Privacy & POPIA
This notice explains how Smit Debt Counselling processes personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and your rights.
What we collect
- Contact details (name, email, phone, address)
- Financial information you choose to share for assessment (employment, income/expense details, account and repayment info)
- Identifiers and reference numbers related to credit providers and the approved payment distribution agency
Why we use it
- To assess your situation and prepare a debt review proposal
- To communicate with you throughout the process
- To liaise with credit providers and the payment distribution agency as required by law
Security & retention
- We treat your personal information as confidential
- We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it
- We notify you if we become aware of unauthorised access
- We provide reasonable evidence of our compliance on request
- We keep information only as long as needed or as required by law
Your rights
- Access your personal information or request a copy
- Request correction or deletion where applicable
- Object to certain processing or withdraw consent (may affect our ability to assist)
PAIA guide
The Information Regulator publishes a guide that explains your rights under PAIA and POPIA and how to make a request. You can read it on the Regulator website or ask us for a copy.
Records available without a formal request
- Company profile
- PAIA manual
- Privacy notice
You can get these on our website or by asking us.
Records we hold
We keep records to run our practice and to deliver the service. Access may be limited by the lawful grounds of refusal in PAIA.
- Strategic documents and plans
- Client files and a client database
- Human resources policies and employee records
- Finance and tax records including VAT, PAYE, UIF and SDL
- Management accounts and financial statements
Laws we follow
- Promotion of Access to Information Act
- Protection of Personal Information Act
- National Credit Act
- Financial Intelligence Centre Act
- Companies Act
- Income Tax Act
Downloads
PAIA access requests
You may request access to records in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). Requests must be addressed to the owner (Martie Smit) using the prescribed form. Applicable fees may be charged. We will respond within the statutory timelines and may refuse access on the lawful grounds set out in PAIA.
- Your full name and contact details
- A clear description of the record you want
- The form of access you prefer
- Proof that you need the record to exercise or protect a right
Fees may apply. We respond within thirty days. We may refuse access on the lawful grounds set out in PAIA. If we need more time we will let you know.
Contact
