Terms and Conditions
Microdot Anti-Theft Systems Limited ("the Company") is registered under the Data Protection Act Registration number Z1916264. "Alpha Dot", "Alpha Trace" and "Alpha Traceline" are all trading names used by the Company. To find out how to contact us please visit the “contact us” section of our website. Alpha Dot is a property marking system whereby uniquely numbered batches (of varying quantity) of tiny microdots can be applied to items of property. These tiny markers can be found and read with a magnifier. The PIN relating to each batch of markers can be registered on our secure database to an individual or Company so that the identity of the owner can be established upon due enquiry.
Sales and delivery
Unless otherwise agreed at the point of sale, all orders for the product for use within the U.K. will be despatched within 5 working days by Royal Mail first class ordinary post. For sales and service outside the U.K. please contact us with your requirements.
Refunds and returns
We offer a no quibble return policy. If you are not entirely happy with what you receive from us we will accept it back without dispute provided that you advise us within 14 days from the date of receipt using the contact us section of our website. We will forward you a prepaid postal packet for this purpose. You will be refunded within 3 days of receipt of the goods by us. Please note we will not make a refund for any products which have been used and/or registered on our database.
Data Protection – our general policy
Alpha Traceline is a database containing a record of unique numbers from the product (PIN’s) together with contact details of you the customer. Any data you provide to us will be retained used and/or disclosed solely for the purposes of (a) endeavouring to assist police in identifying you as the customer in order to establish ownership of any possessions which have been marked with the Alpha Dot microdot marking system ("the product") and to assist police or any other agency in investigating and/or prosecuting any alleged offender in relation to the theft of any such possessions (b) verifying and disclosing your record to bona fide Insurance Companies their agents or brokers (c) for our own marketing promotional and statistical purposes. We will never sell, impart or otherwise utilise your data to any other third parties. You may request at any time for your personal data to be removed from our database upon written request but we will not delete any information relating to any property which you have previously informed us of and to which the product has been applied.
Retention of Personal Data
The methodology of the product is reliant upon Police or other agencies being able to successfully contact you if a marked item is found and a PIN located and read. It is very important therefore that you keep us advised of your current contact information. As part of the product offering the Company continuously maintains a database of its customers in order that police may identify and contact the person who registered themselves against the product. It is your responsibility to keep us informed of your contact details. We may, from time to time, attempt to contact you to re-confirm your status and/or the data held. In order to do this we will of course only be able to communicate with you using the contact details we currently hold. In the event that no reply is received from you within a reasonable period of time (and a maximum of six months) we reserve the right to suspend or remove your data from our records.
Retention of Financial Data
Where charges and fees are made for the Company’s products by credit or debit card such information will not be retained beyond the completion of the transaction. Where customers subscribe for our products (for example by use of our Alpha Trace subscription scheme) on a periodic basis then your bank, credit or debit card information may be retained by us for the purpose of renewing any subscription agreement you enter into. See also (below) sections vi. & vii. of the section headed “Subscription”.
Definitions of “ownership” and “lifetime registration”
Registration of the Alpha Dot product on the database does not confirm ownership or title to any marked property. The expression “owner” shall mean the identity of the person or entity who registers on the database. Where registration of the Alpha Dot product has been recorded against any specifically named property (for example a vehicle) such registration does not confirm or imply ownership or any other rights to that property.
The expression “Lifetime registration” where so used means that for the time that you remain the owner of the recorded item there will be no further charges to keep and maintain your current contact details. “Lifetime registration” is not transferable and ceases when the recorded item changes hands. Should the new owner require their contact information to be recorded on the database then further charges may apply either by way of a subscription or by payment of a fee to secure a further period of lifetime registration as previously defined.
Subscription – general policy and fair usage
Alpha Trace is an alternative marketing scheme whereby the Alpha Dot product may be offered by way of a recurring subscription charge in exchange for supplies of the product and the registration service. Unless otherwise expressly agreed this scheme is for domestic use only and has been designed to meet the needs of a typical household family. Subscription to the Alpha Trace scheme is conditional upon acceptance of these additional terms and conditions:
i. Fair Usage. This term “fair usage” means that the quantity of product/s supplied under the scheme from time to time shall remain at the sole discretion of the Company and the Company shall retain the sole and undisputed right to determine what is deemed reasonable to supply on the basis of an average household. For illustrative purposes this means sufficient product/s to mark home possessions within a typical two to four bedroomed property, together with one or two vehicles. We would not normally deem “reasonable” to mean (by way of further example) three or more cars or that you change your car/s more than once every two or three years, and for home marking a large collection of models or Antiques which might require a larger quantity of the product. For the sake of clarity, one pot of Alpha Dots can typically mark and identify between forty and eighty home items such as Bicycles, Televisions, Computer equipment, Lap-tops, Antiques, Garden machinery, kitchen appliances, DVD player, Bicycles, Music systems, gaming consoles, Mobile phones, Paintings and other objet d’art.
ii. Extra product. Where, in the sole opinion of the Company, the subscriber is asking for more of the product than that which is deemed by the Company to be reasonable then further supplies of the product may be offered at specially reduced prices to cover the extra costs incurred by the Company.
iii. Other uses. Alpha Trace can be used in small businesses for the marking of such property as tools, IT equipment, machinery and test equipment etc. provided it is not used on a scale larger than might reasonably compare with household use. If in doubt, please enquire.
iv. One address. The Alpha Trace subscription service may only be used within one household and registered to one address at a time. It is your responsibility to keep your contact details up to date and accurate.
v. Vehicle marking. Unlike home possessions vehicles often change hands. We strongly recommend that in the case of a road registered vehicle one pot of dots is used solely for that vehicle and registered under a separate PIN number (still at your address). If you then dispose of the vehicle any new owner may contact us to arrange transfer of the PIN registration into their name. If you acquire a new vehicle then a further pot of dots will be supplied (subject to fair usage clause above) and the new PIN recorded with your contact details within the Alpha Trace scheme.
vi. Minimum term & Cancellation by the subscriber. When you order, you may change your mind up to 14 days later. The minimum subscription period will be for one year and thereafter may be cancelled by the subscriber at any time by giving the Company one months notice. The registration and product supply will then cease and any information held will be removed or suspended from the database. Any financial data such as your Bank, credit or debit card information will be deleted.
vii. Subscription – non-payment. If the subscriber fails to maintain the subscription the Company shall first notify the subscriber either by email or letter giving a minimum of one months notice to make good any shortfall. Continued failure to maintain the subscription will result in the service being cancelled and any contact details, PIN numbers shall be deleted or suspended from the database (Due to the relatively low costs of this scheme we cannot afford to chase you so we strongly recommend that you maintain your subscription in order that your property can be traced back to you if recovered by police) and financial information relating to your subscription will be deleted once any outstanding balance due as been paid.
The product – Use, Health and Safety
The fitting guides and advice provided with the product are for guidance only. Application of the microdots is entirely at the discretion of the user and given that the Company is entirely unaware of the material structure and construction of the user’s goods or property cannot provide definitive advice nor provide any guarantee of suitability or subsequent problems arising from any damage howsoever caused as a result of the product application. If the user is concerned or has any doubt whatsoever about the appearance or any other affect to any goods or surfaces to which the adhesive is to be applied we strongly recommend that a small amount of the adhesive is tried first as a test sample before proceeding with the application. Health and safety data sheets for the adhesive are available on request. We will be pleased to use our reasonable endeavours to promptly provide further information on any specific application provided we are consulted before application or use.
Police and the Law
The Company's policy is to provide an expert witness and witness statement anywhere within the UK or other territory upon any reasonable police request in order to aid in the arrest and conviction (or acquittal if the circumstances so arose) of persons who are being prosecuted for any theft in which Alpha Dot has been used as a source of evidence. Alpha Dot is solely a method of identification to locate or make contact with the person(s) so registered.
Other points and these Terms and Conditions
Ownership to any brand names logos or trademarks on our website/s or other literature (other than those belonging to the Company) are hereby acknowledged. Terms and conditions may only be varied by mutual consent and in writing between all parties. In the event of any dispute English Law shall apply. Headings where used are for guidance only. We reserve the right to amend or change these terms and conditions at any time, notice of which will always be posted on our web site for the time being www.alphatrace.net or www.alpha-dot.co.uk or www.alphadot.it