1. What cookies are
Cookies are small files a site asks your browser to keep. They let a site remember things between page loads — whether you're logged in, what you've consented to, what you typed into the chat widget two minutes ago. Some are essential to the site working at all; others are optional.
2. Cookies we set without asking — strictly necessary
These are required for the site to function. Under PECR they don't need opt-in consent because the site can't operate without them. We use:
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| patchbuddy_cookie_consent_v2 | PatchBuddy | Stores your cookie-consent decision so we don't ask again on every visit. | Stored in localStorage; persists until you clear it. |
| __cf_bm, cf_clearance | Cloudflare | Bot management and security — protects against automated abuse. | 30 minutes / 30 days |
3. Cookies we ask before we set — optional
We only set these if you click Accept on the consent banner. If you rejected (or haven't decided yet), nothing in this section runs.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| cirql_visitor_id | CirqlCRM (first-party, Cirql Works) | Visitor identifier for the CirqlCRM live-chat widget so your conversation stays continuous across pages and sessions. | 6 months |
| cirql_session_* | CirqlCRM (first-party, Cirql Works) | Session-state cookies for the CirqlCRM widget — what conversation you're in, whether the chat window is open. | Session |
CirqlCRM is operated by Cirql Works Ltd (the same company behind PatchBuddy) and is covered by our own privacy policy.
4. What this site does not use
- No Google Analytics, Plausible, or other analytics tracker;
- No Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, or any advertising / remarketing pixels;
- No A/B testing tools that drop cookies;
- No social-media share-button cookies.
If we add any of these in future, the consent banner gets updated to ask before they load.
5. Changing your consent
Click in the footer of any page (or here, in this sentence) to reopen the consent banner and switch your decision. The change applies to your next page load.
You can also clear cookies and localStorage from your browser's settings. The next visit will treat you as a new visitor and ask again.