V VRO

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 2024

At Visual Reading Online, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy describes how your personal information is collected, used, and shared when you visit or make a purchase from our site.

1. Who We Are

Visual Reading Online is a speed reading coaching service operated by The Visual Reading Company Limited, registered in England and Wales. Our registered address is available upon request via our Contact page.

For any privacy-related enquiries, please contact us at privacy@visualreadingonline.com

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide:

  • Name and contact information (email address, phone number, postal address)
  • Account credentials (email and password)
  • Payment information (processed securely via Stripe)
  • Date of birth and demographic information (for DSA students)
  • Learning condition information (dyslexia, ADHD, etc.) if voluntarily provided
  • Session notes and WPM (Words Per Minute) progress data

Information Collected Automatically:

  • Device information (browser type, operating system)
  • IP address and approximate location
  • Pages visited and time spent on site
  • Referral source

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide and manage your coaching sessions
  • Process payments and send invoices
  • Track your reading progress and improvement
  • Communicate about your sessions and account
  • Send marketing communications (with your consent)
  • Improve our services and website
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, we process your data based on:

  • Contract: To deliver coaching services you have purchased
  • Legitimate Interest: To improve our services and communicate with you
  • Consent: For marketing emails and optional data collection
  • Legal Obligation: For tax, accounting, and regulatory requirements

5. Data Sharing

We share your data with:

  • Coaches: To deliver your coaching sessions
  • Stripe: For secure payment processing
  • Daily.co: For video call functionality
  • MailerSend: For transactional emails
  • DSA Funding Bodies: If you are a DSA-funded student (with consent)

We never sell your personal information to third parties.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for:

  • Active accounts: For the duration of your account
  • Coaching records: 7 years after course completion
  • Financial records: 7 years (legal requirement)
  • Marketing preferences: Until you unsubscribe

7. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Correct inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Object to processing
  • Data portability
  • Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@visualreadingonline.com

8. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including:

  • SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
  • Secure password hashing
  • Regular security audits
  • Limited staff access on a need-to-know basis

9. International Transfers

Your data is primarily stored within the UK/EEA. Where we use services that may transfer data outside the UK (such as Daily.co for video calls), we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice on our website.

11. Contact & Complaints

For privacy enquiries: privacy@visualreadingonline.com

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk