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discount-equestrian.co.uk

UK compliance audit.

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Compliance Score

How the score was calculated

Starting score: 100
2 critical findings: −50
3 high findings: −45
1 medium finding: −5
1 medium warning: −3
Final score: 0

AI Analysis

Your website is currently setting 3 non-essential cookies without obtaining valid consent first, and the consent banner has no working reject button — meaning visitors cannot refuse tracking. The banner also uses high-severity dark patterns including misleading button labels, colour manipulation, and confusing wording that make it harder for users to understand their choices, alongside 4 accessibility violations that prevent some visitors from using it properly. While the banner does provide some information about cookie usage, it is not compliant with UK data protection law because the mechanism for refusing consent is either missing or non-functional, leaving you exposed to enforcement action and putting visitor data at risk.

Fix these first

5 priorities

01
CRITICALcheck_initial_cookies
Found 3 non-essential cookie(s): [last_visited_store private_content_version section_data_ids]
02
CRITICALfind_reject_button_fullpage
No 'reject' button found on the page
03
HIGHcheck_dark_patterns_vision
Dark patterns detected (severity: high): Color Manipulation, Size Difference, Visual Hierarchy, Asymmetric Choices, Confusing Wording
04
HIGHcheck_deceptive_buttons
Deceptive button labels detected: asymmetric, hidden_reject
05
HIGHwcag_aa_scan
Found 4 accessibility violation(s): 2 critical, 2 serious, 0 moderate, 0 minor

Report Details

Playbook: UK Cookie Compliance
Domain: discount-equestrian.co.uk
Started At: 17 Oct 2026, 18:49
Duration: 2m 16s
Total Checks: 38
Report ID: ln9ScyugFnwy

Check Results

Data Capture

3 checks All passed

capture_html_initial

INFO

Captured HTML (1380010 bytes) from https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/

Captured HTML:

View rendered

screenshot_initial

INFO

Screenshot captured

Screenshot Evidence:

Click to view full size

capture_cookies_initial

INFO

Captured 8 cookies

Captured Cookies:

View full list

Pre-Consent Cookies

2 checks1 failed

check_initial_cookies

CRITICAL-25

Found 3 non-essential cookie(s): [last_visited_store private_content_version section_data_ids]

last_visited_store

private_content_version

section_data_ids

Non-Essential Cookies:

last_visited_storefunctional59m

"This cookie stores the user's last visited store preference, which enhances user experience by remembering their selection but is not strictly necessary for core website functionality."

private_content_versionfunctional1y

"This cookie stores a version identifier for private content, likely used to manage user-specific content preferences or cached content state, making it a functional cookie rather than strictly essential for basic site operation."

section_data_idsfunctional59m

"The "section_data_ids" cookie appears to store user-specific section preferences or saved states with a 59-minute session duration, making it a functional cookie for maintaining user preferences rather than an essential requirement for basic site operation."

PECR Regulation 6(1)

Cookies (except strictly necessary) require user consent BEFORE being set

View guidance

check_pre_consent_trackers

INFO

No known trackers fired before consent (24 total requests captured during page load).

PECR Regulation 6(1) & UK GDPR Article 6

Loading third-party trackers (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.) before consent is a PECR violation regardless of whether they set cookies

View guidance

Cookie Consent Banner

6 checks All passed

find_banner

INFO

Found consent banner via heuristic (height: 144px)

PECR Regulation 6(2)

Clear and comprehensive information must be provided about cookie use

View guidance

find_cookie_banner

INFO

Cookie consent banner detected on page

verify_banner_visible

INFO

Element visibility is true as expected

screenshot_banner

INFO

Screenshot captured

Screenshot Evidence:

Click to view full size

extract_banner_text

INFO

Extracted 53 words

check_banner_content

LOW

Cookie banner provides sufficient information to users about cookie usage

PECR Regulation 6(2)(a)

Cookie notice must provide clear, comprehensive information about purposes

View guidance

Cookie Controls

4 checks1 failed

find_reject_button_semantic

INFO

No 'reject' button found on the page

find_reject_button_fullpage

CRITICAL-25

No 'reject' button found on the page

ICO Cookie Guidance

Rejecting cookies must be as easy as accepting them - a visible reject button is required

View guidance

find_accept_button_semantic

INFO

Found accept button: <button.ambar-btn-accept.font-semibold.w-full...> text='Accept All'

find_accept_button_any

INFO

Accept cookies button found

AI Dark Pattern Analysis

2 checks2 failed

check_dark_patterns_vision

HIGH-15

Dark patterns detected (severity: high): Color Manipulation, Size Difference, Visual Hierarchy, Asymmetric Choices, Confusing Wording

Color manipulation detected: Color Manipulation. Button colors are used to make the accept option more attractive while making reject appear inactive or undesirable. This visual manipulation violates the requirement for freely given consent.

Size disparity detected: Size Difference. The accept button is significantly larger than the reject button, drawing user attention toward acceptance. Equal button sizing is required for fair presentation of consent choices.

Dark pattern detected: Visual Hierarchy. This design element may manipulate users into accepting cookies they would otherwise decline, violating GDPR's requirement for freely given, informed consent.

Visual asymmetry detected: Asymmetric Choices. The accept button is designed to be more visually prominent than the reject button (larger, brighter, or more colorful). GDPR requires that consent choices be presented equally, without visually steering users toward acceptance.

Dark pattern detected: Confusing Wording. This design element may manipulate users into accepting cookies they would otherwise decline, violating GDPR's requirement for freely given, informed consent.

EDPB Guidelines 03/2022 on Dark Patterns

Visual deceptive patterns including color manipulation and hidden controls are prohibited

View guidance

check_deceptive_buttons

HIGH-15

Deceptive button labels detected: asymmetric, hidden_reject

Deceptive button labeling detected (asymmetric, hidden_reject). Cookie consent buttons should be clearly labeled to indicate exactly what action they perform, ensuring users can make an informed choice about their data.

EDPB Guidelines 03/2022 on Dark Patterns

Button labels must accurately reflect their function without ambiguity or deception

View guidance

AI Content Analysis

3 checks1 failed

check_banner_quality_llm

MEDIUM-5

Banner content is not GDPR compliant

Cookie banner does not meet GDPR compliance requirements

Missing explicit reject option

"Accept All" is prominently featured while reject/minimal option is absent or unclear

no link to Cookie Policy (only Privacy Policy)

"Manage Cookies" button purpose is unclear

no mention of how long cookies persist

Banner Text Analyzed:

"We use cookies We use cookies that are essential for the website to perform its functions as well as non-essential marketing and analytics cookies to improve our services and enhance your experience. By clicking “Accept All” you give permission for us to use non-essential cookies. To know more please read the Privacy Policy Accept All Manage Cookies"

PECR Regulation 6(2)(a)

Cookie notices must provide clear, comprehensive information about purposes

View guidance

check_language_consistency

LOW

Banner language (en) matches page language

PECR Regulation 6(2)(a)

Information must be provided in a language users can understand

check_cookie_purposes

MEDIUM

No cookies available for purpose matching

PECR Regulation 6(2)(a)

All cookies used must be disclosed and explained in the notice

View guidance

AI Accessibility Analysis

1 check

check_visual_accessibility

MEDIUM-3

Accessibility score: 65/100

Equality Act 2010

Cookie banners must be accessible to users with disabilities including visual impairments

View guidance

Accessibility

1 check1 failed

wcag_aa_scan

HIGH-15

Found 4 accessibility violation(s): 2 critical, 2 serious, 0 moderate, 0 minor

Serious accessibility issue: Elements must meet minimum color contrast ratio thresholds. This violation affects users who rely on assistive technologies. 6 element(s) affected.

Critical accessibility barrier: Images must have alternate text. This violation affects users who rely on assistive technologies. 10 element(s) affected.

Serious accessibility issue: Links must have discernible text. This violation affects users who rely on assistive technologies. 5 element(s) affected.

Critical accessibility barrier: Zooming and scaling must not be disabled. This violation affects users who rely on assistive technologies. 1 element(s) affected.

Website has 2 critical and 2 serious WCAG AA violations that significantly impact users with disabilities. These issues may prevent screen reader users, keyboard-only users, or users with visual impairments from accessing the cookie consent interface.

Accessibility Issues:

Elements must meet minimum color contrast ratio thresholdsserious6 elements

Ensures the contrast between foreground and background colors meets WCAG 2 AA minimum contrast ratio thresholds

Affected elements :

<h2 class="home_brands-title">Brands we love</h2><a href="privacy-policy" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a>

<button @click.prevent="$dispatch('cookiebar-action-allow')" class="ambar-btn-accept font-semibold w-full justify-center w-full lg:max-w-[30%]" data-r...

<a href="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/" title="Terms &amp; conditions">Terms &amp; conditions</a>

<a href="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/privacy-policy/" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a>

How to fix

Images must have alternate textcritical10 elements

Ensures <img> elements have alternate text or a role of none or presentation

Affected elements :

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/shopby-category/horse-rugs.png" loading="lazy" class="">

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/shopby-category/horse-wear.png" loading="lazy" class="">

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/shopby-category/riderwear.png" loading="lazy" class="">

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/shopby-category/riding-boots.png" loading="lazy" class="">

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/shopby-category/riding-hats.png" loading="lazy" class="">

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/amasty/webp/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/format-quote_png.webp" class="">

<img class="rounded-60" src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/amasty/webp/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/reviews-io-icon_png.webp">

<img src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/amasty/webp/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/format-quote_png.webp" class="">

<img class="rounded-60" src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/amasty/webp/wysiwyg/new-ui/homepage/reviews-io-icon_png.webp">

<img class="footer_logo" width="341" height="94" src="https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/media/amasty/webp/wysiwyg/DE-Logo-PNG-Small_341x94_png.web...

How to fix

Links must have discernible textserious5 elements

Ensures links have discernible text

Affected elements :

<a href="/horse/horse-rugs.html"><a href="/horse/horse-wear.html"><a href="/rider/riding-wear.html"><a href="/rider/horse-riding-boots.html"><a href="/rider/riding-wear/riding-hats.html">

How to fix

Zooming and scaling must not be disabledcritical1 element

Ensures <meta name="viewport"> does not disable text scaling and zooming

Affected elements :

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=0">

How to fix

Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, Equality Act 2010

UK websites must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards; failure may constitute disability discrimination

View guidance

Report Generation

2 checks All passed

generate_summary

INFO

AI summary generated successfully

generate_pdf

INFO

PDF report generated: https://smesolutions.uk/artifacts/artifacts/95cb0796-badf-4732-b0e9-e8195eb572e1/report.pdf

Full Compliance Report

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