Privacy policy
Last updated 16 October 2026
This policy explains what personal information LoftHunter collects, why we need it, who helps us process it and what your rights are under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). We only collect what we need to run the auctions, and we never sell your information.
1. Who is responsible
LoftHunter (lofthunter.co.za) is the responsible party for your information. Our information officer can be reached at the contact details on our invoices.
2. What we collect
- Account: your name, email address and WhatsApp number.
- Billing (before your first bid): the name and address for your invoice, and an ID or company number if you choose to give one.
- Activity: your bids, watchlist, invoices and payment status.
- Seller applications: the details you send us on the Sell page.
- Technical: a login cookie that keeps you signed in, and basic server logs (such as error reports). We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
3. Why we use it
- To run your account and let you bid, watch birds and see your invoices.
- To send you emails you need: login links, outbid notices, closing reminders for birds you watch, invoices and payment reminders.
- To arrange payment, collection and delivery of birds you win.
- To prevent fraud and misuse, and to keep records the law requires (such as invoices for tax purposes).
We do not send marketing emails unless you have asked for them.
4. Who sees it
- Other bidders never see your name: bids are shown as "Buyer 8**7".
- The seller of a bird you win may receive your name and contact number, only to arrange the handover.
- Service providers that process information for us under contract: Supabase (database, login and file storage), Vercel (website hosting) and Resend (email delivery). To prepare bird photos and read pedigree documents we use remove.bg and Anthropic; these receive bird photos and pedigrees only, not your personal details.
- Authorities, if the law requires it.
5. Information stored outside South Africa
Our service providers store and process information on servers outside South Africa (for example in the European Union and the United States). We use established providers that protect information to a standard comparable to POPIA.
6. How long we keep it
- Your account information for as long as your account is open.
- Invoices and the related billing details for five years, as required for tax records.
- When you close your account we delete or anonymise the rest, unless we must keep it by law.
7. Security
Information is sent over encrypted connections. Access is limited by account: you only see your own bids, invoices and details, and only LoftHunter administrators can see customer records. Our bank details appear only on the invoice of the winning buyer.
8. Your rights
- Ask what information we hold about you, and get a copy.
- Correct it: most details can be changed under My account.
- Ask us to delete your account and information (except what we must keep by law).
- Object to how we use your information.
Contact us at the contact details on our invoices for any of these. If you are not happy with our answer, you may complain to the Information Regulator of South Africa (inforegulator.org.za).
9. Age
LoftHunter is for people aged 18 and older.
10. Changes
We may update this policy; the date at the top shows the latest version.