ReferralLinks Cookie and Attribution Technology Notice

Last updated: 4 September 2026

This notice explains the cookies, referral identifiers and related technologies used by ReferralLinks. ReferralLinks is operated by Referral Ventures Limited, company number 13281997.

There are two different contexts in which ReferralLinks technology may be used: technology used directly on ReferralLinks.com, and ReferralLinks attribution technology used on the websites of businesses operating referral programmes.

1. What is ReferralLinks Attribution?

ReferralLinks enables businesses to understand whether a customer or other qualifying action resulted from a referral.

A referrer receives a unique ReferralLinks referral URL. The URL contains or references an identifier that allows ReferralLinks to identify the relevant referrer and referral campaign.

When another person follows that referral link to the participating business’s website, ReferralLinks may associate the visit with a ReferralLinks visitor identifier.

Where enabled by the participating business, a first-party cookie currently named rl_vid may be stored in the visitor’s browser. The cookie contains or represents an identifier used to associate a referral visit with a later qualifying event.

If the visitor later makes a purchase or completes another qualifying event, the participating business sends ReferralLinks a server-side conversion event. ReferralLinks matches the conversion with the relevant referral identifier.

ReferralLinks normally applies last-click attribution. If a visitor follows more than one qualifying referral before conversion, the most recent qualifying referral may receive attribution.

2. Attribution Period

The standard ReferralLinks attribution period is 30 days. Participating businesses may configure campaign attribution periods between 1 and 365 days, where supported.

The attribution period determines how long a referral may remain eligible for attribution. It is not necessarily the same as the duration of a particular browser cookie.

3. rl_vid Cookie Duration

The standard rl_vid cookie currently has a lifespan of 30 days. Its expiry may be updated as the ReferralLinks service develops.

Where law requires consent for its use, participating businesses should not activate the cookie until appropriate consent has been obtained.

4. What Information May be Processed?

Referral attribution may involve Processing of referral identifier, rl_vid, campaign identifier, referring URL, IP address, browser/request information, date and time, conversion identifier, order identifier, transaction value where provided, conversion status and reward-related information.

5. What ReferralLinks Does Not Use for Standard Attribution

The standard ReferralLinks attribution system does not currently use local browser storage, email-address matching between the referred visitor and the referrer, Shopify order metadata as its attribution mechanism, or fingerprinting as its standard referral-matching mechanism.

6. First-Party Cookie

The rl_vid cookie is designed to operate as a first-party cookie on the participating business’s website. Being first-party does not by itself determine whether consent is legally required.

The participating business is responsible for assessing the requirements that apply to its website and users.

7. Consent

Privacy and electronic communications rules may require consent before certain storage or access technologies are used. ReferralLinks is designed to allow participating businesses to manage ReferralLinks attribution consistently with their own consent requirements.

Where consent is legally required, the business should provide clear information about ReferralLinks attribution, obtain valid consent before the relevant technology is activated, record consent where required, respect refusal of consent, and allow consent to be withdrawn where required.

ReferralLinks does not determine the Customer’s legal basis on the Customer’s behalf.

8. No Cross-Customer Behavioural Advertising

Referral Ventures does not use rl_vid identifiers processed solely for a Customer’s ReferralLinks programme to track individuals across unrelated ReferralLinks Customer websites for Referral Ventures’ own behavioural advertising.

We do not sell Customer referral-attribution data for behavioural advertising purposes.

9. Cookies Used on ReferralLinks.com

ReferralLinks.com itself may use cookies or similar technologies for essential operation such as authentication, account security, session management, fraud prevention, load balancing and requested site functions; preferences; analytics where permitted; and security.

Cloudflare and other security infrastructure may process information including IP addresses and network/request information for security, abuse prevention and service delivery.

The specific cookies used by ReferralLinks.com may change as the platform develops. Where appropriate, the site’s consent-management interface will provide further information about current cookies and choices.

10. Referrer Accounts

ReferralLinks may use cookies necessary to allow a referrer who has created a ReferralLinks account to log in, remain authenticated, access referral links, access programme information, review conversions and access other requested account functionality.

11. Controlling Cookies

Browser settings normally allow users to delete or block cookies. Users may also be able to control optional cookies through a consent-management tool made available by the relevant website.

Blocking or deleting ReferralLinks attribution technology may mean that a referral cannot subsequently be recognised, which could prevent the relevant referrer from receiving credit for a qualifying conversion.

12. Data Protection Roles

For referral attribution carried out on a participating business’s website, the participating business generally acts as Controller and Referral Ventures generally acts as Processor.

For cookies and Personal Data used by Referral Ventures for administration and operation of ReferralLinks.com for its own purposes, Referral Ventures may act as Controller.

More information is available in the ReferralLinks Privacy Notice and Data Processing Agreement.

13. Suggested Disclosure for ReferralLinks Customers

Businesses using ReferralLinks may adapt the following language for their own cookie or privacy notices:

We operate a referral programme using ReferralLinks, provided by Referral Ventures Limited. When you follow one of our ReferralLinks referral links, we may store a first-party identifier named rl_vid in your browser. This allows us to associate a later qualifying purchase or other action with the relevant referral. ReferralLinks normally uses last-click attribution. The standard cookie duration is 30 days, although the attribution period applicable to an individual referral campaign may differ. ReferralLinks may process referral identifiers, campaign information, IP address, browser/request information, timestamps and conversion information on our behalf. We activate ReferralLinks tracking technology only in accordance with applicable cookie and privacy requirements, including obtaining consent where required.

Customers should adapt this wording to their own implementation and legal requirements.

14. Changes

We may update this Notice where our technology or legal requirements change. The latest version will be published on ReferralLinks.com.

Contact

Referral Ventures Limited
300 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London SW1V 1AA
United Kingdom
Company number: 13281997
Email: info@referrallinks.com