Security

How does Wickes secure customer information?

The WickesBathrooms website complies with the terms of the Data Protection Act. We make every effort to secure your information and maintain your confidentiality, including using Secure Socket Server and encrypting all entered data. Please see our Security page for full details on how the WickesBathrooms site secures your personal details.

What are cookies and does this site use them?

This website uses cookies. Created (or 'set') automatically by the website, cookies hold small amounts of non-sensitive user information. Stored on your computer's hard drive in the form of a text file, cookies and their content are not available at any time to the WickesBathrooms website administrative team. If you wish to remove this and other cookies on your computer, please refer to your internet browser's user information.

Can I save the products I have added to my shopping basket?

The items added to the shopping basket are saved in a cookie file. Some browsers are set to ignore cookies when they close, others will automatically delete all cookies set during that session - a session being the time the browser is first opened until all active windows are closed. Please refer to your internet browser's user information if you are not achieving the desired results.

Accessibility

How does the WickesBathrooms site deal with accessibility issues?

Mark Two, the design partner for the WickesBathrooms transactional website, makes every effort to meet and exceed government requirements for website accessibility with all its websites. To that end, this site uses scalable fonts, alt text and contrast rather than colour, as well as other design elements to ensure the site meets Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines.

The following is a brief explanation of some of the measures we use to secure your information when using the WickesBathrooms website, plus some general advice on keeping your personal details safe while making online purchases.

Encryption

On pages such as 'Log-in' and 'Checkout' in the Wickes website, you may notice a padlock icon (image) appear at the bottom-right of your browser window (Internet Explorer) or perhaps the address bar (where you normally see http://www.wickesbathrooms.co.uk) will turn yellow (Firefox). Seeing either of these indicates that the webpage is considered secure and all information sent via that page is encrypted. Encryption means that billions of code combinations are created to protect data sent from that page. Information secured in this way is useless to anyone trying to actively intercept such data.

What is Secure Socket Layer?

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology creates a connection over which financial details can be safely passed between your computer and a transactional website. Wickes only accepts orders placed using an SSL connection. In the vast majority of cases, your internet browser will automatically create an SSL connection between your computer and the Wickes website. Users with older browser versions may be alerted to update their software to allow the creation of an SSL link.

Storing payment card information

WickesBathrooms will encrypt and store your card details for purposes of payment and possible refunds. This is done using the methods described above. Individual users are also given the option to save their own credit card details in the 'Checkout' page. This stores your card details to your own computer in the form of a cookie. That information is not accessible to anyone from WickesBathrooms.

Reducing the risk of card fraud

The following tips can help prevent your card details falling into the wrong hands while shopping online.

See each of the recommendations below for more information:

Protect payment card and PIN details

Only send debit and credit card details over a secure connection and never send card details by e-mail. Be aware that the PIN sent with your card will never be asked for in an online transaction. Never reveal your PIN to anyone, in person or online.

Beware of fraudulent e-mails

If you have registered to receive information from WickesBathrooms, we will send you e-mails from time to time. These e-mails will never include a request for your debit or credit card details.

If you receive a suspicious e-mail claiming to be from Wickes and including a request for your financial information, DO NOT CLICK on any part of it or open any attached documents. In this instance, please contact us by e-mailing wickesbathrooms@marktwo.co.uk .

Finish your internet browser session

Your internet browser session is considered finished when you have closed all currently open windows of the browser. Closing all open windows will close the browser and, in many cases, delete any temporary files automatically stored to the computer.

We strongly recommend ending the browser session after using a shared PC to make a transaction.

Select one card to use when making internet purchases

Choosing one card to use for all your internet purchases makes tracking your purchases that much easier.

Use a card with a reduced credit limit for internet purchases

Using a card with a reduced credit limit for your internet purchases lowers the amount available to thieves in the event your card details are stolen.

Keep records of what you order

Check your card statements carefully. You have at least 90 days to report a suspect transaction to your bank or card provider.

You are protected

EU law protects you against fraudulent use of your payment card in EU transactions. Many credit card companies also provide additional protection.

3D Secure

3D Secure is a payment verification protocol used by major credit card companies, branded as 'MasterCard Secure Code' and 'Verified by Visa'.

Depending on the card issuer, 3D Secure is an opt-out option or a required service for using the card to make internet purchases. Cards registered with 3D Secure could require the user to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) code. This is not the same PIN code issued with the card.

In basic terms, 3D Secure verifies card details, offering the country of issue and other details to the proposed vendor. Depending on the information returned by the 3D Secure system, Wickes can elect to send the goods as requested, deliver goods only to the card holder's address (instead of a nominated address) or in a very limited number of cases, we can decide to cancel an order.

Wickes only uses the 3D Secure system to prevent credit card fraud. Our use of the system is completely automated and we do not store any of the data provided by the 3D Secure system.