Data Protection Privacy Policy
MES PENSIONS
Data Protection Privacy Policy
This notice reflects our obligations and your rights under the 2018 Data Protection legislation and applies to data gathered by MES Financial Services Limited.
MES Financial Services Limited is committed to protecting your personal data.
Our Privacy Policy contains information about what personal data we collect, what we do with that information, who we may share it with and why, and your choices and rights when it comes to the personal information you have given us.
We may change our Privacy Policy at any time so please check our website for updates from time to time. If we make any significant changes, we will contact you to let you know.
Our Cookie Policy forms part of our privacy notice. When you browse our website, we use cookies to store information about how you use the website to improve the quality of the service we provide you.
Our Privacy Policy was last updated in November 2024.
If you have any questions about the data we collect about you, you can email us at [email protected].
We promise:
- Not to contact you for marketing purposes
- Not to sell your data to anyone
- To only use your data for the purposes of the product we are providing you
How the law protects you
We are only allowed to process your personal data, which includes storing it and sharing it with other companies if we have a legal basis for doing so. The Data Protection Legislation outlines a number of reasons which we can rely on but at least one must apply to allow us to use your data.
In processing your data, we will rely on one or more of the following reasons:
- To fulfil the terms of the contract we have with you
- To meet legal or regulatory obligations imposed on us
- When it is in our legitimate interest
- When you consent to it
Personal Information and Our Legitimate Interest
| Personal Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Business activities | Details about your employment history or control of companies that you are a director or have a major shareholding. |
| Communications | Information about yourself that you or your financial adviser provides to MES Financial Services in letters, emails, secure messages and telephone calls between us. |
| Consents | Any permissions or preferences you give us, such as whether you wish to have paper statements or appoint a nominee to see your online account and access online documents on your behalf. We will also record your permission to record you as a vulnerable client with your express consent. |
| Contractual | Information gathered to allow us to provide the products and services you have requested. |
| Documentary data | Evidence you provide to confirm your identity such as passport copy, driving licence or birth certificate. |
| Financial details | Your bank account number/sort code, the source of your funds you wish to invest, the source of your wealth and details of any previous investments or pensions you wish to transfer. |
| Sensitive data | There may be times when we need to process sensitive personal data, for example about medical conditions if you apply for an ill-health pension payment. |
| National identifier | We may need to collect any number or code allocated to you by the tax authorities, such as National Insurance Number in the UK. |
| Open data and public records | Your data that is available from records such as the Electoral Register or Companies House or available openly on the internet. |
| Personal details | Data we use to identify and contact you such as name, address, marital status, date of birth etc. |
What we use your data for and the basis for doing so
| What we use your information for | Our reasons (legal basis) | Our legitimate interests |
|---|---|---|
| Producing reports and accounts, management information, audits and reviews | Our legal obligations | Complying with the regulations that apply to us |
| Producing client reports for you including valuations, reviews and portfolio analysis | Fulfilling our contract; Our legal obligations | Fulfilling our contractual and legal obligations |
| Making records of any written or verbal conversations with you or your adviser; Providing third parties with your data where you have asked us to | Fulfilling our contract; Our legal obligations; Your consent | Fulfilling our contract and legal obligations |
| Making backups of your data for emergency situations | Our legal obligations | Complying with regulations that apply to us |
| Helping resolve complaints or disputes | Fulfilling our contract; Our legal obligations | Defence of legal or Ombudsman decisions |
| Identifying you and validating information | Fulfilling our contract; Our legal obligations | Complying with regulations that apply to us |
| Monitoring your account to prevent financial crime | Fulfilling our contract; Our legal obligations | Complying with regulations that apply to us |
| Reporting relevant information to authorities | Our legal obligations | Complying with regulations that apply to us |
Personal information we collect and where we get it from
- Application forms and supplementary forms
- Phone, letter, or email communication
- Financial advisers
- Credit reference and fraud prevention agencies
- HMRC, Companies House, solicitors, accountants, and employers
Personal information we share with others
We share data with:
- Your financial adviser
- Banks and credit agencies
- HMRC, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Pensions Regulator, the Ombudsman, and other relevant bodies
- Law enforcement and other regulatory agencies
- Third parties or partners under cooperation agreements
Profiling and automated decision making
MES Financial Services Limited currently uses profiling and automated decision making in limited circumstances.
Opening a SIPP
When you apply to open a SIPP, your personal data is verified via third-party databases to confirm your identity and compliance status.
Fraud prevention
We use your data to detect money-laundering, market abuse, or fraud and may share data with law enforcement when required.
Where your information is processed
Your information is processed primarily in the UK. When processed abroad, equivalent protections are applied to comply with UK laws.
How we protect your information
We use robust security measures to protect your data and our staff receive regular training. We follow industry standards for confidentiality and integrity.
How long we keep your information
We retain your information as long as legally and regulatorily required, and review retention periods regularly.
Your rights
- You can refuse to provide data, but this may affect our ability to provide services.
- We retain your data for a minimum of seven years after you stop being a client.
- You can request a copy of your data via [email protected].
Other rights include:
- The right to correct inaccurate data
- The right to object to processing
- The right to restrict processing
Complaints
If you believe we have not handled your data properly, please contact us. You may also complain directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: ico.org.uk
Contact
MES Financial Services Limited
First Floor, 31 College Green,
Bristol, BS1 5TB
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 3303 202091
