to delete your data, subject to legal retention.
• Restriction: ask us to stop processing while a complaint is investigated.
• Portability: receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Object: to processing based on legitimate interest or for marketing.
• Withdraw consent: at any time, without affecting prior lawful processing.

To exercise any right, email info@valuecars444.com. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Cookies

Our use of cookies is detailed in our Cookie Policy.

In short: we set essential cookies (always on) and, with your consent, analytics cookies. No marketing cookies are set by default.

10. Making a complaint

If you believe we are not handling your data correctly, please contact us first so we can put it right. If you are not satisfied, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

• Website: ico.org.uk/concerns
• Phone: 0303 123 1113
• Post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent change.