Privacy Statement

1. About this statement
This Privacy Statement explains how The Exterminator collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal information obtained through this website, our contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, telephone calls, email communications and the pest-control or hygiene services we provide.

For the purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013, commonly known as POPIA, The Exterminator acts as the responsible party in relation to personal information processed for its business activities.

2. Information we may collect
We may collect information such as your name, telephone number, email address, company name, physical or service address, preferred branch, details of the pest or hygiene problem, photographs or documents you submit, quotation and booking information, service history and records of communications with us.

When you use our website, limited technical information may also be collected automatically. This can include your device type, browser, approximate location, IP address, pages visited, referral source and interactions with the website.

3. How we collect information
Personal information is generally collected directly from you when you complete a form, request a quotation, make an enquiry, subscribe to our newsletter, arrange a service or communicate with a member of our team.

Information may also be received from a property manager, employer, landlord, tenant, business representative or another person who is authorised to arrange services on your behalf.

4. Why we use your information
We may process personal information to respond to enquiries, prepare quotations, schedule inspections, provide pest-control and hygiene services, communicate service instructions, maintain customer records, issue invoices, handle complaints and provide after-service support.

We may also use information to operate and protect our website, prevent misuse, improve our services, meet legal and regulatory obligations and protect the legitimate interests, property and safety of our customers, employees and business.

5. Newsletter and direct marketing
Where you subscribe to our newsletter or otherwise provide the necessary consent, we may send you pest-prevention advice, seasonal alerts, service information and occasional marketing communications.

You may withdraw your consent or unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link in an email or by contacting us. Withdrawing consent will not affect processing that took place lawfully before the withdrawal.

6. Cookies and website technologies
This website may use essential cookies that are required for basic operation, security and form functionality. Subject to your cookie preferences, we may also use optional analytics or marketing cookies to understand website usage and improve the visitor experience.

Where consent is required, optional cookies will be used according to the selections you make through our cookie-consent banner. You may review or change those choices through the cookie-preference facility available on the website.

7. Sharing personal information
We may share relevant personal information with authorised employees, branches, technicians and trusted service providers where this is reasonably necessary to respond to your request or provide a service.

Service providers may include website-hosting companies, IT-support providers, email and newsletter platforms, cloud-storage providers, professional advisers, payment or accounting providers and other operators supporting our business.

These parties may process personal information only for authorised purposes and are expected to apply appropriate confidentiality and security safeguards. We may also disclose information where required by law, court order or a lawful request from a competent authority.

The Exterminator does not sell personal information to third parties.

8. International processing
Some technology and cloud-service providers may store or process information outside South Africa. Where this occurs, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate contractual, legal or organisational safeguards are in place.

9. Retention of information
We retain personal information only for as long as it is reasonably required for the purpose for which it was collected, to provide ongoing customer support, maintain legitimate business records, resolve disputes or comply with legal, tax, accounting and regulatory obligations.

When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified where reasonably practicable.

10. Information security
We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction.

Although we take reasonable precautions, no internet transmission, email system or electronic-storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Should a reportable security compromise occur, we will take the steps required by applicable law.

11. Your privacy rights
Subject to applicable law, you may ask whether we hold personal information about you and request access to that information. You may also request that inaccurate or incomplete information be corrected or updated.

You may request the deletion or destruction of information where legally permitted, object to certain processing, withdraw consent where processing is based on consent and request that direct-marketing communications stop.

We may need to verify your identity before processing a privacy request. Certain information may need to be retained where this is required by law or necessary for legitimate business or legal purposes.

12. Children’s information
Our website and services are not directed at children, and we do not knowingly request personal information directly from children without appropriate authorisation from a parent, guardian or competent person.

13. External websites
Our website may contain links to external websites or services. The Exterminator is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of websites operated by other organisations. Visitors should review the privacy statement of any external website they use.

14. Changes to this statement
We may update this Privacy Statement when our services, website, technology or legal obligations change. The latest version will be published on this page together with the date on which it was last updated.

15. Contacting us
To request access, correction or deletion of your personal information, withdraw marketing consent, object to processing or raise a privacy concern, please contact The Exterminator through our Contact Us page.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe that your personal information has been processed unlawfully.