INTRODUCTION

This privacy policy outlines how The Business Zone Academy handles personal information collected from our clients, students, and visitors to our premises, websites, and mobile applications. It explains the types of personal data we collect, how we use it, and with whom we may share it.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We may collect personal information when you visit our premises, use our website (“Website”), or interact with our mobile applications (“Mobile Apps”). Together, we refer to our Website and Mobile Apps as “Online Services”. The types of personal information we may collect include:

• Transaction details such as courses purchased, fees paid, payment methods, and payment details.
• Personal data such as your name, address, email, phone number, and date of birth when you register for our Online Services, apply for a course, or provide us with this information for any other reason.
• Sensitive data such as bank account details, ethnicity, medical history, sexual orientation, criminal record, employment information, or political or religious beliefs, depending on the course or service you request.
• Account information such as usernames, passwords, and other credentials used to access our Online Services.
• Any additional personal information you provide when interacting with The Business Zone Academy. We collect information when you:
• Register for a course or service.
• Register for our Online Services.
• Subscribe to marketing communications.
• Participate in our workshops, webinars, or events.
• Provide feedback or use interactive features of our Online Services. We may also automatically collect data from your device, such as cookies, local shared objects, and web beacons, and location data through GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cell tower proximity. You can control location data permissions through your device or browser settings. We may combine personal information we gather with other data, including past transactions and automatically collected information.

HOW WE USE THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We may use your personal data to:

• Fulfill your course registration, process payments, and manage our services.
• Communicate with you about our courses, services, or business partners, with your consent.
• Administer your participation in webinars, workshops, or special events.
• Send updates regarding your courses, purchases, or accounts with The Business Zone Academy.
• Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries.
• Personalize your experience on our Online Services and improve navigation.
• Conduct data analysis, including feedback collection, course evaluations, and trend assessments.
• Improve our courses, services, and marketing efforts.
• Prevent fraud and comply with legal obligations. We may use automated information to troubleshoot technical issues, manage Online Services, personalize your experience, or for marketing and advertising purposes.

HOW WE SHARE THE PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We do not sell or share your personal data except as outlined in this Privacy Policy. We may share it with our affiliates, service providers, or vendors that assist with course administration, payment processing, data storage, and marketing services. These parties are only permitted to use your data for these purposes. In certain circumstances, such as a merger or acquisition, we may transfer your personal data to the new party involved in the transaction. We may also disclose personal information to comply with legal requirements, protect our services, respond to legal claims, or investigate fraud and illegal activities.

YOUR CHOICES

If you have opted in to receive marketing communications, you can opt out by following the instructions provided in those communications. However, you may still receive transactional messages related to your courses, accounts, or any events you’ve signed up for.

ACCESS, CORRECTION, AND DELETION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

You can request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data by contacting our Information Officer. Some information may need to be retained for legal or business reasons. To verify your identity, we may ask for additional details before processing your request.

COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information as outlined in this Privacy Policy. Cookies help enhance your experience by remembering preferences, tracking visits, and customizing your web experience. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit some features of our Online Services.

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Our Online Services may contain links to third-party websites that are not operated by The Business Zone Academy. These sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their content or practices. Any information you provide to third parties will be governed by their privacy policies.

INFORMATION SECURITY

The Business Zone Academy is committed to safeguarding your personal data. We employ appropriate security measures, including technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure. However, no internet-based system is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.

RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, in accordance with our records retention policies or as required by law.

INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Your personal data may be stored on servers located outside of South Africa. By providing your information, you consent to its processing in other countries.

ACCEPTANCE

By using our services or registering for courses, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of this policy, please refrain from using our services.

CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on our website, and we encourage you to review it regularly for the most current version.