What are Cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data sent from a website and stored on a website user’s device while the user is browsing the website. Cookies do many different tasks like remembering your preferences to make navigating the site more enjoyable and smooth, allowing you to navigate through the site, and authenticating you if you have registered on the site or if you seek to make a purchase through the site (where applicable). Cookies can also help to ensure that advertisements you see online are more relevant to you and your interests.

Cookies are in no way harmful to your device, they are simply text files used to store data from the browsing session to improve the personal user experience.

Does Mercia Utility Services use cookies?

Yes, like almost every website on the internet we use cookies. This enhances the website experience and helps the general functionality of the website.

What type of cookies are used?

There are three general categories of cookies that may be used on our website:

Strictly necessary cookies. These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around a website and use its features, such as services you have asked for. Without utilising these cookies, those services would not be available to you. This includes accessing any secure areas of the site or making a purchase through the site.

Performance cookies. These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, such as the pages that users view most often. Any information that is collected is anonymous and is only used to improve the website functionality. Note: These cookies don’t collect information that can identify a visitor.

Functionality cookies. These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (e.g usernames or email addresses). This allows the site to provide more personal features giving you a better experience while using the site. The information these cookies collect is solely based on this website and is totally anonymous.

How long will cookies stay on my device?

The length of time a cookie will stay on your computer or mobile device depends on whether it is a “persistent” or “session” cookie. Session cookies will only stay on your device until you stop browsing. Persistent cookies stay on your computer or mobile device until they expire or are deleted.

How to control and delete cookies?

Depending on the browser that you’re using, you can remove all cookies stored from all the websites you’ve visited by going into your browser’s settings, and clearing your browsing data. For more information, contact the browser developer directly for instructions on how to remove cookie information.