The Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. attaches great importance to responsible and transparent management of personal data.

Below we provide users with information as to

• who they can contact at Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. on the subject of data protection
• what data is processed when they visit the website www.siegelklarheit.de
• what data is processed when users contact us
• how they can opt out of the storage of data
• what rights they have with respect to us

Responsible for the processing of data

Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V.

represented by the Chairperson Wolfgang Schuldzinski

Helmholtzstrasse 19

40215 Duesseldorf

Tel.: + 49 (0)211 9 13 80 1000

Fax: + 49 (0)211 9 13 80 1216

E-Mail: kontakt@siegelklarheit.de

Data Protection Officer

datenschutz@verbraucherzentrale.nrw

Information on the collection of personal data

General

Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. processes personal data exclusively in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz, BDSGn).

Personal data are, for example, name, address, email addresses and user behaviour.

Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. only processes personal data to the extent necessary. Which data is required and processed for which purpose and on what basis is largely determined by the type of service you use or the purpose for which the data is required.

Collection of personal data when visiting our website

When visiting www.siegelklarheit.de, the browser used automatically transmits data that is saved in a log file. Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. itself processes only the data that is technically required in order to display the website correctly and to ensure its stability and security.

Each time the website is accessed, the data stored includes the IP address of the accessing device and date and time of access. Furthermore, the exact URL and the HTTP Code as well as the User Agent are stored.

The data in the log file is deleted after 14 days if they are not required for a possible trouble-shooting.

Cookies

When you visit the Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. website, small text files known as ‘cookies’ are not stored on your computer – besides required Cookies. They are used to make the online presence more user-friendly and effective overall. Cookies cannot run programs or infect your computer with viruses.

The Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. website uses cookies that are automatically deleted as soon as the browser on which the page is displayed is closed (referred to as temporary cookies or session cookies) This type of cookie makes it possible to assign various requests from a browser to a session and to recognise the browser when the website is visited again (Session ID).

Analysis of usage data

This website uses Matomo to analyse usage data. With each access of a user to www.siegelklarheit.de and each time a file is retrieved, data about this process is stored and processed in a log file if the user has agreed to it. Before storage, each data record is anonymised by changing the IP address.

In detail, the following data is stored for each access/retrieval:

• Name of the retrieved file,
• Date and time of retrieval and from where,
• Amount of data transferred,
• Message whether the access/retrieval was successful
• The page from which users were redirected
• Type of operating system
• Type of browser
• Device type.

The stored data is only evaluated to optimize the webpage.

No so-called cookies are used for navigation. Techniques such as Java applets or Active-X controls, which make it possible to track the access behaviour of users, are not used.

The processing of the data takes place on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1a) EU GDPR to improve the website. Access to the user statistics is granted to the Secretariat of Siegelklarheit at Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. as well as the hosting company.

Consent to the use of Matomo can be revoked at any time [see bottom of page].

Processing of personal data when contacting us

When users contact us, the data provided is processed in order to be able to respond to the enquiry. The following contact options are available:

• Contact form 
• Email (kontakt@siegelklarheit.de)
• Phone 
• Letter

Contact by contact form

The website provides a form for electronic contact. When using the contact form, the following personal data may be processed: name (optional), email address, message, subject (optional), and, if applicable, your postal address and any other personal data provided in the enquiry. Providing your postal address is optional and, if desired, allows your request to be answered by post.

The processing is carried out on the basis of consent in accordance with Article 6 (1) a GDPR and for the purpose of processing your request.

When submitting the contact form, the user agrees to the transmission and storage of his/her personal data. Filling in the contact form can be cancelled at any time. The data is only transmitted by submitting the form.

The transmission to the Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. is carried out via an SSL-encrypted connection.

Contact by e-mail

Alternatively, it is possible to contact Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. via the email addresses provided. In this case, at least the email address but also any other personal user data transmitted with the email (e.g. family and given name, address) as well as the information contained in the email are stored solely for the purpose of contacting the user and processing the request.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with email communication is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

Contact by phone

When contacting us by phone, personal data will be processed to the extent necessary in order to handle the enquiry.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with communication by phone is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

Contact by letter

When contacting us by letter, the personal data transmitted (e.g. family and given name, address) and the information contained in the letter is stored for the purpose of establishing contact and processing the enquiry.

The legal basis for the processing of data in connection with communication by letter is Article 6 (1) e GDPR.

Disclosure to third parties

Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. does not pass on personal data to third parties unless it is legally obliged or entitled to do so by law.

Transfer of data to countries outside Germany

Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. does not transfer personal data to third countries.

Duration of data retention

User data will not be kept any longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it is processed or as required by law.

IT security of user data

Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. accords great importance to protecting personal data. For this reason, technical and organisational security measures ensure that data is protected against accidental and intentional manipulation and unintended erasure as well as unauthorised access. These measures are updated accordingly based on technical developments and adapted continuously in line with the risks.

Reference to user rights

Visitors to the Verbraucherzentrale Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. website have the right

• To obtain information about their data stored by us (Article 15 GDPR)
• To have their data stored by us rectified (Article 16 GDPR)
• To have their data stored by us erased (Article 17 GDPR)
• To obtain restriction of processing of their data stored by us (Article 18 GDPR)
• To object to the storage of their data if personal data are processed on the basis of the first sentence of Article 6 (1) 1 f and e GDPR (Article 21 GDPR)
• To receive their personal data in a commonly used and machine-readable format from the controller such that they can be potentially transmitted to another controller (right to data portability, Article 20 GDPR).
• To withdraw their consent to the extent that the data has been processed on the basis of consent (Article 6 (1) a GDPR). The lawfulness of the processing on the basis of the consent given remains unaffected until receipt of the withdrawal. 

If you have questions regarding the Website and its technical implementation, please contact: kontakt@siegelklarheit.de

If you have specific questions about the protection of your data, please contact the Data Protection Officer: datenschutz@verbraucherzentrale.nrw

Users also have the right in accordance with Article 77 GDPR to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection supervisory authority. The competent authority is the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI).

Last updated:

November 2025