Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for ZiClassifieds

Last Updated: 6 July 2025

Pro Outsource LTD ("we," "us," or "ZiClassifieds"), a company registered in England and Wales (Company Number: 16166040), operates the ZiClassifieds platform, including our website (https://ziclassifieds.com) and mobile application (collectively, the "Platform"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR), and other applicable data protection laws worldwide.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal data when you use the Platform to post classified ads, discover opportunities, promote businesses, engage in transactions, or interact with our payment processing and verification services. By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

1. Data Controller

Pro Outsource LTD is the data controller responsible for your personal data. Our registered office is located at:

Pro Outsource LTD
Unit 82a James Carter Road, Bury St. Edmunds, England, IP28 7DE
Email: [email protected]

For data protection inquiries, please contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected].

2. Personal Data We Collect

We collect and process the following types of personal data:

2.1. Data You Provide:

  • Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, username, password, and other details provided during account creation or verification.
  • User Content: Information in classified ads, listings, or messages, such as descriptions of goods, services, or business profiles.
  • Payment Information: Billing details (e.g., credit/debit card information, bank account details) for transactions, premium services (e.g., featured listings), or commissions, processed via third-party payment providers.
  • Verification Information: Identification documents, business registration details, or other data provided to verify your identity or trustworthiness as a buyer or seller.
  • Communications: Information you provide when contacting us (e.g., via [email protected]) or engaging with other users through the Platform.

2.2. Data Collected Automatically:

  • Usage Data: Information about your interactions with the Platform, such as pages visited, ads posted or viewed, and time spent on the Platform.
  • Device and Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and geolocation data (if enabled).
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Data collected via cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies to enhance functionality, analyze usage, or deliver personalized ads (see Section 8: Cookies).

2.3. Data from Third Parties:

  • Payment Processors: Transaction and billing information from third-party payment providers (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) when processing payments or commissions.
  • Verification Services: Data from third-party verification providers to confirm user identity or business legitimacy.
  • Analytics Providers: Aggregated data from tools like Google Analytics to understand Platform usage.

3. How We Use Your Personal Data

We process your personal data for the following purposes, based on the legal grounds outlined under UK/EU GDPR:

3.1. To Provide and Operate the Platform (Legal Basis: Contract):

  • Create and manage your account.
  • Facilitate posting, browsing, and managing classified ads or listings.
  • Process payments and commissions for transactions or premium services.
  • Verify the identity and trustworthiness of buyers and sellers using industry-standard methods.

3.2. To Facilitate Transactions (Legal Basis: Contract):

  • Enable communication between buyers and sellers for transactions.
  • Process and record payments and commissions, ensuring transparency as disclosed at the point of engagement.
  • Provide transaction history and receipts.

3.3. To Improve and Personalize the Platform (Legal Basis: Legitimate Interests):

  • Analyze usage data to enhance Platform functionality and user experience.
  • Deliver personalized content, such as relevant ads or recommendations.
  • Conduct analytics to understand user behavior and trends.

3.4. To Communicate with You (Legal Basis: Contract, Consent, Legitimate Interests):

  • Respond to inquiries, complaints, or support requests.
  • Send transactional emails (e.g., account verification, payment confirmations).
  • Send marketing communications (e.g., promotions, updates), where you have provided consent or where permitted under applicable law.

3.5. To Ensure Security and Compliance (Legal Basis: Legitimate Interests, Legal Obligation):

  • Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or illegal activities on the Platform.
  • Verify user identities to promote trust and safety.
  • Comply with legal obligations, such as tax reporting or responding to lawful requests from authorities.

3.6. To Protect Our Legal Rights (Legal Basis: Legitimate Interests):

  • Defend against legal claims or disputes.
  • Enforce our Terms and Conditions.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds under UK/EU GDPR:

  • Contract: To fulfill our contractual obligations to you, such as providing Platform services, processing payments, or facilitating transactions.
  • Consent: For optional activities, such as marketing communications or certain cookies, where you have given explicit consent.
  • Legitimate Interests: For activities like improving the Platform, preventing fraud, or personalizing content, where our interests are not overridden by your rights.
  • Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws, such as tax or data protection regulations.

5. Sharing Your Personal Data

We may share your personal data with the following parties, ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place:

5.1. Other Users: When you post ads or engage in transactions, certain data (e.g., username, listing details, contact information) is shared with other users to facilitate communication and transactions.

5.2. Third-Party Service Providers:

  • Payment Processors: We share payment information with providers like Stripe or PayPal to process transactions and commissions securely.
  • Verification Services: We share verification data with third-party providers to confirm user identities or business legitimacy.
  • Analytics and Marketing Providers: We share anonymized or aggregated data with tools like Google Analytics for usage analysis or marketing purposes.
  • Hosting and IT Providers: We use cloud services to store and process data securely.

5.3. Legal Authorities: We may disclose data to comply with legal obligations, respond to lawful requests (e.g., from law enforcement), or protect our rights in legal proceedings.

5.4. Business Transfers: If Pro Outsource LTD is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale, your data may be transferred to the acquiring entity, with notice provided where required.

We ensure that all third parties comply with data protection laws and use your data only for specified purposes. For international data transfers (e.g., to Zimbabwe or South Africa), we use safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses to ensure compliance with UK/EU GDPR.

6. International Data Transfers

As a global platform serving users in the UK, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the African diaspora, we may transfer your personal data to countries outside the UK or EU. We ensure that such transfers comply with UK/EU GDPR requirements, using mechanisms like:

  • Adequacy decisions (where applicable).
  • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office or European Commission.
  • Other safeguards to protect your data in jurisdictions with different data protection standards.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or to comply with legal obligations:

  • Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for up to 7 years after account closure to comply with tax and legal requirements.
  • Transaction Data: Retained for 7 years to comply with UK tax and financial regulations.
  • Verification Data: Retained for the duration of your account or as required for fraud prevention.
  • Usage Data: Retained for up to 3 years for analytics purposes, unless anonymized.
  • Marketing Data: Retained until you withdraw consent or opt out.

When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, pixel tags) to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and deliver personalized content. Categories include:

  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for Platform functionality (e.g., account login, payment processing).
  • Analytics Cookies: Track usage to improve the Platform (e.g., Google Analytics).
  • Marketing Cookies: Deliver personalized ads, where you have consented.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent tool. For more details, contact [email protected].

9. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK/EU GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data.
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal obligations.
  • Restriction: Request limited processing of your data in certain circumstances.
  • Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format.
  • Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests, including marketing.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing (e.g., marketing) at any time.
  • Automated Decision-Making: Not be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing, unless necessary for a contract.

To exercise these rights, contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected]. We will respond within one month, as required by law. If you are in the EU, you may also contact your local data protection authority.

10. Security of Your Data

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including:

  • Encryption of payment and verification data during transmission and storage.
  • Secure access controls for user accounts.
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

However, no system is completely secure. We are not liable for breaches caused by third-party payment processors or your failure to secure your account, except where required by law.

11. Refunds and Transaction Disputes

We process payments and earn commissions on transactions and premium services, as disclosed at the point of engagement. Our refund policy is as follows:

  • Refunds are limited to commissions earned by ZiClassifieds.
  • For disputes between buyers and sellers, we facilitate communication but are not responsible for resolving disputes or refunding amounts paid to sellers.
  • For UK buyer-UK seller transactions, UK consumer protection laws (e.g., Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013) apply.
  • For UK buyer-African seller transactions, you must exercise due diligence, as legal protections may vary. We make reasonable efforts to verify users but cannot guarantee transaction outcomes.

To request a refund of commissions, contact [email protected] within 14 days of the transaction.

12. Children’s Privacy

The Platform is not intended for users under 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have collected data from a child, please contact us at [email protected] to request deletion.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a notice on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected]. You may also lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ or, if in the EU, with your local supervisory authority.

15. Contact Information

For questions or inquiries about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Pro Outsource LTD
Unit 82a James Carter Road, Bury St. Edmunds, England, IP28 7DE
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://ziclassifieds.com

By using ZiClassifieds, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Privacy Policy.