Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Payoff Advice (“Payoff Advice,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on payoffadvice.com (the “Site”), including disclosures required under Google’s EU User Consent Policy, the EU ePrivacy Directive, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the UK GDPR. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow a site to recognize your device, remember information about your visit, and — in the case of advertising cookies — track your browsing across different websites. Similar technologies covered by this policy include web beacons, pixel tags, SDKs, and local/session storage.

2. Categories of Cookies We Use

3. Cookies Used on This Site

Below is a representative list of cookies that may be set on the Site. Exact cookies in use can vary as Google and other vendors update their services; where we operate a cookie consent banner/CMP, a live, auto-generated cookie list is available there.

4. Google AdSense & Ads Personalization Disclosure

The Site is monetized through Google AdSense. As required under Google’s EU User Consent Policy, we disclose the following to users located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, and Switzerland:

• Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies (such as the DoubleClick DART cookie and those listed above) to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.
• Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to the Site and/or other sites on the Internet, including for ads personalization.
• Where legally required, we obtain your consent before cookies are set for advertising, analytics, or personalization purposes, and before your personal data is shared with Google or other third parties for these purposes.
• You may review how Google uses information from sites that use its services at: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
• You can control the advertising cookies used by Google, and personalize the ads you see, by visiting Google Ads Settings or www.aboutads.info.

If we operate a consent banner on the Site, it will identify Google and any other ad technology providers we use, explain the purposes of data collection (including ads personalization), and allow you to give or withhold consent before any non-essential cookie is set, in line with the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) where applicable.

5. Other Third-Party Cookies

In addition to Google, cookies may be set by:

• Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, X/Twitter, Pinterest, WhatsApp) if you interact with embedded content or share buttons on our articles
• Other advertising networks we may work with from time to time to display ads
• Content delivery / hosting providers, for security and performance purposes

We do not control cookies set by these third parties, and their use is governed by their own privacy and cookie policies.

6. Legal Basis for Use

• Strictly necessary cookies are used on the basis of our legitimate interest in operating a functional, secure website, and do not require consent under the ePrivacy Directive.
• Analytics, functionality, and advertising cookies are used on the basis of your consent, where you are located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, in accordance with the ePrivacy Directive, GDPR, and UK GDPR. Outside these regions, we rely on consent where required by applicable local law (e.g., opt-out rights under U.S. state privacy laws such as the CCPA/CPRA).

7. Your Choices and How to Manage Cookies

You can manage or withdraw your cookie consent at any time through the following methods:

• Cookie Consent Banner — If a consent banner is displayed on the Site, use it to accept, reject, or customize cookie categories. You can typically change your preferences later via a “Cookie Settings” or “Privacy Preferences” link, usually found in the site footer.
• Browser Settings — Most browsers allow you to block, delete, or be notified about cookies through their settings menu. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect site functionality.
• Google Ads Settings — Manage or opt out of personalized advertising from Google at https://adssettings.google.com/.
• Industry Opt-Out Tools:
  • EU/UK: Your Online Choices
  • US: Digital Advertising Alliance and Network Advertising Initiative
• Mobile Device Settings — On mobile devices, you can generally limit ad tracking through your device’s privacy or advertising settings.

Please note that opting out of personalized advertising does not mean you will see fewer ads — you may still see non-personalized ads that are not based on your browsing history.

8. Changes in Consent Status

Where we use a Consent Management Platform (CMP), it stores a record of your consent choices to comply with GDPR and Google’s EU User Consent Policy accountability requirements, and allows you to review or withdraw consent at any time via the CMP interface on the Site.

9. International Visitors

If you access the Site from outside the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, different cookie and privacy rules may apply, including under U.S. state privacy laws. See our Privacy Policy for details on your rights depending on your location.

10. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in the cookies we use, technology, law, or our practices (including updates to Google’s EU User Consent Policy). Changes take effect once posted, and the “Last Updated” date above will reflect the most recent revision.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or how we use cookies, contact us at:

Payoff Advice Email: business@payoffadvice.com