Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy | V-Auction Limited
Date: August 2026
Effective Date: August 2026
V-Auction Limited (a member of the Vollers Group
GmbH)
Address: Eniti House, General Castle Way, Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk, IP30 9ND, United Kingdom
Company number: 15259581
VAT number: GB454248095
Email: v-auction@vollers.com
Introduction
V-Auction Limited is a member of Vollers Group GmbH located in Speicherhof 308, 28217 Bremen, Germany. V-Auction Limited is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy & Cookies Policy explains what personal data we collect, how and why we use it, and your rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Where we process the data of individuals in the European Economic Area, we also comply with the EU GDPR. It also explains how we use cookies on our website.
Business-to-Business Platform Notice
Our auction platforms are business-to-business services. Only businesses and organisations may register to bid, as participation requires the ability to undertake import and export formalities. Individuals registering or acting on behalf of a business are processed in that business capacity. If we detect that an individual has registered in a personal capacity or circumvented the business registration requirement, we may suspend or close the account and delete the associated personal data in accordance with this policy.
Information We Collect
When you register or use our services, we collect personal information such as your name, email address, company name, company registration number, website, phone number, and your postal address including country. You can also choose to provide additional details such as your company VAT number and mobile number.
If you apply to bid on an auction or purchase samples, we may request your billing and delivery address, as well as payment card details. These payment details are securely processed by Stripe or PayPal and are not stored on our website. If you apply to bid, we may also perform a credit check.
In addition to this, we may collect technical data such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, and details of your visits and activity on the website. We may also keep a record of your communications with us and your preferences regarding future sales or auctions.
How We Collect Your Data
Most of the personal data we process is provided directly by you when you register on the website, sign up for newsletters, place bids, or communicate with us. We may also collect data indirectly when you interact with us via email, phone, or messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.
Additionally, information is automatically gathered when you use our website, including data on your browsing habits, the pages you view, and your activity during auctions.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information you provide to manage your account, allow you to participate in auctions, and to complete transactions. It also enables us to send updates about your bids or lots you’ve shown interest in, provided you’ve opted into such communications.
Your data helps us understand how users interact with our platform so we can improve services and functionality. We may also use it to prevent fraudulent activity and ensure security.
Where necessary, we may share relevant data with vendors, delivery partners, or payment processors to fulfil orders or transactions. In some cases, this may include sharing information with legal authorities where required. We do not sell your personal data.
We rely on several legal bases to process your information under the UK GDPR. These include your consent (which you can withdraw at any time), our contractual obligations to you, legal requirements, and our legitimate interest in running a secure, efficient service. The table below sets out how we use your information, the legal basis for each use, and how long we keep it.
| Purpose | Data used | Lawful basis | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account management and auction participation | Registration details, contact details | Contract (performance of the registration/auction agreement) | 5 years from last activity |
| Transaction completion and invoicing | Company details, bid records, payment confirmation | Contract; legal obligation (tax/accounting records) | 6 years for accounting records; 5 years for other data |
| Communication about bids and lots you have shown interest in | Contact details, bid/lot history | Consent (you opt in); legitimate interest for service messages | 5 years from last activity |
| Fraud prevention and platform security | Technical data, IP address, activity logs | Legitimate interest | 5 years from last activity |
| Analytics and service improvement | Technical data, browsing data | Consent (via cookie banner); legitimate interest | Per cookie table below |
| Credit checks for bidder applications | Company registration, financial status | Legitimate interest; explicit notice at point of check | As required by credit reference agency rules |
| Legal compliance and dispute handling | All relevant data | Legal obligation; legitimate interest | As required by law |
Automated Decision-Making
Where a credit check results in an automated accept/reject decision on a bidder application, you have the right under Article 22 UK GDPR to request human intervention, express your view, and contest the decision. Contact us at v-auction@vollers.com to exercise these rights.
International Transfers
Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the United Kingdom, including the United States (for example, where our analytics, marketing, or payment processors operate from there). Where we transfer personal data outside the UK, we rely on an adequacy decision by the UK Secretary of State (where the destination country is recognised as providing adequate protection), appropriate safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Addendum (IDTA) or standard contractual clauses (a copy of which is available on request), or an applicable exception under UK GDPR Article 49.
Contact us at v-auction@vollers.com if you would like more information about the safeguards in place.
How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain your personal information for up to five years from your last activity on our website. After this period, your information will be deleted or anonymised so that it can no longer identify you.
For the avoidance of doubt, where we are required by law to keep records – for example, accounting and tax records which must be retained for six (6) years under UK tax law – those records are kept for the statutory period regardless of the five-year rule above.
Your Rights
You have various rights under data protection law. These include the right to access your personal information, request corrections or deletions, restrict or object to how your data is processed, and request a copy of your data in a portable format. We do not charge a fee for these requests, and we will respond within one month of receipt, extendable by up to two further months for complex or multiple requests (we will tell you if an extension applies).
To exercise any of your rights, you can contact us by email at v-auction@vollers.com, or by post at Eniti House, General Castle Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9ND, United Kingdom.
Use of Cookies
We use cookies to personalize content, provide social media features, analyze traffic, and improve user experience. This includes necessary (essential) and third-party (non-essential) cookies.
Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us deliver a better experience on our website. We use cookies to personalize content, enable social media features, understand user behaviour through analytics, and ensure secure transactions. Some cookies are essential for the website to function properly, while others are used for marketing, analytics, or convenience.
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), non-essential cookies may only be placed with your prior consent. When you first visit our website, a cookie preference banner asks you to choose which categories of cookies you accept. You can change your choices at any time by clicking the “Cookie preferences” link in the website footer. Essential cookies are placed without consent because they are strictly necessary for the website to function.
Cookies We Use
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | v-auction.com | Maintains user session on the website. | Essential |
| _ga, _gid, _gat, _gali | Google Analytics – tracks website usage anonymously. | Non-essential (consent) | |
| _fbp | Tracks ad conversions and retargeting. | Non-essential (consent) | |
| _stripe_mid, _stripe_sid, _stripe_orig_props, cookie-perms, machine_identifier, private_machine_identifier | Stripe | Used for secure payment processing and fraud prevention. | Essential |
| _adal_id, _adal_ca | Adalyser | Used to track campaign analytics. | Non-essential (consent) |
| _cf_bm | Cloudflare | Used to identify and mitigate bots. | Essential |
| __hstc, __hssc, hubspotutk, _cfuid, _conv_r, _conv_v | HubSpot | Tracks users for lead generation and personalisation. | Non-essential (consent) |
| _zlcmid | Zopim (Zendesk) | Used to identify a device across visits for live chat. | Non-essential (consent) |
Additional Cookie Types
Email & Forms: Cookies are used to remember
if you’ve subscribed to our newsletter or filled out a
form.
Social Media: We integrate plugins from services
such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, which may place cookies.
These are subject to your consent via the cookie preference
banner.
Managing Cookies
You can control and withdraw cookie consent at any time through the “Cookie preferences” link on our website, which lets you accept or reject each category of non-essential cookies. You can also manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may impact site functionality. Learn more:
Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, please get in touch so we can resolve the issue. You also have the right to file a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
ICO Contact Details:
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact us at v-auction@vollers.com.