Security Information

Published / Last Updated on 11/05/2017

About us

Roberts Clark Independent Financial Solutions Limited is an Independent Intermediary and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to give such advice and is bound by their rules.  Our Financial Conduct Authority firm reference number is 192598.  Certain products are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.  Where this is the case we will tell you.  

Our permitted business includes advising on, making arrangements in and arranging (bringing about) savings, investments, non-investment insurance contracts, regulated mortgage contracts (including lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans known as equity release) and pensions, including the specialist activities of pension transfers and pension opt outs.  You can check this and all of our permitted business on the Financial Conduct Authority Register by visiting https://register.fca.org.uk or by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority on 0800 111 6768.  Their address is 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HS.  

Roberts Clark IFS Limited is a limited company registered in England.  Our registered number is 3981121 and registered office address is 1 Stret Constantine, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1GH.  Our VAT number is GB 748 2866 87.  

FinancialAdvice.net and Associated Sites

FinancialAdvice.net and associated sites (“the sites”) are trading styles of Roberts Clark IFS Limited (“we” and “us”).  

Access and use of the sites is subject to the following security information and the other associated documents detailed on this page.  By accessing the sites you signify your acceptance of this security information and the other associated documents.  You must not use the sites if you do not accept the security information and other associated documents.  

If you do use the sites, your conduct indicates that you agree to be bound by the security information and associated documents.  

We recommend you save or print a copy of this security information and other associated documents for your records.  

The associated documents that form part of this security information are:

This security information replaces all previous security information for the sites.  

We may change or withdraw any part of the sites (including this security information) at any time, with or without prior notice.  You should check the date the security information was last updated regularly.  

Security Information

To ensure the security of your information when using our websites, we use the latest Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.  SSL is currently the preferred method to securely transfer credit card and other sensitive data over the Internet between a web browser (you) and a web server (us).  All personal data is encrypted before it is transmitted.  

What does it mean for you?

In simple terms, it means that we have the same security standard used by banks for online transactions.  We have 128-bit encrypted security.  

This means that when you give your 16-digit card number, this is encrypted with 2 ‘to the power of’ 128 permutations.  For your card number security this means there are 340,282,366,900,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 permutations.  This is all done in a matter of seconds.  

When assessing security, compare this encryption to giving your card details over the telephone to a complete stranger or a person in a restaurant who physically takes your card away to process.  In our opinion, there is no comparison.  

Some older browsers cannot cope with the higher level of security and automatically drop down to a lower security level.  We recommend you upgrade your browser if this is the case.  

The Online Payment Process

We thought it would be useful for you to understand the process your payment goes through from the time you give your card details to the point your payment is made.

  • You supply your card details through FinancialAdvice.net.
  • FinancialAdvice.net sends your card details through to the payment gateway that physically processes the payment.  We use a company called Worldpay.
  • The payment gateway sends your card details to our bank to gain authorisation for the transaction.
  • Our bank sends the card details to the issuer of your card.
  • The issuer of your card checks that sufficient funds are available, put the funds on hold and authorises the transaction.
  • Your card issuer informs our bank of the results of the transaction.
  • Our bank informs the payment gateway of the results of the transaction.
  • The payment gateway informs FinancialAdvice.net of the results of the transaction.
  • FinancialAdvice.net informs you of the results of the transaction.
  • The payment gateway sends details of the transaction to our bank.
  • Our bank contacts your card issuer who then transfers the money, less a fee, to our bank.

Server Information

A server is where a web site is hosted i.e.  a computer where all the site information is stored so that your computer can talk to ours and you can see our web pages.  We use a special type of server called a UNIX server.  This type of server is more secure than the traditional Windows based server.  Many sites tend to use Windows servers.  

As this website deals with personal finance, we felt it was in everyone’s best interests to use a more secure server and the latest secure site technology.  

Our website security certificate is issued and operated by Thawte.  You can view our certificate to ensure we are a genuine company.  Do this by double clicking the yellow padlock icon at the bottom right hand side of your browser window on any secure page.  

Other Forms of Protection

In addition to the 128-bit encryption of data, the use of a UNIX server and displaying a valid security certificate, we also protect your data in other ways.  Firstly, when you access the subscription based services of FinancialAdvice.net you will need to sign in with your username and password.  

Additionally, if there is a period of inactivity once you have signed in, you will automatically be signed out.  

However, no transmission of data over the internet can be guaranteed as totally secure.  Whilst we will always do our best to protect your personal data we cannot guarantee the security of any information you send us.  You must understand that you do this at your own risk and you do not hold us responsible for any breach of security unless we have been negligent or in wilful default.  

Protecting Yourself

Whilst we do everything we can to protect you online, there are a number of things you can do yourself for added protection:

  • Make sure your username and password are not accessible by others.  Do not write them down and do not leave your computer unattended when you are signed in.
  • Install and use anti-virus software and keep it regularly updated.
  • Never open emails if you are unsure where they have come from and never open their attachments.  They can contain ‘spyware’ which means that others can look at the data held on your machine.
  • Keep your operating system updated and install newer versions or updates when available.

Cookies

Cookies are text files placed on your computer from our web server.  They are placed on your computer by your web browser.  

We use cookies to help us remember you and your preferences for the next time you visit our website.  If your security settings do not allow incoming cookies, parts of our website may not be accessible to you.  

The cookie may include information about your use of our website, your computer’s IP address, the type of web browser you use, if you arrived at the website from a third party site and your name and email address if you are a subscribed user.

Security Version: FAN_Security_V4090517

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