Privacy Policy

1. About This Policy

This privacy policy explains how KiesSlim ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, processes, and protects your personal information when you use our website and services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) of South Africa.

2. Who We Are

KiesSlim is South Africa's trusted platform for finding local service providers through verified reviews and AI-powered recommendations.

3. What Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, location (town/city), profile photos
• Reviews and Ratings: Written reviews, ratings for service providers, proof of service (receipts, photos, etc.)
• Messages: Communications with other users through our messaging system
• Business Listings: If you're a service provider, we collect business name, category, location, description, and contact information
• Support Communications: Information you provide when contacting customer support

3.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: Search queries, pages viewed, features used, time spent on platform
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
• Analytics Data: Website performance and usage statistics through Vercel Analytics
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address or location you provide

3.3 Information from Third Parties

• Authentication Services: If you sign up through third-party services, we may receive basic profile information
• Public Business Information: Publicly available business information to enhance our directory

4. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information for the following purposes:

4.1 Service Provision

• Creating and managing your account
• Connecting you with local service providers
• Processing and displaying reviews and ratings
• Facilitating communication between users and service providers
• Providing AI-powered recommendations and scoring

4.2 Platform Improvement

• Analyzing usage patterns to improve our services
• Developing new features and functionality
• Conducting quality assurance and platform optimization

4.3 Safety and Security

• Verifying user identity and preventing fraud
• Monitoring for spam, abuse, and inappropriate content
• Enforcing our terms of service and community guidelines

4.4 Communication

• Sending important updates about our services
• Responding to your inquiries and support requests
• Notifying you of new features and improvements

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under POPI Act, we process your personal information based on:

• Consent: When you voluntarily provide information and agree to our terms
• Contract Performance: To provide services you've requested
• Legitimate Interest: For platform security, fraud prevention, and service improvement
• Legal Obligation: When required by South African law

6. Information Sharing and Disclosure

6.1 Public Information

Reviews, ratings, and business listings are publicly visible to help other users make informed decisions.

6.2 Service Providers

• Supabase: Database and authentication services
• Vercel: Website hosting and analytics
• AI Processing Services: For generating recommendations and scores

6.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety.

6.4 Business Transfers

If we're acquired or merged, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Employee training on data protection practices
• Secure backup and recovery procedures

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
• Maintain platform security and integrity

Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 2 years after deletion
Reviews: Retained indefinitely to maintain platform integrity
Messages: Retained for 3 years or until manually deleted
Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized after 2 years

9. Your Rights Under POPI Act

As a South African data subject, you have the following rights:

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@kiesslim.co.za. We will respond within 30 days.

10. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze website performance and usage
• Improve user experience and functionality
• Provide security features

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child without parental consent, we will delete it immediately.

12. International Data Transfers

Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside South Africa where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with POPI Act requirements.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through our platform. The "Last updated" date at the top indicates when this policy was last revised.

14. Contact Us

15. Complaints and Regulatory Contact

If you're not satisfied with our handling of your personal information or privacy concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator.