Rainmaker Pty Ltd operates the MicroFog online store at microfog.co.za. In this policy, “MicroFog”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Rainmaker Pty Ltd, the responsible party for the personal information described here. We are based in Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa.
This policy explains how we handle personal information when you use our website, place an order or contact us. We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
For privacy enquiries or to exercise your rights, email Sales@microfog.co.za and mark your message “Privacy request”.
1. Personal information we collect
When you place an order or contact us, we collect the information you provide, including your name, email address, telephone number, billing and delivery addresses, order details and correspondence. If you create a customer account, we also process the information needed to administer that account and its order history.
We process payment confirmations and transaction information needed to reconcile orders, and delivery information needed to fulfil them. The payment information involved depends on the payment method you select. Please do not send full card details, PINs or card security codes by email.
Information is collected directly from you and, where necessary to complete your transaction, from payment and delivery service providers. Technical information may also be generated when you use the website, such as your IP address, browser information and access logs, to the extent collected by the website and its service providers.
2. How and why we use information
We use relevant personal information to process orders, arrange payment and delivery, administer customer accounts, respond to enquiries and handle returns, complaints and warranty requests. We also use information where necessary to maintain transaction records, meet legal obligations, prevent fraud, protect the website and resolve disputes.
Depending on the purpose, processing is based on entering into or performing a contract, complying with a legal obligation, a legitimate interest recognised by POPIA, or your consent where required. We limit the information used to what is reasonably necessary for the purpose.
Information requested as necessary for an order enables us to process payment, contact you and deliver your purchase. Without it, we may be unable to complete the transaction. Optional information and marketing choices are voluntary. Using our website does not by itself constitute consent to every form of processing.
3. Sharing personal information
We share relevant information with payment providers and couriers as needed to process and deliver your order. Where engaged to support the store, hosting, website support, communications and accounting service providers may process information for those purposes. We may also disclose information to professional advisers or authorities where lawfully necessary.
Service providers acting as operators on our behalf must process information under our authority, maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable security obligations. POPIA requires appropriate written arrangements with these operators.
If a service involves transferring personal information outside South Africa, the transfer must comply with POPIA section 72, including an applicable legal basis and the required protection for the information. Contact Sales@microfog.co.za for enquiries about the providers handling your information.
We may share customer contact details, such as an email address, with Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram) in hashed form so that we can show our advertising to existing customers and reach similar audiences. Hashing converts the details into a coded form before they are sent, and Meta’s terms limit its use of that information to matching for our audiences. We rely on your consent, or on POPIA’s permitted existing-customer exception for marketing our own similar products or services. You may object at any time by emailing Sales@microfog.co.za, and we will remove your details from these audiences.
4. Cookies and electronic marketing
Cookies are small files stored by your browser. Store functionality can use cookies to maintain a shopping basket, support checkout or remember a login. You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies needed for store functions may affect your ability to use those functions.
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website, and the Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram) to measure and improve our advertising. Any optional analytics or advertising tracking, including these tools, must be accompanied by appropriate information about its purpose and a lawful basis for processing, including consent where required. This policy does not itself authorise optional tracking.
Where we send electronic direct marketing, we do so with consent or under POPIA’s permitted existing-customer exception for our own similar products or services, with the required opportunity to object. You may opt out through an unsubscribe option in a message or by emailing Sales@microfog.co.za. Opting out of marketing does not stop necessary communications about your orders or requests.
5. How long we keep information
Our standard retention period for customer records is 24 months. Information that is no longer needed may be deleted sooner. This standard period is subject to any longer retention required by law or justified by an ongoing transaction, warranty claim, dispute, investigation or other lawful purpose.
In particular, relevant tax and accounting records must be retained for the applicable statutory period even where that period exceeds 24 months. We limit continued use of retained information to its lawful purpose. When retention is no longer authorised, we delete, destroy or de-identify the information appropriately.
6. Protecting information
We are required to take reasonable technical and organisational measures to safeguard personal information against loss, unauthorised access, disclosure and unlawful processing. No online system can be guaranteed completely secure. Please protect your account credentials and notify us if you suspect unauthorised access involving your account.
Where a security compromise requires notification under POPIA, we will notify the Information Regulator and affected people as required by law.
7. Your privacy rights
Subject to POPIA and applicable procedures, you may ask whether we hold personal information about you, request access, seek correction or deletion, object to qualifying processing and withdraw consent for future processing based on consent. Withdrawal does not invalidate earlier lawful processing.
Send your request to Sales@microfog.co.za. We may request reasonable proof of identity before disclosing or changing information. We will explain any lawful fee, refusal or restriction. A deletion request does not require us to remove records that we remain legally obliged or otherwise lawfully authorised to retain.
You may lodge a privacy complaint with the Information Regulator without first obtaining our permission. Visit https://inforegulator.org.za/complaints/ or contact the Regulator at enquiries@inforegulator.org.za or 010 023 5200.
8. Children
Where personal information about a child is involved, processing requires an applicable lawful basis under POPIA, including consent from a competent person where required. Please contact Sales@microfog.co.za if you believe a child has provided personal information without the necessary authorisation.
9. Changes and contact
We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be published on microfog.co.za, with additional notice where appropriate. A policy update does not replace consent where consent is required for new processing.
Rainmaker Pty Ltd
MicroFog online store
Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa
Email: Sales@microfog.co.za
Website: https://microfog.co.za