COOKIE POLICY

Last updated: 13 August 2026

This Cookie Policy explains how Finance Act Limited, trading as ESCALO («ESCALO», «we», «us», or «our»), uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit or interact with our website.

Our website uses cookies and other technologies to provide essential functionality, improve performance, understand how visitors interact with our website, maintain security, and, where applicable, support analytics and other optional purposes.

This Cookie Policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions / Terms of Use.

1. Who We Are

The website is operated by:

Finance Act Limited
Trading as: ESCALO
Company number: 16839569

Registered office:
58 Oswald Terrace
Sunderland
England
SR2 9RP

Email:
support@escalo.uk

In this Cookie Policy, «ESCALO», «we», «us» and «our» refer to Finance Act Limited trading as ESCALO.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files or similar pieces of information that may be stored on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you visit a website.

Cookies allow a website to recognise a device, remember certain information, maintain a session, understand how the website is being used, or perform other functions.

Cookies may be:

• First-party cookies, which are placed by the website you are visiting; or
• Third-party cookies, which are placed by another organisation providing a service to the website.

Cookies may also be:

• Session cookies, which are generally deleted when you close your browser; or
• Persistent cookies, which remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them.

3. Similar Technologies

The term «cookies» in this Policy also includes, where applicable, other technologies that store or access information on your device.

These may include:

• tracking pixels;
• web beacons;
• local storage;
• scripts and tags;
• device identifiers;
• link-tracking technologies;
• similar storage and access technologies.

UK privacy rules can apply to these technologies even when they are not technically cookies.

Where such technologies involve personal data, applicable data protection law may also apply.

4. Why We Use Cookies

Depending on the configuration of our website, ESCALO may use cookies and similar technologies for several purposes.

These purposes may include:

• operating the website;
• maintaining security;
• enabling requested functionality;
• remembering preferences;
• improving website performance;
• understanding website usage;
• measuring website traffic;
• analysing technical performance;
• identifying errors;
• improving user experience;
• supporting business and service development;
• maintaining the reliability of online services;
• supporting marketing activities where applicable and permitted.

Not every category of cookie will necessarily be used on every page or at all times.

5. Categories of Cookies

We may classify cookies into the following categories.

5.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the website or a service requested by the user to function properly.

They may be used for purposes such as:

• security;
• session management;
• authentication;
• load balancing;
• remembering essential settings;
• enabling requested website functionality;
• preventing abuse;
• maintaining technical stability.

Because these cookies are necessary for the requested online service, applicable law may permit them to be used without consent.

We will not use the strictly necessary category as a general exemption for cookies that are merely useful or convenient.

5.2 Preference and Functionality Cookies

These cookies may allow the website to remember choices or preferences.

For example, they may be used to remember:

• language preferences;
• interface settings;
• regional preferences;
• previously selected options;
• other functionality choices.

Where these cookies are not strictly necessary for a service requested by the user, we will seek consent where required by law.

5.3 Analytics Cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

They may provide information such as:

• pages visited;
• approximate visit duration;
• navigation patterns;
• referring pages;
• browser or device information;
• website performance;
• errors and technical issues;
• general traffic trends.

Analytics information can help us understand which parts of the website are useful and where improvements may be required.

Analytics cookies are generally not considered strictly necessary merely because they help us improve the website. Where consent is required, we will obtain consent before using them.

5.4 Marketing and Advertising Technologies

If ESCALO uses marketing or advertising technologies, these may be used to:

• understand interactions with marketing content;
• measure campaign performance;
• improve the relevance of communications;
• understand how visitors arrive at the website;
• measure conversions;
• support advertising activities.

We will not use non-essential marketing or advertising cookies where prior consent is legally required unless and until that consent has been obtained.

If we introduce such technologies, we will update this Cookie Policy and our consent mechanism where necessary.

6. Your Consent

Where consent is legally required, ESCALO will request your consent before placing or accessing non-essential cookies or similar technologies on your device.

Consent must involve a clear and affirmative action.

For example, you may be presented with options such as:

Accept all
Reject non-essential
Manage preferences

We will not treat simply continuing to browse the website as consent to non-essential cookies.

We will not use pre-ticked boxes or equivalent mechanisms as a substitute for valid consent where applicable law requires consent.

7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

Where our website provides a cookie preference mechanism, you can use it to:

• accept optional cookies;
• reject optional cookies;
• select specific categories;
• change previously selected preferences.

Where applicable, you should be able to access your cookie settings again after your initial choice.

We aim to make withdrawing or changing consent reasonably straightforward.

You can also control cookies through your browser settings.

However, blocking or deleting certain cookies may affect the operation or functionality of parts of the website.

8. Withdrawing Consent

You can withdraw consent to non-essential cookies at any time where consent is the legal basis for their use.

Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before consent was withdrawn.

When you withdraw consent, we will stop using the relevant non-essential technologies for which consent was required, subject to technical and legal limitations.

Some strictly necessary technologies may continue to operate because they are required for the requested service.

9. Cookie Duration

Cookies may remain on your device for different periods depending on their purpose.

Some cookies exist only during a single browsing session.

Others may remain for a defined period after you leave the website.

The duration of a cookie depends on:

• its purpose;
• the service using it;
• technical requirements;
• security considerations;
• applicable legal requirements.

We seek to ensure that cookies are retained only for an appropriate period.

10. First-Party and Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies may be placed directly by ESCALO.

Other cookies or similar technologies may be provided by third-party service providers.

Third parties may provide services such as:

• website analytics;
• security;
• performance monitoring;
• hosting;
• embedded content;
• communications;
• marketing;
• technical functionality.

Where third-party technologies are used, the relevant third party may process information in accordance with its own privacy documentation and contractual arrangements.

Where required by law, we will obtain consent before allowing non-essential third-party technologies to operate.

11. Third-Party Providers

The specific third-party technologies used on the ESCALO website may change over time.

For this reason, the current cookie preference centre or cookie management tool may contain more detailed and up-to-date information than a static list in this Policy.

Where appropriate, information presented through our cookie management mechanism may include:

• the name of the technology;
• the provider;
• the purpose;
• the category;
• the duration;
• whether it is first-party or third-party;
• whether consent is required.

We will seek to keep this information reasonably accurate and up to date.

12. Website Security

Some cookies and similar technologies may support website security.

These technologies can help us:

• identify suspicious activity;
• protect forms and login functions;
• prevent abuse;
• maintain session security;
• detect automated attacks;
• protect website infrastructure;
• maintain the integrity of online services.

Where a technology is strictly necessary to provide a service requested by the user or to maintain the security of that service, an applicable exemption may apply.

13. Analytics and Performance

Where analytics technologies are used, ESCALO may use the resulting information to understand:

• how visitors navigate the website;
• which pages receive traffic;
• whether pages function correctly;
• how website performance can be improved;
• where users encounter technical problems;
• how website content can be made clearer.

Analytics information may be aggregated or otherwise analysed to identify general trends.

Where analytics involve personal data, the processing will also be subject to applicable data protection requirements.

14. Cookies and Personal Data

Some cookies and similar technologies may result in information being associated with an identifiable individual.

Where this happens, the information may constitute personal data under applicable data protection law.

Our processing of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy.

Depending on the circumstances, we may process personal data collected through cookies on the basis of:

• consent;
• legitimate interests;
• contractual necessity;
• legal obligations;
• another lawful basis available under applicable data protection law.

The lawful basis for associated personal data processing may differ from the legal requirement for placing or accessing a cookie.

15. Cookie Consent and Data Protection Consent

Cookie consent under applicable electronic communications rules and the lawful basis for any subsequent processing of personal data are related but distinct legal questions.

Where consent is required for a cookie or similar technology, we will seek consent in accordance with the applicable legal standard.

Where the resulting information constitutes personal data, we will also ensure that the processing has an appropriate lawful basis under applicable data protection law.

16. Your Browser Settings

Most modern browsers allow you to:

• view stored cookies;
• delete cookies;
• block cookies;
• allow cookies;
• block third-party cookies;
• delete cookies when the browser is closed;
• manage site-specific permissions.

The exact settings depend on your browser.

Blocking all cookies may cause some website features to stop working.

Browser controls do not necessarily provide the same level of granular control as our cookie preference mechanism.

Where available, we recommend using our cookie preference centre to manage optional technologies.

17. Do Not Track and Similar Browser Signals

Some browsers and devices provide privacy-related signals or settings.

The treatment of these signals may depend on the technology involved, the applicable legal requirements and the capabilities of the relevant service.

Where applicable law requires ESCALO to recognise a particular privacy signal, we will take reasonable steps to comply with the relevant requirements.

18. Changes to Cookies We Use

Our use of cookies and similar technologies may change as our website, technology and services develop.

We may introduce new technologies, remove existing technologies or change the purpose of a technology.

Where a change requires renewed or additional consent, we will update our consent mechanism accordingly.

We may also update this Cookie Policy to reflect material changes.

19. How We Protect Cookie-Related Information

Where cookie-related information constitutes personal data, we apply appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it.

Depending on the nature of the information, these measures may include:

• access controls;
• authentication;
• encryption where appropriate;
• secure infrastructure;
• monitoring;
• logging;
• supplier controls;
• security testing;
• incident management;
• data retention controls.

No internet-based service can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

20. International Transfers

Some third-party service providers used by ESCALO may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where cookie-related information constitutes personal data and is transferred internationally, ESCALO will apply appropriate safeguards where required by applicable data protection law.

Depending on the circumstances, these safeguards may include:

• adequacy decisions;
• approved transfer mechanisms;
• contractual safeguards;
• other legally recognised mechanisms.

Further information is available in our Privacy Policy.

21. Data Retention

Information obtained through cookies and similar technologies will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

Retention may depend on:

• the type of technology;
• the purpose;
• the duration configured by the provider;
• security requirements;
• analytical requirements;
• legal obligations;
• applicable data protection requirements.

Where personal data is involved, our general data retention principles are described in our Privacy Policy.

22. Your Privacy Rights

Where cookie-related information constitutes personal data, you may have rights under applicable data protection law.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

• the right to access your personal data;
• the right to correct inaccurate data;
• the right to request deletion;
• the right to restrict processing;
• the right to object;
• the right to data portability;
• rights relating to automated decision-making where applicable.

Further information about these rights is available in our Privacy Policy.

23. Complaints

If you have concerns about our use of cookies or similar technologies, please contact us first.

Email:
support@escalo.uk

Postal address:
Finance Act Limited
58 Oswald Terrace
Sunderland
England
SR2 9RP

We will consider your complaint and seek to resolve it where possible.

You also have the right to complain to the relevant supervisory authority.

For UK data protection and privacy matters, this is generally the:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Website: https://ico.org.uk/

24. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically.

We may update it where:

• our website changes;
• our use of cookies changes;
• new technologies are introduced;
• third-party providers change;
• legal or regulatory requirements change;
• guidance from regulators changes;
• our privacy practices develop.

The «Last updated» date at the top of this Policy indicates when it was most recently updated.

Where appropriate, we may notify users of material changes through our website or cookie consent mechanism.

25. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, our use of cookies or your privacy preferences, please contact:

Finance Act Limited trading as ESCALO

Company number: 16839569

Registered office:
58 Oswald Terrace
Sunderland
England
SR2 9RP

Email:
support@escalo.uk

26. Important Implementation Requirement

This Cookie Policy describes the principles governing ESCALO’s use of cookies and similar technologies.

The actual cookies and technologies deployed on the website must be reviewed against the website’s current technical configuration.

Before publication, ESCALO should maintain an internal cookie inventory identifying, where applicable:

• each cookie or technology;
• its provider;
• its purpose;
• its category;
• whether it is first-party or third-party;
• its duration;
• the information it stores or accesses;
• whether it processes personal data;
• the relevant legal basis;
• whether user consent is required;
• the applicable consent mechanism.

The website’s cookie consent mechanism should be configured consistently with this Policy.

In particular, non-essential cookies and similar technologies should not be activated before valid consent has been obtained where applicable law requires prior consent.

Users should be given a clear choice to accept or reject non-essential technologies, and should be able to change or withdraw their preferences.

27. Relationship With Other Policies

This Cookie Policy should be read together with:

Privacy Policy
Explains how ESCALO collects, uses, stores and protects personal data.

Terms & Conditions / Terms of Use
Governs use of the ESCALO website and applicable general website terms.

Where applicable, additional service-specific policies, contractual terms or regulatory disclosures may also apply.

Finance Act Limited trading as ESCALO
Trading as ESCALO
Company number 16839569
58 Oswald Terrace, Sunderland, England, SR2 9RP

support@escalo.uk

Last updated: 13 August 2026