Last updated: 23 October 2026
This privacy policy explains what personal information The Understanding Method collects, why we collect it, how we keep it safe, and what your rights are under South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). We have written it in plain language. If anything is unclear, please contact us.
1. Who we are
The Understanding Method is an online study-skills course with optional tutoring, run by Horizons Software Pty Ltd, 85 Amelia Road, Drumblade, Midvaal, Gauteng. For POPIA purposes we are the “responsible party” for your information.
Our Information Officer is Lin Horn. You can reach us at hello@understandingmethod.com.
2. What information we collect
We only collect what we need. Depending on how you use the site, this may include:
- Free study assessment: the answers to the 10 statements, a parent’s first name and email address, and the learner’s grade.
- Course account: name, email address, password (stored in encrypted form), and the learner’s progress, quiz results and drill work.
- Purchases: name, email address and what was bought. Payments are handled by PayFast; we never see or store card or bank details.
- Tutoring (One-on-one plan): session times, notes and written feedback from the tutor.
- Messages: anything you send us by email or through the website.
- Technical information: your IP address, browser type and pages visited, used to keep the site secure and working.
3. Learners under 18
Most of our learners are under 18. POPIA treats information about children with extra care, so we only create a learner account or process a learner’s information with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. Parents sign our consent form before a learner starts the course, and learners under 18 should use a parent’s email address for the free assessment.
A parent or guardian can ask to see, correct or delete their child’s information at any time.
4. Why we use your information
- To send the assessment result and the study tips you asked for.
- To give access to the course, track progress and show before-and-after results.
- To arrange tutoring sessions and give feedback.
- To process payments and keep the records the law requires.
- To answer your questions and send important notices about your account.
- To keep the website secure and improve the course.
We will only send you study tips and news if you agreed to receive them. Every email has an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.
5. Who we share it with
We never sell your information. We share it only with trusted service providers who help us run the course, and only as much as they need:
- Afrihost (South Africa): website and email hosting.
- PayFast (South Africa): payments.
- MailerLite: sending the assessment results and and study tips to people who asked for them.
- Bunny Stream: playing the course videos.
- Wordfence: website security.
- Google Drive: secure website backups.
- Tutors working with us, for learners on the One-on-one plan.
Some of these providers store information outside South Africa. Where that happens, we use providers that are bound by data protection laws or agreements giving a level of protection similar to POPIA.
We may also share information if the law requires it.
6. How we keep it safe
We use secure connections (https), strong passwords with two-factor login for staff, security monitoring, regular updates and backups. Only people who need the information to do their work can see it.
7. How long we keep it
We keep information only as long as we need it. Assessment details are kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them. Course and tutoring records are kept while the learner has access to the course and for up to 12 months afterwards. Payment records are kept for as long as tax law requires. After that, we delete the information or make it anonymous.
8. Cookies
Our website uses a small number of cookies, which are tiny files saved by your browser. Some are needed for logging in and for the shopping cart. Others come from the video player and email sign-up forms. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, but parts of the site may then not work properly. Our emails show us whether they were opened and which links were clicked, so we can improve them. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email.
9. Your rights
Under POPIA you have the right to:
- ask what personal information we hold about you, and get a copy of it;
- ask us to correct or update it;
- ask us to delete it, where we have no legal reason to keep it;
- object to us using it, including for marketing;
- withdraw your consent at any time;
- complain to the Information Regulator.
To use any of these rights, email hello@understandingmethod.com. We may need to confirm who you are first, and we will reply within a reasonable time.
If you are not happy with how we handled your information, please contact us first so we can try to put it right. You can also contact the Information Regulator (South Africa): website inforegulator.org.za, email enquiries@inforegulator.org.za, phone 010 023 5200.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed. If we make important changes, we will let account holders know by email.