Privacy Policy | Mandarin with Meng

Who I am

I am Meng Choo Seow, a sole trader trading as Mandarin with Meng. I am the data controller for the personal information described in this policy.

Address: 12 Kingston Avenue, Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, NR30 5ET
Email: meng@mandarinwithmeng.co.uk

What information I collect

When you book a lesson: your name, email address, phone number if you give it, your Mandarin level, what you want to learn, and how you heard about me
When you pay: payment is handled by Stripe. I receive confirmation of payment, but I never see or store your full card details
When you email me: your name, email address and anything you include in your message
During lessons: I do not record lessons. Anything you share during a lesson is used only to plan your learning

How I use your information

To arrange, deliver and manage your lessons (lawful basis: contract)
To take payment and issue refunds (lawful basis: contract)
To reply to your enquiries (lawful basis: legitimate interests)
To keep business and tax records (lawful basis: legal obligation)
To understand how people find my business, using the "How did you hear about me" answer (lawful basis: legitimate interests)

I do not sell your information, and I do not send marketing emails unless you ask me to.

Who I share it with

I use these services to run my business. They process information on my behalf:

Calendly – online booking
Stripe – card payments
Google – email (Google Workspace) and online lessons (Google Meet)
My website hosting provider

Some of these providers store information outside the UK, including in the United States. Where this happens, the transfer is protected by recognised safeguards, such as the UK Extension to the EU–US Data Privacy Framework or approved contract terms.

How long I keep it

Booking and payment records: 6 years, to meet HMRC record-keeping rules
Enquiry emails that do not lead to a booking: 2 years
Lesson notes: until you stop taking lessons, then deleted within 12 months

Cookies

My website itself does not use advertising or tracking cookies. The booking calendar on my Book page is provided by Calendly, which sets its own cookies. The calendar only loads after you accept cookies in the banner. If you decline, you can still book through the direct Calendly link on that page. You can change your choice at any time with the "Cookie settings" link in the footer.

Your rights

You have the right to ask for a copy of your information, to correct it, to have it deleted, to restrict or object to how I use it, and to receive it in a portable format. Where I rely on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time. To use any of these rights, email meng@mandarinwithmeng.co.uk. I will reply within one month.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how I handle your information, please contact me first. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk, telephone 0303 123 1113.

Age

My lessons are for adults aged 18 and over. I do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed.