1. Introduction
FreeMarkIt (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly and transparently.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and your rights under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) of South Africa.
By using FreeMarkIt, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
To operate the platform safely and effectively, we collect and store certain information when you use FreeMarkIt.
2.1 Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Name
- Email address
- Encrypted/hashed password
This information is managed through our industry content platform's account services.
2.2 Contact Information
We may collect:
- Mobile phone number
- Email address
Sensitive contact information is encrypted while stored in our systems.
Your contact details are not publicly visible by default and are only shared with another user when:
- You choose to share them; or
- An active exchange or transaction requires it.
Users control this using platform privacy settings.
2.3 Location Information
To improve local matching and discovery, we collect information you share:
- Primary address
- Optional secondary address
- Latitude and longitude coordinates
Location data is encrypted.
For privacy and safety:
- Exact addresses and coordinates are never shared
- Other users only see approximate or “bucketed” distance information
2.4 Interests and Preferences
We store category interests and platform preferences to:
- Improve recommendations
- Personalise your experience
- Help connect users with relevant offers and requests
2.5 Listings and Uploaded Content
We store information you voluntarily publish, including:
- Offer listings
- Images
- Descriptions
- Requests or exchange messages
Please avoid uploading sensitive personal information in public listings or messages.
2.6 Transactions and Marks Ledger
We maintain records of:
- Exchanges
- Requests
- Calls/interactions
- Marks or credits transactions
- Transaction history
This helps maintain platform integrity, accountability, and dispute handling.
2.7 Ratings and Reputation
FreeMarkIt may maintain ratings or reputation indicators.
Ratings are stored as anonymous aggregated scores:
- Individual rater identities are not publicly exposed
- Users cannot see who submitted specific ratings
2.8 Activity Logs and Security Information
For platform security and fraud prevention, we may log:
- IP addresses
- Login activity
- Device/browser information
- Platform interactions
This information helps us:
- Detect abuse
- Investigate suspicious activity
- Maintain service reliability
2.9 Notifications and Communication Preferences
We store:
- Notification preferences
- Notification delivery records
- Communication settings
This allows users to manage how and when they receive platform notifications.
2.10 Consent Records
We maintain records of:
- Terms & Conditions acceptance
- Privacy Policy acceptance
- Consent preferences
These records are retained for compliance and audit purposes.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use personal information to:
- Operate and maintain the platform
- Enable exchanges and communication between users
- Match users with relevant listings and interests
- Improve platform functionality and user experience
- Protect users and prevent fraud or abuse
- Maintain transaction records and audit trails
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not sell personal information to third parties.
4. Sharing of Information
We only share personal information where necessary to operate the platform.
This may include:
- Sharing limited contact information between users involved in an active exchange
- Service providers assisting with platform functionality
- Legal or regulatory authorities where required by law
We limit data sharing to what is reasonably necessary.
5. Third-Party Services
FreeMarkIt currently uses the following third-party service provider:
Google Places API
We use Google Places API services to assist with address and location functionality.
Use of these services may involve limited location-related data being processed by Google in accordance with Google’s own privacy policies.
6. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, including:
- Encryption of sensitive stored data
- Hashed password storage
- Access controls and authentication
- Activity monitoring and logging
- Secure hosting practices
While we strive to protect all information, no online platform can guarantee absolute security.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of data and legal or operational requirements.
Closed Offers
Closed or completed offers may be retained for up to 90 days after closure for:
- Dispute handling
- Audit purposes
- Fraud prevention
- User support
Certain transaction and compliance records may be retained longer where legally required.
8. Your Rights Under POPIA
Under POPIA, you may request to:
- Access your personal information
- Correct inaccurate information
- Delete certain personal information
- Object to specific processing activities
- Withdraw consent where applicable
Some information may need to be retained for legal, security, or operational reasons.
9. Cookies and Analytics
FreeMarkIt may use cookies or similar technologies to:
- Maintain login sessions
- Improve performance
- Understand platform usage
- Enhance user experience
Users may control cookie settings through their browser.
10. Children’s Privacy
FreeMarkIt is intended for users aged 18 years and older.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors without appropriate consent.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Material changes may be communicated through:
- Platform notices
- Email notifications
- Updated policy publication dates
Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of updated terms.
12. Contact Us
For privacy-related questions or requests, please contact:
FreeMarkIt Support
Email:
13. Our Commitment
FreeMarkIt is built around trust, community, and responsible data handling.
We aim to collect only the information needed to operate the platform safely and effectively while giving users meaningful control over their privacy.