This policy explains how Credit Watch (“we”, “us”) collects, uses and protects personal information when you visit our website, sign in to the platform, or use the services we provide to lending businesses and their customers. We handle personal information in line with the Data Protection Act.
1. Who we are
Credit Watch is a loan management platform. Lending businesses (“lenders”) use it to manage clients, loans, repayments, collections, accounting and reporting. For details of how to reach us, see Contact us below.
2. Information we collect
From people who use our website and platform
- Account details: name, email address, phone number, job title, company name and password (stored in encrypted form).
- Subscription and billing details: plan, invoices and payment references. We do not store full card numbers.
- Usage and device information: IP address, browser type, pages visited, sign-in times and activity records that help us keep the service secure.
- Support messages: what you send us in tickets, email or chat, including attachments.
Entered by lenders about their customers
- Identity and contact details, including national ID or passport number, date of birth, address and next of kin.
- Employment, income and affordability information.
- Bank and mobile-money details used for disbursements and repayments.
- Loan applications, contracts, repayment history, arrears and collections records.
- Documents and photographs uploaded to support an application.
- Results of credit-bureau and verification checks, where the lender uses them.
3. How we use information
- To provide, secure and support the platform, and to create and manage accounts.
- To process subscriptions, payments and invoices.
- To send service messages such as sign-in codes, repayment reminders on behalf of lenders, security alerts and product notices.
- To detect fraud and abuse, and to meet legal and regulatory duties, including anti-money-laundering requirements.
- To understand how the platform is used so we can improve it, but only as described in the Cookies section where consent is needed.
We rely on one or more of the following: your consent, the need to perform a contract with you, our legal obligations, and our legitimate interest in running a safe and reliable service.
4. Lenders and borrowers
Each lender decides why and how its customers’ information is used. For that information the lender is the “data controller” and we act as its “data processor”, handling it only on the lender’s instructions. If you are a borrower and want to see, correct or delete your information, please contact the lender you borrowed from first. We will help the lender respond. For account and website information described in this policy, we are the controller.
5. Who we share it with
We do not sell personal information. We share it only where needed to run the service:
- Service providers that host our systems, send SMS and email, process payments and mobile money, or provide analytics and support tools. They may only use the information to provide their service to us.
- Credit reference bureaus and verification services when a lender chooses to use them.
- Regulators, courts and law-enforcement bodies where the law requires it.
- A successor business if we are ever merged with, or acquired by, another company. We would tell you first.
6. Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. We use:
- Essential cookies that keep you signed in, protect forms against forgery and remember your session. The platform cannot work without them.
- Preference cookies that remember choices, such as your cookie choice on this site.
- Analytics, personalisation and advertising cookies, only if you click “Accept All” on the cookie notice.
You can click “Reject All” at any time, or clear your cookies in your browser settings, and the notice will ask you again. Rejecting optional cookies does not affect your use of the platform.
7. How long we keep it
We keep account information for as long as the account is open and for a reasonable period afterwards to meet legal, tax and audit duties and to settle disputes. Lenders decide how long to keep their customers’ records, subject to the law. When information is no longer needed we delete it or make it anonymous.
8. Security
We use encrypted connections, access controls, role-based permissions, audit logs and regular backups to protect information. No system is completely secure, so please use a strong, unique password and keep it private. If we learn of a breach that affects you, we will tell you and the authorities as the law requires.
9. Your rights
You may ask us to:
- tell you what personal information we hold about you and give you a copy;
- correct information that is wrong or incomplete;
- delete information we no longer need, or restrict how we use it;
- stop using your information for a purpose you object to, and withdraw consent you gave earlier.
To use these rights, contact us as shown below. If you are not satisfied with our answer, you may complain to the Zambian data protection authority, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
10. Transfers outside Zambia
Some of our providers, for example cloud hosting or email delivery, may process information in other countries. When that happens we take steps to make sure the information is protected to a standard the Data Protection Act requires.
11. Children
The platform is for adults and businesses. We do not knowingly collect information about children. If you think a child’s information has been entered by mistake, please contact us and we will remove it.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed. If the changes are important, we will notify you on the website or by email.
13. Contact us
Questions about this policy, or a request about your information?
- Email: support@creditwatch.online