Data protection policy

We take the protection of personal data very seriously and want you to feel safe when visiting our web site. We handle all personal data that is collected from visitors to our web site in accordance with the statutory privacy provisions, particularly the Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz - BDSG) and the Telemedia Act (Telemediengesetz - TMG).

What do you do with personal data?

At certain places on our web site, we offer you the opportunity to contact us or to request certain services. The personal data that are transmitted in connection with such requests are used only for the purpose for which they were provided to us. They are not passed on to third parties.

What are personal data?

Personal data is any information that allows someone to identify you. This includes, in particular, your real name, address and telephone number. Information that is not directly linked to your real identity (e.g. favourite web sites or the number of visitors to a site) does not constitute personal data. (In this regard, see also “Are data recorded during my visit?” below.) 

What data do I need to provide?

Where our web site contains forms or other opportunities to submit personal or business data (e‑mail addresses, names, addresses), the submission of this information by the user of the web site is always expressly voluntary. All of the services offered through the web site can also be requested – inasmuch as technically feasible – by providing such information in an anonymised form or by entering a pseudonym. However, by providing your actual information, even when the information is optional, you enable us to assist you personally and individually.

Is the confidentiality of e‑mail correspondence or of data I submit through your web site guaranteed?

If you choose to contact us by e‑mail or by using the contact form on our web site, we draw your attention to the fact that confidentiality of such correspondence cannot be guaranteed under all circumstances. The content of e‑mails may be seen by third parties. We therefore recommend that any confidential information by sent to us exclusively by postal mail.

Are data recorded during my visit?

Any time a user accesses a page of our web site or downloads a file, data about this process are stored in a log file on our server:

• IP address
• Page from which the visitor accessed the file or web page
• Date and time
• Browser type and settings
• Operating system
• Page visited
• Volume of data transmitted
• Access status (file transmitted, file not found, etc.)

From these data, statistics are generated that help us further optimise our website to meet the needs of our visitors. These data can be linked to your personal identity only if you register directly on our site or if you access our web site from a personalised page. Under no circumstances, however, do we pass on this information or extracts from it to third parties.

Do you use cookies?

Our site uses session cookies, which are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. The advantage to users is that once you enter your personal data into a form, you do not need to re‑enter it in another form.

Most browsers are set to accept cookies automatically. However, you can deactivate the cookies feature or set your browser to notify you whenever cookies are transmitted.

If you have deactivated cookies, you could encounter difficulties using the web site, since the session cookies are used only to identify a visitor during a single visit to a web site. In the process, they generate what is known as a session ID. This is necessary in order to control how the web site functions. However, no data are stored on your computer. The session ID is erased once your session ends.

Do I have control over how my data are used?

Naturally, the decision as to whether and for what purpose we use your data is up to you. For example, you may ask to subscribe to a newsletter. You may also ask to be removed from the subscription list at any time. In most cases, a link is included at the end of the newsletter that allows you to unsubscribe quickly and easily. You also decide whether we may use your data for purposes of support, advertising or market research. Here too, you have the choice of withdrawing your consent at any time.

Do you pass my data on to third parties?

We use personal data exclusively for our internal purposes relating to our relation with you as a customer. Your data is never passed on to third parties without your express consent. Collection of personal data and its provision to state institutions and agencies authorised to receive such information occurs only in accordance with applicable law or if we are required to provide it by virtue of a court order or court ruling.  All of our employees and service providers are under an obligation to ensure confidentiality and to comply with all data privacy laws and policies.

How can I verify, correct or delete my data?

Under sections 34 and 6b of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG), as a user of the website you have the right to request, free of charge, a copy of any personal information stored about you. In addition, you have the right to have their personal data corrected, blocked or deleted. In any such cases, please contact us directly.  

How often do you update your data protection policy?

We will update our policy on the protection of personal data to comply with any changes in the current situation, for example in case of amendments to the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).

Information that is collected automatically

This website uses technology provided by effective GmbH (www.effective-world.com) and on behalf of SCHLEIFRING to collect and save user data.

The click paths of non-personally identifiable users of the SCHLEIFRING website are also collected and saved for marketing and web-site optimisation purposes. Such data are used solely by SCHLEIFRING and are not transmitted to third parties.  The data are collected in accordance with the data protection guidelines currently in force.

We use these data to develop user profiles for the purpose of web site quality analysis and to verify the success of marketing activities. The effective tracking program does not install a cookie nor does it read cookies stored on the user’s computer. The data collected using the effective technologies are not used to personally identify visitors to the web site, since this is first of all not possible and secondly not the purpose of the tracking.