Privacy Policy - Bridging Options

Who We Are

Bridging Options is a bridging loan broker operating in the United Kingdom. We connect customers with suitable lenders for bridging finance solutions, including auction finance, refurbishment loans, and property chain bridging. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in accordance with UK data protection laws.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you submit our online form or contact us by phone, we collect:

Full name
Email address
Phone number
Property address and details
Loan amount required
Property value
Purpose of loan (auction, refurbishment, chain bridging)
Employment and income information
Any additional information you provide in free-text fields

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

IP address
Browser type and version
Device information
Pages visited and time spent on site
Referring website addresses

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following lawful bases as defined by UK GDPR:legalvision+1

Legitimate Interests: To assess your eligibility for bridging finance products and connect you with suitable lenders

Contractual Necessity: To provide the brokerage services you’ve requested and process your loan application

Legal Obligation: To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, fraud prevention requirements, and financial services regulations

Consent: For marketing communications, where we have obtained your explicit consent

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

Respond to your enquiry within 2 hours as promised on our website
Assess your suitability for bridging finance products
Match you with appropriate lenders from our panel
Facilitate your loan application process
Conduct credit reference and identity verification checks
Prevent fraud and money laundering
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
Improve our services and website functionality
Send you relevant information about our services (with your consent)

Credit Reference and Fraud Prevention Agencies

To process your application, we will perform credit and identity checks with credit reference agencies (CRAs) and fraud prevention agencies. These agencies will:

Verify your identity and address
Assess your creditworthiness
Check for fraud indicators
Create a record of the search on your credit file

If you have a spouse or financial associate, we may link your records together, and you should ensure they are aware of this before proceeding. CRAs may share information with other lenders, and searches will leave a footprint on your credit file.

We share your personal data with the following third parties:

Lenders: We share your application details with lenders on our panel to secure bridging finance on your behalf

Credit Reference Agencies: For identity verification and creditworthiness assessment

Fraud Prevention Agencies: To prevent fraud, money laundering, and verify identity

Service Providers: Third-party providers who assist with our operations, such as IT support, data storage, and communication services

Legal and Regulatory Bodies: Where required by law or to comply with regulatory obligations

We will always seek your consent before sharing your information with lenders and will only share what is necessary for your specific application.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

Fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements (typically 6-7 years for financial records)
Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

If you do not proceed with a loan application, we will retain your basic contact information for a reasonable period unless you request deletion.

International Data Transfers

Some fraud prevention agencies and service providers may transfer your data outside the UK. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

Transfers to countries with UK adequacy decisions
Standard contractual clauses approved by the UK government
Other legally approved transfer mechanisms

Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

Right of Access: Request copies of your personal information

Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data

Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances

Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your data

Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format

Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing

Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent as the legal basis

Rights Related to Automated Decision-Making: Rights regarding any automated decisions that significantly affect you

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the top of this policy.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. These measures include:

Secure encrypted data transmission
Regular security assessments
Access controls and authentication
Staff training on data protection
Secure data storage systems

In the event of a data breach that poses a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as required by law.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Under recent updates to UK law, functional cookies for analytics, security, and site optimization may be used with clear information and opt-out mechanisms provided. Marketing cookies require your explicit consent.

For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage them, please see our Cookie Policy.

Marketing Communications

If you have consented to receive marketing communications, we may contact you with information about our services and relevant bridging finance products. You can unsubscribe at any time by:

Clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails
Contacting us directly
Updating your preferences through your account settings

Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or business operations. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy indicates when it was most recently revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Complaints and Regulatory Authority

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first so we can address your concerns.

If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

This privacy policy complies with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and incorporates recent changes from the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. It addresses the specific requirements for financial services brokers, including data sharing with lenders, credit reference agencies, and fraud prevention obligations. The policy also covers lead generation best practices, ensuring transparency about data collection through online forms and the promise of contact within 2 hours.

https://ico.org.uk/create-your-own-privacy-notice

https://www.bridgingoptions.com

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-use-and-access-act-2025-data-protection-and-privacy-changes

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/

https://wearefreak.com/lead-gen-privacy-policy

https://sprintlaw.co.uk/articles/5-quick-tips-for-gdpr-compliance/

https://legalvision.co.uk/data-privacy-it/fca-regulated-businesses-data/

https://ico.org.uk/media2/for-organisations/documents/2617552/privacy-notice-template.docx

https://bridgingfinance-solutions.co.uk/privacy-and-data-protect-policy/

https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/lead-capture-tools-privacy-policy/

https://www.bridging-loan-co.uk/Privacy-Policy

https://www.bridgingfinancelondon.com/privacy-policy/