Legal

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 12 May 2025 Governing Jurisdiction: Malaysia

Hearthford collects a small amount of personal information from families who enquire about or participate in our household communication workshops and records organisation programmes. This policy describes what we collect, why we hold it, how we store it, and what rights you have regarding the information you share with us. We have written it in plain language — if any part is unclear, you are welcome to write to us directly.

1. Data Controller

The data controller for all personal information collected through this website and through Hearthford's programmes is:

Hearthford

31 Persiaran Bukit Bandaraya, Bukit Bandaraya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +60 3 2538 7194

Our activities are conducted within Malaysia and are subject to the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA), which governs the collection, processing, and use of personal data in commercial transactions.

2. What We Collect

We collect only the information we need to deliver our programmes and communicate with households that have enquired about them.

Information you provide directly

  • Contact details — name, email address, and telephone number submitted through our enquiry form or provided during a session booking.
  • Enquiry content — the message or question you submit through the website contact form.
  • Programme records — attendance, programme choice, and payment records relevant to the session or programme you have enrolled in.

Information collected automatically

  • Website usage data — pages visited, time on page, referral source, and browser type, collected through analytics tools on an aggregated and anonymised basis where possible.
  • Cookie data — small text files stored in your browser that help the website function and record your consent preferences. See Section 7 for further detail.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use personal data for the following purposes:

  • Responding to enquiries — to contact you in response to a message submitted through our website or by telephone.
  • Programme delivery — to organise and schedule workshops and programme sessions, and to send you relevant preparation materials and confirmations.
  • Payment processing — to issue invoices and record payments for enrolled programmes.
  • Service improvement — to understand how the website is used and to make improvements that help families find information more easily.
  • Compliance and record-keeping — to meet legal obligations and to maintain records of completed sessions where required.

We do not use personal data for automated decision-making or profiling. We do not sell personal data to any third party.

5. How Long We Hold Your Information

We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected:

Data Type Retention Period
Enquiry form submissions (no programme enrolled) 12 months from submission date
Programme enrolment and attendance records 7 years from programme completion (financial record requirements)
Payment and invoicing records 7 years (Malaysian tax and accounting obligations)
Anonymised website analytics 26 months (rolling)

At the end of the applicable period, data is deleted securely or anonymised for aggregate reporting.

6. Security Measures

We take reasonable precautions to protect personal data from unauthorised access, disclosure, or loss. Our approach includes:

  • Website served over HTTPS with TLS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our server.
  • Access to stored records restricted to Hearthford staff who need it to carry out their work.
  • Programme session notes and household records stored in password-protected systems and not shared with any external party without your explicit agreement.
  • Physical documents containing personal information stored in locked premises and disposed of by secure shredding.

In the event of a data breach that poses a risk to your rights, we will notify the relevant authorities and affected individuals in accordance with applicable Malaysian law.

7. Cookies

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored in your browser. We use:

  • Essential cookies — necessary for the website to function. These cannot be turned off.
  • Analytics cookies — help us understand how visitors navigate the website. You may decline these.
  • Preference cookies — remember choices you have made, such as your cookie consent decision.

For full details and to manage your preferences, see our Cookie Policy.

8. Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. We may share information with a limited number of service providers who support our operations:

  • Web hosting and email providers — to operate the website and send email communications.
  • Payment processing — if payment is made online, your payment details are handled directly by the payment provider and are not stored by Hearthford.
  • Analytics tools — we may use services such as Google Analytics to understand aggregate website usage. Data is processed under data processing agreements and, where possible, with IP anonymisation enabled.

All third-party providers used by Hearthford are required to handle your data only for the specific purpose for which it is shared, and are bound by appropriate data protection agreements.

9. Your Rights

Under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Malaysia), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right of Access

Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

Right of Correction

Ask us to correct any information that is inaccurate or incomplete.

Right to Withdraw Consent

Withdraw consent for processing at any time where consent is the legal basis.

Right to Stop Processing

Request that we stop processing your data for direct marketing purposes.

To exercise any of these rights, write to us at [email protected]. We aim to respond within 21 days. We may ask you to confirm your identity before acting on a request.

If you have a concern about how we handle your personal data, you may raise a complaint with the Department of Personal Data Protection (JPDP), the supervisory authority for data protection in Malaysia.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website and online enquiry forms are directed at adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18 through this website. Hearthford's programmes are contracted with the adult members of a household. If you believe a minor has submitted personal data through our website, please contact us at [email protected] and we will remove it promptly.

12. Policy Changes

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in how we work or to meet updated legal requirements. When we do, the revised version will be published on this page with a new "Last Updated" date.

If changes are material, we will notify active programme participants by email at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of our website or services after changes are published indicates your acknowledgement of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us About Privacy

For any questions about this policy, to request access to your data, or to report a concern, contact us by any of the following means:

Post

Hearthford, 31 Persiaran Bukit Bandaraya, Bukit Bandaraya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia