Privacy Policy – AfroDrumming.com

Last Updated: September 2025

Welcome to AfroDrumming.com (the “Site”), operated by Al Paton trading as AfroDrumming.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website or use our services.

Our Contact Details:

  • Email: support@afrodrumming.com
  • Phone: 07521 474 962
  • Address: Caversham, Reading, UK

Who This Policy Applies To

This policy covers:

  • Visitors: Users who browse our website without making purchases
  • Newsletter Subscribers: Users who join our mailing list
  • Customers: Users who purchase products or services from us
  • Course Students: Users enrolled in our drumming courses

What Personal Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly:

  • Contact Details: Name, email address, phone number, postal address
  • Purchase Information: Billing and delivery addresses, payment preferences
  • Service Requests: Details about djembe repairs, custom drum specifications
  • Course Data: Learning progress, completion status, course preferences
  • Communications: Messages sent via contact forms, email, or WhatsApp
  • Reviews and Testimonials: Feedback you choose to provide

Information Collected Automatically:

  • Website Analytics: Pages visited, time spent, device type, browser information
  • Cookies: Site preferences, login status, shopping cart contents
  • Location Data: General location (country/region) for shipping and content purposes

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

Essential Services:

  • Process and fulfill orders for products and services
  • Coordinate djembe collection, repair, and return
  • Deliver online courses and track your progress
  • Provide customer support and respond to enquiries
  • Send transactional emails (order confirmations, repair updates)

Business Operations:

  • Maintain the repair history and service records
  • Improve our website and services
  • Generate anonymous analytics and reports
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements

Marketing (with your consent):

  • Send newsletters and promotional content to subscribers
  • Share relevant course recommendations
  • Request reviews from recent customers

Who We Share Information With

Essential Service Providers:

  • Hostinger: Website hosting and maintenance
  • Acumbamail: Email marketing and newsletter delivery
  • ThriveCart: Course hosting and student management
  • PayPal & Stripe: Payment processing
  • Evri & Royal Mail: Shipping and delivery services

Analytics and Advertising:

  • Google Analytics: Website performance and visitor insights
  • Facebook: Social media integration and advertising
  • Amazon Associates: Affiliate program participation

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information with other organizations for marketing.

Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

  • Contract: To fulfill orders and provide services you’ve requested
  • Legitimate Interest: For business operations, analytics, and improvement
  • Consent: For marketing communications and non-essential cookies
  • Legal Obligation: To comply with tax, accounting, and regulatory requirements

How Long We Keep Your Information

  • Customer Records: 7 years (for accounting and warranty purposes)
  • Repair History: 3 years (for service reference)
  • Course Data: 2 years after course completion
  • Newsletter Subscribers: Until you unsubscribe
  • Website Analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
  • Marketing Consents: Until withdrawn

International Transfers

While we’re UK-based, some of our service providers may process data outside the UK. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

  • Adequacy decisions for countries with equivalent data protection
  • Standard contractual clauses for other transfers
  • Regular review of third-party security measures

Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data (with some exceptions)
  • Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
  • Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
  • Object: Opt-out of certain types of processing
  • Withdraw Consent: For processing based on your consent

To exercise any of these rights, email us at support@afrodrumming.com.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies to:

  • Remember your preferences and settings
  • Analyze website performance and visitor behavior
  • Provide social media features
  • Deliver relevant advertising

You can control cookie settings through your browser, though this may affect site functionality.

Security Measures

We protect your personal information through:

  • Secure hosting with regular backups
  • Encrypted payment processing (we don’t store card details)
  • Restricted access to personal data
  • Regular security updates and monitoring
  • Secure storage of physical items during repairs

While we take reasonable security measures, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of transmitted data.

Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach, we will:

  • Assess and contain the breach promptly
  • Notify relevant authorities within 72 hours if required
  • Inform affected individuals when necessary
  • Take steps to prevent similar incidents

Newsletter and Marketing

Newsletter Subscriptions:

  • Completely opt-in – you must actively subscribe
  • Easy unsubscribe via a link in every email
  • Separate from customer purchase data
  • We don’t share subscriber lists with third parties

Customer Communications:

  • Transactional emails (essential service communications)
  • Optional review requests sent 1-2 weeks after service completion
  • Course-related updates for enrolled students

Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy to reflect:

  • Changes in our business practices
  • New legal requirements
  • Feedback from users

We’ll post updates on our website and notify subscribers of significant changes via email.

Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions:

  • Email: support@afrodrumming.com
  • Subject Line: “Privacy Policy Enquiry” for faster response

Complaints

If you’re not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

  • Website: ico.org.uk
  • Phone: 0303 123 1113