BT Wholesale

Privacy Policy

Who is BT Wholesale?

BT Wholesale provides network services and solutions to communications companies.

BT Wholesale is part of British Telecommunications plc (“BT”), a subsidiary of BT Group plc. Other businesses within BT have their own privacy policies. Other policies exist for BT Retail (which provides telephone lines to most people in the UK as well as a wide range of communications products and services to the residential and business markets), BT Openworld (BT’s mass market internet access division), BT Ignite (BT’s business services and solutions division serving customers worldwide), Openreach (BT's access planning and field operations) and BT Group (our head office function).

When we refer in this Privacy Policy to “our website” we are referring to the website at http://www.btwholesale.com.

British Telecommunications plc is registered in England with number 1800000. Its registered address is 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ.

Why does BT Wholesale have a Privacy Policy?

We have developed this policy because we want you to feel confident about the privacy and security of your personal information. BT plc is registered under the data protection laws in the United Kingdom and takes all reasonable care to prevent any unauthorised access to your personal information. When we refer to “personal information” in this Privacy Policy, we mean information which identifies you as an individual, or is capable of doing so.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you are visiting our website or using our services, by continuing to use our website you indicate your agreement to our use of your personal information as set out in this Privacy Policy.

What does this Privacy Policy cover?

This Privacy Policy only applies to BT Wholesale’s website and services. It does not apply to any other BT or third party services or sites, even if we host them or you access them from our website. Nor does it cover the situation where we process data on behalf of others. If you disclose your personal information directly to other companies, it will be dealt with according to their privacy practices.

What personal information does BT Wholesale obtain about me, and when?

If you order, or register for, a service from BT Wholesale on behalf of a business, we may ask you for information such as your name, business address, contact telephone numbers and email address. We may also ask you for other information; this will be clear at the time.

We receive from other licensed telecommunications operators information about their customers to enable us (a) to enter their details in telephone directories and (b) to make their telephone number available on directory enquiry services (unless they have chosen to be ex-directory).

When you (or someone using your telephone line) make a telephone call or send a fax that uses our telephone network or connect to the world wide web, we keep a record of that call (including the number called) to enable BT to charge for it. We also receive from other operators information about calls made over our network, where we need that information for connecting and billing purposes.

If you only browse our website, we may keep a record of your use to help make your visit to our website more satisfying. (Please see “When does BT Wholesale use cookies” below for more information on how we do this).

If you register on our website, we ask you to provide your e-mail address, a password, and brief information about the business you are in. We also ask you to complete a password security question and answer, in case you forget your password for any reason.

If someone abuses or damages the telephone network, for example if someone makes offensive or nuisance telephone calls, we may keep information relating to that abuse or damage.

We may receive personal information about you from third parties. Except in the cases where we are merely processing such information for them, we rely on the third parties to obtain your consent for us to use this information.

For what purposes does BT Wholesale use information about me?

We use information about you to:

  • Connect and charge for the calls you make and other services you use.
  • Manage our network.
  • Publish telephone directories, and provide directory enquiry services (unless your number is ex-directory), and to enable other telecommunications operators to provide such services.
  • Communicate with you about your access to or use of our services.
  • Let you know (by post, telephone or e-mail) about any changes to our services.
  • Provide information to BT Retail, BTopenworld and other telecommunication services providers so that they can check whether Broadband internet access is available on your telephone line.
  • Enable you or a friend to check, on line or through a retailer, whether Broadband internet access is available on your telephone line .
  • Check your identity if you contact us.
  • Carry out research and analysis.
  • Prevent and detect criminal activity, fraud and damage to our network, and prosecute or sue those responsible.

If you register for one of the services available through our website, you only have to give us your e-mail address and a password. Your e-mail address and other personal details are needed if you want to use particular online services or to customise your use of BT Wholesale.com to suit your individual needs. If you register, we will treat you as having consented to our using your personal data in the manner described in this Policy. We may use your e-mail address to:

  • Send you messages with details of products and services that may be of interest to you.
  • Keep you up to date with news about your business’s current services, as well as anything you show an interest in, either online or through other contact with BT Wholesale.

If you do not want to be kept informed in this way by e-mail, please let us know. You can do this by ticking the relevant box on the registration form when you register for the portal, or in “Update Your Profile” which can be found on most pages after you have logged in.

If you do not register on our website, the personal data we collect from you on our website will be limited to that which you give us in order to enter into any transactions on-line. We will use that data in order to facilitate that transaction and for no other purpose.

Does BT Wholesale disclose information about me to anyone else?

As a normal part of our business, we provide to other parts of BT and to other communications companies, information for connecting and charging for calls when the call has been made by one of their customers with the assistance of a BT operator or over the BT Wholesale network, or is made by a BT customer and goes over another operator’s communications network. If another communications company did not pay us what it owed, we might transfer the debt to another company for collection; in that case, we might also need to pass to that other company information about calls, so that they can prove the amount that is owed.

We sometimes use other companies to provide some of our services or to provide services to us. To enable them to do this, we may need to let them process your personal information. When we do so, these companies are required to act in accordance with the instructions we give them, may only do things that BT Wholesale is entitled to do, and may only act on behalf of BT Wholesale. In addition, they are required to meet the requirements in the Data Protection Act to keep the information secure.

We may provide information, in response to properly made requests, for the purposes of the prevention and detection of crime, and the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. We may also provide information for the purpose of safeguarding national security. In either case we do so in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

We also provide information when required to do so by law, for example under a court order, or in response to properly made demands, under powers contained in legislation.

If there is a change (or prospective change) in the ownership of BT or any of its assets, we may disclose personal information to the new (or prospective) owner. If we do so, we will require them to keep it confidential.

For how long does BT Wholesale keep personal information?

The period we keep information varies according to what the information is used for. In some cases there are legal requirements to keep data for a minimum period. Unless specific legal requirements dictate otherwise, we will retain information no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the data were collected or for which they are further processed.

How does BT Wholesale protect data about me when it is transferred out of Europe?

Countries in the European Economic Area are required to have a similar standard of protection of personal data. This is not always the case outside that area. We do sometimes transfer data outside that area and before doing so take steps to ensure that there is adequate protection, as required by the Data Protection Act.

How can I find out what personal information BT holds about me?

If you want specific information ie.:

  • copies of fault reports 
  • copy invoices

then you must contact Customer Services.
 
If you are asking for a full subject access request then put your request in writing, enclosing a cheque for £10 made payable to BT plc and send to British Telecommunications PLC, PP M3042 DSAR, Colindale House, The Hyde, Colindale, London NW9 6LB.
 
You will also need to provide the following information so that we can process your request:

  • The relevant account number/s
  • The relevant telephone number/s
  • The relevant address/s
  • The date and time if requesting a call recording? (see also note below) 
  • If you have any information such as reference numbers, dates and times of contact then please include them in your request.

(BT does record some calls for Quality and Training purposes, however, not all calls are recorded. Calls are only held for a short period of time.  If you want a call recording it is essential that you provide the information requested above, otherwise we will not be able to proceed with your request)
Once we have all the relevant information we will process your request within the 40 day time limit allowed under the terms of The Data Protection Act.

How can I change the personal information BT holds about me?

If the information we hold about you is inaccurate, please let us know. Our address is Data Subject Access Manager, PP M3042 DSAR, Colindale House, The Hyde, Colindale, London NW9 6LB. We will amend the information, and tell you when we have done so.

When you visit BT Wholesale.com you have direct control over information in your personal profile. You can access and change this information at any time by using the “Update Your Profile” link which appears on most pages after you log in.

How can I manage BT’s contact with me for marketing purposes?

If you would like to stop unsolicited telemarketing calls from BT and other companies, please contact the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 0700707 and register your telephone number(s). Direct marketing calls should stop after 28 days.

If you would like to stop unsolicited direct marketing mailings from BT and other companies, please contact the Mailing Preference Service on 0345 034599 and ask for a registration pack. Mailings should significantly reduce within 4 months. (Remember to re-register if you change your address).

If it is only BT that you would like not to call or mail you with details of products, services and special offers, please call 0800 800 150 (residential customers) or 0800 028 1801 (business customers - or contact your Account Manager).

How does BT Wholesale protect personal information about me?

We at BT are serious about guarding the security of your personal data and the details of any transactions you make. We take appropriate organisational and technical security measures to protect your data against unauthorised disclosure or processing. We use a secure server to store the information you give us when you register or make an order. Any information you send us on-line is securely encrypted.

Over and above what BT does to safeguard your privacy and security, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from internet fraud on-line:

  • Choose a password (letters and digits) you can remember but others will not guess, change it regularly and, if you do write it down, keep it somewhere safe and secure.
  • When you have finished your session on our website, make sure you prevent your details being seen by anyone that you do not wish to see them. So, if you have registered and logged in, remember to log off. Clear any cache so there is no record of any transactions left on screen - both Netscape and Internet Explorer let you do this. We also recommend you then close your browser so any history of the session is cleared. As an extra precaution, your session on BT Wholesale.com will time out if you have not used the site for 30 minutes.

When does BT Wholesale use “cookies”?

BT Wholesale’s website creates a "cookie" when you first register online. A "cookie" is a piece of information, like a tag, which some websites create against your PC (personal computer). Our cookie stores some basic information which helps us to identify if you have visited the site before and if you receive some personalised content, or by welcoming you by name if you have supplied this in a previous visit. We may also use it to help us improve our website and the services we make available. However, as the cookie is based on your PC, we will not find it if you visit BT Wholesale.com from a different PC to the one you registered on.

BT Wholesale uses cookies subject to the following assurances:

  • No information regarding your telephone number, account or payment details is included in the cookie or can be accessed using it.
  • They do not collect any information regarding the use of your PC or Internet browsing in any way.

If you do not want a cookie to be created on your PC, web browsers such as Netscape and Internet Explorer provide the option to disable them. Please bear in mind that some personalised services on BT Wholesale.com may not be available if you choose to disable cookies.

Are third party sites covered by this policy?

Third party internet sites that you can link to from this website are not covered by our Privacy Policy, so we urge you to be careful when you enter any personal information online. BT accepts no responsibility or liability for these sites.

How do I find out about changes to BT Wholesale’s Privacy Policy?

We may change our privacy policy from time to time. New policies will be published on our web site.


Last edited: Date: 27 January 2006