Privacy Policy – ArcadiaFinance.co.za v. 15.5.2024

General 

Arcadia Finance is a Finland-based service assisting in obtaining loans. We forward your loan application to a loan intermediary, which then competes with various banks and financial companies on your behalf. Arcadia Finance promotes loan intermediary services, including but not limited to: MyLoan.co.za. Moreover, we facilitate your loan application process by comparing diverse banks and financial companies and offering valuable financial insights.

Arcadia Finance is a brand owned and managed by a Finnish company called Draivi Media Oy. Draivi Media Oy is dedicated to safeguarding the privacy of users of the https://www.arcadiafinance.co.za/ website. This commitment aligns with the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), the Finnish Data Protection Act (1050/2018) and other relevant laws such as the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) elucidates the nature of information we gather when you engage with our Service, our approach to utilizing such data, and your rights concerning this data’s storage and management.

The primary intent of this Policy is to offer clarity about the kinds of information we extract from our website’s users (“user,” “you”), the methodologies applied in processing this data, and circumstances under which this data might be disclosed to third parties. Our practices concerning cookies utilized on our platform and third-party websites are also covered in detail. It’s imperative for you to diligently peruse this Privacy Policy. Engaging with our website implies your assent to the terms enshrined in this Policy and the processing of your personal data in line with its provisions.

When you avail of our Service, you are thereby endorsing the stipulations of this Policy. Your engagement also signifies your explicit consent allowing us to accumulate, handle, and disclose your data, mirroring the guidelines of this Policy. Should you be disinclined to assent to these conditions, it would render you ineligible for our marketing surveys, research activities, contests, and competitions.

It’s pivotal to note that this Privacy Policy doesn’t extend to independent services, including third-party services to which data might be shared in adherence to the stipulations of this Policy.

In this Privacy Policy, we will cover the following:

1. What Information and Data We Collect

2. How We Collect Information

3. How We Use Collected Information

4. With Whom We Share Information and Why

5. How Long We Retain Information

6. Direct Marketing

7. Special Note on Children’s Privacy

8. How We Protect Data

9. Updates or Changes to the Privacy Policy

10. Cookies

11. Contact Information

1. What Information We Collect?

Data You Provide to Us & Personal Information We may request information from you that can be used to identify you, especially in connection with the marketing surveys, research, marketing contests, and competitions we offer. Such information may include your IP address, timestamp, device data, source, email address, first name, last name, gender, date of birth, address, postal code, city, phone number, ID number, and all answers you provide to changing questions.

Data We Gather Automatically We collect certain information about you automatically when you use our Service. Such information cannot be linked to your personal data. Non-personal data includes, but is not limited to, information about the device you use, browser version details, other technical information, usage statistics, and information about the services that led you to our Service. For example, we may record language versions, visit times, and link clicks.

2. How We Collect Information and Legal Basis

We collect personal data that you provide personally and automatically obtained data from your device using commonly used tools in the industry, such as cookies, identifiers, web analytics tools, and similar technologies.

We may collect information about your device through cookies. We may store and retain data collected through cookies for the purposes specified below.

You can block the use of cookies in your web browser or operating system, but this may affect the usability and user experience of our Service. We use data collected through cookies and similar technologies to improve the quality and design of the Service. These technologies, for example, allow you to avoid entering your username, password, and other personal choices each time you use the Service. We may personalize your user experience, track your usage, and create usage statistics for your use of the Service.

Basis for Collecting Your Data Basis of Processing – We process your personal data on the grounds of your consent, contractual obligations, legal compliance, or our legitimate interests.

3. How We Use Collected Information

  • We respond to your questions, feedback, or inquiries.
  • For direct marketing, telemarketing, and email marketing as described below.
  • We target and personalize our offers and ads.
  • We might communicate with you (via email, phone, etc.).
  • We resolve disputes and monitor our practices, such as investigating possible misuse, in accordance with current practices, laws, and regulations.
  • We conduct user research, technical diagnostics, analysis, and statistics.
  • We provide additional services and special offers that are of interest to you.
  • We detect, prevent, and address fraud and technical issues.

4. With Whom We Share Information and Why

Service Providers We share your data, including personal data, with our partners and third-party service providers who are authorized to use the data for the purposes described above or with partners who provide services to us (e.g., customer service, campaign execution, marketing support, technical support, analysis, etc.).

If you have provided us with your email address (or other contact information), we may share it with our marketing partners or other partners so they can send you updates about campaigns and offers. Data will be shared to the extent necessary to provide the services described in this Privacy Policy. By using the services, you accept that your personal data may be stored, used, and disclosed to reliable third parties under the terms set out in this Privacy Policy.

Personal data may be transferred outside the European Economic Area. If the EU Commission has not determined, in accordance with the directives of the European Parliament and the Council, that in a country located outside the EU or EEA area, where personal data is transferred, an adequate level of data protection is ensured, the transfer of personal data outside the EU and EEA areas will be subject to the EU Commission’s approved model contract clauses.

Other Data Sharing We may share your data, including personal data, if requested by authorities through proper legal procedures. Or if other legal technical matters require it, such as copyright or other rights, or if we have reason to suspect fraud or other criminal activity, or if the safety and protection of individuals or property require it. Or if our practices or services are abused, or if legal or regulatory compliance otherwise requires it. In such cases, we may use or waive any legal rights or responsibilities.

Partners and Corporate Acquisitions We may share your data, including personal data, with our parent company, subcontractors, partners, or other affiliated entities. We may also share data in the context of a significant corporate acquisition (e.g., if a significant portion of our business is sold to another company or merged with another business). In such cases, the Privacy Policy of the acquirer or new partner will also apply to your data.

5. How Long We Retain Information

We will store your personal data for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. In general, data is stored until it is no longer needed to provide services to you or to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. However, data may be stored for longer periods if required by law, for example, to resolve disputes, prevent fraud or abuse, enforce agreements, or comply with our legal obligations.

6. Direct Marketing

We may use your data to send you offers, newsletters, or other marketing materials by email, SMS, phone, or other electronic means, subject to applicable law. We may also share your data with our partners for marketing purposes, as described in this Privacy Policy.

You can unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link included in our marketing messages or by contacting us using the contact information provided in Section 11. However, please note that even if you opt out of receiving marketing communications, we may still send you important administrative messages, such as service updates or security notifications.

7. Special Note on Children’s Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. If you are a parent or legal guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us using the contact information provided in Section 10, and we will take steps to delete the child’s personal information from our systems.

8. How We Protect Data

We take the security of your data seriously and have implemented various security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include but are not limited to, encryption, pseudonymization, access controls, and regular security assessments.

9. Updates or Changes to the Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our data processing practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes to this Privacy Policy by posting the revised Privacy Policy on our website or by other means as required by law. The revised Privacy Policy will take effect as of the date of publication. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

10. Cookies

What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?

In compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), our website requests explicit consent from our users for the use of cookies and similar tracking technologies.

When you first visit our website, a cookie consent banner will be displayed. This banner will explain the use of cookies and ask for your explicit consent to use non-essential cookies. You will have the option to accept all cookies, refuse non-essential cookies, or customize your cookie preferences. Detailed information about each type of cookie will be available for you to make an informed decision.

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by accessing our Cookie Settings page. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

When you access our service, your browser saves a cookie file on your device. Cookies are functional tools utilized for a myriad of purposes. Additionally, similar technologies like web beacons or pixels might also be used. Cookies can enhance your experience with the Service by retaining your preferred settings, passwords, and other customizations. They also enable more precise ad targeting based on your interests. More insights about cookies can be found at www.allaboutcookies.org .

The law requires asking for consent to use cookies in cases that may affect a user’s privacy. Cookies cannot harm your software or devices, nor can they read other information from your device’s hard drive or spread viruses.

You have the option to delete our cookies via your browser’s settings. Nevertheless, be aware that deactivating cookies might compromise the functionality and overall experience of our Service. Beyond cookies, we also employ other aforementioned technologies to bolster the quality and layout of the Service. With these technologies in place, you can, for instance, bypass the need to input your credentials and personalized preferences every time you utilize the Service. We might also customize your user journey, monitor your activity, and compile usage statistics from your interactions with the Service.

Reasons Behind Our Usage of Cookies and Similar Technologies

We may gather anonymous data via cookies and these technologies concerning your service interaction, your device specifics, browser details, and visit pattern. For instance, we might log details such as your visit’s timestamp and the links you engage with.

We might also permit third-party providers (entities managing specific services for us like customer support, marketing, analytics, advertisement tracking, or helpdesk) to showcase ads within our Service. These third-party providers might leverage similar technologies to extract non-personal data. We never share your personal data with third parties unless explicitly highlighted in this Privacy Policy.


What benefits do cookies offer? 

Cookies can store information during a visit and between visits. This is sometimes essential from the perspective of the website’s technical operation. Often, cookies are also used to enhance the usability of the site as well as to monitor and track user activity between page loads.

Cookie Information and Cookie Settings

10.1 Necessary cookies

CookiePurpose
InternalThese cookies are crucial for enabling core functionalities of our website. They ensure security, privacy, and consistent user experience by maintaining session integrity, authentication status, and user preferences. Necessary cookies do not collect personal data beyond what is required for operating the site and do not track user activity across the internet.Internal: Includes cookies that manage user sessions, site security features, and ensure that user interface preferences (like language or location settings) are remembered across sessions.

10.2 Analytical cookies

CookiePurpose
CookiePurpose
MicrosoftUtilized to gather insights into user behavior through features like heatmaps and session recordings, which help identify areas of the website where users spend more time and interact more intensively. This information is critical for optimizing site layout, improving user interfaces, and ensuring a seamless user experience. These analytics also support decision-making on website enhancements and content strategy adjustments.
GoogleUsed to collect and analyze how visitors interact with our site, tracking actions like page views and clicks. This data helps us enhance website performance, tailor user experience, and optimize our services. It also informs our marketing strategies by assessing ad effectiveness and user engagement.
Visual Website OptimizerVWO cookies are used to conduct A/B testing and personalize user experiences on our website. These cookies help us understand how different versions of a page perform in terms of user engagement, allowing us to optimize web content and layout based on actual user responses. They also enable us to deliver tailored content to users based on their interactions and preferences, enhancing the usability and effectiveness of our website. These insights are crucial for making data-driven decisions to improve overall website functionality and user satisfaction.

10.3 Marketing Cookies

CookiePurpose
FacebookThese cookies are used to deliver personalized advertising from Facebook Inc. based on your browsing behavior and interactions on our website. They help us measure and improve the effectiveness of our ads, ensuring that you see the most relevant offers and promotions. These cookies also facilitate remarketing efforts to users who have visited our site, enhancing our engagement with potential customers.
GoogleThese cookies enable us to show you tailored advertisements on Google platforms based on your previous interactions and visits to our website. They assist in optimizing our ad campaigns, measuring their performance, and understanding user preferences to improve ad relevance. Additionally, they support remarketing efforts to reach visitors who have shown interest in our services, enhancing conversion rates and marketing effectiveness.
CriteoCriteo cookies are utilized to display personalized advertisements to users based on past browsing behavior on our website. These cookies help analyze ad performance and user engagement, allowing us to refine our advertising strategies for better relevance and impact. They also facilitate dynamic retargeting, aiming to re-engage users who have shown interest in specific products or services, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.
MicrosoftThese cookies enable us to show you tailored advertisements on Microsoft platforms based on your previous interactions and visits to our website. They assist in optimizing our ad campaigns, measuring their performance, and understanding user preferences to improve ad relevance. Additionally, they support remarketing efforts to reach visitors who have shown interest in our services, enhancing conversion rates and marketing effectiveness
RedditReddit cookies are utilized to deliver personalized advertising experiences based on your browsing behavior and interactions on our website. These cookies help us track the effectiveness of our ads on Reddit, allowing us to tailor our campaigns for maximum relevance and impact. They support our efforts in targeting specific user segments, enhancing the precision of our marketing strategies and increasing engagement through relevant ad placements on the Reddit platform.
TiktokThese cookies are used to deliver personalized advertising from TikTok based on your browsing behavior and interactions on our website. They help us measure and improve the effectiveness of our ads, ensuring that you see the most relevant offers and promotions. These cookies also facilitate remarketing efforts to users who have visited our site, enhancing our engagement with potential customers.
TaboolaTaboola cookies are utilized to display personalized advertisements to users based on past browsing behavior on our website. These cookies help analyze ad performance and user engagement, allowing us to refine our advertising strategies for better relevance and impact. They also facilitate dynamic retargeting, aiming to re-engage users who have shown interest in specific products or services, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of our marketing efforts

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data processing practices, or if you wish to exercise your rights regarding your personal data, please contact us at:

Draivi Media Oy Address: Draivi Media Oy, Runeberginkatu 5B, 00100, Helsinki, FINLAND

Contact person: oula@draivimedia.fi 

You also have the right to contact the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman, Street address: Lintulahdenkuja 4, 00530 Helsinki, Postal address: PL 800, 00531 Helsinki, Finland , Switchboard: +358 29 566 6700 and E-mail (registry): tietosuoja(at)om.fi OR to your local office, https://registrations.inforegulator.org.za/landing , the Information Regulator of South Africa.

This Privacy Policy was last updated on 15th of May 2024.