Cookie Policy
What cookies and similar technologies we use, why we use them, and how you stay in control.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Utility Discount (“we”, “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on our websites, and the choices you have. It sits alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains more broadly how we handle the personal data we collect.
On this page
- What are cookies?
- How we use cookies and your consent
- Manage your cookie preferences
- The categories of cookies we use
- Third parties we work with
- Google Consent Mode v2
- Controlling cookies in your browser
- Changes to this policy
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make sites work, or work more efficiently, and to provide information to site owners. We also use similar technologies such as local storage (for example, to remember your cookie choice) and tracking pixels. In this policy we refer to all of these simply as “cookies”.
Cookies set by us are called first-party cookies; cookies set by another organisation (such as Google) are third-party cookies.
How we use cookies and your consent
Some cookies are strictly necessary for the site to work and are always on. For everything else — performance, advertising and functionality — we ask for your consent first.
When you first arrive, we show a cookie banner and nothing optional runs until you choose. Until you give consent, analytics and advertising are set to denied by default (see Google Consent Mode v2 below), and the scripts that would set those cookies are not executed. You can accept everything, or open Settings to allow only the categories you want.
Manage your cookie preferences
You can review or change your choice at any time — including withdrawing consent you previously gave.
On pages where our consent banner is shown, a small 🍪 button also sits in the bottom corner so you can reopen your preferences whenever you like. You can also clear cookies through your browser (see below).
The categories of cookies we use
These are the same four categories you can control in our cookie settings. The tables below were checked against our live website on 16 October 2026: we loaded the site with no choice made, after choosing “Accept All” and after switching every optional category off, and recorded every cookie and every item of local storage that appeared. Items that only appear when you use a particular feature are marked as such. A few Google cookies are set by Google’s own code and can change without notice.
Strictly Necessary (always on)
Strictly necessary cookies enable website functionality and cannot be turned off. They are typically set in response to actions you take, like setting privacy preferences or filling in forms. You can block or be alerted about these cookies in your browser, but some parts of the site may then not work. These cookies do not store directly identifying personal information.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form security | Utility Discount | Protects forms against cross-site request forgery. | 2 hours |
| Quote journey session | Utility Discount | Keeps your place as you move through the quote journey. | 2 hours |
| Your cookie choice | Utility Discount | Remembers your cookie choice so we do not ask again, and lets our server see which categories you allowed, for example whether it may keep a page-test version for you. | Until you change or clear it (up to 2 years) |
Performance
Performance cookies track site visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve how the site performs. They tell us which pages are popular and how visitors move around. The information is aggregated. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited and cannot monitor performance. They are only set after you choose to allow them.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga |
Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors. | About 13 months |
_ga_<id> |
Google Analytics | Keeps the Google Analytics 4 session state. | About 13 months |
Targeting
Targeting cookies are set by Google, our advertising partner. They are used to show you relevant ads on other sites and to measure how well our advertising performs. They don’t store directly identifying information but rely on your browser and device. Without them you will see less relevant advertising. They are only set after you choose to allow them.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_gcl_au |
Google Ads | Conversion linker: attributes ad clicks to actions on our site. | 90 days |
| Google Ads conversion linker (local storage) | Google Ads | The same job as the cookie above, kept in local storage. | Until cleared |
IDE |
Google (DoubleClick) | Ad targeting and measurement. | About 13 months |
__gads, __gpi |
Google AdSense | Ad delivery, frequency-capping and measurement. Set by Google when its ad code runs; we did not see them in our check. | Up to about 13 months |
| Google ad consent record (local storage) | Google’s own record of consent settings for its ad code. | Until cleared |
Functional
Functional cookies improve your experience through enhanced functionality and personalisation. We do not currently set any cookies of this kind on our main website, apart from Google’s consent signal described under Google Consent Mode v2. If we add some, they will be listed here and will only run after you allow them.
Saved on your device when you use our quote form
When you use our quote form your browser saves a few items so that you do not have to start again. Most are in local storage on your device and are not sent anywhere until you submit the form. They appear once you start using the form, so they were not part of the first-visit check above; this table comes from reading how the site works. You can delete them at any time by clearing site data in your browser.
Saved because you are filling in the form. These keep the answers and tick boxes you have given, so you can carry on where you left off. They are only used to run the form you asked for.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saved quote details (local storage) | Utility Discount | Remembers what you typed in our quote form (for example postcode, address, name, phone number, current supplier) so you do not have to re-enter it. | 24 hours. Cleared straight away if you choose “start over”. |
| Returning visitor details (local storage) | Utility Discount | Remembers your details (your name, phone number and address) and the tick boxes you ticked, so we can recognise you when you come back. Deleted automatically after 28 days, and straight away if you choose “start over”. | 28 days |
Page tests: only with your permission. We sometimes show half of our visitors one version of a page and half another, to see which works better. We only keep your version on your device (so the page does not change between visits) if you have allowed performance cookies. If you have not, you may be shown a different version on each visit and nothing is saved.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page-test version | Utility Discount | Keeps you on the same version of a page during a page test. Only set while a test is running, and only if you have allowed performance cookies. | 24 hours |
| Quote journey version (local storage) | Utility Discount | Keep you on the same version of the quote journey if we are comparing two versions. Only saved if you have allowed performance cookies. | Until cleared |
Set whatever your cookie choice. These are saved on your device when you use the quote form, before and regardless of your cookie choice. They are not used to show you advertising. They hold timestamps and yes/no markers, not your details.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enquiry and call markers (local storage) | Utility Discount | Remember whether you have already enquired or called, so we can welcome you back and do not repeat the same offer. | Until cleared |
| Enquiry counter (local storage) | Utility Discount | Count how often this device has sent an enquiry or called us, so the same enquiry is not counted twice in our records. | Until cleared |
Third parties we work with
Some cookies are set by trusted third parties whose tools we use. Where their cookies are optional, they only run after you consent to the relevant category. The ones we saw are:
- Google — Analytics (GA4), Google Ads, AdSense, Tag Manager and DoubleClick, for analytics and advertising.
- Cloudflare — content delivery and security for our hosting, and a Cloudflare web analytics script that measures page loads. It loads before any choice is made and sends page-load timings to Cloudflare. In our check (16 October 2026) it set no cookie and saved nothing in local or session storage.
We no longer use Taboola advertising cookies or a live-chat widget on our main website, so they are no longer listed. If we bring either back, we will list it here first.
These partners process data under their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing Google’s cookie information if you would like more detail on how Google uses cookies.
Google Consent Mode v2
We use Google’s Consent Mode v2. By default, analytics and advertising storage are set to denied, so Google’s tags do not read or write cookies until you consent. When you accept a category, your consent updates these defaults and the relevant tags begin to operate. If you decline, the tags stay denied and no advertising or analytics cookies are set.
Controlling cookies in your browser
As well as our cookie settings, you can control cookies through your browser. Most browsers let you refuse all cookies, accept only first-party cookies, or delete cookies when you close the browser. Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may stop parts of the site working.
For step-by-step help, see your browser’s support pages, or the independent guides at aboutcookies.org and allaboutcookies.org.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time — for example, if we add or remove a service. When we make material changes we will update the date at the top of this page, and may ask for your consent again where required.
Who is responsible
Utility Discount is a trading name of Real Life Services Ltd, the company responsible for your personal data (the “data controller”). Registered in England and Wales, company number 05207741. Registered office: Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham GL50 1TA. Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, registration number Z888716X. More in our Privacy Policy.
More information
For how we handle the personal data we collect (including via cookies), please read our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about cookies, please get in touch via our contact form.