Privacy Policy for The Welding Shop
Effective Date: 16 October 2024
At The Welding Shop, we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website [www.theweldingshop.co.za] and when interacting with our business. Please read this policy carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it.
1. Definitions (As per POPIA)
- Personal Information: Any information relating to an identifiable, living, natural person, and where applicable, an identifiable, existing juristic person.
- Data Subject: The person to whom personal information relates.
- Processing: Any operation or activity concerning personal information, such as collection, recording, storage, modification, and dissemination.
2. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information from users, including:
- Personal Information: Your name, email address, and other identifiable information.
- Non-Personal Information: Data about your internet connection, device details, and usage patterns.
We ensure that personal information is only collected for lawful and legitimate purposes.
3. Purpose of Collection and Use of Personal Information
We collect and process your personal information to:
- Fulfill our contractual obligations, such as processing orders and customer service.
- Provide information on products and services you have requested.
- Improve our services and website functionality.
- Comply with legal obligations.
We will not process personal information in any way that is incompatible with these purposes.
4. Lawful Basis for Processing (POPIA Compliance)
We will process personal information only when:
- You have consented to the processing (e.g., by submitting your information through our website).
- Processing is necessary to perform or conclude a contract.
- Processing is required to comply with legal obligations.
- Processing is necessary for legitimate business interests (e.g., improving customer service), except where such interests are overridden by your rights.
5. Disclosure of Information
We may disclose your personal information to third parties:
- For operational or legal reasons (e.g., sharing data with delivery services or regulatory bodies).
- To service providers who assist us in running our business, ensuring they comply with POPIA.
- To comply with any court order, legal obligation, or law enforcement request.
We ensure that all third parties handle your data with the same level of care and security as we do.
6. Data Subject Rights Under POPIA
You, as a Data Subject, have the following rights:
- Right to Access: Request details of your personal information held by us.
- Right to Correction: Request that incorrect or outdated personal information be corrected.
- Right to Object: Object to processing under certain circumstances (e.g., for direct marketing).
- Right to Withdraw Consent: If you have given consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
- Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data under certain conditions, unless required for legitimate legal purposes.
7. Security Safeguards
We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, and unauthorized disclosure or access. However, while we strive to use acceptable means to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure.
8. Retention of Personal Information
We will retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
9. Use of Cookies
Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users and improve your experience on the site. By using our website, you consent to the use of cookies.
10. Cross-Border Transfers of Personal Information
Where personal information is transferred to third parties outside South Africa, we will ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, and we will take all reasonable steps to ensure your information is treated securely.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. All updates will be published on our website.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this policy or how your personal information is handled, or if you would like to exercise any of your rights under POPIA, please contact us at:
- Email: online@theweldingshop.co.za
- Information Officer: Neville Clark