SIGNATURE MOTORS PRIVACY STATEMENT
1. Introduction
1.1 We, at Signature Motors, recognise the importance of protecting your privacy in respect of your personal data, as defined by the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), processed by us. We are committed to protecting your personal data entrusted to us.
1.2 This statement will assist our customers to understand how Signature Motors and all subsidiary companies use and protect the personal information provided to us when a customer:
- 1.2.1 Purchase a vehicle: We either collect personal information from our customer directly or through a third party, who will obtain consent for processing prior to sending the personal information to us. We also make use of a service provider to assist us with the licencing and registration of the vehicle being purchased.
- 1.2.2 Finance and insure a vehicle: The personal information that we collect from our customers is needed to enter into a purchase agreement. Should finance and/or insurance be needed or requested by the customer, we will provide the relevant service providers with the required information.
- 1.2.3 Visiting our website: When customers visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about the customer. See below for more information.
- 1.2.4 Marketing: We provide marketing material via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, SMS, email, and other social media platforms. Marketing material will only be sent to customers who have consented to receiving such material. An unsubscribe option is included in all our marketing communication.
- 1.2.5 Quality Control: We are always striving to improve our service. We may contact selected customers to ensure quality control of our services.
2. Definitions
For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:
- Account: A unique account created for you to access our Services or parts thereof.
- Company: (referred to as either “the Company”, “We”, “Us”, or “Our”) refers to Signature Motors and Subsidiaries.
- Cookies: Small files placed on your computer, mobile device, or any other device by a website, containing details of your browsing history on that website.
- Republic: Refers to the Republic of South Africa.
- Device: Any device that can access the service, such as a computer, cell phone, or digital tablet.
- Personal Data: Any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual and an identifiable and existing juristic person as defined in POPIA.
- Service: Refers to the website and/or digital services provided by the Company.
- Service Provider: Any natural or legal person who processes data on behalf of the Company, including third-party companies or individuals employed by the Company.
- Third-party Social Media Service: Any website or social network through which a user can log in or create an account to use the service.
- Usage Data: Data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the service or from the service infrastructure itself (e.g., the duration of a page visit).
- You: The individual accessing or using the service, or the company or other legal entity on whose behalf such access is made.
3. Collecting and Using Your Personal Data
Personal information is information which identifies or could reasonably be associated with you. While using our service or communicating with our staff, we may ask you to provide certain personal data that can be used to contact or identify you.
3.1 Types of Personal Data Collected
The personal data we collect may include, but is not limited to:
- Email address
- First name and last name
- Name of legal entity
- Authorised signatories
- Identity number
- Occupation
- Gender
- Phone number
- Physical and/or postal Address
- Usage Data
- Company Registration Number
- Company VAT number
- Background checks
- Banking Information
- Tax identification
- Header and Footer information in email messages
- Internet protocol
- Details of financial institutions
- Financial services provider registration number
- Credit provider registration number
- Record of Education
3.2 Usage Data when interfacing with our digital platforms
3.2.1 Usage Data is collected automatically when using the service or manually when communicating with our staff or subsidiaries. This may include your device’s IP address, browser type and version, pages visited, time and date of your visit, time spent on pages, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data.
3.2.2 When accessing the Service via a mobile device, we may also collect details such as the type of mobile device, its unique ID, mobile IP address, operating system, and browser type.
3.2.3 We may collect information sent by your browser whenever you visit our service or access it via a mobile device.
3.3 Information from Third-Party Social Media Services
3.3.1 Should the Company allow you to create an account and log in via a Third-party Social Media Service, such as:
3.3.2 If you register through or grant us access to such a service, we may collect personal data already associated with your account (e.g., name, email address, activities, or contact list).
3.3.3 You may also have the option to share additional information with the Company via your Third-party Social Media Service account. By providing such information, you give the Company permission to use, share, and store it in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
3.4 Tracking Technologies and Cookies
We use Cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our service and store certain information. These technologies include:
- Cookies or Browser Cookies: Small files placed on your device. You can instruct your browser to refuse Cookies or to indicate when one is being sent. However, refusal of Cookies may limit your ability to use some parts of our service.
- Flash Cookies: Some features may use locally stored objects (or Flash Cookies) to remember your preferences or activity. Flash Cookies are not controlled by the same browser settings as regular Cookies. For more information on deleting Flash Cookies, please visit this link.
- Web Beacons: These are small electronic files (also known as clear gifs or pixel tags) used to count users who have visited specific pages or opened an email, and for other related website statistics.
Cookies may be “Persistent” (remaining on your device between sessions) or “Session” Cookies (deleted when you close your browser). We use both types as described above.
4. Use of Your Personal Data
The Company may use your Personal Data for the following purposes:
- To provide and maintain our Service, including monitoring its usage.
- For the performance of a contract, such as developing and executing purchase agreements for products or services you have acquired.
- To contact you via email, telephone, SMS, or other forms of electronic communication (including push notifications) regarding updates or informative communications about our service.
- To provide you with news and general information about other goods, services, or events similar to those you have purchased or enquired about (unless you opt out).
- To manage your requests and enquiries.
- For data analysis, identifying usage trends, evaluating promotional campaigns, and improving our service and overall customer experience.
- To comply with legal requirements or obligations and protect our legitimate interests.
5. We may share Your Personal Data in the following situations
- With Service Providers: To monitor and analyse the use of our service and to contact you.
- For business transfers: In connection with, or during negotiations for, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of part or all of our business.
- With Affiliates: We may share your data with our affiliates, and these affiliates will be required to honour this Privacy Policy. Affiliates include our parent company, subsidiaries, joint ventures, or companies under common control.
- With Business Partners: To offer you certain products, services, or promotions.
- With Other Users: When you share personal data or interact in public areas, such information may be visible to other users and could be distributed publicly. Additionally, if you register through a third-party social media service, your contacts on that service may view your profile and activity.
- With Your Consent: For any other purpose with your explicit consent.
6. Retention of Your Personal Data
6.1 The Company will retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. We will also retain data to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
6.2 Usage data is generally retained for a shorter period unless used to enhance security or functionality, or if legally required to be kept for longer.
7. Transfer of Your Personal Data
7.1 Your personal data is processed at our operating offices and other locations where the processing parties are situated. We do not transfer any personal information to external territories; all processing is within South Africa.
7.2 Personal information may be transferred outside South Africa only if the receiving country has laws providing an adequate level of protection similar to POPIA. No transfer will occur without your consent.
8. Disclosure of Your Personal Data
8.1 Business Transactions
If the Company is involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your personal data may be transferred. We will provide notice before such a transfer, and your data may then become subject to a different privacy policy.
8.2 Law enforcement
Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to disclose your personal data if mandated by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
8.3 Other legal requirements
The Company may disclose your personal data if it believes in good faith that such action is necessary to:
- Comply with a legal obligation
- Protect and defend the rights or property of the Company
- Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the service
- Protect the personal safety of users or the public
- Protect against legal liability
9. Security of Your Personal Data
9.1 While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.
9.2 We take appropriate, reasonable, technical, and organisational measures to safeguard your personal information from loss, damage, unauthorised destruction, or unlawful access. Our measures include:
- Storing data in password-secured databases;
- Restricting access to designated staff or personnel;
- Limiting physical and digital access to our premises;
- Binding third parties who handle your data to confidentiality obligations.
9.3 Additional security measures include the use of firewall and antivirus software, TLS and SHA-256 with RSA encryption, password protection, and access control.
10. Children’s Privacy
10.1 Our service is not directed at anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal data without your consent, please contact us so we can take appropriate measures.
10.2 If consent is required from a parent (based on local laws), we may request parental consent before collecting or using your child’s information.
11. Your rights
You have the following rights under section 5 of POPIA:
- To determine whether the Company holds any of your personal information and request access to it;
- To request correction, destruction, or deletion of your personal data;
- To object, on reasonable grounds, to the processing of your personal data;
- To object to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes;
- To submit a complaint to the Regulator regarding any interference with the protection of your personal data;
- To institute civil proceedings in relation to the protection of your personal data;
- If you have previously consented to data processing, to request that we transfer your data to another service provider.
You may access, correct, or delete your personal information by emailing us at popia@signature-motors.co.za. We will provide you with the relevant forms upon receipt of your request.
12. Links to Other Websites
12.1 Our service may contain links to websites that are not operated by us. Clicking on a third-party link will direct you to that site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit.
12.2 We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
13. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. You are advised to review this Policy periodically for any changes. Changes are effective immediately upon being posted on this page.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at popia@signature-motors.co.za.
