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HDI Privacy Policy - Last updated 6 December 2007
We regard privacy as one of our most important values and we are committed to protecting
your personal privacy. We want you to know how we protect your information and what choices you have
about its use. We believe our Privacy Policy should give you confidence whenever you use hdi-europe.com.
Our privacy policy clarifies our commitment and defines: how we safeguard your privacy, how we treat
personal information, and what choices you have. We understand that for you to take full advantage of
the benefits of this interactive medium, we must do everything we can to ensure that your privacy is
secure.
User Registration
The HDI site may require user registration for some non-member information.
Customer Information
Our site uses order forms for customers to request information about products
and services. We collect customers' contact information (like their email address etc.), demographic
information (like address and zip/post code etc.) and financial information (like account or credit
card numbers). Information is collected at the time of:
- a sale
- an on-line subscription to products/services
- a request for information
in order to complete the transaction and deliver the products/services requested. The contact information
is also used to get in touch with the customer when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future
electronic or direct mailings. Financial information that is collected is used to check the users'
credentials and bill the user for services ordered. Demographic and profile data is also collected at
our site. We may use this data to tailor the visitor's experience at our site, showing them content that
we think they might be interested in, and displaying the content according to their preferences. Customer
lists are not sold or distributed to third parties. HDI does not use customer lists to send solicitations
(except for renewal notices for continuing products/services such as magazine subscriptions and membership
services) unless permission to do so is given by the customer. We do not give out your contact details to
any third party unless you authorise us to do so. And we give you the opportunity to correct your personal
contact information at any time.
Our online surveys ask visitors for contact information (like their email address) and demographic
information (like their address and zip/post code etc.). We do not use contact data from our surveys
to send the user information about our company.
Web Site Log File
Like most web sites log files are generated that show the IP Address of the visitor,
date, time, and pages visited. Aggregate reports for web site visitors are generated that do not contain
personally identifiable information. Some membership and restricted areas require that your personal details
are recorded for the purpose of statistics and to further enhance your browsing experience.
Advertising reports are generated that show the IP addresses of
visitors who clicked on ads. This information may be sent to the advertiser. The advertiser already has
this information as a result of the user clicking on the ad. No additional information about the visitor
is supplied to the advertiser. The log files are eventually deleted. We also use your IP address to help
diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site. Your IP address could be used to help
identify you and to gather broad demographic information.
Cookies
Internet 'session cookies' are used by HDI to record your login status in order to
save you entering your password every time you access a member only section of the HDI site. These cookies
are temporary and are automatically discarded at the end of every session.
We may also use permanent cookies, with your permission, to help us identify you on future visits. This stores
a harmless piece of data onto your machine which can only be read by HDI. No personal information is stored
in these cookies. It is not recommended for you to agree to permanent cookies if you "hot desk" or do not
use a regular computer.
A user does not have to supply any personal information unless they decide to complete an order, complete a booking, pay
via credit card, or are required to do so on restricted areas of the website. Orders can also be printed and paid by mail or fax without entering any information.
Third Party Downloads
No Images, files, or cookies are downloaded from third party servers except for
Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. This means no banner networks, hidden "web bugs" (images of size 1x1 pixels
used to track users).
External Linking
The logging of clicks for external links using "redirects" is only done for advertisements.
This is indicated by link to a URL such as '/redirect.asp?url= ...' The external URL is clearly marked in
the "url=" portion. This is done to create the advertising reports described above. This site also
contains links to other sites. HDI is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such
Web sites.
Mailing Lists
HDI maintains subscription mailing lists for its own use. You may opt out of subscriptions at any time.
You may do this by following the instructions at the bottom of HDI mailings.
Favicon.ico Requests
Some browsers initiate a favicon.ico request to a web site when a user adds a site
to their "Favorites" list. (.ico stands for "icon") It is a small 16x16 pixel icon that replaces the
standard icon used for a web page. Favicon.ico requests are not tracked by HDI.
The restrictions on the dissemination of personal information are not subject to change. The policy is
updated occasionally but the changes will not reduce the privacy protection of visitors. If there are
changes made in the future the changes will not affect information already collected.
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