Privacy
Your information, handled carefully.
This notice explains what information may be collected through the tour website, why it is used and the choices available to you.
A straightforward notice
Only the information needed to run the conversation and the tour.
No selling of personal data.
Your details are used to answer enquiries and administer the service.
Questions are welcome.
Contact us if you want to know what information we hold or how it is used.
Who we are
This privacy policy applies to https://tours.discoverscottishborders.com and the tour services provided through it by Discover Scottish Borders. The tour site is separate from the main Discover Scottish Borders heritage and film website, although the two sites may link to one another. The public correspondence details for the tour service are Genscu Productions, Tweedbank Drive, Galashiels, TD1 3RS. For privacy questions, please use the contact form.
Information we collect
When you enquire or arrange a tour, we may collect your name, email address, preferred dates, group size, route interests and information needed to discuss access or practical requirements. Please only share medical or sensitive information when it is necessary to explain a requirement. We may also keep booking, payment and correspondence details needed to administer the service.
How we use your information
We use enquiry and booking information to reply to you, plan and provide a tour, take or verify payment, send booking information, discuss changes and respond to questions or complaints. We may use non-identifying or aggregated website information to understand which pages are useful and improve the site. We do not sell personal information.
Lawful bases
Depending on the situation, processing is based on taking steps at your request before a contract, performing a contract, complying with legal obligations, pursuing legitimate interests such as responding to genuine enquiries and keeping appropriate records, or your consent. Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it by contacting us.
Payments and service providers
Enquiries submitted through the contact form are sent through FormSubmit, a form-processing service, so they can be delivered to the tour team. You can read FormSubmit’s privacy terms at https://formsubmit.co/privacy.pdf. Hosting and other technical suppliers may process information only to provide the service. Tour payment is made by bank transfer, and the enquiry form does not ask for bank or card details. Bank-transfer instructions are supplied directly with the confirmed plans. External websites, including Google, Mark’s main Discover Scottish Borders website and social-media channels, have their own privacy policies.
Cookies, analytics and spam protection
The website uses essential technical functions needed to display pages and respond to requests. Optional Google Analytics 4 is offered only after you choose Allow analytics in the privacy notice; it helps us understand page visits, scrolling and broad site usage, and is configured to avoid sending personal details. If you choose Not now, Analytics is not loaded. The contact form is processed by FormSubmit through a server-side hand-off and uses a hidden honeypot together with FormSubmit’s service-side abuse filtering to reduce automated spam. Google, FormSubmit and other suppliers may process the limited technical information needed for those services. You can manage cookies and local storage through your browser settings.
How long we keep information
We keep information only for as long as it is needed for the purpose for which it was collected, legal, accounting or dispute-resolution requirements, and the effective administration of the tour service. Enquiry and booking records may normally be retained for up to five years, with information deleted sooner where there is no continuing reason to keep it. Marketing records are kept only while there is a lawful reason to retain them.
Security and external links
Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect information, but no internet transmission or email service can be guaranteed completely secure. The website contains links to third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of those external services, so please read their own notices before submitting information.
Your information rights
Subject to legal conditions and exemptions, you may have rights to be informed, access your information, correct inaccurate information, ask for erasure, restrict or object to processing, obtain data portability and withdraw consent where consent is the lawful basis. To exercise a right, use the contact form and explain what you need. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
Complaints and updates
If you are unhappy with how your information has been handled, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the concern. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office through https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/. This policy may be updated when the website, services or legal requirements change. The latest version will be published on this page.
Privacy questions
Want to ask about your information?
Use the contact form and explain what you would like to know. We will respond as soon as reasonably practical.