We aim to explain our use of personal information clearly and only collect what we reasonably need to provide our auction services, respond to enquiries, meet legal duties and protect our business and customers.
1. Who we are
Dunn Bros SW Ltd is the controller of personal information covered by this notice. It is registered in England and Wales under company number 13885838.
Address: Thorn Falcon Works, Henlade, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 5DN.
Telephone: 01823 211888.
For a privacy request, write to the address above or use the Contact page. You can also email internet@dunnbrosauctions.co.uk.
2. What this notice covers
When direct sending is available, website enquiries are securely submitted through our website and Microsoft 365 to the appropriate Dunn Bros department. If direct sending is unavailable, the form offers to prepare a message in your own email application; you must send that email yourself. Website enquiries do not automatically subscribe you to marketing.
This notice covers personal information handled through the Dunn Bros website, enquiries, valuations, transport quotations, consignments, auction administration, accounts, marketing and customer support.
The separate bidding platform may also process information under its own privacy notice when you register, sign in or bid. Follow the privacy link shown on that platform for details of its processing.
3. Information we may collect
- Identity and contact details, including name, address, email address, telephone number and company details.
- Auction account information, bidding history, purchases, consignments, invoices, payment status and correspondence.
- Identity, anti-fraud or due-diligence information where required. Sensitive documents should only be supplied through an approved secure method.
- Equipment details, photographs, ownership information and valuation or consignment enquiries.
- Technical information such as IP address, device, browser, website activity, security logs and cookie preferences.
- Marketing preferences and records of communications sent or received.
- CCTV or visitor records when attending our premises, where applicable.
We usually receive information directly from you, but may also receive it from sellers, buyers, auction-platform providers, payment and identity-verification providers, public registers, professional advisers or lawful authorities.
4. How and why we use information
| Purpose | Typical lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Answer enquiries, arrange valuations and administer registrations, bids, purchases, consignments, payments and collection. | Taking steps before a contract and performing a contract. |
| Identity, fraud, sanctions, accounting, tax and legal checks. | Legal obligation and legitimate interests in preventing fraud and protecting the auction. |
| Manage the website, troubleshoot problems, maintain security and understand service performance. | Legitimate interests; consent where non-essential cookies or similar technologies are used. |
| Send service messages about an auction, account, invoice, payment or collection. | Contract, legal obligation or legitimate interests. |
| Send email, SMS or advertising marketing. | Consent or legitimate interests where permitted; every message should provide an appropriate opt-out. |
| Establish, exercise or defend legal claims. | Legitimate interests and legal obligations. |
Where we rely on legitimate interests, we consider the business need, necessity and potential effect on individuals. Where consent is used, it can be withdrawn at any time without affecting earlier lawful processing.
6. How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as required for the purpose collected and to meet accounting, tax, anti-fraud, contractual and legal requirements. Different records have different retention periods.
Website spam and duplicate-submission checks use security identifiers that expire within 24 hours. Expired entries are cleared when the enquiry service is next used. Enquiry messages are held in the relevant Microsoft 365 mailbox, not in the website database. For information about the retention period applicable to your records, contact internet@dunnbrosauctions.co.uk.
7. International transfers
Some technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we require an approved transfer mechanism and suitable safeguards, such as UK adequacy regulations or the UK International Data Transfer Agreement and applicable addendum.
Contact internet@dunnbrosauctions.co.uk to ask about the safeguards applicable to your information.
8. Your rights
Depending on the circumstances and lawful basis, you may have the right to:
- receive a copy of your personal information;
- correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- ask for information to be erased or its use restricted;
- object to processing, including direct marketing;
- receive certain information in a portable format; and
- withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
These rights are not absolute. We may need to verify identity and may retain information where the law permits or requires it.
9. Security and secure documents
We use organisational and technical controls intended to protect personal information against loss, misuse, alteration and unauthorised access. No online system can be guaranteed completely secure.
Do not send bank details, payment-card information, identity documents or other sensitive records through an ordinary website enquiry form or unsecured email. Ask the Dunn Bros team for the approved secure method.
11. Contact, complaints and changes
Contact Dunn Bros at Thorn Falcon Works, Henlade, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 5DN, telephone 01823 211888, or through the Contact page.
You may also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint. We may update this notice when our services or legal duties change; the updated date is shown at the top.