The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act requires us to inform clients how we use and disclose their personal information obtained from them. We are committed to protecting our clients’ privacy and will ensure that clients’ personal information is used appropriately, transparently and according to applicable law. Your right to privacy and security is very important to us. We, the Group, treat personal information obtained as private and confidential and are committed to providing you with secure access to our services.

This Privacy Policy tells you how we will process and protect your personal information. It should be read together with our Terms of Service, which outlines what services we provide, how we provide our services and what we do with your personal information. It is important that you read, understand and accept our Terms of Service if you would like to use our services.

Personal information, in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), means “information relating to an identifiable, living, natural person, and where it is applicable, an identifiable, existing juristic person”. South Africa’s Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, provides that everyone has the right to privacy. This includes the right to protection against the unlawful collection, retention, dissemination and use of your personal information. Because of the sensitivity of some personal information, we ensure that the way we process your personal information complies fully with POPIA.

This Privacy Policy applies to any of your personal information that we collect and process through our website www.registeredfinancialadvice.co.za and or which you authorise us to collect from third parties.

You will see that some of the words listed in this Privacy Policy are in italics. Those words are defined in POPIA and those definitions apply to this Privacy Policy. For example, under POPIA, you are defined as a data subject.

Our Privacy Policy terms may change from time to time. When we change them, the changes will be made on our website. Please ensure that you visit our website and regularly read this Privacy Policy. Although we do not promise to do so, we may give you notice of any changes we think are important.

You have the right to have your personal information processed lawfully. Your rights include the right:

• To be notified that your personal information is being collected or that your personal information has been accessed or acquired by an unauthorised person,g. where a hacker may have compromised our computer system;
• To find out whether we hold your personal information and to request access to your personal information;
• To request us to, where necessary, correct, destroy or delete your personal information;
• To object, on reasonable grounds, to the processing of your personal information;
• To object to the processing of your personal information for purposes of direct marketing, including by way of unsolicited communications;
• Not to be subject, in certain circumstances, to a decision which is based solely on the automated processing of your personal information;
• To submit a complaint to the Regulator if you believe that there has been interference with the protection of your personal information, or if you believe that an independent adjudicator who may be resolving your complaint against us has not decided the matter correctly; and
• To institute civil proceedings against us if you believe that we have interfered with the protection of your personal information.

We collect and process clients’ personal information mainly to provide our clients with access to the services and products of the providers with whom we have contractual agreements in place and to help us improve our services to our clients. The type of information we collect may depend on the need for which it is collected and will be processed for that specific purpose only. Where possible, we will inform the client what information is required to be provided to us and what information is optional.

We collect and process your personal information mainly to provide you with access to our services and products (and all other activities and processes incidental thereto), to help us improve our offerings to you and for certain other purposes explained below.

The type of information we collect will depend on the purpose for which it is collected and used (processed). We will only collect information that we need for that specific purpose.

Examples of personal information we collect are as follows (but not limited to):

Your first and last name, identity number, email address, a home / postal or other physical address, other contact information, your title, birth date, gender, marital status, details of a driving license, occupation, qualifications, past employment, residency status, your investments, assets, liabilities, insurance (including previous insurance and claims experience), income, expenditure, family history, medical information, telephone recordings of conversations, emails, your banking details, premiums paid and information relating to claims and other investigations (including reports and photos).

We collect information directly from you, where you provide us with your personal details, for example, when you purchase products or services from us or when you submit enquiries to us or contact us. Where possible, we will inform you what information you are required to provide to us and what information is optional.

We also collect information about you from other sources, as explained below. 

With your consent, we may also supplement the information that you provide to us with information we receive from other companies, such as Product Providers or other Financial Services Providers, in order to offer you a more consistent and personalised experience in your interactions with us.

We will not intentionally collect and process the personal information of a child unless we have the permission of a competent person. The examples of Collection are summarised below (but not limited to):

• Our Computer Systems,
• Our Website,
• Insurance, Investment, Customer Due Diligence and other Proposal and Application Forms,
• Previous and Current Insurance, Investment or other Policies or Schedules (Provided via Astute with Your Consent or by You Directly),
• Claim Forms,
• Telephone Calls,
• Emails,
• Business Partners, such as Product Providers, Assessors, Brokers, etc.
• Social Media Platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.

Given our aim to provide you with ongoing financial services, we would like to use your information to keep you informed about other financial products and services which may be of particular interest to you. You may also give and withdraw consent and tell us what your communication preferences are.

We do not and will not sell personal information to a third party. We may disclose your personal information to our service or product providers who are involved in the delivery of products or services to you. We have agreements in place to ensure that they comply with these privacy terms.

We may share your personal information with, and obtain information about you from (read with examples of collection):

• Third parties for the purposes listed above, for example, contracted product providers or insurers, astute, credit reference and fraud prevention agencies, law enforcement agencies, banks, etc.,
• Other insurers to prevent fraudulent claims,
• Other companies (as mentioned above), when we believe it will enhance the services and products we can offer to you, but only where you have not objected to such sharing,
• Other third parties from whom you have chosen to receive marketing information,
• Third parties or service providers such as IT providers, system administrators, collection agencies, etc. that enable us to operate as a Close Corporation, a Financial Services Provider and an Accountable or Non-Accountable Institution.

In order to use our services, you need to accurately complete a number of internal forms and documents available from us. These forms require that you provide us with certain personal information which, includes, but is not limited to, your name, email address, identity number, proof of address, contact numbers, and proof of banking.

We also obtain your consent when you complete the forms, allowing us to proceed with the business transaction.

If you do not agree with any part of this Privacy Policy, please request Form 1* from our Chief Information Officer, Florian Wohl, complete it and return it to florian@rfadvice.com.

*Form 1: OBJECTION TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Please request and refer to our PAIA manual for the procedure to be followed if you wish to gain access to your personal information that we hold.

6.1. The personal information that we collect from you will be used to provide the following services:

We will use your personal information only for the purposes for which it was collected or as agreed with you. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• To provide our products or services to you, to carry out the transaction you requested and to maintain our relationship,
• For underwriting purposes,
• To assess and process claims and to take recovery action,
• To confirm and verify your identity for security purposes and update your details,
• To perform customer due diligence or enhanced customer due diligence processes as required by the money laundering and terrorist financing legislative framework,
• For operational purposes and where applicable, credit scoring and assessment and credit management,
• For purposes of claim checks,
• For the detection and prevention of fraud, crime, money laundering or other malpractice,
• To conduct market or customer satisfaction research or for statistical analysis,
• Resolving complaints,
• For audit and record-keeping purposes, and
• In connection with legal proceedings.

We will also use your personal information to comply with legal and regulatory requirements or industry codes to which we subscribe, or that apply to us, or when it is otherwise allowed by law.

We will only transfer your personal information outside the borders of South Africa with your consent and where the privacy legislation is of a high standard. We do not use your personal information for marketing purposes without your consent.