Dangerous Secrets
Language: English
Published by Trafford Publishing, 2014
- Softcover
- New

Seller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.PBShop.store US
AbeBooks seller since April 7, 2005
Condition: New
£ 17.64
Quantity: Over 20 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
New Book. Shipped from UK. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000.
Seller Inventory # L0-9781490747781
- Title
- Dangerous Secrets
- Author
- Ciardullo, Val
- Publisher
- Trafford Publishing
- Publication year
- 2014
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- PAP
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1490747788
- ISBN 13
- 9781490747781
- Item weight
- 569 grams
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Dangerous Secrets
By Val CiardulloTrafford Publishing
All rights reserved.
I lost my mom almost a year ago to cancer. Now it's just me, my dad Andy and my brother Joe. Joe is two years older than me. He's seventeen, soon to be eighteen in just a few months. My dad's two brothers and one sister all live within a few miles from us. We are and always have been a very close family. Uncle Michael is the oldest and was promoted from police officer to detective several years ago. My dad, who is the second oldest, owns his own construction company, Phillips Construction. Uncle Chuck is an attorney and my Aunt Dakota is a veterinarian. She is married to a really sweet guy, Jeff, who is a firefighter and paramedic.
The family has been through a lot over the years. My dad's parents, Alan and Joan, were killed in an auto accident when he was eighteen. Several years later, Aunt Dakota started dating a man that became very abusive early in the relationship. The relationship ended when my dad and uncles learned of the abuse. Then Aunt Dakota started receiving death threats; she was almost killed twice. My dad and uncles resorted to using the services of a group called "The Pack" in order to keep Dakota safe. The Pack was a club that took the law into their own hands when they felt that justice wasn't served the legal way. And, The Pack had some help, too. The Chief of police, John Franks, was not only the chief when my grandfather was on the force; he was also his best friend. He helped my family and The Pack find Aunt Dakota when the man that was threatening her abducted her. Chief John Franks has been there for my family every time they have needed him. He's like a family member to us.
My dad and uncles have always been very over protective of the girls in our family. It's the way they were brought up; they all think alike. Neither my girl cousins nor me are allowed to date until we are seventeen. I've always felt that was unfair. Why do the boys get to date sooner? A few months ago, I started dating behind my dad's back. Nobody has any idea, not even my brother.
Shawn, my boyfriend, and I are two years apart in age and have known each other for four years. We became best friends and then it turned into something more serious. My dad doesn't like me even hanging around with Shawn, says that Shawn is trouble. He thinks Shawn gets too close and friendly with me.
I have never been to Shawn's house because his mom doesn't work so she's home all the time and she can be very critical of other people. It's always been just him and his mom, not sure what happened to his dad. I was always too afraid to ask.
Both my brother and dad are at work and not expected home for another hour or so, so Shawn and I thought it would be a perfect time to be alone. We're in my bedroom, sitting on the bed talking, when we hear a knock on the door.
"Bethany?"
"SHIT!" I whisper. "That's my brother!"
Shawn whispers back in a panicky tone as he puts his shirt on. "SHIT! I thought he wasn't supposed to be home for another hour?"
"He wasn't supposed to be."
"Bethany?" Joe says again as he opens the door. "Bethany, do you want ..." He's stunned as he sees Shawn leap to his feet. "What the hell?"
"Joe ..."
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Bethany?"
"Joe, please." Joe grabs Shawn and throws him up against the wall. I rush to my feet grabbing Joe's arm trying to pull him back. "JOE, STOP! WHY ARE YOU ACTING SO CRAZY? PLEASE DON'T HURT HIM! HE'S MY BOYFRIEND!"
"YOUR WHAT?" He glances at me then back at Shawn.
I yell out again. "He's my boyfriend!"
Joe lets go of Shawn then threatens him. "If you ever come near my sister again, I will kill you."
Shawn gets up in Joe's face. "You better be very careful who you're threatening!"
"Get the hell out of our house!"
"You will pay." Shawn says as he points to Joe. "I'll see you later, Bethany."
"No, you won't see her later!" Joe follows Shawn out of my room making sure he leaves our house. He returns a moment later with fire in his eyes. "What in the hell do you think you're doing? You're only fifteen years old! WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? You're not even allowed to date yet and you're having sex! If dad finds out about this he's going to flip out!"
"We weren't having sex! We were just talking! Why are you acting so crazy?"
"I'm not stupid, Bethany! He was just putting his damn shirt on when I opened the door! You are not allowed to be hanging with Shawn! Mom and Dad made that perfectly clear to you last year!"
"Please don't tell dad!"
"You have no idea what you just got yourself into dating him, Bethany!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Shawn is a gangbanger!"
"No, he's not!"
"Downstairs, now! I'm not having this conversation in your bedroom!"
"Joe ..."
"NOW!"
Shit! I will be in so much trouble if my dad finds out about this. What the hell is my brother doing home early? I've never seen him act crazy like this. I follow him downstairs to the family room where he starts to pace back and forth.
"Joe, please don't tell dad that Shawn was here."
"What the hell are you thinking getting involved with a gangbanger?"
"He's not a gangbanger! Quit calling him that!"
"Did you not notice the black teardrop tattooed next to his eye?" Joe asks sarcastically.
"Yes, I did, so what!"
"So what?" Joe raises his arm likes he's going to hit me but doesn't. "Have you ever asked him why he has it?"
"No, I haven't because it's none of my business! Why are you acting so crazy? I've never seen you like act this before, Joe!"
Joe ignores my question. "If you're dating the guy then it's your business! It means that he has either killed someone or lost a fellow gang member! It's a tattoo that all gangs use! You know this! Uncle Michael tells us stories all the time about gangs! Have you not learned anything from our uncle?"
"He would have told me if he were in a gang!"
"Well, it's obvious that he hasn't been completely truthful with you! What does that tell you, Bethany? You're breaking up with him and you will NOT see him again!"
"Who are you to tell me what to do?"
Joe takes a couple of steps toward me. Not knowing what he's going to do, I take a few steps back. "You need to stay away from him! He's bad news!"
"Are you going to tell dad?"
"The way dad's temper has been since mom died? I don't want to tell him if I don't have to! We promised that we would never keep any secrets from him and you've already broken that promise and now you're making me break it!"
"Please don't tell dad, Joe. You know how our family is, over protective and always up in our business and you're just like dad! Always so over protective! I can see why this family has always driven Aunt Dakota nuts! What's gotten into you, Joe?" He keeps avoiding answering my question.
"You're fifteen years old, dad should be all up in your damn business!"
I start crying out of fear that he's going to tell our dad. "Please don't tell dad."
He lets out a huge sigh and thinks for a moment. "You're really putting me in a tough position. You're making me break a promise to dad that we wouldn't keep any secrets from him! But today is your lucky day. I won't tell him only because of the way his temper has been lately. There's no telling what he'd do to you if he found out."
"Look who's talking about tempers? You're acting crazy yourself right now."
Joe still ignores my comments about his temper. "You're lucky I don't beat the shit out of you. This is the choice you have, either you breakup with Shawn or I tell dad."
"WHAT?"
"Break up with him and do it tonight!"
"I hate you!"
"Someday you'll understand! Get Shawn on the phone, text him, do whatever you have to do, but this relationship ends tonight!" He shakes his head in disgust. "Dad will be home any minute. I told him that I would cook dinner tonight to help him out. I'm cooking on the grill so if you would please set the dinner table I would appreciate it."
I start heading for the front door. "I need to see Shawn."
Joe instantly grabs my arm. "WHAT? What did I just say? You are breaking up with him!"
"I WILL! But I want to do it face to face and I need to hear the truth from him about the gang! I won't breakup with him over the phone!"
"Well, you're going to have to because you're not going to see him! Stay away from him!"
"Joe ..."
"I'm not fucking around, Bethany! I will get dad involved if I have to!"
He leaves the family room heading to the kitchen and I head for the bathroom to wash my face so my dad doesn't see that I've been crying. Something is not right with Joe. He's been acting really weird for the past two weeks. He's acting crazy. Dad has been working so much that he hasn't seen Joe to know that something is different about him. I wonder if I should say something to dad. But I can't ... Joe will tell him about Shawn and me if I tell dad about him.
I spend at least twenty minutes in the bathroom trying to calm myself down. When I finally leave the bathroom and go to the kitchen, I see our dad outside talking to Joe. I watch them intently as I set the table wondering if Joe's telling him about Shawn and me. They're out there for quite a long time talking. He said he wouldn't say anything to dad as long as I do what he told me to do and breakup with Shawn.
Dad comes into the house. "Hi, honey." He gives me a kiss on the head. "How was your day?"
"Hi dad. It was fine." Thank god, he didn't tell dad yet. If he had, dad wouldn't be this calm and cheerful.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
"Yeah, why?"
"You seem upset."
Damn, he knows me well. Apparently I don't hide my emotions very well. "No, I'm good."
"Okay. Dinner is almost done."
Joe comes in with the plate of steaks and puts it on the table. "What do you want to drink, Bethany?"
I ignore his question and grab a glass from the cabinet myself. My dad notices and looks at me then at Joe then back at me again.
"Bethany, your brother asked you a question."
"I'll get it myself, thank you."
The three of us sit down at the table and start eating. With the exception of when our mom died, I think this is the quietest dinner we've ever had. After about fifteen minutes my dad puts his fork down on his plate, leans back in his chair and places both hands on the table.
"Alright, what's going on with you two?"
"What do you mean?" Joe asks.
My dad raises his eyebrows at Joe. "Why aren't you two talking?"
"We're eating."
"Don't be a smart ass, Joe."
"I'm not trying to be, dad."
"The two of you are always chatty during dinner which surprisingly, I always look forward to. But tonight for some reason you can hear a pin drop in here, so what's going on?"
"Just sibling rivalry. There's nothing to worry about. We'll get over it." I look up at Joe and give him a dirty look. Don't bet on it.
"Do I need to intervene?" Dad asks.
I make no eye contact with my dad as I respond. "No, sir."
"Then I suggest that you get whatever issue you two are having worked out. I don't like it when my kids are fighting."
"Bethany and I will get it worked out. Don't worry."
I need to see Shawn. I can't breakup with him over the phone. "Dad, can I stay at Stephanie's tonight?" Stephanie is my best friend.
"Uh, no. It's a school night, Bethany. You know better. Is your homework finished?"
"I'm almost done, I was going to finish it before I went to her house. Please, dad. Tomorrow's Friday."
"I'm sorry but the answer is no. Please don't ask again."
I better send Stephanie a text to give her a heads up about what just happened between Shawn and my brother. I want to try and see Shawn tonight. She always said she'd cover for me if I ever needed her to. Maybe I can convince my dad to let me go out for a couple of hours. I grab my cell phone and send her a quick text. My dad grabs my phone from me just as I hit send. Shit, please don't read that.
"You know better than to have your cell phone at the table."
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to send Stephanie a quick text."
"You know better, Bethany. No cell phones at the table. That's always been the dinner table rule."
"Sorry."
After dinner I head upstairs and finish my homework. I'm working on my history paper when Joe walks into my room.
"You were trying to see Shawn tonight, weren't you? Trying to get Stephanie to cover for you?"
"I am not talking to you."
He steps further into my room and closes the door just enough so it's just barely open and starts to whisper. "You better talk to me or I will call dad up here."
"Is this the way it's going to be? You, threatening me into doing things?"
"I don't want it to be this way, Bethany. But you're not supposed to be hanging around him. He's bad news. It's not safe for you to be dating him and you are not allowed to date at your age anyways."
"Whatever."
"Bethany."
"Just get out."
"He's bad news."
"I can handle this on my own."
"You're treading in very dangerous waters, Bethany. This is serious shit!"
"He won't hurt me!"
"You don't know that! Didn't you hear him threaten me before he left? Gangs are known for retaliations! I don't want you mixed up with those kinds of people!"
"Just get out of my room."
"Bethany, we need ..."
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
He turns to leave and our dad is standing behind him. Oh shit!
"If you two are not back to your normal selves by tomorrow then I am stepping in, so I suggest you get your issue worked out."
He leaves the room and Joe looks at me shaking his head. "That was too close, Bethany," he whispers.
"Get out of my room."
Once I finish my homework I head downstairs looking for my dad. I find him in his office working on the computer.
"Dad, I know I can't stay overnight at Stephanie's but can I at least go over there for a little bit?"
"Is your homework finished?"
"Yes, sir."
He looks at his watch. "It's seven o'clock. I want you home by nine. No later."
"Yes sir, thank you."
The moment I walk out the door I call Stephanie and she picks up on the first ring. "Hey, girl, I got your text! I can't believe Joe caught you and Shawn together!"
"Yeah, it wasn't good. He said that he wouldn't tell our dad if I break up with Shawn. Can you cover for me? I have to be home by nine o'clock so I only have a couple of hours. I want to meet with Shawn so I can tell him in person."
"Yeah, sure. Let me know how things go if you can."
"I will, thank you."
I send a quick text to Shawn. "We need to talk. Can you please meet me at our bridge right now?" I receive a text back right away.
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
When I arrive Shawn is already there waiting for me. "Shawn!" I holler out to him. He looks up and walks toward me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you? My brother threw you up against the wall pretty hard."
"I'm fine but he's going to pay for that."
"Don't you dare lay a hand on my brother! He was only protecting me! You know my family is very over protective."
"He disrespected me in front of you!"
"Shawn, please!"
"I'm surprised he didn't tell your dad about us."
"Yeah, well there's a catch to that."
"What do you mean?"
I start crying. "I have to breakup with you."
"WHAT? NO!"
"Shawn, we have to breakup or he will tell our dad!"
"That asshole!"
"Shawn ..."
"We can be more careful! No more meeting at your house. We'll just strictly meet here."
"And what? Have sex in the woods all the time? Shawn, we can't! I'm sorry!"
"Is this what you want, Bethany?"
"No, of course not! But we don't have a choice! If my dad finds out about us ..."
"I know! Fuck!"
"Shawn, you'll be turning eighteen in a couple of weeks. You know that my dad could then have you arrested since I'm only fifteen."
"I know! But we can make this work!"
"It's not just my dad that you'd have to worry about!"
"Who else, your brother? Because I can handle him!"
"No, my two uncles would come after you too! And one's a cop!"
"WHAT? You have an uncle that's a cop?"
"Yes. Well he's a detective now but still."
"Holy shit! I didn't know you had a cop for an uncle! I wish I would have known that!"
"Yeah, just like I wish I would have known that you're in a gang!"
"How the hell did you find that out?"
"The tattoo on the side of your eye gave it away!"
"I've had this tattoo for a while now. Are you telling me that you're just now noticing it?"
"My brother told me!"
"Damn it! I didn't know that you have an uncle for a cop! I have warrants out for my arrest, Bethany! I could have gotten busted at your house!"
"What? What are the warrants for?"
"Burglary, drugs and I'm not sure what the other one is for!"
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Dangerous Secrets by Val Ciardullo. Copyright © 2014 Val Ciardullo. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
PBShop.store US
Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since April 7, 2005
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 14 business days | 7 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
We first started out as “The Paperback Exchange,” a chain of physical bookstores where we would part exchange your beloved books for new stories to transport you to faraway places. However, as shopping started to evolve to online shops and marketplaces, we bid our stores goodbye to become “PBShop.” This transition has only allowed us to blossom as we now ship thousands of titles to book lovers across the globe. We pride ourselves in being a community of local book lovers which allows our passion and devotion to shine in everything we do. In 2020 we not only celebrated our 20th birthday but our 1st birthday as being completely employee owned after becoming an E.O.T in September 2019. We are proud to be different and embrace standing apart on a book mountain by working from a virtual inventory which allows us to provide thousands of books that may be difficult to get for your bookshelf or your studies. Working with a number of different suppliers allows us to explore other avenues such as puzzles, sheet music and even stationery so we really do have something for everyone. Life is about being versatile in all realms of existence. If this is your first visit or you are a returning customer, we would like to welcome you to the PBShop family, for there is no friend as loyal as a book. We are a company who put our customers at the centre of everything we do as we understand the importance of reading because once you learn to read, you will forever be free. There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that we are yet to explore, which is why we will forever inspire curious minds.…
Specialty
Hardbacks, PaperbacksSeller's business information
Pbshop.co.uk Ltd
Unit 22 Horcott Industrial Estate, Horcott Road
Fairford, United Kingdom GL7 4BX
Terms of sale
Returns Policy
We ask all customers to contact us for authorisation should they wish to return their order. Orders returned without authorisation may not be credited.
If you wish to return, please contact us within 14 days of receiving your order to obtain authorisation.
Returns requested beyond this time will not be authorised.
Our team will provide full instructions on how to return your order and once received our returns department will process your refund.
Please note the cost to return any unwanted order to us is borne by the buyer.
Should your order arrive damaged, not as advertised or faulty, we must be advised of this within 14 days of delivery. Please contact us so we can find the best solution for you.
Our Customer Care Team can be contacted via emailing paperback-us@paperbackshop.co.uk, or by calling our UK Office on +441285 712 917. We are available 9:00am till 5:30pm GMT weekdays and 9:00am till 1:00pm GMT on Saturdays.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to PBShop.store US, Springfield Gardens, New York, U.S.A., +44 1285 712917, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Books are shipped from our US or UK warehouses. Delivery estimates allow for delivery from either location.
Privacy and security
PRIVACY POLICY
We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal data. This policy tells you how we will collect and use your personal data, and what you should expect in respect of the personal information about you that we have collected.
We are PBShop.co.uk Limited (registered in England & Wales with Company No: 9366362). Our registered office is at Swatton Barn, Badbury, Swindon, SN4 0EU, United Kingdom.
The person with responsibility for our data protection compliance is the Managing Director and they can be contacted via email at help@pbshop.store.
We are the data controller of the personal data that we keep and use, and we are therefore responsible for making sure that our systems, processes and people comply with the relevant data protection laws in respect of that personal data.
We will act in respect of personal data to comply with the six principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which are:
Lawfulness, fairness and transparency;
Purpose limitation;
Data minimisation;
Accuracy;
Storage limitation;
Integrity and confidentiality.
You have rights in respect of how your personal data can be processed; these include the right to request:
a copy of your personal data;
that inaccurate data is rectified; and
that your personal data is, in certain circumstances, erased or restricted.
You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner, which you can do by contacting the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) directly. Full contact details, including a helpline number, can be found on the ICO website (www.ico.org.uk). This website also has useful information on your rights and our obligations. However, please raise any concerns or issues with us first so that we may deal with this as quickly as possible for you.
COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL DATA
We collect and process data for the following reasons:
personal data collected and created in relation to our selling books and other items; and
personal data relating to our people (which means those people working for our company, or providing services to us, or potentially working or providing services to us, including employees, consultants, temporary or casual workers and contractors).
All of our people are required to abide by our Privacy Policy when handling personal data, and are provided with appropriate data protection training. Any breach of data protection will be taken seriously, and may result in disciplinary action.
Selling books and other items
COLLECTION:
We will collect personal information which may include names, addresses and other information for our customers. This will be done for the management of the commercial relationship with our customers.
We may collect this personal data from you directly, and also from third parties, including publicly available third party sources. Additional personal data will be collected as it is created by or supplied to us in the course of anything we do for you.
USE:
We will use the personal data in the course of making sales and to comply with requirements that we are required to undertake.
We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:
in performance of a contract (the agreement to sell books and other items); and/or
compliance with a legal obligation; and/or
vital interests of the data subject; and/or
where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
We may also use your personal data in the following situations, which are likely to be far less common:
where we need to protect your interests (or someone else’s interests);
where it is needed in the public interest or for official purposes.
DISCLOSURE:
We may share personal data with third parties as is necessary in the sale of books and other items, including to third party providers who deliver services to support the operation of our company.
In respect of all disclosures of personal data, we will only share the personal information which is necessary for the particular purpose for which it is provided, or where we have another legitimate interest in doing so, and we will ensure that the personal data is appropriately protected.
RETENTION PERIOD:
We will keep personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which we collected it, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting or reporting requirements. Normally, our retention period for personal data collected for this purpose is a minimum of 6 years after the end of the period that we are selling books and other items.
Our people
COLLECTION:
We will collect names, addresses, contact details, education and employment history, identity and other background checks (which may include appropriate criminal and financial checks and confirmation of the right to work in the UK), marital status and information on next of kin and dependents, financial information (such as bank details and NI numbers), date of birth, gender, a copy of your passport and driving licence, performance information and compensation history, recruitment information (including references), salary, benefits, pension and annual leave information, disciplinary and grievance information, photographs, information about your use of our information and communications systems and CCTV footage or other information obtained through electronic means.
We may collect and use special categories of personal data as required in the carrying out of obligations and exercising specific rights of us or the data subject in the field of employment. This may include information relating to matters such as health, racial origin, religious belief and offences or alleged offences.
Personal data may be collected from you during the selection process (for example via your application form and CV) and during your employment (including holiday forms, expense claims, performance reviews, any disciplinary or grievance processes), or from third parties, including referees, health service providers, background check providers.
USE:
Personal data of our people will be used for HR administration and management, both in respect of the selection of people to work for us (including suitability, eligibility and/or fitness to work), and those who do work for us, to include learning and development, disciplinary and security (of people, offices and data) requirements, providing and liaising with benefits providers, business management and planning (including accounting and auditing), paying you and dealing with tax and NI deductions, assessing and deciding on salary reviews and compensation, conducting performance reviews and managing performance, dealing with legal disputes involving you or others, preventing fraud, monitoring your use of our information and communications systems, ensuring compliance with our policies, and equal opportunities monitoring.
We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:
In performance of a contract with you; and/or
compliance with a legal obligation; and/or
vital interests of the data subject; and/or
where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
We may also use your personal data in the following situations, which are likely to be less common:
where we need to protect your interests (or someone else’s interests);
where it is needed in the public interest or for official purposes.
In respect of all disclosures of personal data, we will only share the personal information which is necessary for the particular purpose for which it is provided, or where we have another legitimate interest in doing so, and we will ensure that the personal data is appropriately protected.
In respect of special categories of personal data, we may process this in the following circumstances:
in limited circumstances with your explicit written consent; and/or
where we need to carry out our legal obligations and in line with our policies; and/or
where it is needed in the public interest (such as for equal opportunities monitoring or in relation to our occupational pension scheme), and in line with our policies; and/or
where it is needed to assess your working capacity on health grounds, subject to appropriate confidentiality safeguards.
Less commonly, we may process this type of information where it is needed in relation to legal claims or where it is needed to protect your (or someone else’s) interests and you are not capable of giving your consent, or where you have already made the information public. We may also process such information about our people (or former people) in the course of our legitimate business activities with the appropriate safeguards.
The special categories of personal data may be used in the following ways:
in relation to leaves of absence, to comply with employment and other laws;
in relation to your physical or mental health, or disability status, to ensure your health and safety in the workplace and to assess your fitness to work, to monitor, manage and administer benefits and absences;
in relation to your race, national or ethnic origin, religious, philosophical or moral beliefs, or your sexual life or sexual orientation, to ensure meaningful equal opportunity monitoring and reporting.
DISCLOSURE:
Personal data may be transferred to service providers who support the operation of our business (such as payroll service providers), to other third parties reasonably necessary in the conduct of our business (including insurers, professional advisors, regulators). These third parties may be acting as processor, or controller of personal data in their own right.
In respect of all disclosures of personal data, we will only share the personal information which is necessary for the particular purpose for which it is provided, or where we have another legitimate interest in doing so, and we will ensure that the personal data is appropriately protected.
RETENTION PERIOD:
We will keep personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which we collected it, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting or reporting requirements. We will normally keep personal data of applicants who we do not employ for six months after we receive it.
We will keep personal data of employees throughout your employment and normally for a minimum of six years after your employment ends.
Changes to your personal data
It is very important that the personal information that we hold about you is accurate and current. Please tell us if your personal information changes during your relationship with us.
Data Security
We have put in place measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those of our people and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and where they have agreed to treat the information confidentially and to keep it secure. We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected data security breach and will notify you and the ICO of a suspected breach where we are legally required to do so.
Where we store your personal data
We principally store data, both electronically and on file, at our office.
Personal data may be transferred outside of the EEA by processors acting on our behalf. For transfers to countries not considered adequate by the EC, we will ensure that personal data is adequately protected, as required by the GDPR. This would include by use of the Standard Contractual Clauses adopted by the EC to protect personal data.
Your rights
Under certain circumstances, you have the right by law to request:
access to your personal data. This enables you to ask to receive a copy of the personal data that we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
correction of the personal data that we hold about you.
erasure of your personal data.
object to processing of your personal data where we are relying on our legitimate interest and there is something about your particular situation which makes you want to object to processing on this ground. You also have the right to object where we are processing your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
restriction of processing of your personal data.
transfer of your personal data to another party.
Links from our website
Our website may, from time to time, contain links to and from the websites of third parties that we permit to make such links. If you follow a link to any of these websites, please note that these websites have their own privacy policies and that we do not accept any responsibility or liability for these policies. We recommend that you check these policies before you submit any personal data to these websites.
CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on our website, so please ensure that you are viewing the correct version.
Please contact us if you have any questions, comments or requests regarding this Privacy Policy.
Last amended May 2021.