Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MatricMentor ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service. This policy complies with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Full name
• Email address
• Grade level (10, 11, or 12)
• Parent/guardian email (optional)

Usage Information

We automatically collect:

• Questions you ask and AI responses
• Subject selections
• Date and time of interactions
• Number of questions asked per day
• Progress and performance data

Payment Information

Payment details are processed securely by PayFast. We do not store your credit card information. We only receive confirmation of successful payments and subscription status.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and maintain the Service
• Process your subscription and payments
• Personalize your learning experience
• Track your progress and generate insights
• Send you important updates and notifications
• Provide parent/guardian reports (if authorized)
• Improve our AI tutoring technology
• Comply with legal obligations
• Prevent fraud and ensure security

4. Information Sharing

We do NOT sell your personal information. We may share information with:

Service Providers

• Supabase: Database and authentication services
• OpenAI: AI tutoring technology (questions and responses only)
• PayFast: Payment processing
• Vercel: Hosting infrastructure

Parents/Guardians

If you provide a parent email, we will share progress reports and activity summaries with them.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or property.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/SSL)
• Secure database storage with access controls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Password hashing and secure authentication

However, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we must retain it for legal or legitimate business purposes.

7. Your Rights (POPIA Compliance)

Under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Object: Object to certain data processing activities
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for parent reports or marketing emails

To exercise these rights, contact us at hello@matricmentor.co.za

8. Children's Privacy

Our Service is designed for matric learners (typically ages 15-19). Users under 18 should have parental consent before creating an account. We encourage parents to monitor their children's use of the Service.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze usage patterns
• Improve Service performance

You can disable cookies in your browser, but this may affect Service functionality.

10. Third-Party Links

Our Service may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through the Service. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect the most recent revision.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, contact us:

Email: hello@matricmentor.co.za

Information Officer: For POPIA-related requests, contact our Information Officer at the email above.