Privacy Policy

Last updated: 5 August 2026

1. Who we are

Cheap Oil NI is a joint project operated by three individuals trading under the name Cheap Oil NI. Cheap Oil NI is not a limited company. The individuals operating Cheap Oil NI are joint controllers of the personal data described in this policy.

You can contact us about privacy at [email protected] or by post at:

Cheap Oil NI
Ground Floor, Gallery Building
65–69 Dublin Road
Belfast
BT2 7HG

2. What this policy covers

This policy explains how we collect and use personal data when you use cheapoilni.co.uk, request heating-oil prices, follow links to suppliers or partners, contact us, or receive emails from us.

3. Personal data we collect

  • Contact and location data: your email address, address, town or city, county, postcode and, where generated by address lookup, approximate coordinates and a Google place identifier.
  • Enquiry and quote data: the supplier, quantity and price you view or select, the pages and links involved, and details you send to us.
  • Marketing data: your email preferences, messages sent, opens, clicks and unsubscribe status.
  • Technical and usage data: page URLs, referring page, browser and device information, approximate location derived from an IP address, and interactions with the Site.
  • Attribution data: campaign and referral parameters and a locally generated browser identifier.
  • Consent data: the privacy choices you make and when they were saved.

We collect this information from you, from your browser or device, and from service providers that help us operate the Site and send communications.

4. How and why we use personal data

  • To provide the service you request: to find prices for your area, process an enquiry, show relevant suppliers and respond to you. We rely on taking steps at your request and our legitimate interests in operating the comparison service.
  • To send email updates and marketing: to send heating-oil price information and promotional messages through Drip. We rely on consent where required. You can unsubscribe using the link in any marketing email or by contacting us.
  • To operate, secure and improve the Site: to diagnose problems, prevent misuse, measure performance and understand aggregate use. We rely on our legitimate interests and, for non-essential browser storage or scripts, your consent where required.
  • To measure referrals and affiliate activity: to understand whether a link results in a visit or sale and calculate commission. We rely on our legitimate interests, subject to your rights and any consent required for browser storage.
  • To meet legal obligations and protect legal rights: including responding to lawful requests and keeping appropriate records.

We do not use personal data for solely automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

5. Who receives personal data

  • Drip: email addresses, enquiry details, quote interactions, attribution data and email activity used to manage contacts and communications.
  • Google Maps Platform: address text and related technical data when you use the address autocomplete feature.
  • Simple Analytics and Ahrefs Web Analytics: limited website usage information used to understand Site performance. These services are configured as privacy-focused analytics and are not intended to identify you directly.
  • Hosting, security and technical providers: including services used to deliver, protect, maintain and troubleshoot the Site.
  • Heating-oil suppliers: when you choose to visit a supplier, the supplier receives the normal technical information associated with following a web link. Any information you then give the supplier is governed by that supplier’s privacy policy.
  • Affiliate and referral partners, including SDM Group: referral or link-interaction information may be used to attribute a referral or commission. We do not provide your email or full address to an affiliate partner unless this is clearly explained when the data is collected and there is an appropriate legal basis.
  • Professional advisers, regulators, courts or public authorities: where reasonably necessary or required by law.

We do not sell personal data.

6. Cookies and browser storage

We use essential browser storage to remember your privacy choices and support core Site functions. With your choice where required, we may also use analytics or marketing technology. The Site may store your email address, referral information and a browser identifier in local storage so that quote and referral journeys work across pages. Local-storage entries remain on your device until the Site removes them or you clear your browser data.

Our consent preference is normally saved for about six months. You can change your choices at any time using the cookie or privacy settings link on the Site. Blocking or clearing storage may affect some features.

7. International transfers

Some service providers may process data outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we require an appropriate safeguard, such as an adequacy regulation, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or the UK Addendum to standard contractual clauses, as applicable.

8. How long we keep data

  • Enquiry, contact and related Drip activity data is normally retained for up to three years after your last interaction, unless we need it for longer to establish, exercise or defend legal claims or meet a legal obligation.
  • Marketing data is kept while you remain subscribed. If you unsubscribe, we may retain a minimal suppression record so that we continue to respect your choice.
  • Consent preferences are normally retained for about six months.
  • Security and server logs are retained only for the period reasonably needed for security, diagnostics and legal compliance.

When a retention period ends, we will delete or anonymise the data. Data held in backups may remain until the relevant backup is securely overwritten.

9. Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may ask us for access to your personal data, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, or to object to processing based on legitimate interests. Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting earlier processing.

To exercise a right, email [email protected]. We may need to confirm your identity. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk. We would appreciate the opportunity to address your concern first.

10. Security and children

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data. No internet service is completely secure, so please contact us if you believe your information may be at risk. The Site is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our services, providers or legal obligations change. The date at the top shows when it was last revised.