Data protection

Preface

These websites are operated by ECC European Clearingcenter GmbH in accordance with the principles described below. ECC European Clearingcenter GmbH is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. We strive to ensure the secure and protected use of our website. The purpose of this statement is to inform you about how we use personal data that you provide to us through these websites; it does not apply to information we collect through other means. This privacy statement is addressed to both our contractual partners and individual users.

ECC European Clearingcenter GmbH complies with legal data protection regulations. These regulations govern the processing of your personal data and grant you various rights regarding your personal information. Our websites may contain links to other websites over which we have no control. ECC European Clearingcenter GmbH is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of other websites you may access through this site. We recommend that you review the privacy policies of those websites to understand how they collect, use, and share your information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected through this website.

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Statement on the Importance of Data Protection

Data forms the foundation for providing excellent service. However, our most valuable asset is our customers' trust. Protecting customer data and using it only as our customers expect is our highest priority. Therefore, compliance with legal data protection provisions is a given for us. Furthermore, it is important to us that you always know when we store data and how we use it.

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Data Collection

Your visit to our websites is logged. The following data is essentially recorded: the anonymized IP address currently used by your PC, date and time, browser type and operating system of your PC, and the pages you view. Personal identification is generally not possible and not intended.

This data is collected solely for data security purposes and to optimize our web offering. No other use of the data, except for statistical purposes and in anonymized form, takes place. No personal browsing profiles or similar data are created or processed.

Personal data is only stored if you provide it voluntarily, e.g., through registration, a survey, a competition entry, an online application, or for the execution of a contract. The purpose of collecting such data will be indicated in the respective forms. These data are transmitted encrypted over the Internet.

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Cookies

You can use our website without restriction even with cookies disabled in your browser.

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Use of Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics uses so-called "cookies", text files stored on your computer that enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Due to IP anonymization being activated on these websites, your IP address is truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be sent to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.

On behalf of the website operator, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services relating to website and Internet usage. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data. You can prevent cookies from being saved by adjusting your browser settings. However, please note that you may not be able to fully use all features of this website if you do so.

You can also prevent Google from collecting and processing data generated by the cookie and related to your website use (including your IP address) by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: Browser Add-on to deactivate Google Analytics.

Further information on terms of use and data protection can be found at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html or https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/.

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Use of Piwik

This website uses Piwik, an open-source software that collects and stores data. This information is used for marketing and optimization purposes. Piwik creates usage profiles using pseudonyms. For this purpose, the software stores cookies (text files) on your computer, which allow your use of the website to be analyzed. Your IP address is anonymized immediately after processing and before storage. The data is stored on the provider's servers in Germany.

If you do not want Piwik to store cookies, you can prevent this through your browser settings (see your browser's help function). In that case, you may not be able to use all features of the website.

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Use and Disclosure of Data

Personal data that you provide to us via the website or by email (e.g., your name, address, or email address) will be used only to correspond with you and only for the purpose for which you provided the data.

Additionally, we may use this data occasionally to offer you products or services and to inform you about offers you might be interested in. You have the right to object to this use of your data at any time.

The information collected on this website is shared with the relevant unit within our corporate group. We assure you that we will not disclose your personal data to third parties unless we are legally required to do so or you have given your prior consent.

If we engage service providers to carry out processing activities, the contractual relationships will be governed in accordance with the German Federal Data Protection Act.

We hire other companies and individuals to perform tasks for us, e.g., package delivery, sending letters, processing payments (credit card, direct debit, purchase on account). These service providers have access to personal information needed to perform their tasks. However, they may not use it for other purposes and must treat the information in accordance with this privacy statement and German data protection laws.

Your order and payment data are used for internal evaluation of your payment behavior for future orders.

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Credit Check

We may occasionally obtain information about you from other sources and add it to our customer account information. We reserve the right to request information from third parties (e.g., mail order companies, credit agencies) about your payment behavior in order to offer you certain payment options (e.g., purchase on account) or other financial services.

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Consent and Revocation

If you have provided us with personal data, you can request that it be deleted at any time. Data needed for billing and accounting purposes is not affected by a cancellation or revocation.

The use of your email address, phone and/or mobile number, and fax number for advertising or for market and opinion research purposes requires separate consent. This consent can be given electronically when entering your data and can be revoked at any time for the future.

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Storage Duration

Personal data submitted via our website is stored only as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was entrusted to us. Insofar as commercial and tax law retention periods must be observed, certain data may be stored for up to 10 years.

Additionally, in the case of an online order, the orderer's IP address at the time of ordering will be stored and used for one year to ensure data security (i.e., to prevent misuse and for criminal prosecution).

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Data Subject Rights

If you no longer consent to the storage of your personal data or if it has become incorrect, we will delete or block your data or make the necessary corrections upon your instruction (if permitted under applicable law). Upon request, you will receive information free of charge about all personal data we have stored about you.

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Links to Other Websites

We may occasionally refer to third-party websites. Although we carefully select these third parties, we cannot guarantee or be held liable for the accuracy or completeness of the content and data security of third-party websites. This privacy statement does not apply to linked third-party websites.

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Protection of Certain Groups

Persons under 18 years of age should not transmit personal data to us without the consent of their parents or guardians. We do not perform age verification. Therefore, minors may not register with us, enter into contracts, or use services.

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Updating This Privacy Statement

If we introduce new products or services, change internet processes, or if internet and IT security technology evolves, this “Privacy Policy” will be updated. We therefore reserve the right to change or supplement this statement as needed. Changes will be published on this site. You should therefore regularly visit this website to stay informed about the current version of the privacy statement.

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Liability

All information on this website has been carefully checked. However, we cannot guarantee that the content of our own websites is always accurate, complete, or up to date.

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Transmission Methods

The Internet is generally considered an insecure medium. Compared to telephone lines, data transmitted via the Internet can more easily be intercepted, recorded, or altered by unauthorized third parties. To ensure the confidentiality of communication with you, we use SSL encryption. According to the current state of knowledge, 128-bit encryption is considered secure. This level of security is supported by all recent browsers. You may need to update your browser to use it.

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Monitoring and Security Measures

A firewall system prevents external access. Multiple layers of encryption and identification prevent unauthorized queries or interception of customer data during transmission. In addition to internal encryption methods of internet browsers, we use even stronger encryption technologies to prevent unauthorized persons from decoding data.

Each time a page from our web offering is accessed, the anonymized IP address of the requesting computer and internet service provider, date, duration, and time of access, as well as the name of the retrieved file and data volume, are stored in a log file.

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Technology Used for Operating the Website

Cookies are small text files stored on the user's PC. They are used, for example, to manage sessions during your website visit. They contain purely technical information and no personal data. We do not use cookies.

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Internal Security Measures

We ensure the confidentiality and security of your personal data by:

• Using your personal data solely to fulfill your request or concern,

• Requiring our employees to maintain confidentiality,

• Adapting our security measures to the current state of technology,

• Regularly checking our systems to protect against damage, loss, or unauthorized access to stored data,

• Appointing a data protection officer responsible for ensuring compliance with this privacy statement.

 

Tips for Improving Personal Data Security

You can recognize a secure internet connection by the address starting with "https" (e.g., https://www.domain.com) and the closed padlock icon in your browser’s address or status bar. We will never ask you to provide confidential information such as account/customer number, PIN, or password via email, phone, or SMS, or ask you to enter or send such data.

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Data Protection Officer Contact Information

If you are dissatisfied with the data protection measures presented here or have questions about the collection, processing, or use of your personal data, we would be pleased to hear from you. We will make every effort to respond to your questions as quickly as possible and implement your suggestions. Please contact our data protection officer at:

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ECC European Clearingcenter GmbH
Data Protection Officer
Hafenweg 5a
59192 Bergkamen, Germany
Email: datenschutz@ecc-online.net

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Contact Details of the DPO:

TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH
TÜV NORD Group
Department for Data Protection
IT Security
Business Security & Privacy
Phone: +49 201 8999899
Email: privacyGUARD@tuvit.de

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