Privacy and Cookie Policy
Last updated: 13 October 2026
Who we are
This policy covers www.smartphonechecker.co.uk, run by Smartphone Checker Ltd ("we" or "us"), a company registered in England and Wales with company number 17516017. Our registered office is 82a James Carter Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DE, United Kingdom. We decide how the information described here is used. You can contact us at info@smartphonechecker.co.uk. Our Terms of Service cover how you can use the site.
We never ask for your name, email address or other contact details to use the site. We don't sell your information.
What we collect and why
Requests to our website
Like any website, our servers receive your IP address, browser and device details, the page you asked for, the page you came from and the time. We use this to deliver pages, keep the site secure, stop abuse and fix problems. We keep these logs for up to 90 days, then delete them. Our content delivery network, Cloudflare, also handles these requests.
Visit statistics
If you allow Analytics in our cookie settings, we set a cookie called sc_sid that holds a
random ID. It lets us count visits, see which pages lead people to deals and show which deals are popular.
It expires after 14 days without a visit and isn't shared with anyone. Without your permission it isn't
set, and choosing "Necessary only" removes it.
With that ID we record a short summary of each visit: the page you arrived on, the page or campaign that sent you, your device type, browser, operating system, device model and country (worked out from your IP address by Cloudflare). When you allow Analytics, your browser tells us the page you were on and the site that sent you, so the visit is counted from where it started. The summary doesn't include your IP address. We keep these summaries to build long-term statistics about how people find the site.
When you click "Get Deal"
We record which deal you clicked, when, the page you clicked it on, a random reference that we pass to the retailer's affiliate network and, if the visit cookie is on, your visit ID with the page you arrived on and what sent you. When a sale is reported back to us, the reference lets us match it to the click so we get paid. The network tells us about the sale (such as the product and its value) but not your name or contact details.
If you've allowed Google Analytics, we also store your Google Analytics IDs with the click. If you've allowed marketing cookies and came from one of our Google ads, we store the Google ad click ID so we can tell Google which ads led to sales. We keep click records for 90 days, then delete them.
When you go through to a retailer, their affiliate network (such as Awin, Webgains, Rakuten or Amazon) sets its own cookie to record that we referred you. That happens on their site, under their privacy policy. The retailer's own privacy policy covers anything you give them when you buy.
Google Analytics and advertising
We only use Google Analytics if you switch on "Analytics", and Google advertising cookies if you switch on "Marketing". Google Analytics helps us understand how the site is used. Advertising cookies measure our Google ads, and Google may use them to personalise ads you see elsewhere. Switching on Marketing also switches on Google Analytics.
If you email us
We use your email address and message to reply, and keep them only as long as we need to deal with your message.
Stored only on your device
If you choose light or dark mode, or save deals to your favourites, your browser remembers that on your device. It isn't sent to us.
Cookies we use
| Cookie | Set by | What it's for | How long | When it's used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
cookie_status |
Us | Remembers your cookie choices | 1 year | Always (strictly necessary) |
sc_sid |
Us | Random visit ID for visit statistics | 14 days after your last visit | Only if you switch on Analytics or Marketing |
_ga, _ga_* |
Google Analytics | Understanding how the site is used | Up to 2 years | Only if you switch on Analytics or Marketing |
_gcl_* |
Measuring our Google ads | Up to 90 days | Only if you switch on Marketing | |
| Affiliate network cookies | Awin, Webgains, Rakuten, Amazon and similar, on their own sites | Recording that we referred you | Set by the network, often 30 days | When you click "Get Deal" |
You can change your choices at any time with Cookie Preferences
(also in the footer). Choosing "Necessary only" switches off everything optional, including
sc_sid. To avoid affiliate cookies, go to a retailer's website directly rather than through
our links. Your browser settings can also block or delete cookies; About Cookies
explains how.
Our legal basis
- Delivering and securing the site, click records and matching sales to clicks are in our legitimate interests: running a free comparison site that works, stays secure and gets paid.
- Our visit cookie and visit summaries, Google Analytics and Google advertising cookies are based on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
- Replying to your emails is in our legitimate interests.
Who else handles your information
Cloudflare (content delivery and security), our hosting provider, Google (only if you allow Analytics or Marketing) and the affiliate networks named above. Some of them may process information outside the UK. Where they do, they use safeguards recognised under UK data protection law.
Your rights
You can ask us for a copy of your information, or ask us to correct it, delete it, restrict how we use it
or stop using it. Because we don't know who you are, we may need the value of your sc_sid
cookie (shown in your browser's cookie settings) or the date and time of your visit to find it. Email
info@smartphonechecker.co.uk.
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
Changes to this policy
If we change how we use information, we'll update this page and the date at the top.