Privacy Notice

This notice explains how Racing Pencils collects, uses and protects personal information when you visit our website or contact us.

1. Who we are

Racing Pencils is a publishing brand operated by A. Obeid.

For the purposes of UK data-protection law, the person operating Racing Pencils is responsible for deciding how personal information collected through this website is used.

You can contact us about privacy matters at:

Email: [email protected]
General enquiries: [email protected]

A privacy notice should identify the organisation or person responsible, explain the information collected, the reasons for using it, the lawful basis, sharing arrangements and retention periods. The ICO recommends gathering this information before finalising the notice.

2. Information we may collect

Depending on how you use the website, we may collect:

• Your name and email address when you contact us
• The contents of messages you send to us
• Technical information such as IP address, browser type, device type and request logs
• Security information used to detect abuse, malicious traffic or unauthorised access
• Cookie or similar-technology information where applicable

Please do not send us personal information about a child unless we have specifically requested it for a clearly explained service.

3. How we use personal information

We may use personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries and support requests
• Operate, maintain and secure the website
• Diagnose technical problems
• Prevent spam, fraud, abuse and unauthorised access
• Maintain necessary business and correspondence records
• Comply with legal or regulatory obligations
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary

4. Our lawful bases

Depending on the circumstances, we may process personal information because:

• It is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating, protecting and improving the Racing Pencils website and responding to enquiries
• It is necessary to take steps requested by you before entering into a contract
• It is necessary to perform a contract with you
• We must comply with a legal obligation
• You have given consent for a specific purpose

Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that was lawful before it was withdrawn.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

The website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for:

• Website security
• Administrator login sessions
• Remembering essential settings
• Preventing malicious or automated activity
• Maintaining the operation of WordPress and related website services

We will not activate non-essential analytics, advertising or marketing cookies without providing appropriate information and obtaining consent where required.

UK guidance says visitors must be told about cookies and their purposes. Non-essential cookies generally require active consent, while cookies strictly necessary to provide a requested service may qualify for an exemption.

6. Who we share information with

We may share information with service providers that help us operate and secure the website, including:

• Our web hosting service provider, which provides website hosting
• Cloudflare, which provides DNS, content delivery and website security services
• Website software, security and email-service providers
• Professional advisers where necessary
• Public authorities where disclosure is legally required

We only share information where it is necessary for the relevant service, security purpose or legal obligation.

We do not sell personal information.

7. International transfers

Some of our service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we aim to use providers and safeguards that comply with applicable UK data-protection requirements.

8. How long we keep information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

As a starting policy:

Information	Suggested retention
General enquiries	Up to 24 months after the matter is resolved
Support correspondence	Up to 24 months after resolution
Security and server logs	According to the hosting and security provider’s operational retention periods
Legal, tax or transaction records	For the period required by applicable law
Unsuccessful or irrelevant messages	Deleted when no longer required

9. Your data-protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

• Ask for a copy of your personal information
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Ask us to delete information
• Ask us to restrict how information is used
• Object to certain uses of your information
• Receive certain information in a portable format
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent
• Complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office

Some rights are subject to legal conditions and exemptions.

To exercise a right, contact:

[email protected]

We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

10. Children’s privacy

Racing Pencils creates educational products for children, but the website is presently intended to be used by parents, carers, teachers and other adults.

We do not currently ask children to:

• Create website accounts
• Submit contact forms
• Provide names or other personal information
• Make purchases
• Upload content

Parents, carers and teachers should avoid including unnecessary information about children when contacting us.

Before introducing personalised name-practice files, child profiles or other services involving children’s information, we will review the service and update this notice.

This is important because the ICO’s Children’s Code can apply to online services likely to be accessed by children, including educational websites and websites offering goods or services. The assessment depends on the service’s actual audience, presentation and use, not only its stated target audience.

11. How we protect information

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures intended to protect personal information, including:

• HTTPS encryption
• Secure hosting
• Website security and traffic filtering
• Strong administrator passwords
• Two-factor authentication
• Access restrictions
• Software updates
• Backups
• Secure email connections

No internet service can guarantee absolute security, but we regularly review the measures appropriate to the website and the information it processes.

12. Third-party websites

The website may contain links to external websites, including retailers such as Amazon.

External websites have their own privacy practices and notices. Racing Pencils is not responsible for how those independent websites collect or use personal information.

13. Changes to this notice

We may update this Privacy Notice when:

• Website features change
• We introduce customer accounts or direct sales
• We add personalised PDF services
• We begin using analytics or marketing tools
• Our service providers change
• Legal or regulatory requirements change

The latest version will always be published on this page, together with its revision date.

14. Contacting us

For questions about this notice or how we use personal information, contact:

Racing Pencils
Email: [email protected]