Terms of Service

Privacy Policy for VettingMate
Last Updated: [Insert Date]
At VettingMate, we value and respect your privacy. This Privacy Policy ("Policy") explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal data when you use our platform and services. By using the VettingMate platform, you consent to the practices described in this Policy.
This Policy is intended to comply with relevant data protection laws, including but not limited to:
• The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) in Nigeria.
• The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa.
• The Data Protection Act, 2019 in Kenya.
• The Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) in Ghana.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we treat it.
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1. Information We Collect
VettingMate collects various types of information to provide you with our services. The information we collect includes, but is not limited to:
1.1 Personal Identification Information
• Full name
• Email address
• Physical address
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Mobile phone number
• Nationality and citizenship status
1.2 Biometric Data
• Fingerprints
• Facial recognition data
• Voice data (if applicable)
1.3 Employment and Educational Information
• Employment history
• Educational qualifications and certifications
• Professional licences and credentials
• References or recommendations from previous employers
1.4 Financial Information
• Credit score
• Bank account details (if provided for payment processing)
1.5 Transactional Data
• Payment details (via third-party payment processors)
• Subscription information and plan preferences
1.6 Incident Reports
• Reports made by you regarding individuals, businesses, or organisations.
1.7 Usage Data
• Information about how you use the platform, including device details, IP address, login information, and user preferences.
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2. How We Collect Your Information
We collect your personal information through the following methods:
2.1 Account Registration
When you create an account on the VettingMate platform, we collect personal details such as your name, date of birth, contact details, and any other information required to complete the registration process.
2.2 Background Check Requests
When you request a background check, we collect relevant personal and professional information necessary to complete the check, such as employment history, criminal records, and education credentials.
2.3 Biometric Data
We may collect biometric data (such as fingerprints or facial recognition) to verify your identity when you request identity verification or background checks.
2.4 Incident Reporting
If you submit an incident report about an individual, business, or organisation, we will collect the details you provide about the reported incident.
2.5 Device and Usage Information
When you access the VettingMate platform, we automatically collect information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, and browsing behaviour. This helps us improve the user experience.
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3. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect from you for the following purposes:
3.1 Providing Services
• To conduct background checks and identity verification.
• To process your payments and manage subscriptions.
• To generate reports and clearances for you to share with potential employers, business partners, or authorities.
• To process and store incident reports and other relevant data.
3.2 Communication
• To communicate with you about your account, service requests, and any updates related to your use of the platform.
• To send you promotional emails (with your consent), newsletters, or service-related notifications.
• To respond to inquiries or requests you make to our support team.
3.3 Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• To comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, including African data protection regulations such as the NDPR (Nigeria), POPIA (South Africa), the Data Protection Act, 2019 (Kenya), and the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Ghana).
• To comply with law enforcement requests or legal proceedings, if necessary.
3.4 Service Improvement
• To analyse trends and user behaviour to improve the platform and user experience.
• To prevent fraudulent activities or security breaches.
3.5 Sharing Data
• To share information with third-party service providers that assist us in operating the platform (e.g., payment processors, email services, or data storage).
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4. Sharing Your Information
We understand that privacy is a critical concern, and we do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties. However, we may share your personal information in the following circumstances:
4.1 With Service Providers
We may share your personal information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating the platform, processing payments, providing customer support, or improving our services. These third parties are obligated to protect your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
4.2 Legal Compliance
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority. This includes complying with regulatory requirements in your jurisdiction or responding to legal requests for information.
4.3 Consent
We may share your personal information with third parties (such as prospective employers) when you provide explicit consent for us to do so. This includes sending your background check report, references, or identity verification results to third parties.
4.4 Business Transfers
In the event that VettingMate undergoes a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal data.
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5. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. If you decide to delete your account, we will retain your personal data for a reasonable period of time to comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes.
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6. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
6.1 Right to Access
You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
6.2 Right to Rectification
If your personal data is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request corrections.
6.3 Right to Erasure
You can request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.
6.4 Right to Object to Processing
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing or other purposes.
6.5 Right to Data Portability
You may request that your personal data be transferred to another service provider in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected].
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7. Data Security
We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement reasonable physical, electronic, and administrative measures to protect it from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. While we strive to protect your personal information, please be aware that no security system is completely foolproof, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.
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8. International Data Transfers
VettingMate operates in multiple jurisdictions, and as such, your personal data may be transferred to, processed, and stored in countries outside of your home country. These countries may have different data protection laws, but we ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect your personal data in compliance with applicable laws.
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9. Children’s Privacy
VettingMate does not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under the age of 18. If we learn that we have collected personal data from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us at [email protected].
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10. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will post the updated policy on this page and update the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal data.
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11. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal data, please contact us at:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: [Insert Contact Number]
• Address: [Insert Physical Address]
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By using the VettingMate platform, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your personal data as outlined in this Privacy Policy.