Cookie policy

1. What this policy covers

This Cookie Policy explains how Hold Your Place is operated by Ostario Group Ltd uses cookies and similar browser-storage technologies.

2. What cookies and browser storage are

Cookies are small text files stored by a website on your device. Similar technologies include local storage and other browser features that store or access information on your device.

3. What Hold Your Place uses

We use a saved-card cookie so the same browser can access a payment-provider profile after you actively choose to save a card. It is signed, contains no card details and lasts for up to one year.

If you use the thumbs-up or thumbs-down controls, we use a signed browser identifier to remember that browser's vote for a listing and prevent ordinary repeat voting. It contains no account or payment details and lasts for up to one year.

We use a short-lived click-counting cookie to stop an immediate repeat outbound click being counted twice for the same listing and leaderboard view. It lasts for five seconds.

Local browser storage remembers the most recently used URL and category, the latest locally recognised listing and whether the introductory explanation has been seen. This remains until you or your browser clears it.

Our payment provider uses its own technologies for secure checkout, card saving, fraud prevention and payment authentication. Those technologies are controlled under the provider's own policies.

4. When the saved-card cookie is created

Opening checkout does not create the one-year saved-card cookie. It is created only after a successful payment where you choose to save the payment method for later use. The feature is optional, does not create a Hold Your Place account and does not permit automatic charges.

5. Analytics and advertising

We do not currently use analytics, advertising or behavioural-tracking cookies. If we introduce non-essential cookies or similar technologies, we will update this policy and provide a consent choice before using them where required.

6. Why there is no general cookie banner

The technologies currently set directly by Hold Your Place are used only to provide a feature you request, protect the service, remember limited service choices, or prevent duplicate click counting. We provide clear information and the control below. If our use changes so that consent is required, we will introduce an appropriate consent mechanism.

7. Managing cookies and browser data

You can remove or block cookies and stored website data through your browser settings. Doing so may remove remembered form values and prevent saved cards from appearing on this browser. It does not cancel a payment already made or delete records we must retain for legal, accounting, fraud or dispute purposes.

The control below removes Hold Your Place's saved-card and voting browser identifiers and the local preferences listed above. It does not delete a card held by the payment provider; a saved card can be removed through the controls shown in a later checkout.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when the service, providers or law changes. The effective date above identifies the current version.

9. Contact

Questions about this Cookie Policy can be sent using the details below.