Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Real Creditto (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, shares and protects your personal information when you visit realcreditto.info (the “Website”) or use the forms, tools and content available on it (the “Services”).
We process your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) and its regulations. In this Policy, Real Creditto is the “responsible party” and you are the “data subject”, as those terms are used in POPIA.
1. Responsible party and Information Officer
Real Creditto
Website: realcreditto.info
Email (Information Officer): privacy@realcreditto.info
2. Personal information we collect
2.1 Information you give us
- Contact details, such as your first name, email address and cellphone number, when you fill in a form or contact us.
- Information you enter in our loan-matching questionnaires, such as the amount you need and the lenders you have borrowed from before.
- The content of messages you send us, including questions, feedback and complaints.
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Technical information: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, language and time zone.
- Usage information: pages visited, links clicked, time spent on each page, the referring website and the date and time of your visit.
- Approximate location based on your IP address (country or city level).
- Information collected through cookies and similar technologies, as described in section 8.
2.3 Information from third parties
We may receive limited information from our partners, for example confirmation that a visitor we referred has started an application or become a customer. We use this to measure how the Website performs and to receive the commission we are owed. We do not receive your full application or your credit record unless you have separately agreed to this.
2.4 Information we do not ask for
We do not ask for, and you should not enter on the Website, your ID number, bank card numbers, online banking passwords or one-time PINs (OTPs), or copies of your ID, payslips or bank statements. If a page claiming to be Real Creditto asks you for this information, do not provide it and let us know.
3. Why we process your information and on what basis
| Purpose | Lawful basis (section 11 of POPIA) |
|---|---|
| Running the Website and providing the Services you request, including the loan-matching questionnaires | Your consent, and steps you ask us to take before concluding an agreement |
| Showing you loan offers that match the details you entered | Your consent |
| Responding to your questions and complaints | Our legitimate interest and, where relevant, performing an agreement with you |
| Sending you direct marketing by email, SMS or WhatsApp | Your consent (section 69 of POPIA), which you may withdraw at any time |
| Analysing traffic and improving the Website | Your consent to non-essential cookies |
| Recording the visits we refer to our partners and calculating commission | Our legitimate interest |
| Preventing fraud, abuse and security incidents | Our legitimate interest and legal obligations |
| Complying with the law and requests from authorities | Legal obligation |
We do not make decisions about you based solely on automated processing that have legal consequences for you. The offers shown on the Website are a guide only: the final decision on any application is made by the relevant lender.
4. Who we share your information with
We do not sell your personal information. We only share it in these cases:
- Lenders and partners. Only when you click on a partner’s offer or expressly ask us to send them your details. From that point, the partner is the responsible party for your information.
- Operators. Providers of web hosting, analytics, email, customer support and security services who process information on our behalf, under a written agreement and only on our instructions (sections 20 and 21 of POPIA).
- Advertising and analytics partners. Through cookies and similar technologies, with your consent.
- Legal requirements. Where required by law, a court order or a lawful request from a competent authority.
- Business transactions. In the event of a merger, acquisition or sale of all or part of our business; this Policy will continue to apply to your information.
5. Transfers outside South Africa
Some of our service providers may store or process information outside South Africa. When this happens, we make sure the recipient is bound by law, binding corporate rules or an agreement that gives your information a level of protection substantially similar to POPIA, as required by section 72 of POPIA.
6. How long we keep your information
- Form and enquiry data: up to 24 months from your last interaction with us, unless the law requires a longer period.
- Direct marketing data: until you withdraw your consent or opt out.
- Analytics data: generally up to 26 months.
- Information we need for accounting, tax or other legal obligations: for as long as the law requires.
After these periods, we delete, destroy or de-identify the information.
7. Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, such as HTTPS encryption, access controls and limiting access to staff and service providers who need it (section 19 of POPIA). If we have reasonable grounds to believe that your personal information has been accessed or acquired by an unauthorised person, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by section 22 of POPIA. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:
- Essential cookies, which the Website needs to work.
- Analytics cookies (for example Google Analytics), to understand how the Website is used.
- Advertising and affiliate cookies, to measure campaigns and record the visits we refer to our partners.
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings at any time. Some parts of the Website may not work properly without essential cookies.
9. Your rights
Under POPIA, you have the right to:
- ask whether we hold personal information about you and request access to it;
- ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date;
- ask us to delete or destroy information we are no longer authorised to keep;
- object to the processing of your information on reasonable grounds;
- opt out of direct marketing at any time, for example by replying STOP to an SMS or using the unsubscribe link in an email;
- withdraw your consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before you withdrew it;
- lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.
To exercise these rights, email us at privacy@realcreditto.info with your name and the right you want to exercise. We may ask you to confirm your identity. We will respond within a reasonable time, and in any event within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.
10. Children
The Website is intended only for people aged 18 or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has given us their information, contact us and we will delete it.
11. Third-party websites
The Website contains links to the websites of lenders, partners and other third parties. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. Please read each website’s privacy policy before giving them your information.
12. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date shows when it was last changed. If we make significant changes, we will say so on the Website.
13. Contact us
If you have any questions about this Policy or about how we handle your personal information, contact us:
Real Creditto
Website: realcreditto.info
Email: privacy@realcreditto.info