Policy for BT Openzone Customer Data

BT Websites Privacy and Security Policy

We have developed this policy because we want you to feel confident about the privacy and security of your personal information.

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The Use of Personal Information

Because BT's websites contain so much information, we want to help you find what you want as quickly and smoothly as possible. The more we know about you, the easier it is for us to help you. So we encourage you to register so that we can give you quicker and better access to your favourite services in the future - as well as point you in directions which may interest you.

You don't need to register to access most BT websites. But if you do register, you only have to give us a login name and a password. Additional details concerning your billing account and telephone numbers, your email address and other personal details are optional, but may be needed if you want to use particular online services, or to customise your use of BT websites to suit your individual needs.

When you register, any details you provide will be stored for use on future visits, as we do not want you to give us any information more than once. The details you give us may be combined with information about your use of the BT.com website and information from other BT records in order to:

  • Provide you with online services like View My Bill or to change Friends and Family Numbers. In order to provide these we need your phone number and billing account number for verification purposes.
  • Save you having to keep giving us the same information for different BT services. For instance, if you have ever ordered online with BT, certain parts of the order form may be automatically filled in for you in future.
  • Help you to get more out of your visits to BT.com - by suggesting information products and services, which will be useful to you personally.
  • Keep other parts of BT up to date to offer you products and services that may interest you, by post, telephone contact or email. If you do not want to receive this sort of information, please go to the section on 'Managing your contacts with BT'.
  • If you register, we will treat you as having consented to our using your personal data in the manner described in this Policy. If you do not register, the personal data we collect from you will be limited to that which you give us in order to enter into any transactions online. BT.com will use that data in order to facilitate that transaction and for no other purpose.

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Email Addresses

At BT we respect the privacy of personal email accounts and we store your email addresses just as securely as other personal information on BT.com. We will not send you unwanted email messages or junk mail, and your details will not be passed to ANY organisation beyond BT without your explicit permission.

However, we will use email to send you messages about outstanding orders, faults and service issues. We may also use email to keep you up to date with news about your current services, as well as anything you show an interest in, either online, or through other contact with BT. If you do not want to be kept informed in this way by email, please let us know. You can do this by ticking the relevant box where your email address is stored in the BT.com personal profile.

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Disclosure of Information

BT complies with and is registered under the data protection laws in the United Kingdom and takes all reasonable care to prevent any unauthorised access to your personal data.

BT people and those working for agents or contractors of BT have a responsibility to keep your information confidential and will only use it to offer products and services on behalf of BT.

The personal details that we use to provide or promote our products and services (for example your name, telephone number, or details of the services you use), as well as any information taken from you while you are using this website, will NOT be passed to ANY organisation beyond BT to be used for marketing purposes. Your details may sometimes be shared with BT contractors or agents in order to provide you with BT products and services you have requested, but we will make this clear to you in the relevant terms and conditions we give you when you order.

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Right of Access to your BT Information

When you visit BT.com you have direct personal control over information in your personal profile. You can access and change this information at any time by using the 'update your profile' link.

If you want to know exactly what personal information BT holds on you, you can obtain it. If it transpires that the information held is inaccurate, we will make the necessary amendments and confirm to you that these have been made. Please write to the following address, enclosing a cheque for the administration fee of L10 made payable to BT plc under the terms of the Data Protection Act.

Data Subject Access Manager, PP LF11, Libra House, Sunrise Parkway, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6PH.

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Security

We at BT are serious about guarding the security of your personal data and the details of any transactions you make.

Your billing account number is a sensitive piece of information, which can be used to find out information about your BT services, if it is used with your telephone number. Please be sure to keep this information safe and do not share it with others. For access to information such as itemised billing information and some business account and ordering services, extra proof of identity and authorisation may be needed.

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How does BT protect your Data?

When you register details with us, make an order or access account details, we use a secure server. Any data you give us is encrypted using a 'Secure Socket Layer' (SSL) session. SSL is an industry standard and is one of the best ways to ensure Internet messages are not intercepted. You should be aware, however, that older browsers cannot use SSL. To be sure, you will need Netscape version 4.05 or Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers, version 4 or above.

Over and above what BT do to safeguard your privacy and security, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from Internet fraud:

  • Choose a password you can remember but others will not guess, change it regularly, and if you do write it down, keep it somewhere safe and secure.
  • When you have finished your session on BT.com, make sure that 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. As an extra precaution your session on many areas of BT.com will terminate if you have not used the site for 30 minutes.

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Use of Cookies

BT websites create a 'cookie' when you first register online. A 'cookie' is a piece of information, like a tag, which some websites create against your PC. Our 'cookie' stores some basic information which helps us to identify if you have visited the site before and if you have provide you with some personalised content such as welcoming you by name if you have supplied this in a previous visit. However, as it is based on your PC, we will not find the 'cookie' if you visit BT.com from a different PC to the one you registered on.

BT's use of 'cookies' includes the following assurances:

  • No information regarding your telephone number, account or payment details is included in the cookie or can be accessed using it.
  • They do not collect any personal information regarding the use of your PC or Internet browsing in any way.

If you do not want a cookie to be created on your PC, web browsers such as Netscape and Internet Explorer provide the option to disable them. Please bear in mind that some personalised services on BT.com may not be available if you choose to disable cookies.

BT also uses third parties to track its advertising across the web. The information these third parties collects does not include any personal information, but is merely for the purpose of identifying the general effectiveness of such online advertising.

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Third Party Sites

Third party Internet sites that you can link to through BT.com are not covered by our Privacy and Security policy, so we urge you to be careful when you enter any personal information online. BT accepts no responsibility or liability for these sites.

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Managing your Contact with BT

If you would like to stop unsolicited telemarketing calls from BT and other companies, please contact the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 0700707 and register your telephone number(s). Direct marketing calls should stop after 28 days.

If you would like to stop unsolicited direct marketing mailers from BT and other companies, please contact the Mail Preference Service on 0345 034599 and ask for a registration pack. Direct marketing mailers should decrease after 3 months.(Remember to re-register if you change your address.)

If you would like BT ONLY not to call or mail you with details of products, services and special offers:

  • Residential customers please call 0800 800 150.
  • Business customers please contact your Account Manager or call 0800 028 1801.

If you would like to stop unsolicited marketing facsimiles (faxes), please contact the Fax Preference Service on 0845 0700702 and register your fax number(s). Direct marketing faxes should stop after 28 days. If you are an individual consumer or a sole trader, it is illegal to send you such faxes unless you have given explicit permission to the sender.

If you would like BT not to email you with details of products, services and special offers please complete your email address in the BT.com profile together with the contact option next to it. You may still receive emails in reply to those you send BT and notices connected with bills and orders. This opt out applies to the email address you provide to BT.com. But please remember that if you change your email provider, you will also need to change the address used by BT.com.

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