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Privacy policy

Privacy policy

  1. This Policy

This Policy is issued by Curves Europe B.V, Inc. on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries and its affiliates, identified as Controllers in the table in Section 13 below (collectively, “Curves”) and is addressed to individuals outside our organization with whom we interact, including visitors to our websites (our “Sites”), visitors to Curves Clubs that are independently owned by Curves Franchisees (“Curves Clubs”); members of Curves Clubs (“Members”), and any other recipients of our services (together, “you”). Defined terms used in this Policy are explained in Section 14 below.

Curves acknowledges the rights and obligations imposed on all parties in terms of the South African Protection of Personal Information Act (“POPIA”).  Curves shall use, process and store your personal information in terms of this Privacy Policy and in accordance with the provisions of POPIA.  

This Policy may be amended or updated from time to time to reflect changes in our practices with respect to the Processing of Personal Data, or changes in applicable law. We encourage you to read this Policy carefully, and to regularly check this page to review any changes we might make in accordance with the terms of this Policy.

  1. Processing your Personal Data

Collection of Personal Data: Curves collects Personal Data about you from a variety of sources as follows:

  • We obtain your Personal Data when you provide it to us (i.e., where you contact us via email or telephone, in person in a Curves Club via a Curves Franchisee, on your membership application, or by any other means);
  • We collect your Personal Data in the ordinary course of our relationship with you (i.e., in the course of managing your membership at your local Curves Club);
  • We collect Personal Data that you manifestly choose to make public, including via social media (i.e., we may collect information from your social media profile(s), to the extent that you choose to make your profile publicly visible);
  • We receive your Personal Data from third parties who provide it to us (i.e., our Members);
  • We collect or obtain Personal Data when you visit any of our Sites or use any features or resources available on or through a Site. When you visit a Site, your device and browser may automatically disclose certain information (such as device type, operating system, browser type, browser settings, IP address, language settings, dates and times of connecting to a Site and other technical communications information), some of which may constitute Personal Data.

Creation of Personal Data: We create Personal Data about you, such as records of your interactions with us, and details of your membership, subject to applicable law.

Relevant Personal and Sensitive Personal Data: The categories of Personal Data about you that we process, subject to applicable law, are as follows:

  • Personal details: given name(s); preferred name(s); nickname(s), gender; date of birth; age; marital status; Social Security or Identity number; other government issued numbers (i.e., tax identification number, driving license number); nationality; lifestyle and social circumstances; images of passports, driving licenses, and signatures; authentication data (passwords, mother’s maiden name, challenge/response questions and answers, PINs); photographs; visual images; and personal appearance and behavior.
  • Family details: names and contact details of family members and dependents.
  • Contact details: address; telephone number; email address; and social media profile details.
  • Employment details: industry; role; business activities; names of current and former employers; work address; work telephone number; work email address; and work-related social media profile details.
  • Financial details: billing address; bank account numbers; credit card numbers; cardholder or accountholder name and details; instruction records; and transaction details
  • Views and opinions: any views and opinions that you choose to send to us, or publish about us (including on social media platforms).
  • Electronic Identifying Data: IP addresses; cookies;  activity logs; online  identifiers;  unique device identifiers; and geolocation data.

Processing your Sensitive Personal Data: We do not seek to collect or otherwise Process your Sensitive Personal Data, except where:

  • the Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal or contractual obligation (i.e., to provide the services as requested by you in your membership agreement);
  • the Processing is necessary for the detection or prevention of crime (including the prevention of fraud) to the extent permitted by applicable law;
  • you have manifestly made those Sensitive Personal Data public;
  • the Processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal rights;
  • we have, in accordance with applicable law, obtained your explicit consent prior to Processing your Sensitive Personal Data (as above, this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary- it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way); or
  • Processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest and occurs on the basis of an applicable law that is proportionate to the aim pursued and provides for suitable and specific measures to safeguard your fundamental rights and interests.

Purposes for which we may Process your Personal Data, and legal bases for Processing. The purposes for which we may Process Personal Data, subject to applicable law, and the legal bases on which we may perform such Processing, are:

  1. Member onboarding: Onboarding new members and compliance with our internal compliance requirements, policies and procedures. Legal bases for Processing are:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us or a Curves Franchisee, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us or a Curves Franchisee; or
    3. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of on-boarding new members (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    4. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  2. Provision of services to you: Administering relationships and related services; performance of tasks necessary for the provision of the requested services; and communicating with you in relation to those services. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us or a Curves Franchisee, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us or a Curves Franchisee; or
    3. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of providing products and services to you (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    4. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  3. Marketing/Prospecting: communicating with you via any means (including via email, telephone, text message, social media, post or in person) subject to ensuring that such communications are provided to you in compliance with applicable law; and maintaining and updating your contact information where appropriate. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of conducting marketing and prospecting (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    2. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  4. Operation of the Curves Clubs: supporting our Curves Franchisees in the operation and management of their Curves Clubs; providing content to you; displaying marketing and other information to you; and communicating and interacting with you via the Curves Clubs and Curves Franchisees. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us or a Curves Franchisee, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us or a Curves Franchisee; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of supporting our Curves Franchisees in the operation of their Curves Clubs (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    3. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirety voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  5. IT Operations: management of Curves’ communication systems; operation of IT security; and IT security audits. Legal bases for processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us or a Curves Franchisee, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us or a Curves Franchisee; or
    3. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of managing and operating our IT systems and ensuring the security of those systems (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms).
  6. Health and Safety: Health and safety assessments and recordkeeping, and compliance with related legal obligations. Legal bases for processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of assisting our Curves Franchisees in providing a safe and secure environment at their premises (to the extent Curves has a legal obligation to do so and that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    3. The Processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of any individual.
  7. Financial Management: sales; finance; corporate audits; Curves Franchisee audits; Curves Franchisee financial reporting; and vendor management. Legal bases for processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of managing and operating the financial affairs of our business (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms)
  8. Research:  conducting market or Member satisfaction research; and engaging with you for the purposes of obtaining your feedback on your local Curves Club or the Curves workout. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of conducting research and producing analysis (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    2. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  9. Security: electronic security (including login records and access details, where you access our electronic systems). Legal bases for processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of ensuring the electronic security of our business, premises, and assets (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms).
  10. Investigations: detecting, investigating and preventing breaches of policy, and criminal offences, in accordance with applicable law. Legal bases for processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of detecting, and protecting against, breaches of our policies and applicable laws (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms).
  11. Legal compliance: Compliance with our legal obligations under applicable law. Legal basis for Processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation.
  12. Legal proceedings: Establishing, exercising, and defending our legal rights. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation, or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of establishing, exercising, or defending our legal rights (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms).
  13. Improving our services and products: Identifying any issues with existing services and products; planning improvements to existing services and products; and creating new services and products. Legal bases for processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us or a Curves Franchisee, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us or a Curves Franchisee; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of improving our services or products (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms); or
    3. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  14. Risk Management: Audit, compliance, controls and other risk management. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of managing risks to which our business is exposed (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms).
  15. Fraud Prevention: Detecting, preventing, and investigating fraud. Legal bases for Processing:
    1. The Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation; or
    2. The Processing is necessary in connection with any contract that you may enter into with us or a Curves Franchisee, or to take steps prior to entering into a contract with us or a Curves Franchisee; or
    3. We have a legitimate interest in carrying out the Processing for the purpose of detecting, and protecting against, fraud (to the extent that such legitimate interest is not overridden by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms).
    4. We have obtained your prior consent to the Processing (this legal basis is only used in relation to Processing that is entirely voluntary – it is not used for Processing that is necessary or obligatory in any way).
  1. Disclosure of Personal Data to Third Parties

We may disclose your Personal Data within Curves and to our Curves Franchisees, for legitimate business purposes (including providing services to you and supporting our Curves Franchisees in the operation of their independently-owned Curves Clubs), in accordance with applicable law. In addition, we may disclose your Personal Data to:

  • you and, where appropriate, your family, your associates, and your agents or representatives;
  • Curves Franchisees;
  • anti-fraud services;
  • Governmental, legal, regulatory, or similar authorities, and central and/or local Government agencies, upon request or where required, including  for the purposes  of reporting any actual or suspected breach of applicable law or regulation; 
  • accountants, auditors, financial  advisors, lawyers and other outside  professional  advisors to Curves, subject to binding contractual obligations of confidentiality;
  • debt-collection agencies and tracing agencies;
  • data aggregation services;
  • accreditation bodies;
  • third party Processors (such as payment services providers, shipping companies, etc.) located anywhere in the world, subject to the requirements noted below in this Section 3;
  • any relevant party, claimant, complainant, enquirer, law enforcement agency or court, to the extent necessary for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal rights in accordance with applicable law;
  • any relevant party for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, including safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public security in accordance with applicable law; and
  • any relevant third party acquirer(s), in the event that we sell or transfer all or any relevant portion of our business or assets (including in the event of a reorganization, dissolution or liquidation).

Our Sites may use third party plugins or content. If you choose to interact with any such plugins or content, your Personal Data may be shared with the third party provider of the relevant social media platform. We recommend that you review that third party’s privacy policy before interacting with its plugins or content.

If we engage a third-party Processor to Process your Personal Data, the Processor will be subject to binding contractual obligations to: (i) only Process the Personal Data in accordance with our prior written instructions; and (ii) use measures to protect the confidentiality and security of the Personal Data; together with any additional requirements under applicable law.

  1. International Collection and Transfer of Personal Data

Because of the international nature of our business, your Personal Data within Curves may be collected from and transferred to other international countries.  Curves Europe B.V. Inc is a company incorporated in the Netherlands and as such, will primarily collect, receive and process Personal Data in accordance with GDPR principles (The General Data Protection Regulation governing data protection and privacy in the European Union). In addition to the aforesaid, Curves will also comply with local data protection legislation, including but not limited to POPIA.  

We may also need to transfer your Personal Data within Curves, and to third parties as noted in Section 3 above, in connection with the purposes set out in this Policy. For this reason, we may transfer your Personal Data to other countries that may have the same and/or similar data protection legislation and regulations.

Where we transfer your Personal Data to other countries, we do so based on:

  • adequacy decisions;
  • suitable Standard Contractual Clauses; or
  • other valid transfer mechanisms.

If you want to receive more information about the safeguards applied to international transfers of personal data, please use the contact details provided in Section 12 below.

  1. Data Security

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your Personal Data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized access, and other unlawful or unauthorized forms of Processing, in accordance with applicable law.

You are responsible for ensuring that any Personal Data that you send to us is sent securely.

  1. Data Accuracy

We take reasonable steps designed to ensure that:

  • your Personal Data that we Process is accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; and
  • any of your Personal Data that we Process that is inaccurate (having regard to the purposes for which they are Processed) are erased or rectified without delay.

From time to time we may ask you to confirm the accuracy of your Personal Data.

  1. Data Minimization

We take reasonable steps designed to ensure that your Personal Data that we Process is limited to the Personal Data reasonably required in connection with the purposes set out in this Policy.

  1. Data Retention

We take reasonable steps designed to ensure that your Personal Data is only Processed for the minimum period necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy. The criteria for determining the duration for which we will retain your Personal Data are as follows:

  1. We will retain copies of your Personal Data in a form that permits identification only for as long as:
    1. we maintain an ongoing relationship with you (i.e., where you are a recipient of our services, you have entered into a valid contract with us or a Curves Franchise, and such contract has not expired or been terminated; or you are lawfully included in our mailing list and have not unsubscribed); or
    2. your Personal Data is necessary in connection with the lawful purposes set out in this Policy, for which we have a valid legal basis (i.e., where your Personal Data are included in a contract between us and you, and we have a legitimate interest in processing that data for the purposes of operating our business and fulfilling our obligations under that contract; or where we have a legal obligation to retain your Personal Data), plus:
  2. The duration of:
    1. any applicable limitation period under applicable law (i.e., any period during which any person could bring a legal claim against us in connection with your Personal Data, or to which your Personal Data may be relevant); and
    2. an additional two (2) month period following the end of such applicable limitation period (so that, if a person bring a claim at the end of the limitation period, we are still afforded a reasonable amount of time in which to identify any Personal Data that are relevant to that claim), and;
  3. In addition, if any relevant legal claims are brought, we may continue to Process your Personal Data for such additional periods as are necessary in connection with that claim.

During the periods noted in paragraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above, we will restrict our Processing of your Personal Data to storage of, and maintaining the security of, those data, except to the extent that those data need to be reviewed in connection with any legal claim, or any obligation under applicable law.

Once the periods in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, each to the extent applicable, have concluded, we will either:

  • permanently delete or destroy the relevant Personal Data;
  • archive your Personal Data so that it is beyond use; or
  • anonymize the relevant Personal Data.
  1. Your Legal Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have a number of rights regarding the Processing of your Personal Data, including:

  • the right to request access to, or copies of, your Personal Data that we Process or control, together with information regarding the nature, processing and disclosure of those Personal Data;
  • the right to request rectification of any inaccuracies in your Personal Data that we Process or control;
  • the right to request, on legitimate grounds:
    • erasure of your Personal Data that we Process or control; or
    • restriction of Processing of your Personal Data that we Process or control;
  • the right to have your Personal Data that we Process or control transferred to another Controller, to the extent applicable;
  • where we Process your Personal Data on the basis of your consent, the right to withdraw that consent; and
  • the right to lodge complaints with a Data Protection Authority regarding the Processing of your Personal Data by us or on our behalf.

This does not affect your statutory rights. Subject to applicable law, you may also have the following additional rights regarding the Processing of your Personal Data:

  • the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the Processing of your Personal Data by us or on our behalf; and
  • the right to object to the Processing of your Personal Data by us or on our behalf for direct marketing purposes.

To exercise one or more of these rights, or to ask a question about these rights or any other provision of this Policy, or about our Processing of your Personal Data, please use the contact details provided in Section 12 below.

  1. Cookies

A cookie is a small file that is placed on your device when you visit a website. It records information about your device, your browser and, in some cases, your preferences and browsing habits. We may Process your Personal Data through cookie technology, in accordance with our Cookie Policy found via our website, www.curves.com.

  1. Direct Marketing

We may Process your Personal Data so that we or a Curves Franchisee can contact you, primarily by mail and email and also on occasion by telephone, so that we can provide you with information concerning services, products, and membership specials that may be of interest, provided that we have first obtained your consent, to the extent required by, and in accordance with, applicable law.

If you do not wish to receive marketing communications from us you can opt out at any time by contacting your Curves Club or compliance@curvesafrica.eu , or by electronically unsubscribing from emails we have sent to you. After you unsubscribe, we will not send you further promotional emails, but we may continue to contact you to the extent necessary for the purposes of any services you have requested.

  1. Automated Processing and Decisions

Curves may process your Personal Data by both automated and non-automated means. Curves may also use automated system/s for carrying out certain kinds of decision-making and/or profiling. Should you wish to query any action that Curves may take on the basis of this or wish to request ‘human intervention’ you may contact Curves to provide specific explanations regarding any automated decision processing. All automated processing and/or decisions will be subject to this Privacy Policy.

  1. Contact details

If you have any comments, questions or concerns about any of the information in this Policy, or any other issues relating to the Processing of Personal Data by Curves, please contact:

                                    Curves Europe B.V.

                                    a Private Limited Liability Company, seated in Amsterdam

                                    having its principal place of business at

                                    Bisonspoor 3002 – B711,

                                    3605 LT. Maarssen,

                                    The Netherlands

                                    Emailcompliance@curvesafrica.eu

Curves representative in Africa: Kimoscape (Pty) Ltd

E-mail: compliance@curvesafrica.eu

Tel no: 0800 287 837

  1. Controllers

For the purposes of this Policy, the relevant controllers are:

Controller entity                                            Contact Details

Curves Europe B.V.                                        Bisonspoor 3002 – B711, 3605 LT  Maarssen, The Netherlands

Kimoscape (Pty) Ltd                                      90 Kingbold Crescent, Wapadrand Office Park, Wapadrand, Gauteng 0081

  1. Age of Users

The use of the Curves website and online platforms are provided and directed at persons of 18 years and older.  In the event where any user may not be of the age 18 years or older, specific consent should be obtained from the parent and/or guardian to provide personal information. We have no authority to use, process or store any personal information of minors, without the consent of the parent and/or guardian. 

  1. Access to Information

The South African Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 (PAIA) confirms the right to access of information. In the event where you would like to receive detail about the information which Curves may have on record about you, you may direct such a request to Curves subject to the payment of the relevant fees and expenses (which will be disclosed to you in accordance with the PAIA Manual).

  1. Defined terms
  1. Controller: The entity that decides how and why Personal Data is Processed. In many jurisdictions, the Controller has primary responsibility for complying with applicable data protection laws.
  2. Data Protection Authority: An independent public authority that is legally tasked with overseeing compliance with applicable data protection laws.
  3. Personal Data: Information that is about any individual, or from which any individual is identifiable.
  4. Process/Processed/Processing: Anything that is done with any Personal Data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.
  5. Personnel: Any current, former and prospective directors, officers, consultants, employees, temporary staff, individual contractors, interns, and other personnel.
  6. Processor: Any person or entity that Processes Personal Data on behalf of the Controller (other than employees of the Controller).
  7. Sensitive Personal Data: Personal Data about race or ethnicity, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, physical or mental health, sexual life, or any other information that may be deemed to be sensitive under applicable law.

You may download our PAIA manual here.