Cookie Policy
1. Introduction
This Cookies Policy explains what cookies are, how Bridge of Don Mortgage & Financial Solutions Ltd ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website bridgeofdonmortgage.co.uk (the "Website"), and what choices you have regarding their use.
We are committed to being transparent about the technologies we use. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Data Protection Policy, which set out how we collect and process your personal data in compliance with UK GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act 2018.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, smartphone or tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Cookies can be:
- Session cookies — Stored only for the duration of your browser session and deleted when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies — Stored on your device for a set period after your session ends.
- First-party cookies — Set by the website you are visiting.
- Third-party cookies — Set by a third-party domain different from the website you are visiting.
3. How We Use Cookies
Based on a technical inspection of our Website, we use the following categories of cookies:
3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Website to function and cannot be switched off. They do not require your consent under UK GDPR or PECR. They include session cookies that maintain your browsing state, our cookie consent preference cookie, and Google reCAPTCHA cookies used to protect our contact form from automated spam submissions.
3.2 Performance & Analytics Cookies
These cookies collect information about how visitors use our Website. We use Google Analytics (Universal Analytics / GA4) to gather aggregated, anonymised data about page visits and user behaviour. Our website platform (IONOS/1&1) also uses the Snowplow analytics tracker to monitor platform-level usage. We only place these cookies with your prior consent.
3.3 Functionality Cookies
Our website platform sets a number of functionality cookies that personalise your experience, including cookies that record your timezone, track how many times you have visited, and remember when you last visited the site. We only use these cookies with your prior consent.
3.4 Campaign Tracking Cookies
If you arrive at our Website via a marketing link containing UTM parameters (for example, from an email campaign or social media post), our website platform automatically stores these campaign details in cookies prefixed _dm_rt_ (e.g. _dm_rt_source, _dm_rt_medium). These are only set when UTM parameters are present in the URL and are used to understand which channels drive traffic to our site. We only use these cookies with your prior consent.
3.5 Marketing Cookies
We do not currently use advertising or retargeting cookies on this Website. Should this change, this policy will be updated and your consent will be sought before any such cookies are placed.
4. Cookies We Use
The table below sets out the specific cookies identified on our Website:
| Cookie Name | Category | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cookieconsent_status | Strictly Necessary | First-party | Stores your cookie consent preference so you are not prompted on every visit. | 1 year |
| Session cookie (PHPSESSID) | Strictly Necessary | First-party (IONOS platform) | Maintains your session state as you navigate between pages. | Session |
| _grecaptcha | Strictly Necessary | Google reCAPTCHA | Set by Google reCAPTCHA to protect our contact form from automated spam. Required for the form to function. | Session / Persistent |
| rc::a, rc::b, rc::c | Strictly Necessary | Google reCAPTCHA | Used by Google reCAPTCHA to distinguish humans from bots. | Persistent / Session |
| _ga | Performance | Google Analytics | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how you use the Website. | 2 years |
| _ga_49Q89Q4G5B | Performance | Google Analytics (GA4) | Used by Google Analytics GA4 to persist session state and track engagement. | 2 years |
| _gid | Performance | Google Analytics | Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how you use the Website. | 24 hours |
| _gat | Performance | Google Analytics | Used to throttle Google Analytics request rates. | 1 minute |
| Snowplow cookies (sp, _sp_*) | Performance | IONOS/1&1 (Snowplow) | Used by the website platform to track page views and site usage for internal platform analytics. | Session / 2 years |
| dm_timezone_offset | Functionality | First-party (IONOS platform) | Records your browser timezone to enable localised content and personalisation features. | 1 year |
| dm_this_page_view | Functionality | First-party (IONOS platform) | Records details of the current page visit to support personalisation rules. | Session |
| dm_last_page_view | Functionality | First-party (IONOS platform) | Records details of your most recent page visit for personalisation purposes. | 1 year |
| dm_total_visits | Functionality | First-party (IONOS platform) | Counts the total number of times you have visited the Website. | 1 year |
| dm_last_visit | Functionality | First-party (IONOS platform) | Records the date and time of your last visit to the Website. | 1 year |
| _dm_rt_source, _dm_rt_medium, _dm_rt_campaign (etc.) | Campaign Tracking | First-party (IONOS platform) | Set only when you arrive via a URL containing UTM parameters. Records the marketing channel that brought you to the site. | 24 hours |
5. Legal Basis for Processing
We rely on the following legal bases under UK GDPR and PECR for our use of cookies:
- Strictly necessary cookies — our legitimate interest in ensuring the Website functions correctly and securely (Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR). No consent is required under Regulation 6 PECR for these cookies.
- ·All other cookies (performance, functionality, campaign tracking) — your freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous consent obtained via our cookie consent banner (Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR and Regulation 6 PECR).
You may withdraw consent at any time.
6. Your Cookie Choices and Rights
6.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our Website, a cookie notice is displayed. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of non-essential cookies. You can also manage preferences through your browser settings (see 6.2 below).
6.2 Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Disabling cookies may affect Website functionality. Guidance for common browsers:
- Google Chrome: support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647
- Mozilla Firefox: support.mozilla.org/kb/cookies-information-websites-store-on-your-computer
- Microsoft Edge: support.microsoft.com/topic/delete-and-manage-cookies
- Safari: support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies
6.3 Opt Out of Google Analytics
You can prevent Google Analytics from tracking you across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
6.4 Your UK GDPR Rights
Where cookies process personal data, you have the right to: access the data held about you; request erasure; object to or restrict processing; and withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details in section 9.
7. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our Website are set by third parties. We do not control these cookies and recommend you review the relevant privacy policies:
- Google Analytics & reCAPTCHA: policies.google.com/privacy
- IONOS/1&1 Website Platform (Snowplow): ionos.co.uk/terms-gtc/privacy-policy/
We only embed third-party services requiring non-essential cookies where we have obtained your consent.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent version. Where changes are material, we will notify you by displaying a prominent notice on our Website. We recommend reviewing this policy periodically.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookies Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Business: Bridge of Don Mortgage & Financial Solutions Ltd
- Registered: Registered in Scotland. Company No: SC819847
- Address: 20 Newburgh Drive, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB22 8SR
- Email: nathan@bridgeofdonmortgage.co.uk
- Phone: 07548 169495
- Website: bridgeofdonmortgage.co.uk
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
- ico.org.uk
- 0303 123 1113