COOKIES POLICY
Last updated: 11/04/2026
Please read this cookie policy carefully as it contains important information on how www.lostnreturned.com (and any other platform/websites we operate with the same domain name and different extensions) use cookies on our lost and found service platform (“Platform”). This policy applies to all users of the Platform, regardless of where they are located in the world. This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy which sets out who we are, how to contact us, what data is collected, how and why we collect, store, use and share personal information generally (including in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)), as well as your rights in relation to your personal information (including, where applicable, rights under EU data protection law) and details of how to contact us and supervisory authorities if you have a complaint.
- Cookies
A cookie is a small text file which is placed onto your device (e.g. your smartphone or other electronic device) when you use our lost and found service Platform. We currently use a limited number of cookies on the Platform. At present, this primarily includes strictly necessary cookies and a functional cookie associated with our email platform (Klaviyo), which supports communication and engagement tracking. We do not currently use separate analytics, performance, or advertising cookie tools.
Cookies may be set by us (first-party cookies) or by selected third parties (third-party cookies). When you first visit the Platform, you will be presented with a cookie banner and preference centre that allows you to make informed choices about which categories of cookies you accept. Where required by applicable law, we will ask for your consent before placing non-essential cookies. Where you make a choice in the banner or preference centre (including in connection with any consent you provide or withhold), we may store and read a record of that choice using a strictly necessary cookie and/or similar technology (such as local storage) so that we can respect your preferences. We may also store a record of your consent status (for example, the date/time and the categories selected) in our consent management platform so we can demonstrate compliance.
Cookies help us to recognise you and your device, keep you signed in (where applicable), support security and fraud prevention, and store certain information about your preferences (for example, cookie preferences and display settings), ensuring a more consistent experience when you return to the Platform.
For example, where you accept analytics cookies, we may monitor how many times you use our Platform, which lost item recovery features you access, which QR code scanning or item recovery processes you initiate or participate in, and which parts of the Platform you utilise most frequently. This information helps us to understand use of the Platform by our users and to improve our services. Some of this data will be aggregated or statistical, which means that we will not be able to identify you individually. However, some cookies may collect personal data (such as your IP address, device identifiers or login information) and may involve transfers of such data to our service providers, as detailed in the cookie table below and our Privacy Policy.
For further information on our use of cookies, including a list of cookies and similar technologies we use (and any third-party cookies), as well as their purposes and duration, please see below.
For further information on cookies generally, including how to control and manage them, visit the guidance on cookies published by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.
- Consent to use cookies and changing settings
We will ask for your permission through a clear and prominent notice (our cookie banner and preference centre) before placing any cookies or other similar technologies on your device, except for strictly necessary cookies that are essential for us to provide you with a service that you have requested (e.g. to maintain secure access to your account and ensure proper functionality of the lost and found service). Strictly necessary technologies may also include those used to store and honour your cookie choices and, where applicable, to record that you have given or refused consent. For users in the UK, EU and other jurisdictions where required by law, we will only use non-essential cookies (such as analytics and targeting cookies) with your consent. In jurisdictions where consent is not required for certain cookies, we will use them only to the extent permitted by applicable law and as described in our Privacy Policy.
You can withdraw any previously given consent or manage your cookie preferences at any time by using our cookie management tool available via the cookie banner and/or the link in the footer of the Platform (and, where available, within your Platform dashboard). Through this tool, you can enable or disable different categories of non-essential cookies (for example, analytical or performance cookies and targeting cookies) and manage any other consent settings made available through the preference centre. Your choices will generally apply to future use of the Platform on the device and browser where you made the change and will be applied as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event when you next load the relevant pages), though this may affect certain service features and functionality. Withdrawing your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing based on consent before its withdrawal, but it will stop further use of the relevant cookies from the time your preferences are updated. Further information on how we handle personal data collected via cookies, and on your broader data subject rights (which are not affected by your cookie preferences), is set out in our Privacy Policy.
- Our use of cookies
We use the following categories of cookies (and similar technologies) on the Platform, which support our lost and found services and are consistent with the way we process personal data as described in our Privacy Policy. Some cookies are session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and others are persistent cookies (which remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them).
- Strictly necessary cookies: These are cookies that are required for the operation of our Platform. These essential cookies are always enabled because the Platform will not work properly without them. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to securely access your account, help prevent fraudulent use of the Platform, and maintain the security and integrity of the Platform. They also include cookies or similar technologies used to store and apply your cookie preferences and to evidence your consent choices. We do not seek your consent for strictly necessary cookies, although you can switch off cookies in your browser settings; however, if you do so (including in relation to strictly necessary cookies), you may not be able to access all or parts of our Platform.
- Analytical or performance cookies: These allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how users interact with our Platform. This helps us improve platform functionality, for example, by analysing which features are most used and ensuring users can efficiently navigate through the lost and found service features. These cookies are often provided by third-party analytics providers. Where required by applicable law (including for users in the UK and EU), we will only use analytical or performance cookies with your consent.
- Functionality cookies: These are used to recognise when you return to the Platform and to remember certain choices you have made (for example, display settings). This enables us to personalise your experience. Where these cookies are not strictly necessary for the service you have requested, we will treat them as non-essential and obtain your consent where required by law.
- Targeting cookies: These cookies record your visit to the Platform, the pages you have visited and your interaction patterns. We may use this information to understand how different parts of the Platform are used. We do not use targeting cookies for third-party advertising on the Platform. Where required by applicable law, we will only use targeting cookies with your consent.
The table below provides more information about the cookies and similar technologies we use and why. It explains whether the cookie is set by us or a third party, how long it lasts, what type of information it collects, and whether it is essential or non-essential (and therefore whether we will seek your consent before placing it). We may update this table from time to time as we add or remove cookies. In addition, the most up-to-date cookie list for your device/browser (including the current cookie names, providers, purposes and expiry) is available at any time in our cookie preference centre.
| The cookies we use | Name | Purpose | Whether cookie is essential for us to provide you with a service that you have requested and whether we will seek your consent before we place the cookie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie preference / consent status (Consent Management Platform) | – | Stores your cookie choices (e.g. whether you accepted or rejected analytics/targeting/functionality cookies) and helps us remember and apply those choices on subsequent visits. Where we offer consent-driven settings in the preference centre (for example, if you can choose whether your Direct Contact details are shown on a public Recovery Page, or similar consent-based visibility settings), we may also store a record of those selections so we can honour them.This cookie/identifier may collect personal information including: a consent status/selection, a consent timestamp, a consent version, and a pseudonymous identifier for the device/browser to distinguish consent records (it does not, by itself, identify you by name).Duration: persistent; typically up to 12 months (or a shorter period where required), after which we will ask you to refresh your choices. The exact expiry is shown in the cookie preference centre.Further information: see the cookie preference centre for the current identifiers in use and their expiry. | Yes, essential (we will therefore not request your consent before placing this cookie/identifier). |
Klaviyo (Email marketing / Form identification) | __kla_id | Purpose: Set by Klaviyo, Inc. when a user interacts with or submits the embedded form on the Platform. This cookie identifies the visitor and associates subsequent website visits with a Klaviyo subscriber profile, enabling email marketing personalisation and tracking of engagement (such as form submissions and link clicks). Data collected: May include IP address (often truncated), device/browser identifiers and a pseudonymous identifier linked to your email address. Duration: Persistent; typically up to 13 months (or less depending on configuration). Further information: https://www.klaviyo.com/legal/privacy | Essential: No – we will request your consent before placing this cookie where required by law. Important: This cookie is set by the embedded third-party form that enables the sign-up functionality on this page. If you choose to decline this cookie, the sign-up form will not function and you will not be able to submit your details through the form. Alternative: If you prefer not to accept cookies, you can still join the waitlist by contacting us at support@lostnreturned.com. |
Some of the third-party services we use (including Klaviyo) may process personal data outside the UK or EEA. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
- How to turn off all cookies and consequences of doing so
If you do not want to accept cookies, you can either use our cookie management tool to reject non-essential cookies, or change your browser settings to block cookies. Please note that blocking all cookies (including essential cookies) will significantly impact your ability to use the Platform. Critical features such as secure access to your account and recovery notification features may become unavailable. Your ability to exercise choices over cookies (and the consequences of doing so) may vary depending on your location and applicable law, as explained in our Privacy Policy. For further information about cookies and how to disable them please go to the guidance on cookies published by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, https://www.aboutcookies.org or https://www.allaboutcookies.org or the guidance published by your local EU/EEA data protection authority.
- Changes to this policy
This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our use of cookies, our services or legal requirements. When we make material changes to this Cookies Policy, we will inform you via the Platform (for example, via a banner or notice) or by sending an email to the email address you provided when you signed up to the Platform, and we will indicate at the top of this policy when it was last updated.