Privacy & Cookie Statement | Mortgage321

Introduction

Mortgage321 is a trading style of Matthew Christopher Pigrome, an appointed representative of Ingard Financial Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 450731. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our Data Protection Registration No. is Z1704032.

This statement explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the rights you have over your information when you use our website, speak to Molly our AI Mortgage Assistant, or work with one of our mortgage advisers.

Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Identity data: Name, date of birth, national insurance number.
• Contact data: Email address, telephone number, postal address.
• Financial data: Income, employment details, credit commitments, deposit information, and other details needed for a mortgage assessment.
• Conversation data: Messages exchanged with Molly, our AI Mortgage Assistant, used to improve our service and support your adviser consultation.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, and website usage analytics.
• Marketing data: Preferences for receiving updates from us.

How We Use Your Data

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

• To provide generic mortgage information through Molly, our AI Mortgage Assistant.
• To refer you to a qualified mortgage adviser for a personalised consultation.
• To assess your mortgage eligibility and affordability.
• To submit mortgage applications to lenders on your behalf.
• To meet our regulatory and legal obligations under FCA rules.
• To improve our website, services, and AI assistant.
• To send you relevant updates where you have given consent.

Legal Basis for Processing

We rely on the following lawful bases under UK GDPR:

• Consent: For marketing communications and optional data you provide.
• Contract: To provide mortgage advice and submit applications you request.
• Legal obligation: To comply with FCA, anti-money laundering, and tax reporting requirements.
• Legitimate interest: To improve our services and maintain security.

Who We Share Your Data With

We may share your personal data with:

• Mortgage lenders for application processing.
• Credit reference agencies for affordability and credit checks.
• Ingard Financial Limited, our principal firm, for compliance and regulatory purposes.
• Insurance and protection providers where relevant.
• IT and software providers that support our operations.
• Regulatory bodies such as the FCA when required.

We will never sell your data to third parties.

International Transfers

Your personal data is primarily stored and processed within the UK. Where any data is transferred outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK adequacy regulations or standard contractual clauses, to protect your rights.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined above and to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Mortgage-related records are typically retained for the duration of the mortgage plus six years, in line with FCA guidance.

Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to operate effectively and improve user experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. The types of cookies we use include:

• Essential cookies: Required for the website to function correctly, such as session management and security.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings, such as theme preferences.
• Marketing cookies: Used to deliver relevant content, where you have consented.

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect how the website functions. For more information, visit the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.

AI Mortgage Assistant — Molly

Conversations with Molly, our AI Mortgage Assistant, are stored and may be reviewed to improve service quality and to support your adviser consultation. Molly provides generic mortgage information only and does not provide regulated advice. When you request a referral to an adviser, the details you submit are shared with our advisory team for follow-up.

Molly may proactively recommend Checkmyfile credit reports using an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erase your personal data (subject to legal obligations).
• Restrict or object to the processing of your data.
• Data portability — receive your data in a structured format.
• Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below. If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or damage. These include encryption, access controls, and regular security reviews. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Changes to This Statement

We may update this Privacy & Cookie Statement from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this statement periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy & Cookie Statement or how we handle your personal data, please contact us: