This page lists every cookie or local-storage item we set on this website, what it does, how long it lasts, and whether we need your consent for it. We try to keep this list short and honest — we don't run advertising or third-party analytics trackers here.
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small piece of text a website asks your browser to keep, so that the site can recognise you on future requests (for example, to keep you logged in). Local-storage entries serve a similar purpose but live entirely in your browser.
Cookies we set on this site
Strictly necessary
These keep the site working. We don't need your consent for them under UK PECR (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) because the site cannot function without them.
| Name | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
ukof-session |
Maintains your visit so things like the contact form and login remember what you typed across page loads. Tied to your current browser session. | 2 hours of inactivity |
XSRF-TOKEN |
A security token that protects against cross-site request forgery on form submissions. | 2 hours |
remember_web_* |
Set only if you tick "Remember me" when logging in, so we can keep you signed in on this device. | 5 years (or until you log out) |
Preferences (also strictly necessary, set on your action)
These remember choices you've made. They're set in your browser's local storage rather than as cookies.
| Name | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
mary-theme / mary-class |
Stores your light/dark theme choice so the site doesn't flicker between themes on each page load. | Until you clear browser storage |
Things we deliberately don't use
- No advertising or remarketing cookies.
- No Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or similar third-party trackers.
- No social-media share-button trackers.
- No fingerprinting or device-ID services.
Our internal click counting uses a one-way hash of your IP address, which lives in our database — not in a cookie. See the Privacy Policy for more on how we count clicks.
What happens when you click "Compare" or "Buy"
When you click through to a retailer, your browser is redirected via that retailer's
affiliate network (typically Awin). The affiliate network sets a cookie
on its own domain (for example, awin1.com) so that any
purchase you make on the retailer's site can be attributed back to us. We don't
control these cookies and they aren't set on our domain.
Once you arrive on the retailer's website, that retailer's own cookies and policies apply. Most large UK retailers will ask you to consent to their cookies on first visit.
How to control cookies
Every modern browser lets you view, block, or delete cookies — usually in Settings → Privacy or similar. You can also use private/incognito mode to avoid keeping any cookies between sessions.
Be aware that blocking the strictly-necessary cookies above will prevent you from logging in or submitting forms. Blocking the affiliate-network cookies set on click-through means we won't earn commission on a purchase, but everything else still works.
Changes
If we add or remove anything from the list above, we'll update this page and the "last updated" date. Material changes affecting consent will also be notified through the site.
Contact
Questions about cookies on this site can be sent via the contact page.