Privacy Policy

GeorgeBookings.com is a local business directory and booking platform operated by Arie Johan Christiaan van der Ende, trading as GeorgeBookings.com, a sole proprietor based in George, Western Cape, South Africa. We are the "responsible party" for personal information processed through the Platform, as defined in POPIA.

Contact details for privacy matters:

• Email: joe@altoprop.co.za
• Physical address: 9 La Concorde, 2 Struik Street, Dormehlsdrift, George, Western Cape
• Phone: 082 653 4753

We collect the following categories of personal information:

• Account information: name, surname, email address, phone number, and password (encrypted) when you register.
• Booking information: the business you book with, date, time, and any notes you provide as part of a booking.
• Business listing information: for registered businesses — business name, contact details, address, services offered, specials/events, and photos.
• Payment information: when you pay for a service through the Platform, payments are processed by PayFast (Pty) Ltd, a registered payment gateway. GeorgeBookings does not store your card or bank details — these are collected and processed directly by PayFast in accordance with PayFast's own privacy policy and PCI-DSS security standards.
• Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, and cookies collected automatically when you use the Platform.
• Communications: messages, reviews, or ratings you submit through the Platform, and any correspondence with our support team.

We process personal information for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account and facilitate bookings between you and listed businesses.
• To process payments securely via PayFast.
• To communicate with you about your bookings, account, or enquiries.
• To display business listings, specials, and ratings to other users.
• To improve the Platform, including analytics on how it is used.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including those required by our payment service provider.
• To send you marketing communications, but only where you have opted in, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

We process your personal information because it is necessary to perform our contract with you (facilitating bookings), because you have consented (e.g. marketing), or because we have a legitimate business interest in operating and improving the Platform, provided this does not override your rights under POPIA.

We share personal information only where necessary:

• With the specific business you book with, so they can fulfil your booking.
• With PayFast, solely to process payments.
• With service providers who support our operations (e.g. hosting, email delivery), under confidentiality obligations.
• Where required by law, regulation, or a valid request from a public authority.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

The Platform uses cookies to keep you logged in, remember preferences, and understand how the site is used. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features of the Platform may not work correctly without them.

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against loss, unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure. Payment data is handled entirely by PayFast under their own PCI-DSS-compliant security measures; we never see or store your full card or bank details.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, or as required by law (for example, tax and financial record-keeping requirements).

Under POPIA, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information.
• Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Object to processing of your information for direct marketing.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your information has been mishandled.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Section 1.

If you are unsatisfied with how we have handled your personal information, you may contact the Information Regulator (South Africa):

• Website: inforegulator.org.za
• Email: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.

For any privacy-related questions, contact us at joe@altoprop.co.za.