Maré & Associates
Effective date: 29 September 2026
1. Our commitment to your privacy
Maré & Associates respects your privacy and is committed to processing personal information lawfully, reasonably and securely.
This Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, store and share personal information when you use the Philip Maré & Associates website, contact us, download resources, purchase publications or otherwise interact with us.
We process personal information in accordance with applicable South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).
2. Who is responsible for your information?
For purposes of POPIA, the responsible party in relation to personal information processed through this website and our business activities is:
Maré & Associates
South Africa
Website: philipmareassociates.co.za
Email: philip@philipmareassociates.co.za
Telephone: 072 494 9629
Philip Maré trading as Maré & Associates (sole proprietor)
5 Ostend Avenue, Thornhill Estate, Modderfontein
South Africa
Questions or requests concerning personal information may be directed to the email address above.
3. What information may we collect?
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information such as:
- your name and surname;
- organisation or employer name;
- email address;
- telephone number;
- billing details;
- information supplied when you contact us or submit an enquiry;
- information necessary to process and record a purchase;
- details of the product or licence purchased;
- transaction and order references;
- download and order-access information;
- information supplied when requesting client pricing, organisational licensing or notification of a future publication;
- information supplied when downloading a free resource, where information is requested;
- technical information ordinarily generated when using a website, such as IP address, browser/device information and website activity where applicable; and
- communications between you and Maré & Associates.
We aim to collect only information reasonably required for the purpose for which it is processed.
4. Payment information
Online payments may be processed through Yoco or another payment provider identified at checkout.
Payment providers process payment information in accordance with their own terms and privacy practices. Maré & Associates does not need to receive or store your full payment-card number, PIN or card security code in order to fulfil your publication order.
Yoco maintains its own privacy policy governing information processed through its services.
5. Why do we process personal information?
We may process personal information where reasonably necessary to:
- respond to enquiries;
- provide labour-law and related professional services;
- process publication and resource orders;
- administer customer accounts and licences;
- process and verify payments;
- deliver digital publications and other purchased products;
- provide download links and restore legitimate customer access where appropriate;
- issue receipts and transactional communications;
- administer single-user and organisational publication licences;
- provide requested free resources;
- respond to technical or customer-support enquiries;
- administer existing-client pricing where applicable;
- notify a person about a publication or product where that person has requested such notification;
- maintain appropriate financial, transaction and business records;
- prevent or investigate fraud, misuse or unauthorised distribution;
- maintain and secure our website;
- comply with legal and regulatory obligations; and
- protect or enforce our legitimate rights.
We will not use information for an incompatible purpose merely because we possess it.
6. Marketing communications
Purchasing a publication, contacting Maré & Associates or downloading a resource does not automatically mean that you have agreed to receive unrestricted marketing communications.
Where electronic direct marketing is undertaken, Maré & Associates will do so in accordance with applicable law.
Where consent is required, an appropriate consent mechanism will be used. Where applicable law permits communication with an existing customer concerning our own similar products or services, the recipient will be given a reasonable opportunity to object or unsubscribe.
Marketing communications will provide an appropriate method to opt out.
Transactional communications necessary to fulfil a purchase, deliver a product, provide requested information or administer a customer relationship are not treated as optional marketing communications.
7. When may we share personal information?
The current website uses Afrihost hosting, WordPress, WooCommerce for orders and download administration, Yoco for payment processing and UpdraftPlus for website backups. Enquiries are currently handled through direct email and telephone links.
We do not sell personal information.
We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to service providers assisting us with functions such as:
- payment processing;
- website hosting;
- e-commerce;
- digital-product delivery.
- email delivery;
- website security;
- backups;
- IT support;
- accounting or administration; and
- professional advice.
We may also disclose information where required or permitted by law, or where reasonably necessary to protect legal rights.
Service providers should receive only information reasonably necessary for the relevant service and are expected to handle information securely and lawfully.
8. Yoco and payment processing
Where Yoco is used to process a transaction, relevant transaction and customer information may be processed by Yoco and its authorised service providers for purposes including payment processing, transaction administration, security, fraud prevention and compliance.
Yoco states that it uses service providers under contractual obligations concerning the security and permitted use of personal information.
Maré & Associates will retain appropriate order and transaction records but should not store sensitive authentication information such as a customer's PIN or card security code.
9. Cookies and website technology
The website may use cookies and similar technologies necessary for functions such as:
- maintaining website sessions;
- remembering shopping-cart or checkout information;
- security;
- digital-product delivery.
If non-essential analytics, advertising or similar technologies are introduced, this notice and any required consent mechanism will be updated to reflect that configuration.
Blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the website, checkout or customer account functionality from operating correctly.
The website uses WordPress and WooCommerce. Essential cookies may support login, shopping-cart, checkout and security functions. Optional WooCommerce order-attribution tracking is disabled. No separate analytics or advertising plugin is active in the current configuration. The free resources can be downloaded without submitting a form or email address.
10. How long do we keep information?
Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or for a longer period where required or permitted by law.
This may include retention necessary for:
- accounting and tax records;
- transaction records;
- licence administration;
- customer support;
- dispute resolution;
- fraud prevention;
- legal compliance; and
- the establishment, exercise or defence of legal rights.
Information that no longer needs to be retained should be deleted, destroyed or de-identified as appropriate.
11. Security
Maré & Associates takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, interference, alteration or disclosure.
Measures may include, where appropriate:
- access controls;
- secure passwords and administrator controls;
- HTTPS/SSL;
- appropriate website and plugin maintenance;
- controlled backups;
- secure payment processing;
- limiting access to people who require it; and
- using reputable service providers.
No internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We nevertheless take reasonable steps appropriate to the information and the risks involved.
POPIA requires responsible parties to implement appropriate and reasonable technical and organisational safeguards for personal information.
12. Your rights
Subject to applicable law, you may request:
- confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you;
- access to personal information held about you;
- correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information;
- deletion or destruction where legally appropriate;
- information about the processing of your personal information; or
- that we cease particular processing where you have a lawful right to object.
You may also object to electronic direct marketing and withdraw consent where processing depends upon consent.
Some information cannot immediately be deleted where Maré & Associates is legally entitled or required to retain it, for example certain transaction, accounting or legal records.
Requests may be directed to:
philip@philipmareassociates.co.za
We may need to verify identity before providing access to or changing personal information.
13. Complaints
If you have a privacy concern, please contact Maré & Associates first so that we have an opportunity to address it.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) concerning the processing of personal information.
Information Regulator South Africa
14. Third-party websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.
Maré & Associates does not control the privacy practices of independent third parties. Their own privacy notices and terms apply when you use their websites or services.
15. Children's information
The website and professional publications are intended principally for employers, managers, HR practitioners and other adult professional users.
We do not intentionally use the website to collect personal information from children for commercial purposes.
16. Changes to this Privacy Notice
We may update this Privacy Notice where our website, services, technology or legal obligations change.
The current version published on the website will apply from its stated effective date.
17. Contact
Questions concerning this Privacy Notice or the processing of personal information may be directed to:
Maré & Associates
Email: philip@philipmareassociates.co.za
Telephone: 072 494 9629
Website: philipmareassociates.co.za
5 Ostend Avenue, Thornhill Estate, Modderfontein