Privacy Policy

Wiseloans.co.za

Effective Date: 17 March 2025

1. Introduction and POPIA Compliance

Wiseloans.co.za (The Responsible Party) respects your right to privacy and is committed to protecting your Personal Information. We are committed to complying with the provisions of POPIA, ensuring all Personal Information is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your Personal Information when you use our website and services, particularly in relation to loan and debt consolidation applications.

2. Collection of Personal Information

We collect information directly from you when you apply for a loan/consolidation, use our contact forms, or navigate our website.

2.1. Information We Collect:

• Contact Information: Full name, ID/Passport number, email address, physical address, and telephone number.
• Financial Information: Net monthly income, employment status, employer details, bank account details (for verification and payment), and details of existing debts (for consolidation quotes).
• Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited (collected via cookies and analytics).
• “Special Personal Information” (where required): As a financial service, we may process information that could be considered “special” under POPIA, such as financial and employment history, for the sole purpose of assessing your eligibility and risk profile for credit products.

3. Purpose for Processing Your Information (Why We Collect It)

We process your Personal Information for the following legitimate purposes:

• Service Provision: To receive, assess, and process your debt consolidation or loan application.
• Lender Matching: To share your details with our network of registered, trusted South African credit providers and lenders to obtain quotes/offers for you.
• Identity & Fraud Checks: To verify your identity and conduct credit checks with registered credit bureaus (only with your express consent) and to prevent fraud and money laundering.
• Communication: To contact you regarding your application status, offers, or to respond to your queries.
• Improvement: To analyse website usage and performance to improve our services and user experience.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with any legal, regulatory, or tax obligations (e.g., Financial Intelligence Centre Act – FICA).

4. Disclosure and Sharing of Personal Information

We will not sell your Personal Information to third parties. We will only share your information in the following circumstances, and we ensure third parties adhere to strict POPIA-compliant agreements:

• Credit Providers/Lenders: With our financial partners and credit providers for the purpose of obtaining loan or consolidation quotes for you.
• Credit Bureaus: With registered credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, etc.) to perform credit checks and submit credit performance data.
• Service Providers: With third-party service providers (e.g., IT, hosting, analytics) who assist us in operating our business.
• Legal Requirement: When legally obliged to do so in terms of a legal or regulatory duty.

5. Information Quality, Retention, and Security

We take reasonable steps to ensure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. We use appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational security measures (such as encryption and access control) to protect your Personal Information from unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. We will retain your information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law (e.g., up to 5 years after the business relationship ends).

6. Your Rights Under POPIA (Data Subject Participation)

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the Personal Information we hold about you.
• Correction/Deletion: Request that we correct or delete Personal Information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, or no longer required.
• Objection: Object to the processing of your Personal Information on reasonable grounds.
• Marketing: Object to the processing of your Personal Information for the purpose of direct marketing.
• Notification: Be notified in the event of any unauthorised access or compromise of your Personal Information.

7. Use of Cookies

Our website uses “cookies” to improve your experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences.
• Track website usage (analytics).
• Deliver targeted advertising (including Meta Ads/Facebook tracking).

By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You may manage or block cookies through your browser settings.

8. Contact Details and Information Officer

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your POPIA rights, please contact our Information Officer:

Email: Support@wiseloans.co.za  accounts@wiseloans.co.za

Address: 186 Bree Street, 8001

9. POPIA Information Regulator

You have the right to submit a complaint to the Information Regulator if you believe we have infringed your rights under POPIA:

The Information Regulator (South Africa)

Website: https://inforegulator.org.za

Complaints Email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za

10. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be posted on our website with a revised effective date.