Privacy Policy

 

1.        Company Overview & Definitions

 

This Privacy Policy describes the personal information practices of BOAcademy (Pty) Ltd, including the types of personal information we collect, how we may use this information, and with whom we may share it. Users can access our services through our website. By using the Services, you consent to the collection, transfer, processing, storage, disclosure, and other uses described in this Privacy Policy.

 

Key Definitions:


  • Company: BOAcademy (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2023/131537/07.
  • Device: Any computer used to access the Service, including desktops, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, or other consumer electronic devices.
  • Service: Refers to the online course offered by BOAcademy (Pty) Ltd through our website www.boacademy.co.za, including all related content, features, and functionalities provided to users.
  • Personal Information: Information that can be used to identify or contact you, including your name, email address, phone number, billing information, and other identifiers.
  • Log Data: Information automatically recorded from your device when using the Service, including IP address, browser type, pages visited, and other usage details.
  • Cookies: Small data files transferred to your device for tracking and improving our services, including persistent and session cookies.

 

 

2.        Types of Information Collected

We collect and store the following types of information to provide and improve our Service:


a)        Personal Information:

·       Information Provided by You: When you register on our Website or interact with our services, you may provide us with personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, and billing information.

·       Account Information: This includes usernames, passwords, and other credentials used to access our Service.


b)        Usage Data:

·       Log Data: We automatically collect information from your Device, its software, and your activity using the Services. This may include your Device’s Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, pages visited, time and date of your visit, time spent on those pages, and other diagnostic data.

·       Device Information: Information about the device you use to access our Service, such as hardware model, operating system, and version.


c)        Cookies and Similar Technologies:

·       We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and store certain information. These technologies may include:

o   Cookies or Browser Cookies: Small files placed on your Device to track and store information about your use of our Service.

o   Session and Persistent Cookies: Session cookies are temporary and deleted when you close your browser, while persistent cookies remain on your device until they expire or are deleted.

·       Web Beacons: Small electronic files used to count users who have visited certain pages or opened emails.

 

We collect this information to understand how our Service is used, diagnose issues, and improve the user experience.

 

 

3.        Use of Information

 

We use the collected information for various purposes, including:

 

a)         To Provide and Maintain Our Service:

·       To operate, maintain, and provide you with the features and functionalities of our Website.

·       To process transactions and manage your account.

b)         To Improve Our Services:

·       To better understand your needs and interests, and to personalize and improve your experience with our Website.

·       To develop new features, products, and services.

c)         To Communicate with You:

·       To send you updates, notices, and information regarding the Service, including confirmations, invoices, technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages.

·       To respond to your comments and questions and provide customer service.

d)         To Analyse and Understand Our Users:

·       To perform data analytics and other research to understand usage trends and preferences, monitor and analyse the effectiveness of our services, and improve the user experience.

e)         To Ensure Security and Compliance:

·       To protect against, identify, and prevent fraud and other criminal activity, claims, and other liabilities.

·       To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights and the rights of others.

f)            To Display Personalized Content:

·       To provide personalized content and information tailored to your interests and preferences.

g)          For Other Business Purposes:

·       We may use your information for other purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, and improving our Service, products, services, marketing, and your experience.

 

4.        Sharing of Information

 

We may share your personal information in the following situations:

 

a)        With Service Providers: We may share your personal information with third-party companies and individuals employed by us to facilitate our Service, provide the Service on our behalf, perform services related to the Service, or assist us in analysing how our Service is used. These third parties have access to your personal information only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

b)        For Business Transfers: We may share or transfer your personal information in  connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets,  financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

c)        With Affiliates: We may share your information with our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honour this Privacy Policy. Affiliates include our parent company and any other subsidiaries, joint venture partners, or other companies that we control or are under common control with us.

d)        With Business Partners: We may share your information with our business partners to offer you certain products, services, or promotions.

e)        With Other Users: When you share personal information or otherwise interact in the public areas with other users, such information may be viewed by all users and may be publicly distributed outside.

f)           With Your Consent: We may disclose your personal information for any other purpose with your consent.

g)         For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or a government agency).

 

5.        Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We retain and use your personal data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

 

We also retain usage data for internal analysis purposes. Usage data is generally retained for a shorter period, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of our Service, or when we are legally obligated to retain this data for longer periods.

 

6.        Security Measures

The security of your personal information is important to us. We implement a variety of technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

a)    Payment Security: When you enter sensitive information (such as a credit card number) on our order forms, you will be redirected to PayFast, where their encryption technology will be used to protect your credit card details. Therefore, no credit card information will be stored on our website.

b)   Industry Standards: We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. These measures include regular security reviews, data encryption, and secure data storage.

c)    No Absolute Security Guarantee: While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

d)   Ongoing Security Practices: We continuously review and enhance our security practices to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your personal information.


7.        User Rights & Choices

a)        Access, Correction, and Deletion: You have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal information we have collected about you. If at any time you would like to access, correct, or delete personal information we have collected from you, please contact our Information Officer. Note that we may be required by law to retain certain information. Before we provide you with any information or correct any inaccuracies, we may ask you to verify your identity and/or provide other details to help us respond to your request.

b)       Managing Your Information: You may update, amend, or delete your information at any time by signing in to your account, if you have one, and visiting the account settings section that allows you to manage your personal information. You may also contact us to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that you have provided to us.

c)        Marketing Communications: You can elect not to receive such communications from us by following the opt-out instructions in the marketing communications we send you. Note that if you opt-out of receiving marketing communications from us, we may still send communications to you concerning your transactions, accounts, and any competitions or prize draws in which you have enrolled.

d)       Cookies and Similar Technologies: Our website uses cookies and other similar technologies to collect information for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. You can use the options in your web browser if you do not wish to receive cookies or if you wish to set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie. If you disable all cookies, you may not be able.

 

8.        International Data Transfers

Personal information may be stored on servers located outside South Africa. By using our Service and providing us with your personal information, you consent to the processing of your personal information in a foreign country. We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.


9.        Compliance with Laws

The whole of this Privacy Policy is subject to and shall be interpreted in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act), 2013. We may disclose your personal information to third parties when we have a good faith belief that disclosure is reasonably necessary in order to:

·      Comply with a law, including the POPI Act;

  • Protect and defend the rights or property of the Company
  • Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
  • Protect the personal safety of Users of the Service or the public
  • Protect against legal liability

10.  Changes to the Privacy Policy

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time.  If we change the Privacy Policy, we will post the revised version on our website. We encourage you to check the website periodically for the most up-to-date version of our Policy.


11.  Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact the information officer by email: info@boacademy.co.za

 

05 August 2024