Cookie Policy

Last updated: 6 October 2026

1. What This Policy Covers

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies and similar technologies the collects.io marketing website uses, why we use them, and how you can control them. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.

Who we are. collects.io is operated by Collect Solutions Ltd (company number 16931356), registered at 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ. We are the data controller for the purposes of UK GDPR.

2. What Cookies Are

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the website to remember information about your visit — for example, which pages you viewed.

We also use localStorage, a browser storage mechanism that keeps data in your browser without sending it to our server on every request.

Cookies set by collects.io are first-party cookies. Google Analytics and PostHog cookies are set only after you consent. Our support chat (Intercom) sets its cookies only when you open the chat.

3. Your Consent Choices

On this website we use three categories of storage:

Strictly necessary — required to remember your cookie consent choice. No consent is required.
Analytics — used to measure how the site is used. These are only enabled after you accept analytics cookies in our banner.
Support chat — set only when you open the chat with the chat button, because they are needed to provide the chat you asked for. Nothing from the chat is loaded or stored before you open it.

When you first visit collects.io, a cookie banner asks you to accept or decline analytics cookies. If you decline, we do not load Google Analytics or PostHog, and their cookies will not be set.

You can change your preferences at any time by clicking Cookie preferences in the footer of our website.

4. Cookies and Storage We Use

4.1 Strictly Necessary Storage

This entry is required for the cookie consent system to work. It cannot be switched off without breaking consent management.

collects:cookie-consent
Set by: collects.io (browser)
Type: localStorage entry
Lifetime: Until you clear your browser storage

Stores whether you accepted or declined analytics cookies (“accepted” or “declined”). This lets us honour your choice on return visits and avoid showing the banner unnecessarily. It contains no personal information.

4.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies are only set if you accept analytics cookies via our consent banner. If you decline, none of the following will be set.

_ga
Set by: Google Analytics 4
Type: HTTP cookie
Lifetime: 2 years

Distinguishes unique visitors. Used by Google Analytics to calculate visitor, session, and campaign data for our analytics reports. Google may process this data in the United States; appropriate UK IDTA and EU Standard Contractual Clauses are in place.

_ga_R8VJ19HT0J
Set by: Google Analytics 4
Type: HTTP cookie
Lifetime: 2 years

Maintains session state for our Google Analytics 4 property (measurement ID: G-R8VJ19HT0J). Works alongside _ga to attribute sessions to the correct property.

_gid
Set by: Google Analytics 4
Type: HTTP cookie
Lifetime: 24 hours

Identifies and distinguishes users within a single day's worth of sessions. Used by Google Analytics to calculate daily visitor counts.

ph_<project key>_posthog
Set by: PostHog
Type: HTTP cookie and localStorage entry
Lifetime: 1 year

An anonymous identifier, so PostHog can count visits and see which pages people use. PostHog processes this data in the EU.

4.3 Support Chat Storage

These are set only when you open the support chat with the chat button. If you never open it, none of the following will be set. The chat is provided by Intercom, from its EU-hosted service.

collects:support-chat
Set by: collects.io (browser)
Type: localStorage entry
Lifetime: Until you clear your browser storage

Records that you have opened the chat, so it stays available as you move between pages and your conversation carries on. It contains no personal information.

intercom-id-y4qrl31c
Set by: Intercom
Type: HTTP cookie
Lifetime: 9 months

An anonymous identifier, so the chat recognises you and shows your earlier conversations.

intercom-session-y4qrl31c
Set by: Intercom
Type: HTTP cookie
Lifetime: 1 week

Keeps your chat session open across pages and visits.

intercom-device-id-y4qrl31c
Set by: Intercom
Type: HTTP cookie
Lifetime: 9 months

Identifies your device to the chat so messages are delivered to the right browser.

5. Summary Table

collects:cookie-consent · Strictly necessary · collects.io · Until cleared · Consent: No
_ga · Analytics · Google Analytics · 2 years · Consent: Yes
_ga_R8VJ19HT0J · Analytics · Google Analytics · 2 years · Consent: Yes
_gid · Analytics · Google Analytics · 24 hours · Consent: Yes
ph_<project key>_posthog · Analytics · PostHog · 1 year · Consent: Yes
collects:support-chat · Support chat · collects.io · Until cleared · Set when you open the chat
intercom-id-y4qrl31c · Support chat · Intercom · 9 months · Set when you open the chat
intercom-session-y4qrl31c · Support chat · Intercom · 1 week · Set when you open the chat
intercom-device-id-y4qrl31c · Support chat · Intercom · 9 months · Set when you open the chat

6. How to Manage Your Cookie Preferences

Change your preferences on collects.io

Click Cookie preferences in the footer of any page on collects.io. This reopens the consent banner so you can update your choice.

Browser-level controls

You can configure your browser to block or delete cookies at any time. Note that clearing storage may reset your consent choice and cause the banner to appear again.

Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data
Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data

Third-party opt-outs

You can opt out of Google Analytics directly:

Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on — prevents your data being used by GA across all sites

7. What We Do Not Do

We do not use cookies to serve advertising or retargeting campaigns
We do not sell cookie data or browsing data to third parties
We do not use fingerprinting or other non-cookie tracking methods
We do not set analytics cookies before you give consent — only your consent preference is stored locally until you choose
We do not load the support chat or set its cookies unless you open it

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when we add, change, or remove cookies or tracking technologies. We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page whenever we make changes. If we add new categories of cookies that require consent, we will resurface the consent banner.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:

Collect Solutions Ltd (trading as collects.io)
Company number: 16931356
Registered address: 71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ
Email: privacy@collects.io
Website: collects.io

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.