Privacy Policy — DiscountFinder

Effective date: 8 October 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how DiscountFinder (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal information when you use our website discountfinder.co.za and any related services (the “Services”). We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable South African laws.

By using the Services, you agree to this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.

1) Who we are

DiscountFinder is a search and discovery tool that uses AI/ML to surface links to products, services, promotions, and discounts from third-party merchants. We do not sell or fulfil the products/services listed and do not control third-party websites.

2) Scope and applicability

This Policy applies to personal information we collect:

• when you browse our Site or interact with features such as search, categories, listings, likes, and comments;
• when you create an account or submit a listing; and
• through cookies, analytics, advertising technologies, and approximate location (e.g., IP-based geolocation).

3) What we collect

• Account & profile data: name or display name, email, password (hashed), content you submit (listings, comments), saved preferences.
• Listing data: product/service details, images, pricing (actual vs discounted), category, location/region if provided by you.
• Usage & device data: IP address, approximate location, device/browser type, pages viewed, referring URLs, timestamps, search queries, and interactions (likes, clicks). Collected via logs, cookies, and similar technologies.
• Approximate location: IP-based geolocation to tailor results to your region (e.g., country/city level). You can disable location personalization where offered or use general search.
• Cookies & similar tech: identifiers for session management, analytics, advertising (including Google AdSense), and fraud prevention.
• Communications: messages you send us (support, legal, feedback).

4) Children

The Services are intended for users 18+. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information, contact us to request deletion.

5) Why we process your information (purposes)

• Provide and operate the Services (search, listings, comments, likes);
• Personalise and improve results (including region-aware relevance);
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and technical issues;
• Measure performance, debug, and develop new features;
• Serve and measure ads; operate affiliate links and monetisation;
• Communicate with you (account, legal notices, responses to queries);
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms.

6) Lawful grounds for processing (POPIA)

We rely on one or more of the following grounds:

• Consent (e.g., marketing and certain cookies where required);
• Contract (to provide account and listing functionality you request);
• Legal obligation (record-keeping, lawful requests);
• Legitimate interests of us or third parties (e.g., security, product improvement, analytics, non-intrusive advertising), balanced against your rights.

7) Cookies & similar technologies

We use cookies, pixels, and local storage to run the site, remember preferences, measure usage, and serve ads.

• Google AdSense: Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on prior visits. Google’s advertising cookies enable it and partners to serve personalised ads. You may opt out of personalised ads via adssettings.google.com and learn more at policies.google.com/technologies/ads.
• Analytics: We may use analytics services to understand usage trends and performance. You can typically opt out via browser add-ons or privacy settings.

Browser controls allow you to block or delete cookies; doing so may impact site functionality. Where required, we’ll present a consent banner for certain cookie categories.

8) Advertising & affiliate disclosure

We display third-party ads (including AdSense) and may use affiliate links. If you click an ad or buy through a link, we may earn a commission. This does not increase your price or affect our editorial independence.

9) AI/ML & automated processing

We use AI/ML to expand queries, rank and de-duplicate results, detect spam, and personalise relevance (e.g., by region or category). We apply data minimisation and safeguards; we do not make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects without human review.

10) Sharing your information

• Service providers & partners: hosting, security, analytics, advertising networks, fraud prevention, and content delivery.
• Merchants & external sites: when you follow links to third-party websites, their own privacy terms apply.
• Legal & safety: to comply with law, enforce our Terms, or protect rights, property, or safety.
• Business transfers: in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred subject to this Policy.

11) Cross-border transfers

We may transfer personal information outside South Africa (e.g., to the EU/EEA, UK, or US) for hosting, support, or service provision. Where we do so, we implement appropriate safeguards consistent with POPIA (e.g., contractual commitments and security measures) to ensure an adequate level of protection.

12) Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational safeguards to protect personal information (e.g., encryption in transit, access controls, hashing of passwords). No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure; risks remain.

13) Retention

We keep personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy (or as required by law), then delete or de-identify it. Typical examples:

• Account data: retained while your account is active (and for a reasonable period thereafter for legal or security reasons);
• Listings/comments: retained while published or as needed for moderation and legal obligations;
• Logs/analytics: retained for limited periods for security and performance.

14) Your rights (POPIA)

You have the right to:

• request access to personal information we hold about you;
• request correction, update, or deletion (destruction or de-identification) of personal information;
• object to or restrict certain processing, including direct marketing;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.

15) Exercising your rights

To exercise your rights, contact us at legal@discountfinder.co.za or support@discountfinder.co.za. We may request information to verify your identity and will respond within a reasonable time as required by law.

16) Third-party sites

Our Services link to third-party websites and services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies; we are not responsible for them. Please review those policies before providing personal information.

17) Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. Material changes will be indicated by updating the “Effective date” above. Your continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

18) Contact us

• Privacy queries: legal@discountfinder.co.za
• Support: support@discountfinder.co.za
• Address: 43 Montrose Avenue, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa