Sunday 20th May

Privacy policy

Who are we?

  • meander.in is provided by iO Global Limited trading as io-me.
  • Company number 05269056, whose registered office is located at NG 10 Columba House, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP5 3RE a technology company providing internet and mobile services.
  • iome was created in May 2005 by British Telecommunications and New Venture Partners after five years development in BT's Research Laboratories. We have offices in London and Ipswich. Iome website

Why do we have a Privacy Policy?

  • We have developed this policy because we want you to feel confident about the privacy and security of your personal data.
  • iome is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office in accordance with United Kingdom data protection laws and takes all reasonable care to prevent any unauthorised access to your personal data.
  • When we refer to "personal data" in this privacy policy, we mean data which identifies you as an individual, or is capable of doing so (as more properly defined in applicable UK law).
  • Accordingly, we may hold and use personal data that relates to you in your capacity as a consumer, a business customer, as an individual acting on behalf of a business customer, or in any other capacity, for example, when you visit our websites.
  • Please read this privacy policy carefully.
  • If you are visiting any of our websites or using any of our services, by continuing to do so, you indicate your agreement to our use of your personal data as set out in this privacy policy.

What does this privacy policy cover?

  • This privacy policy only applies to how iome deals with your personal data. It does not apply to any other company or to any other company's websites even if you access them through iome.
  • If you disclose your personal data to other companies your information will be processed according to their own procedures.
  • Rights as an information subject under the Act You have a number of rights relating to the personal data which iome holds about you.

The main ones are as follows:

  • to be given a copy of any data held, whether on a computer or in a manual file. This is known as a "subject access request";
  • to ask iome not to process any data held about you on the grounds that it might cause you substantial damage or distress;
  • to ask iome not to use your personal data for the purposes of direct marketing, should this ever be undertaken by iome.

What personal data do we collect about you, and when do we collect it?

  • We may ask you for information to enable us to provide a relevant service to you and we collect this information via a website. We may ask you for information including your name, private/business address, contact telephone numbers and email address, as well as personal preference information. We may also ask you for other information that relates to the service you are using or ordering. For example, we may need your credit card number to charge you for certain services.
  • We have information about your use of our services (such as the amount of time you spend on-line, the services you use etc.). We may also use this information for marketing our other products and services. If you do not want us to do so you can opt out during registration by ticking the box. You can always opt out later, if you wish via the Contact us feature. If you are happy for us to use this information to enable third parties' goods/services to be marketed to you this is part of the opt in during registration. You can always opt out later, if you wish via the Contact us feature.
  • If you enter into any of our competitions or promotions, we may ask for information about you, which will be made clear at the time you enter. We will also inform you of the purposes for which the information you provide may be used and give you the opportunity to opt out.
  • We may ask you from time to time about what use you make of the services we provide, what other services you would like us to provide in the future, and for other information, such as lifestyle data.
  • We collect information from visitors to our websites to help us to make improvements to the websites and to the services we make available. We know, for instance, how many visitors there are to each website, when they visited, for how long and to which areas of our website they went. We may share this information with our advertisers and to other companies which offer their goods or services on our websites. It helps to show these organisations how effective our websites are as sales channels for their products. You or any other individual cannot be identified from the information we share as the data is aggregated and anonymised.
  • We do not use this information to: identify individuals visiting our website; or analyse your visits to any other websites (except that we do track you if you go to websites carrying our banner, but we do not identify personal details while we do this); or track any Internet searches which you may make while on our website.

What personal data do we collect about you from other companies and organisations?

  • We may receive personal data about you from other companies and organisations (for example, for marketing purposes) and we rely on these third parties to have obtained your consent for us to use this information.
  • Please note that when you order goods and services through iome websites we may make enquiries about you for credit reference purposes. These enquires include searching your records held by credit reference agencies and checking any details held on you by the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) Security Alert or any other fraud prevention scheme.
  • At all times where your information is disclosed to us we will protect it in accordance with this policy and keep it secure.

Do we share your personal data with anyone else?

  • We sometimes use other companies to provide services to you or to provide services to us. To enable them to do this, we may need to share your personal data with them. When we do so, these companies are required to act in accordance with the instructions we give them and they must meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act to keep the data secure.
  • We may share your personal data with other companies so that they can contact you with details of other products or services you may be interested in. We will only do this if you have agreed to this and where the companies agree to use your personal data for that purpose only. If you have agreed to receive information about products and services from another company and later decide not to you will need to contact that company yourself to let them know. You can, of course, ask us not to continue to provide your personal data to any more companies in future.
  • We may provide information including personal data, in response to properly made requests, for the purposes of the prevention and detection of crime, and the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. We may also provide information including personal data for the purpose of safeguarding national security. In either case we do so in accordance with the Data Protection Act. We also provide information including personal data when required to do so by law, for example under a court order, or in response to properly made demands, under powers contained in legislation.
  • If there is a change (or prospective change) in the ownership of iome or any of its assets, we may disclose personal data to the new (or prospective) owner. If we do so, we will require them to keep it confidential. If you believe the personal data we hold on you is incorrect you may amend it by following the procedure set out below in "How can I change the personal data iome holds about me?"

For how long does iome keep personal data?

  • The time period for which we keep personal data varies according to what the it is used for. In some cases, there are legal requirements to keep personal data for a minimum period. Unless there is a specific legal requirement for us to keep the information, we will retain it for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data was collected or for which it is to be further processed.

How do we protect your data when it is transferred out of Europe?

  • Countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) are required to have a similar standard of protection of personal data but this is not always the case in countries outside of the EEA. We do sometimes transfer data outside the EEA and by agreeing to this policy you consent to our doing so. We do take steps to satisfy ourselves that your personal data will be given adequate protection.

How can I find out what personal data iome holds about me?

Data Protect Act - Access Procedure
  • Summary
    Every individual has the basic right to know what personal data is held about them, although there are some exemptions to this basic rule.
  • Procedure
    To apply for access to your personal data - or that of another individual IF YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO - you will need to submit an application in writing. To ensure that all relevant information supporting your request is supplied it is recommended that you complete an application form which are available from us on request.
  • Helplines
    If you need any further assistance, please contact our Data Protection Officer by email – info@meander.in
  • Charges/Fees
    iome reserves the right to charge the maximum standard fee of £10.00 for the application, which must be paid before any information is disclosed. However, acting in the spirit of the Data Protection Act, this fee is not normally charged.
  • Method of Payment Available
    Currently, payment by cash or cheque is acceptable. The officer dealing with your application will advise if any payment is required before information is disclosed.
  • Locations/Opening Times
    You can submit your application for access by email to: - info@meander.in
  • How the Customer can help
    A Subject Access Request (SAR) must be in writing. It cannot be accepted otherwise. It must clearly state the details of the Data Subject and the person applying (" Applicant") (if different). Where an Applicant is acting on behalf of another individual then the Applicant must be able to show authority to do so, for example, a letter of authority from the Data Subject whose details are being requested. E-mails are accepted as being in writing. Accurate and full details regarding the application are essential. Clearly identifying any specific information sought - rather than just 'everything' - will enable your application to be processed as quickly as possible.
  • Legislation
    Data Protection Act 1998.
  • Websites
    You may find some more useful information by clicking on the link to the Information Commissioner's office - and then selecting the Data Protection option.
  • Response Times/Next Steps
    We will acknowledge receipt of your request for information within 5 working days (excluding bank and national holidays) of us receiving it. We will either confirm it's acceptance as a valid request or ask you for further information to clarify any part of the request. We will provide you with details of the searches we have made within 40 calendar days of us receiving the accepted request.
  • Owner/Officer Contact Details
    End of Access Procedure
  • How can I change the personal data iome holds about me? If the information we hold about you is inaccurate, please let us know and we will make the necessary amendments and confirm that these have been made.

How can I manage iome's contact with me for marketing purposes?

  • You may choose not to receive marketing information from iome and, if you are already receiving such information from us, you can ask us to stop at any time. If you would like to stop unsolicited telemarketing calls from other companies, please contact the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 0700707 or do this online at www.tpsonline.org.uk and register your telephone number(s). Direct marketing calls should stop after 28 days. If you would like to stop unsolicited direct marketing mailings companies, please contact the Mail Preference Service on 0345 034599 or do this online at www.mpsonline.org.uk. Direct marketing mailers should stop or significantly reduce after 3 months. (Remember to re-register if you change your address).

How do we protect your personal data?

  • We are serious about guarding the security of your personal data and the details of any transactions made. We take appropriate organisational and technical security measures to protect your data against unauthorised disclosure or processing. We use a secure server to store the information you give us when you register or if, in the future, you make an order (including your credit card details and your password). Any personal data you send us on-line is securely encrypted.

How do you find out about changes to our privacy policy?

  • We may change our privacy policy from time to time. New policies will be published on our web sites.

Does iome's privacy policy protect me when I use iome's websites?

  • iome's privacy policy also applies to information collected when you use any of our websites. You do not have to register to access most of our websites. However, if you provide information via the "contact us" or any of the other interactive features, you indicate your consent to our use of your personal data in the manner described in this privacy policy.
  • If you do register on one of our websites, we may ask you to provide personal details such as name, address, e-mail address, telephone number. We also ask you to choose a password , and in case you forget your password there is a forgotten password facility.
  • Once you have registered on one of our websites, we may keep a record of your use of any of the services made available via that particular website. (Please see "When does iome use cookies" below for more information on how we do this).
  • If you choose not to register with us and only browse our websites, we may gather information to help make your visit to our website more satisfying. However, this information will not identify you personally. (Please see "When does iome use cookies" below for more information on how we do this).
  • If you do not wish to register, you will still be able to use and order some of the services offered via our websites. We will only ask you to provide such information as necessary to enable us to carry out the transaction in question. We will not use that information for any other purpose. You should note that some services are only available if you register on the website first.
  • In the future once you have registered you will have direct control over information in your personal profile on our website. You will be able to access and change this information at any time by using the appropriate link.
  • Over and above what iome does to safeguard your privacy and security on-line, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from Internet fraud: Choose a password (letters and digits) you can remember but others will not guess. Although you cannot change it at the moment, if you forget it we can help you. If you do write it down, keep it somewhere safe and secure.
  • When you have finished your session on our website, make sure you prevent your details being seen by anyone that you do not wish to see them. So, if you have registered and logged in, remember to log off. Clear any cache so there is no record of any transactions left on screen - both Netscape and Internet Explorer let you do this. We also recommend you then close your browser so any history of the session is cleared.
  • We collect information from visitors to our websites to help us to make improvements to the websites and to the services we make available. We know, for instance, how many visitors there are to each website, when they visited, for how long and to which areas of our website they went. We may share this information with our advertisers and to other companies which offer their goods or services on our websites. It helps to show these organisations how effective our websites are as sales channels for their products. You or any other individual cannot be identified from the information we share as the data is aggregated and anonymised.
  • We do not use this information to: identify individuals visiting our website; or analyse your visits to any other websites (except that we do track you if you go to websites carrying our banner, but we do not identify personal details while we do this); or track any Internet searches which you may make while on our website.

When do we use cookies?

  • A "cookie" is a text file which is allocated by our server to your personal computer (PC) when you visit our website. If you want to know more about cookies please go to www.allaboutcookies.org which explains how cookies work and how you can manage their use. We use "cookies" to collect information from visitors to our websites and registered customers. Our servers use one type of cookie now and may in future use others. The current type is known as a "session-based" cookie and is allocated to your PC only for the duration of your visit to our website. It helps you to move around the website faster. This cookie automatically expires when you close down your browser.
  • Please note that as the cookie is based on your PC, we will not find it if you visit our websites using a different PC to the one you registered on.
  • We do not store information regarding your telephone number, account or payment details in the cookie, and this information cannot be accessed using it. iome's cookies do not collect any information regarding the use of your PC or your Internet browsing in any way.
  • Another type of cookie known as a "persistent" cookie is allocated to your PC by third party services that are included in Plotstar. Such services include facebook connect, Google maps and advertising. Persistent cookies will remain on your PC for a period of time.

How do you disable cookies?

  • All types of cookies can be removed from your PC but there may be some deterioration in the service you receive (for example, you may receive many pop up boxes containing the same advertisements or you may not be able to access a page you earlier personalised).
  • Your browser lets you choose whether to accept, not to accept or to be warned before accepting cookies. These settings can be found in the advanced preferences in Internet Explorer select: Tools menu / Internet options / Privacy
  • in Netscape 7.1 select: Edit menu / Preferences / Privacy and Security / Cookies
  • in Firefox select: Tools menu / Options / Privacy / Cookies

Are third party sites covered by this policy?

  • Third party Internet sites that you can link to from iome's websites are not covered by our privacy policy, so we urge you to be careful when you enter any personal data online. iome accepts no responsibility or liability for these sites.
  • Other companies which advertise or offer their products or services on our website may also allocate cookies to your PC. The types of cookies they use and how they use the information generated by them will be governed by their own privacy policies and not ours.