Privacy Policy
This Policy was last reviewed and updated on: 18 July 2023
Privacy Policy
Ithuseng Credit Solutions values and respects the privacy of the people we deal with. Ithuseng Credit Solutions is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 and other applicable privacy laws and regulations.
This Privacy Policy (Policy) describes how we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information, and how we maintain the quality and security of your personal information.
What is personal information?
“Personal information” means any information or opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. In general terms, this includes information or an opinion that personally identifies you either directly (e.g., your name) or indirectly.
What personal information do we collect?
The personal information we collect about you depends on the nature of your dealings with us or what you choose to share with us.
The personal information we collect about you may include:
• [name;
• mailing or street address;
• ID no;
• date of birth;
• email address;
• phone number.
If we collect your sensitive information, we will do so only with your consent, if it is necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to life or health, or as otherwise required or authorised by law, and we take appropriate measures to protect the security of this information. You do not have to provide us with your personal information.
Where possible, we will give you the option to interact with us anonymously or by using a pseudonym. However, if you choose to deal with us in this way or choose not to provide us with your personal information, we may not be able to provide you with our services or otherwise interact with you.
How do we collect your personal information?
Ithuseng Credit Solutions is a registered Alternative Dispute Resolution Agent in terms of the National Credit Act
(NCRADRA1). We also have an in-house Debt Counsellor registered with the National Credit Regulator (NCRDC2476). Our activities are regulated, and our main function is to assist consumers who have disputes with their creditors or are unable to meet their monthly debt repayment obligations.
We may collect your personal information directly from you when you:
• [interact with us over the phone;
• interact with us in person;
• interact with us online;
• participate in surveys or questionnaires;
• attend a Ithuseng Credit Solutions event;
• subscribe to our mailing list;
• apply for a position with us as an employee, contractor or volunteer;
• apply for a learnership or skills development programme.
Collecting personal information from third parties
We will only collect your personal information from third parties or through publicly available sources only where you have given consent or where we are empowered by legislation to do so. e.g. We collect this information in order to assess any complaint or request for assistance that you submit to us in terms of the National Credit Act or other relevant legislation.
How do we use your personal information?
We use personal information for many purposes in connection with our regulated functions and activities, including the
following purposes:
• Engaging with your creditors and debt collectors to negotiate payment arrangements or resolve disputes
• Obtaining your credit bureau report to assess your level of over indebtedness or the correctness of the information
contained in your credit bureau report for the purpose of disputing it
• Assess your income and expenses utilising your pay slip and bank statements
• Refer you to other organisations where we are not able to assist you
Disclosure of personal information to third parties
We may disclose your personal information to third parties in accordance with this Policy in circumstances where you would reasonably expect us to disclose your information. For example, we may disclose your personal information to:
• Your Creditors or debt collectors acting on their behalf
• Regulators and Ombud Offices if we need to refer your case
• Your employer where we are contracted by your employer to assist you
• our professional services advisors
Transfer of personal information overseas
Some of the third-party service providers we disclose personal information to are be based in South Africa,
Where we disclose your personal information to third parties, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that data security and appropriate privacy practices are maintained. We will only disclose to the third parties if:
• you have given us your consent to disclose personal information to that third party; or
• we reasonably believe its need
How do we protect your personal information?
Ithuseng Credit Solutions will take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information that we hold about you is kept confidential and secure, including by:
• [having a robust physical security of our premises and databases / records;
• taking measures to restrict access to only personnel who need that personal information to effectively
Online activity
Direct Marketing
We may send you direct marketing communications and information about our services, opportunities, or events that we consider may be of interest to you if you have requested or consented to receive such communications. These communications may be sent in various forms, including mail, SMS, fax and email, in accordance with applicable the POPI Act. You consent to us sending you those direct marketing communications by any of those methods. If you indicate a preference for a method of communication, we will endeavour to use that method whenever practical to do so.
You may opt-out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by contacting us using the details set out in the “How to contact us” section below.
Retention of personal information
We will not keep your personal information for longer than we need to. In most cases, this means that we will only retain your personal information for the duration of your relationship with us unless we are required to retain your personal information to comply with applicable laws, for example, record-keeping obligations.
How to access and correct your personal information
Ithuseng Credit Solutions will endeavor to keep your personal information accurate, complete and up to date.
If you wish to make a request to access and/or correct the personal information we hold about you, you should make a request by contacting us and we will usually respond within 10 working days.
Links to third-party sites
Ithuseng Credit Solutions website(s) may contain links to websites operated by third parties. If you access a third-party website
through our website(s), personal information may be collected by that third-party website.
We make no representations or warranties in relation to the privacy practices of any third-party provider or website and we are not responsible for the privacy policies or the content of any third-party provider or website.
Third-party providers/websites are responsible for informing you about their own privacy practices and we encourage you to read their privacy policies.
Inquiries and complaints
For complaints about how Ithuseng Credit Solutions handles, processes or manages your personal information, please contact us on the details provided below.
Note we may require proof of your identity and full details of your request before we can process your complaint.
Please allow up to 10 working days for Ithuseng Credit Solutions to respond to your complaint. It will not always be possible to resolve a complaint to everyone’s satisfaction.
If you are not satisfied with Ithuseng Credit Solutions’ response to a complaint, you have the right to contact our CEO at ceo@ithusengsolutions.co.za to lodge a complaint.
How to contact us
If you have any questions or concerns in relation to our handling of your personal information or this Policy, you can contact us for assistance as follows:
Email:info@ithusengsolutions.co.za
Contact number: +27 11 326 3459
Post
Attention: Ithuseng Credit Solutions
Address: Randburg Square shop no 322 Level 3 Bank Court, Pretoria Ave, Ferndale, Johannesburg 2194
Download POPIA Compliancy Forms: