1. Introduction
Perismart Editing (Pty) Ltd ("Perismart", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website and services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website, use our editing services, or interact with our platform.
This Privacy Policy is aligned with South African privacy law, particularly the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), 2013, as well as international privacy standards. Please read this policy carefully. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use our services.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information You Provide
When you engage our services or contact us, we collect the following personal information:
- Contact details: Your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
- Document information: Academic documents you submit for editing, including the content, metadata, and associated information (title, author details, institution).
- Account information: Username, password (encrypted), billing address, and payment information (processed securely by third-party payment providers).
- Communication records: Any emails, messages, or support tickets you send us regarding your services.
- Review and feedback: Ratings, testimonials, and comments you voluntarily submit about our services.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website or use our services, we automatically collect:
- Website usage data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referral sources, and browsing behavior (collected via Google Analytics).
- Device information: Browser type, operating system, device type, and IP address.
- Cookies: We use cookies to improve user experience, remember preferences, and analyze website performance. See Section 8 for more details.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may collect information about you from third parties, including:
- Payment processors and financial institutions (for transaction verification).
- Your institution or organization (if applicable to your service).
- Publicly available sources (if necessary for service delivery or fraud prevention).
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
3.1 Service Delivery
- Providing academic editing services, forensic verification, and related support.
- Processing and delivering edited documents and verification reports.
- Communicating with you about your service requests, updates, and status.
- Providing customer support and resolving disputes.
3.2 Payment and Billing
- Processing payments for services rendered.
- Generating invoices and financial records.
- Fraud prevention and payment verification.
3.3 Website Improvement
- Analyzing website usage to improve user experience and service quality.
- Conducting research and analytics on website performance.
- Testing new features and optimizing our platform.
3.4 Marketing and Communications
- Sending promotional emails, newsletters, and service updates (only with your consent).
- Notifying you of new services, special offers, and relevant announcements.
- Responding to inquiries and feedback.
3.5 Legal and Security
- Complying with legal obligations and court orders.
- Preventing fraud, unauthorized access, and misuse of our services.
- Protecting the rights, property, and safety of Perismart, our clients, and the public.
3.6 Quality Assurance
- Reviewing and auditing edited documents for quality control purposes.
- Training and improvement of our editing team and processes.
- Maintaining records for dispute resolution and audit trails.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Under POPIA and international privacy standards, we process your personal information based on:
- Contractual necessity: Processing required to fulfill our service agreement with you.
- Consent: Where you have explicitly consented to specific uses (e.g., marketing communications).
- Legal obligation: Where required by South African law, tax regulations, or court order.
- Legitimate interest: To improve services, prevent fraud, and ensure platform security.
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
5.1 With Whom We Share Data
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. However, we may share information with:
- Service providers: Hosting providers, payment processors, email service providers, and analytics platforms that assist us in delivering services (all under confidentiality agreements).
- Legal authorities: If required by law, court order, or government request.
- Your consent: With third parties where you have explicitly authorized such sharing.
5.2 Data We Do Not Share
The following information is never shared without your explicit written consent:
- Your submitted academic documents and their content.
- Verification reports specific to your citations.
- Detailed payment information beyond transaction confirmation.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information based on the following schedule:
6.1 Submitted Documents
- Active retention: Documents are retained in our secure systems for 30 days following service completion.
- Purpose: To allow for revisions, address disputes, and provide quality assurance.
- Deletion: Documents are securely deleted after 30 days unless you request archival retention.
6.2 Account Information
- Account details, contact information, and service history are retained for the duration of your account.
- After account closure, data is retained for 2 years for legal compliance and dispute resolution.
- You may request deletion earlier, subject to legal obligations.
6.3 Communication Records
- Email correspondence and support tickets are retained for 1 year for quality assurance and dispute resolution.
6.4 Website Analytics Data
- Google Analytics data is retained per Google's standard retention policies (default 26 months).
- Aggregated, anonymized analytics are retained indefinitely for business intelligence.
6.5 Legal and Financial Records
- Transaction records and invoices are retained for 7 years per South African tax and financial regulations.
7. Data Security
We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure:
- Encryption: All documents and sensitive data transmitted to our platform are encrypted using industry-standard TLS/SSL protocols.
- Secure storage: Documents are stored on encrypted servers with restricted access controls.
- Access controls: Only authorized Perismart staff with a need-to-know basis can access client documents.
- Password security: Passwords are encrypted and never stored in plain text.
- Multi-factor authentication: Available for account protection where applicable.
- Regular audits: We conduct periodic security audits and penetration testing.
While we employ robust security measures, no online transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. You acknowledge that security risks exist and use our services at your own risk. Please protect your login credentials and report any unauthorized access immediately.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
8.1 What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us recognize you, remember preferences, and analyze website usage. We use cookies for analytics, security, and improving user experience.
8.2 Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality (login, security, error handling).
- Analytics cookies: Used by Google Analytics to understand website traffic and user behavior.
- Preference cookies: Remember your language, theme, and browsing preferences.
8.3 Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to collect anonymized website usage data. Google may use this data to improve their services and for other purposes. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
8.4 Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. However, blocking cookies may affect website functionality. We do not use cookies for advertising or behavioral targeting.
9. Your Privacy Rights under POPIA
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and South African common law, you have the following rights:
9.1 Right of Access
You have the right to request and access the personal information we hold about you. To exercise this right, contact us at edit@perismart.co.za with your request. We will respond within 20 business days with your information or an explanation of why access cannot be granted.
9.2 Right to Correction and Deletion
You have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information and deletion of your data, subject to legal obligations. We will process such requests within 20 business days. Note that deleting data may prevent us from providing services or fulfilling contractual obligations.
9.3 Right to Object
You have the right to object to processing of your personal information for direct marketing and certain other purposes. You may opt out of promotional communications at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" in our emails or contacting us directly.
9.4 Right to Data Portability
You have the right to request your personal information in a structured, commonly used format (where technically feasible) and to transmit it to another organization. Contact us to exercise this right.
9.5 Right to Lodge a Complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa's privacy authority). More information is available at https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/.
10. Children's Privacy
Our services are intended for individuals aged 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected information from a minor without proper parental consent, we will delete such information immediately and contact you. Parents or guardians who believe their child's information has been collected should contact us at edit@perismart.co.za.
11. International Data Transfers
Perismart is based in South Africa and your personal information is primarily stored in South Africa. However, some of our service providers (e.g., cloud hosting, payment processors) may be located in other countries. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside South Africa, which may have different privacy laws. We ensure that all data transfers comply with POPIA safeguards and include appropriate contractual protections.
12. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including payment processors and social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through our website and services.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our services following notification constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
14. Contact for Privacy Queries
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have a privacy concern, please contact our Data Protection Officer or Privacy Team:
Perismart Editing (Pty) Ltd
Email: edit@perismart.co.za
Website: www.perismart.co.za
Country: South Africa
We will respond to all privacy inquiries within 20 business days.
15. POPIA Information Statement
In accordance with POPIA, we are required to inform you that:
- The personal information controller is Perismart Editing (Pty) Ltd.
- We collect personal information based on contractual necessity, your consent, and legitimate business interests.
- Your information may be shared with service providers under confidentiality obligations.
- You have rights to access, correct, delete, and object to processing of your information.
- You can lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights have been violated.
