Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how The Funeral ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar technologies on our website at the-funeral.co.uk.
By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with this policy. You can withdraw your consent or change your preferences at any time (see Section 6 below).
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They help the website remember information about your visit, such as your preferences and actions.
Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide a better user experience.
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
- Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly (e.g., security, session management)
- Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it
- Functionality cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
We do not currently use advertising or tracking cookies from third-party networks.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| polsia_vid | Analytics visitor ID — anonymous identifier for tracking page views and usage patterns. No personal data collected. | Persistent (stored in browser localStorage) | Analytics |
| session_id | Session management for logged-in funeral director accounts (if applicable). | Session (deleted when browser closes) | Essential |
4. First-Party vs Third-Party Cookies
4.1 First-Party Cookies
These are cookies set directly by The Funeral when you visit our website. We use first-party cookies for essential functionality and analytics.
4.2 Third-Party Cookies
We do not currently use third-party cookies (cookies set by external services like advertising networks or social media platforms). If we introduce third-party cookies in the future, we will update this policy and obtain your consent where required by law.
5. Analytics and Tracking
We use our own analytics system (Polsia Analytics) to understand how visitors use our website. This helps us improve the directory and provide a better user experience.
What we track:
- Pages visited and time spent on pages
- Search terms used in our funeral director search tool
- Referral sources (how you found our website)
- Device type and browser information
What we do NOT track:
- Your identity or personally identifiable information (unless you provide it through forms)
- Your browsing activity on other websites
- Precise geolocation data
All analytics data is anonymised and aggregated. We use a visitor ID (polsia_vid) stored in your browser's localStorage to distinguish unique visitors, but this ID is not linked to your identity.
6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
6.1 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:
- Block all cookies
- Delete existing cookies
- Allow cookies only from specific websites
- Set your browser to notify you when a cookie is being set
Instructions for managing cookies in popular browsers:
6.2 Opt-Out of Analytics
To opt out of our analytics tracking, you can:
- Open your browser's Developer Tools (usually F12 or right-click → Inspect)
- Go to the Console tab
- Type:
localStorage.removeItem('polsia_vid') - Enable "Do Not Track" in your browser settings (we respect DNT signals)
7. Do Not Track (DNT)
We respect the "Do Not Track" (DNT) browser setting. If you have DNT enabled, we will not set analytics cookies or track your usage beyond what is strictly necessary for the website to function.
8. Cookies and Personal Data
Some cookies may process personal data as defined by UK GDPR. For information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.
9. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, law, or our practices. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last updated" date.
10. Contact
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us via the details provided on our website.