Privacy Policy
Effective date: 14/06/2026 Last updated: 14/06/2026
This Privacy Policy explains how The Computer Guy collects, uses, shares and protects your personal information, and what your rights are under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).
By using our website or our services, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the site or our services.
1. Who we are
The Computer Guy is an IT services business based in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, providing PC and Apple repairs, networks, Microsoft 365, hosting, remote support and onsite IT support to homes and businesses across the Garden Route since 2003.
Contact for privacy matters:
- Email: francois@thecomputerguy.tech
- Phone: 044 023 0016 / 082 313 4560
- Address: 61 Robberg Road, Plettenberg Bay, 6600, South Africa
2. What information we collect
When you visit our website
- Your IP address, browser type, device and operating system
- Pages you visit and time spent on each
- Referrer (the link or search that brought you here)
- Cookies (see section 6 below)
When you contact us or request a quote
- Name and surname
- Email address
- Phone number
- Physical address (where onsite work is required)
- The content of your message or enquiry
When you become a customer
- All of the above, plus:
- Details of the device or system we are working on
- Billing details and payment information
- Where you use our hosting or Microsoft 365 services: account details needed to provide and support those services
When we provide remote support
- With your permission, we use remote-support software (such as TeamViewer) to access your device. You initiate and approve each session, and you can end it at any time. We do not access your device without your consent.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without parental consent.
3. Why we collect it — and the lawful basis
| Purpose | Lawful basis under POPIA |
|---|---|
| To respond to your enquiry or quote request | Your consent (you initiated the contact) |
| To provide IT services, repairs and support | Performance of a contract |
| To bill you and process payments | Performance of a contract |
| To provide hosting / Microsoft 365 / remote support | Performance of a contract |
| To detect and prevent fraud or abuse | Our legitimate interest |
| To comply with South African law (e.g. tax) | Compliance with a legal obligation |
| To send service notifications | Performance of a contract |
| To send marketing about our own services to existing customers | Our legitimate interest (opt out anytime) |
4. Who we share information with
We share personal information only where necessary, with parties bound by appropriate confidentiality and data-protection terms.
- Payment processor — PayFast / Yoco / FNB — to process payments securely.
- Microsoft — where you use Microsoft 365 services we resell or support.
- Hosting and infrastructure providers — where you use our web hosting services.
- Equipment and software suppliers — for warranty or licensing, sharing only what is needed.
Authorities and law enforcement
We will disclose personal information to a lawful authority if legally required to do so.
We do not sell your personal information.
5. International transfers
Some third-party services we use (for example cloud hosting, email delivery, Microsoft 365, and analytics) may be operated from outside South Africa, including the European Union or the United States. Where this happens, we only use providers offering protections equivalent to those required under POPIA. You can ask us at any time which services involve cross-border transfer.
6. Cookies and tracking
Our website uses cookies — small text files placed on your device — for the following purposes:
- Essential cookies — required for the site to function. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics cookies — to understand how visitors use the site, so we can improve it. We use Microsoft Clarity, a privacy-friendly analytics tool that helps us see how visitors navigate the site (such as which pages are popular and where people click) through anonymised, aggregated data and session insights. Clarity does not collect information that personally identifies you, and we do not use it for advertising. You can read more in Microsoft’s privacy statement.
We do not use advertising or third-party marketing cookies.
You can clear or block cookies in your browser settings at any time.
7. How we protect your information
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including:
- HTTPS (TLS) encryption on all pages of our website
- Restricted access — only authorised staff can access customer records
- Strong passwords and login-protection on admin accounts
- Regular software updates and backups
- Secure payment processing handled by certified third-party providers (we do not store full card numbers)
If a data breach occurs that could put your personal information at material risk, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as soon as reasonably possible, as required by POPIA.
8. How long we keep your information
| Type of data | Retention period |
|---|---|
| Enquiries and quotes where you did not become a customer | 12 months |
| Customer records (while you are a customer) | For the duration of our relationship |
| Customer records (after service ends) | 5 years (SARS / record-keeping requirements) |
| Marketing contact list | Until you unsubscribe |
After the relevant period, your information is deleted or anonymised.
9. Your rights under POPIA
You have the right to: know what we hold about you; access a copy; correct inaccurate information; delete information we no longer have a legal reason to keep; object to how we use it (including for marketing); withdraw consent; and complain to the Information Regulator.
To exercise any of these rights, email francois@thecomputerguy.tech. We will respond within a reasonable time, normally within 30 days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa):
- Website: https://inforegulator.org.za
- Email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za
- Address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
10. Marketing communications
If you are an existing or recent customer, we may send you occasional emails about new services or important information. Every marketing message includes a clear way to opt out, and you can opt out at any time by emailing francois@thecomputerguy.tech.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision.
12. Contact us
The Computer Guy 61 Robberg Road, Plettenberg Bay, 6600 Email: francois@thecomputerguy.tech Phone: 044 023 0016 / 082 313 4560