Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 25/08/2024

Welcome to www.ruutos.com (hereinafter referred to as the “Website”). This Privacy Policy outlines how Ruutos Consulting & Projects (hereinafter referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects the personal information of our customers, visitors, and users (“you” or “your”). We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is protected in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

1. Information We Collect

We collect and process the following personal information:

Personal Identification Information: Name, surname, email address, phone number, and address.
Payment Information: Credit/debit card details, bank account details, and other payment-related information.
Order Information: Products purchased, order history, and delivery information.
Technical Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information, and browsing behavior on our website.
Marketing Preferences: Preferences regarding receiving marketing communications from us.

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information through:

Direct interactions: When you provide your personal information by filling out forms on our Website, creating an account, making a purchase, or communicating with us via email or phone.
Automated technologies: As you interact with our Website, we may automatically collect technical data using cookies and other tracking technologies.
Third-party sources: We may receive personal information about you from third parties, including payment service providers and delivery services.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

To process and deliver your orders: Including managing payments, fees, and charges.
To manage your account: Including account creation, authentication, and customer service.
To communicate with you: Including responding to your inquiries, providing customer support, and sending order updates.
To send marketing communications: Where you have opted in to receive marketing, we may send you promotional materials about our products and services.
To improve our Website: Including analyzing how you use our Website to improve user experience and service offerings.
To comply with legal obligations: Including data retention, fraud prevention, and other legal requirements.

4. Legal Bases for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

Consent: When you have given your explicit consent for us to process your personal data for specific purposes (e.g., marketing communications).
Contractual necessity: When processing your data is necessary for the performance of a contract (e.g., to process and deliver your orders).
Legal obligation: When we need to process your personal data to comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax regulations).
Legitimate interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided that your rights do not override those interests (e.g., improving our Website).

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information with:

Service providers: Third-party vendors who assist us in providing services such as payment processing, delivery services, and marketing.
Legal authorities: When required by law, we may disclose your personal information to law enforcement or other governmental authorities.
Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred to the new owners.

6. International Transfers

We may transfer your personal data to countries outside of South Africa or the European Economic Area (EEA). Where such transfers occur, we will ensure that your data is protected by appropriate safeguards in accordance with POPIA and GDPR.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure, or access. While we strive to protect your personal data, please note that no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure.

8. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for legal, accounting, or reporting purposes. The retention period may vary depending on the type of data and the applicable legal requirements.

9. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right of access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right to rectification: You have the right to request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
Right to erasure: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information where there is no legal basis for us to continue processing it.
Right to restrict processing: You have the right to request the restriction of processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
Right to data portability: You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
Right to object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data where we rely on legitimate interests.
Right to withdraw consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your personal data, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

To exercise your rights, please contact us at info@ruutos.com.

10. Cookies

Our Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and provide targeted advertising. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. For more details, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and the effective date will be updated accordingly. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal information.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, please contact us at:

Ruutos Consulting & Projects
79 Hill Street, Ferndale 2160, South Africa
Email: info@ruutos.com