Privacy Policy

MOTText is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly, securely and transparently.

MOTText is operated by Fuel Tank Media Ltd.

1. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to:

• garages and businesses using MOTText;
• garage staff and account users;
• motorists who submit reminders, enquiries or appointment requests;
• visitors to the MOTText website and directory;
• people who contact us by email, phone, form or other methods.

2. What information we collect

We may collect and process different types of personal information depending on how you use MOTText.

Garage and business information

This may include:

• garage name;
• business address;
• telephone number;
• email address;
• website address;
• opening hours;
• MOT testing details;
• services offered;
• directory listing information;
• account registration details;
• billing and payment-related information;
• communication preferences.

Account user information

If you create or use a MOTText account, we may collect:

• name;
• email address;
• phone number;
• login details;
• role or business relationship;
• activity within the MOTText dashboard;
• support messages or queries.

Customer and vehicle reminder information

Where a garage uses MOTText to send MOT or service reminders, we may process information such as:

• customer name;
• customer email address;
• customer mobile number;
• postal address, where postal reminders are used;
• vehicle registration;
• vehicle make and model;
• MOT due date;
• service due date;
• reminder history;
• communication preferences;
• opt-out or suppression records.

Directory enquiry and appointment request information

When a motorist contacts a garage through MOTText Directory, requests an MOT reminder, or submits an appointment request, we may collect:

• name;
• email address;
• phone number;
• vehicle registration;
• vehicle details;
• preferred appointment date or time;
• enquiry message;
• garage selected;
• communication history connected to the enquiry.

Website and technical information

When you visit our website, we may collect:

• IP address;
• browser type;
• device type;
• pages visited;
• date and time of visit;
• referral source;
• interactions with directory listings, such as page views, website clicks or phone clicks.

We may use cookies or similar technologies to help the website work, improve performance and understand how visitors use the site.

3. How we collect information

We collect information when:

• you register for a MOTText account;
• you claim or update a garage listing;
• you upload, enter or import customer or vehicle data;
• you submit a reminder request, enquiry or appointment request;
• you contact us directly;
• you use our website, dashboard or directory;
• a garage provides customer details to send reminders;
• publicly available garage information is used to create or maintain directory listings.

4. Why we use personal information

We use personal information to:

• provide MOT and service reminder services;
• send SMS, email and postal reminders;
• manage garage accounts;
• allow garages to claim and update directory listings;
• display garage directory information to the public;
• pass customer enquiries or appointment requests to relevant garages;
• manage opt-outs, suppression lists and communication preferences;
• provide customer support;
• improve our website, dashboard and services;
• monitor directory activity and listing performance;
• prevent misuse, fraud or unauthorised access;
• comply with legal, accounting and regulatory obligations.

5. Our lawful basis for processing

Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for using personal information. Depending on the situation, we may rely on one or more of the following lawful bases.

Contract

We may process personal information where it is necessary to provide MOTText services to a garage, account holder or customer.

For example, this may apply when a garage signs up to MOTText, uses reminder tools, or manages a directory listing.

Legitimate interests

We may process information where we have a legitimate business interest, provided this does not override the rights and freedoms of the individuals concerned.

This may include:

• operating the MOTText Directory;
• helping motorists contact garages;
• sending service-related communications;
• improving our platform;
• preventing fraud or misuse;
• contacting garages about their listing or service activity;
• keeping suppression and opt-out records.

Consent

We may rely on consent where someone has actively agreed to receive certain communications or where consent is otherwise required. Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time.

Legal obligation

We may process information where required to comply with legal, tax, accounting or regulatory obligations.

6. MOT and service reminders

MOTText helps garages send reminders to their customers by SMS, email and post.

Where a garage uploads or enters customer and vehicle details into MOTText, the garage is usually responsible for ensuring it has an appropriate lawful basis to use that information and send reminders.

MOTText processes that information to provide the reminder service, manage delivery, record reminder history, handle opt-outs and support the garage’s use of the system.

Customers can opt out of reminder communications using the unsubscribe or opt-out method provided in the message, or by contacting the garage or MOTText.

7. MOTText Directory

MOTText Directory displays information about garages to help motorists find MOT centres and vehicle service providers.

Directory listings may include business information such as garage name, address, contact details, opening hours, services and other publicly relevant information.

Garages can contact us to correct, claim, update or request removal of their listing where appropriate.

We may track activity on directory listings, such as page views, website clicks, phone clicks, enquiries and appointment requests. This helps us operate the directory, improve listings and show garages how their listing is performing.

8. Appointment requests and enquiries

If you submit an enquiry or appointment request through MOTText, we use the information you provide to send your request to the relevant garage.

Submitting an appointment request through MOTText does not guarantee that the appointment is confirmed. The garage must contact you directly to confirm availability, pricing and booking details.

We may keep a record of the request for administration, support, fraud prevention, reporting and service improvement.

9. Who we share information with

We only share personal information where necessary and appropriate.

We may share information with:

• garages using MOTText;
• SMS providers;
• email delivery providers;
• postal mailing providers;
• payment providers;
• hosting, database and technical service providers;
• analytics or website performance providers;
• professional advisers, where required;
• regulators, authorities or law enforcement where legally required.

Where third-party service providers process personal data on our behalf, they are expected to handle it securely and only for the agreed purpose.

We do not sell personal information.

10. International transfers

Some of our service providers may process data outside the UK.

Where this happens, we take steps designed to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as using providers with recognised data protection arrangements or contractual protections.

11. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and why it is held.

For example:

• account information may be kept while the account remains active and for a reasonable period afterwards;
• reminder records may be kept to support delivery history, opt-outs, reporting and customer service;
• suppression and opt-out records may be kept for longer to make sure we do not contact people who have opted out;
• enquiry and appointment request records may be kept for administration, support and reporting;
• financial records may be kept as required for accounting and tax purposes.

When information is no longer needed, we will delete it, anonymise it or securely archive it.

12. How we protect information

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

These measures may include:

• password-protected accounts;
• access controls;
• secure hosting;
• database security;
• encrypted connections where appropriate;
• staff or administrator access controls;
• regular review of systems and processes.

No online service can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect the information we hold.

13. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, individuals have rights over their personal data. These may include the right to:

• access personal information held about them;
• request correction of inaccurate information;
• request deletion of information in certain circumstances;
• request restriction of processing;
• object to processing in certain circumstances;
• request data portability in certain circumstances;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

To exercise your rights, contact us at datacontroller@fueltankmedia.com.

We may need to verify your identity before responding.

14. Your right to object

You have the right to object to certain types of processing, including processing based on legitimate interests.

This includes objecting to certain communications or uses of your personal information.

You can contact us at datacontroller@fueltankmedia.com.

15. Marketing communications

We may send service updates, account information or relevant business communications to garages and account holders.

Where we send marketing communications, we will do so in accordance with applicable rules and provide a way to opt out where required.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link in the email or by contacting us.

16. Cookies

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to:

• make the website work properly;
• remember preferences;
• understand how visitors use the website;
• improve performance;
• measure marketing or directory activity.

Where required, we will ask for consent before using non-essential cookies.

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

17. Children’s data

MOTText is not intended for use by children.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the website or directory.

18. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.

You can contact us at datacontroller@fueltankmedia.com.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK regulator for data protection matters.

You can visit the ICO website at https://ico.org.uk.

19. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

The latest version will always be available on our website. Where changes are significant, we may take additional steps to notify users.

20. Contact us

For questions about this Privacy Policy, how we use personal information, or to exercise your data protection rights, contact:

This Privacy Policy is intended to provide clear information about how MOTText handles personal information. It should not be treated as legal advice.