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Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

 

Last updated: 13 September 2026

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CLV Grading is a trading name of Four Leaf Trading Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 17257994.

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Registered office:
66 Paul Street
London
England
EC2A 4NA

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For the purposes of UK data protection law, Four Leaf Trading Ltd is the controller of the personal information described in this Privacy Policy.

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If you have any questions about this policy or how we use your information, please contact:

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hello@clvgrading.uk

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We intend to introduce a dedicated @clvgrading.uk privacy contact address in the future. This policy will be updated when that occurs.

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1. About this policy

 

This Privacy Policy explains how Four Leaf Trading Ltd, trading as CLV Grading, collects, uses, stores and shares personal information when you:

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  • use the CLV Grading website;

  • submit cards for grading;

  • make an in-person submission;

  • purchase cards or other products from us;

  • create or use a CLV Trade account;

  • apply to become a CLV Trade member or CLV Partner;

  • contact us;

  • subscribe to marketing communications;

  • use our certificate verification and population-report services; or

  • otherwise interact with CLV Grading.

 

We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary to provide our services, operate our business, comply with our legal obligations and protect CLV and its customers.

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2. Information we may collect

 

Depending on how you interact with CLV, we may collect:

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Identity and contact information

 

This may include your:

  • name;

  • email address;

  • telephone number;

  • billing address;

  • delivery or return address;

  • account information; and

  • business or trading details where you apply for CLV Trade access.

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Submission information

 

When you submit cards for grading, we may record:

  • your submission number;

  • cards submitted;

  • service level selected;

  • declared card values;

  • submission and return-delivery information;

  • grading and processing status;

  • grader notes;

  • grading results;

  • subgrades;

  • certificate numbers;

  • photographs, scans or imaging associated with cards; and

  • communications concerning your submission.

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Order and transaction information

 

We may process information relating to:

  • products or services purchased;

  • transaction amounts;

  • invoices;

  • refunds;

  • payment status;

  • delivery information; and

  • transaction references.

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We do not intend to store complete payment-card details ourselves where payment is processed by an external payment provider.

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CLV Trade information

 

Where you apply for or use CLV Trade, we may collect information such as:

  • business or trading name;

  • selling platforms;

  • website or social-media accounts;

  • trading history;

  • expected purchasing volumes;

  • account status;

  • trade orders;

  • communications; and

  • information reasonably required to assess or manage your eligibility for the programme.

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Communications

 

We may retain emails, form submissions, customer-service messages and other communications with you where reasonably necessary to deal with your enquiry, maintain records or resolve a dispute.

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Website and technical information

 

Depending on your cookie choices and the technologies used on our website, we may receive information including:

  • IP address;

  • device and browser information;

  • website activity;

  • approximate location derived from technical information;

  • cookie identifiers;

  • referral information; and

  • website-performance information.

More information will be provided in our Cookie Policy.

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3. How we use personal information

 

We may use your personal information to:

  • provide grading services;

  • receive, process and return submissions;

  • communicate with you about your submission;

  • fulfil retail and trade orders;

  • take and reconcile payments;

  • operate CLV Trade;

  • manage customer and trade accounts;

  • provide customer support;

  • prevent fraud and misuse;

  • maintain accurate business and accounting records;

  • investigate disputes, losses or complaints;

  • maintain and protect our website and systems;

  • improve our services;

  • maintain our certification registry and population reports;

  • send marketing where permitted; and

  • comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

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4. Our lawful bases

 

Depending on the circumstances, we rely on different lawful bases under UK data protection law.

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Contract

 

We process information where it is necessary to enter into or perform a contract with you, including to process a grading submission, fulfil an order, arrange return delivery and provide customer support connected with a transaction.

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Legal obligation

 

We process and retain certain information where necessary to comply with obligations relating to matters such as accounting, taxation and other applicable laws.

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Legitimate interests

 

We may process information where necessary for our legitimate business interests, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests.

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These interests may include:

  • protecting CLV and its customers from fraud;

  • maintaining accurate certification and population records;

  • establishing, exercising or defending legal claims;

  • maintaining security;

  • improving our services;

  • administering CLV Trade;

  • maintaining appropriate records of grading activity; and

  • protecting the integrity and reputation of the CLV certification system.

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Consent

 

Where required, we rely on your consent for activities such as certain marketing communications and non-essential cookies.

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Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time.

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5. Card imaging and AI-assisted grading

 

CLV uses artificial-intelligence-assisted technology as part of its grading and verification process.

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Our grading workflow is designed around:

Human Grading → AI Verification → Human Seconder → Finalisation and Encapsulation

A human grader first assesses the card and records relevant grading information and observations.

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Card imaging is then prepared in a format intended for machine analysis. This imaging may be transformed or processed in a way designed to highlight characteristics useful to the grading system and may not necessarily resemble a conventional photograph or scan intended for human viewing.

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The AI-assisted grading system may receive:

  • processed card imaging;

  • relevant grading measurements;

  • grading observations or grader notes; and

  • other card-related information necessary to perform the verification.

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The AI-assisted system may generate its own assessment or subgrades, identify areas requiring review, or agree with aspects of the primary human assessment.

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The result is then subject to further human review before the grade is finalised.

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Customer identity and contact information are stored separately from the information supplied to the AI-assisted grading process and are not intentionally provided to the grading AI for the purpose of assessing the card.

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Processed card imaging supplied for AI grading is intended to be deleted after the relevant AI-assisted grading or verification process has been completed, subject to any short-term technical processing or security requirements of the systems involved.

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Other card photographs or images may be retained separately where required for certification records, quality control, dispute resolution or display of a certified card.

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More information about our use of artificial intelligence is available in our AI Transparency information.

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6. AI-assisted creative work

 

CLV may use artificial-intelligence-assisted creative tools in the development or enhancement of slab-label artwork, website imagery and other creative material.

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Tools used may include services provided by companies such as OpenAI and AI-assisted functionality within Adobe Photoshop.

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AI may, for example, assist with image generation, expansion, editing, concept development or enhancement.

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Final label designs used by CLV are selected, reviewed and approved by CLV.

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Use of a third-party technology provider does not imply that the provider sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with CLV Grading.

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7. Public certification records

 

When a card is graded and certified by CLV, information about the card and its certification may become part of the permanent CLV certification registry.

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Public certification information may include:

  • certificate number;

  • card name;

  • set;

  • card number;

  • language or variant;

  • final grade;

  • subgrades where applicable;

  • population information;

  • certification status; and

  • images of the card or slab where available.

 

The purpose of this registry is to allow collectors, buyers and sellers to verify CLV certification and understand population information.

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Your private customer information—such as your name, home address, telephone number and email address—is not intended to appear in the public certification record.

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Certification information relates primarily to the graded collectable rather than the person who submitted it. CLV may retain certification records for the lifetime of the certification system where reasonably necessary to preserve registry integrity, historical population information and the ability to verify previously certified slabs.

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8. Payments

 

The payment method available may depend on the service or transaction.

CLV may use external payment services such as payment functionality made available through Wix, Stripe, PayPal or other payment providers adopted by CLV.

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Approved CLV Trade customers may also be permitted to pay by bank transfer or PayPal.

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For eligible in-person grading submissions at card shows or other events, CLV may accept cash payments.

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Payment providers may process personal and financial information under their own privacy terms.

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Where payment is made by bank transfer, relevant payment information may also be processed by our banking provider.

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Where payment is made in cash, CLV may still retain an appropriate transaction, receipt or accounting record.

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We will update this policy if the payment providers used by CLV materially change.

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9. Who we share information with

 

We do not sell your personal information.

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We may share information where reasonably necessary with organisations that help us operate CLV, including:

  • website and hosting providers;

  • payment processors;

  • banks and financial-service providers;

  • delivery and postal providers;

  • IT, cloud-storage and security providers;

  • professional advisers such as accountants or legal advisers;

  • AI and software providers where relevant to the services described above; and

  • public authorities where disclosure is required by law.

 

We aim to provide third parties only with the information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

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10. International data transfers

 

Some of the technology and service providers we use may process information outside the United Kingdom.

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Where UK data protection law requires safeguards for an international transfer of personal information, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that an applicable transfer mechanism or other lawful safeguard is in place.

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The precise providers used by CLV may change as our systems develop. You may contact us if you would like further information about relevant international-transfer arrangements.

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11. Marketing

 

You may be given the option to receive news, product information, grading updates, promotions, CLV Trade information or other marketing from us.

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Where consent is required, we will seek it before sending such communications.

You can unsubscribe from marketing at any time using an unsubscribe facility provided in the communication or by contacting us.

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Opting out of marketing will not prevent us from sending service messages that are necessary in connection with an active submission, purchase, account or other transaction.

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12. How long we keep information

 

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, operational and dispute-resolution requirements.

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Our general approach is:

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Transaction, invoice and relevant accounting records: normally retained for at least six years from the end of the relevant accounting period, or longer where required by applicable tax, accounting, investigation or legal requirements.

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Customer and grading-submission records: retained for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the service, maintain appropriate business records, deal with complaints or claims, and meet applicable legal requirements. Information that is no longer required may be deleted or anonymised.

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Processed imaging supplied to the AI-assisted grading process: intended to be deleted following completion of the relevant AI grading or verification process, subject to short-term technical processing, backup or security requirements.

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Public certification and population records: may be retained indefinitely where necessary to preserve the integrity and historical accuracy of the CLV certification registry.

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Marketing information: retained until you unsubscribe, withdraw consent where applicable, or we determine that the information is no longer required. We may retain a minimal suppression record to ensure that we respect an unsubscribe request.

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CLV Trade account information: retained while the account is active and afterwards for an appropriate period where required for transactions, fraud prevention, disputes, accounting or legal purposes.

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We periodically review the information we hold and may delete or anonymise information that is no longer required.

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13. Security

 

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction.

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Customer identity information is intended to be maintained separately from data provided to the AI-assisted grading process.

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Access to customer, submission and trade information should be restricted to people who require it for legitimate business purposes.

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No internet-connected system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we continually aim to use measures proportionate to the nature of the information we process.

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14. Your data-protection rights

 

Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis on which we process your information, you may have rights including:

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  • the right to access personal information we hold about you;

  • the right to have inaccurate information corrected;

  • the right to request deletion of information in certain circumstances;

  • the right to request restriction of processing;

  • the right to object to certain processing;

  • the right to data portability in applicable circumstances; and

  • the right to withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

 

Some rights are subject to legal exceptions and do not apply in every situation.

Please note that a request concerning your personal information does not necessarily require deletion of a card's non-personal certification record from the CLV registry.

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Your right to object

 

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests in certain circumstances. You also have the right to object at any time to the use of your personal information for direct marketing.

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To exercise your rights, contact:

hello@clvgrading.uk​

We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.

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15. Complaints

 

If you have concerns about how we use your personal information, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to investigate.

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You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data-protection regulator.

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Information about making a complaint is available from the ICO.

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16. Children

 

CLV's services concern collectable cards that may appeal to children and young people.

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Where a customer is not legally able to enter into the relevant transaction independently, we may require a parent, guardian or other authorised adult to submit or purchase on their behalf.

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We do not knowingly use children's personal information for behavioural marketing.

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17. Third-party websites and sellers

 

Our website may link to third-party websites, social-media accounts, streaming platforms, CLV Partners or other sellers.

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Those organisations may process information independently under their own privacy policies.

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CLV is not responsible for the privacy practices of an independent third-party website or seller merely because we provide a link to it.

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18. Changes to this policy

 

We may update this Privacy Policy as CLV develops, including when we introduce new services, technologies, payment providers or data-processing arrangements.

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The current version will be published on this page together with its most recent update date.

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Where a change materially affects how we use personal information, we will take appropriate steps to bring that change to the attention of affected users where required.

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19. Contact us

 

For privacy enquiries or requests concerning your personal information:

Four Leaf Trading Ltd t/a CLV Grading


Company number: 17257994
66 Paul Street
London
England
EC2A 4NA

Email: hello@clvgrading.uk

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