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(MoneyNewsWire.Net, August 18, 2015 ) Johannesburg -- According to the information office of Fitzanne Estates the POPI Act, Protection of Personal information Act requires the property industry to comply or face ramifications. He comments, "The POPI Act protects individuals and promotes the rights to privacy.
For instance, the act protects information that is personal for example, contact details, demographic information, personal history such criminal and employment history, biometric details and opinions of individuals as well as educational records".
He explained the importance of first getting approval before, using any personal information. "People have to give their consent before their private information is used; this is going to affect direct marketers.
He noted that personal information is a need to carry out many transactions and that property agent's deal with client's personal information on a daily basis. He comments, "Identity documents and bank statements are a must have to carry out a majority of transactions.
When the POPI Act is in full swing, it's going to be necessary to make sure that information that is received and being processed is safely stored. Direct email marketing is going to be affected by the POPI Act. Using client's data like emails and sending them any marketing related emails without their consent or authorisation can result in a lawsuit."
The information officer also added that information must only be used solely for its specific purposes. "Property agents must be cautious and safe guide their clients information." Research states that the Act promotes transparency when dealing with any collected data and the way the information is processed.
This Act is set to boost the customer confidence in any organisation. Data that is not needed must be removed, overall this will help business to have a reliable database. He added, "Property companies must comply to avoid problems that might arise due to failure to adhere to the Protection of Personal information Act. It's necessary for them to have a set plan and objective to make sure that all the employees understand the POPI Act.
Hence, it's going to be vital and compulsory to educate all staff members; training workshops should be organised. It's important to be up to date with the current news and information that is relevant to the property sector."
He noted, "Failure to adhere to the regulations can result in property companies being sued. Loss of customers/business, lawsuits and a penalty that can reach R 10 million can be the consequences a company might face.
Other countries have their versions of the POPI Act or a similar law that protects privacy rights. The Act in South Africa was passed on 13 November in 2013 and some of the sections of the Act came to effect in April 2014. After the commencement date is announced a year will be allocated and it can be extended to a three-year grace period."
He noted the exclusions that are in the Act, "In Section 4 of the POPI Act it does not apply in cases such as Journalism under a code of ethics. Judiciary functions, state functions that include criminal prosecutions and national security, pure household and personal activity and sufficiently de-identified information." Fitzanne Estates is a property management company that offers the best property management services and fees Solution. For more information visit http://www.fitzanne.co.za/
About Fitzanne Estaes:
Fitzanne Estates is a property management, letting, sales company that is based in Johannesburg and Pretoria. It has been in the property industry since 1982. It has a management portfolio containing more than 6000 units. The property firm strictly adheres to all the necessary legal requirements concerning property law in South Africa.Their main purpose is to sufficiently administer property to the benefits of landlords the Body Corporate and the Non-profit Company.
Fitzanne Estaes
Daphne Fitzgerald
082 570 3858
info@fitzanne.co.za
Source: EmailWire.Com 
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