What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small file stored on your computer or mobile device after visiting a website. This is then accessed and used for certain purposes. Cookies are commonly used to record some aspects of your visit to a site such as choices you have made. This is to help websites ‘remember’ you. More information on cookies and their use can be found at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/ 

Why and how do we use cookies?

We use cookies to help us provide you with the best experience when you visit our site. We also use cookies to allow us to remember customers’ preferences. This helps us understand what they like to look at, so that we can improve the service we offer. By using cookies, we can make it easier for you to access customer only areas of our site or apply for and receive quotes for products and services. Cookies can also allow us to tailor the content of our website so we can show you services we think you may be interested in. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 

We do not store any personal or financial information in the cookies. They are designed only to collect information of an anonymous nature. The cookies we use cannot read or search your computer, smartphone or web-enabled device to obtain information about you. Neither can they read any material kept on your hard drive. 

What cookies are set when I visit this site?

We use the following cookies: 

Strictly necessary cookies. These cookies are essential for the operation of our website and online tools or services. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into private areas of our website. 

Analytical/performance cookies. These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. This helps us to improve the way our website works. For example, by ensuring that users can easily finding what they are looking for. 

Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you and remember your preferences, for example your username, language or text size. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised. They cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. 

Targeting cookies. These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. We will use this information to make our website more relevant to your interests. 

The following are further details of the individual cookies that might be set by us when you visit our site. We also include an explanation of their purpose.

Type
Cookie
Cookie Name
Cookie Purpose
Expiry

Strictly necessary

PHP session cookie

PHPSESSID

This cookie enables us to check whether you are a logged in user to our site, in order to make your browsing experience more convenient.

This cookie is deleted when you close your browser.

Analytical/performance

Google Analytics

_ga _gat _gat_UA-50696906-1 _gid

These cookies are part of Google Analytics and allow us to measure information about how visitors use our site. This includes identifying each unique user to our site and details of each page visited. _gat is used to limit the collection of analytics data on high traffic sites. For further information, please read Google’s overview of privacy and safeguarding data.

2 years, 10 minutes, 1 minute, 1 day.

Analytical/performance

Session management

JSESSIONID

This cookie provides a means for monitoring the browsing session of a user, and the performance of web and mobile applications.

This cookie is deleted when you close your browser.

Analytical/performance

Hotjar

hjClosedSurveyInvites hjDonePolls hjMinimizedPolls hjDoneTestersWidgets hjMinimizedTestersWidgets hjIncludedInSample hjShownFeedbackMessage

These cookies are part of Hotjar and allow us to measure information about how visitors use our site. This includes identifying each unique user to our site and details of each page visited. They are used to limit the collection of analytics data on high traffic sites. They are also used for monitoring the browsing session of a user, and the performance of web applications. For further information, please see Cookies Set by the Hotjar Tracking Code – Hotjar Documentation.

1 year.

Functionality

Cookie preference

catAccCookies

This cookie is used to remember your choice on this site. Where you have previously indicated a preference, your preference will be stored in this cookie.

1 month.

Targeting/advertising

Doubleclick (Google)

_drt_ id

Doubleclick is Google’s real time bidding advertising exchange. The Doubleclick cookies target specific advertising to potential customers and gathers information about how or if you are interacting with these ads.

4 months, 2 years

Targeting/advertising

Google

APSID SSID NID PREF SID SAPISID HSID

These cookies are set by Google. Google tracks users extensively across many millions of websites. Google uses this gathered data to profile the interest of web users and sell advertising space to organisations based on such interest profiles, as well as aligning adverts to the content pages where its customer’s adverts appear.

2 years (apart from NID which is 10 months).

Unknown

EE.co.uk

Yuuidts Yuuid AbTesting OSUserGroup1

This is a third party cookie.

7 days.

Please note that third parties may also use cookies on this site, over which we have no control but are very commonly found on many websites. This could include advertising networks or providers of external services like web traffic analysis services.   

These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies. An example of this would be Google’s advertising services. 

If you follow a link from our website to another website, please be aware that the other website will have their own privacy and cookie policy. We recommend that you read their policies as we are not responsible or liable for what happens at their site. 

How do I change my cookie preferences?

You can alter how cookies are stored on your machine via your web browser settings. You can set your browser to block or disable cookies, but doing so may impact the quality of your browsing experience. This could limit you from accessing areas of our website where cookies are required for pages to load tailored information, such as parts of Customer Zone. 

To change your cookie preferences click the ‘settings’ or ‘tools’ button on your browser.  You can find out more at www.allaboutcookies.org or www.aboutcookies.org. To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, please visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Updates to our cookies and policy

We may periodically update the cookies we use and our cookie policy, and you should revisit this page if you wish to keep yourself informed. 

© Verastar Limited 26 June 2020