*Last updated: May 2026*
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This privacy policy explains how expatover55.com collects, uses, and protects your personal information. I’ve written it in plain English rather than legal jargon — because if you’re going to trust me with your data, you deserve to understand exactly what that means.
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## Who I Am
This website is operated by Howard Murphy, a British expat based on the Costa Blanca, Spain. If you have any questions about this policy or how your data is handled, you can contact me at [your email address].
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## What Information I Collect
### Information you give me directly
**Newsletter signup:** If you subscribe to the expatover55.com newsletter, I collect your email address and, if you choose to provide it, your first name. Nothing else.
**Contact form:** If you send me a message through the contact form, I collect your name, email address, and the content of your message. This is used solely to reply to you.
**Comments:** If you leave a comment on an article, I collect your name, email address, and the content of your comment. Your email address is not displayed publicly.
### Information collected automatically
**Cookies:** This website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to understand how visitors use the site and to improve your experience. These include:
– *Essential cookies* — required for the site to function (e.g. remembering your cookie preferences)
– *Analytics cookies* — I use Google Analytics to understand which articles are most useful to readers (page views, time on page, general location). This data is anonymous and aggregated — I cannot identify you personally from it.
– *Third-party cookies* — some affiliate links and embedded content (such as videos) may set their own cookies. I do not control these.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. Note that some site features may not work correctly if you do.
**IP address and browser data:** Like most websites, my hosting provider automatically logs your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. This information is used for security purposes and is not shared with third parties.
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## How I Use Your Information
I use the information collected to:
– Send you the newsletter you signed up for (email address)
– Reply to your messages and comments (email address, name)
– Understand which content is most useful to readers (analytics data)
– Improve the site and fix technical issues (log data)
I do not sell your personal information to anyone. Ever.
I do not share your personal information with third parties except where necessary to operate the site (for example, my email newsletter provider processes your email address in order to send you the newsletter).
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## Newsletter and Email
If you subscribe to the expatover55.com newsletter:
– You can unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in every email
– I use [MailerLite / your email provider] to manage the newsletter — your email address is stored on their platform, which has its own privacy policy
– I will only email you content related to expat life, the topics covered on this site, and occasional updates about products or opportunities I genuinely recommend
– I will never sell or share your email address with anyone
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## Affiliate Links
Some articles on this site contain affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and sign up for or purchase a product or service, I may receive a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
The companies I currently have affiliate relationships with include:
– **Wise** (international money transfers)
– **Fiverr** (freelance services marketplace)
– **[Health insurance provider/s]** (international health insurance) coming soon
-**Hostinger ** (web host supplier)
-** OLSP ** (Affiliate marketing training )
Affiliate links are always disclosed in the articles where they appear. My editorial content is not influenced by these relationships — I only recommend products I genuinely believe in.
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## Third-Party Services
This site uses the following third-party services, each of which has its own privacy policy:
– **Google Analytics** — website analytics
– **MailerLite ** — newsletter management
– **WordPress / [Hostinger]** — website hosting and content management
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## Your Rights Under GDPR
If you are based in the United Kingdom or European Union, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
– **The right to access** — you can request a copy of the personal data I hold about you
– **The right to rectification** — you can ask me to correct any inaccurate data
– **The right to erasure** — you can ask me to delete your personal data
– **The right to restrict processing** — you can ask me to limit how I use your data
– **The right to object** — you can object to me processing your data in certain circumstances
– **The right to data portability** — you can request your data in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, contact me at [your email address]. I will respond within 30 days.
If you are unhappy with how I handle your data, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK at ico.org.uk, or your local data protection authority if you are based in the EU.
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## Data Retention
– **Newsletter subscribers:** I retain your email address for as long as you remain subscribed. When you unsubscribe, your data is deleted within 30 days.
– **Contact form messages:** Retained for up to 12 months, then deleted.
– **Comments:** Retained indefinitely unless you request deletion.
– **Analytics data:** Anonymous and aggregated — retained per Google Analytics default settings.
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## Children’s Privacy
This website is not directed at anyone under the age of 18. I do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided me with personal data, please contact me and I will delete it promptly.
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## Changes to This Policy
I may update this policy from time to time. When I do, I will update the “last updated” date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be noted in the newsletter.
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## Contact
For any questions about this privacy policy or your personal data:
**Email:** howard@expatover55.com
**Website:** expatover55.com
**Location:** Costa Blanker, Spain
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*This privacy policy was written for expatover55.com and reflects the actual data practices of this site. It is not a template generated by a third party.*