Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

NelcByte ("we", "us") is a digital solutions provider registered in Zimbabwe. We deliver web hosting, virtual private server (VPS), domain registration, and web development services.

This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, and the choices available to you. It applies to visitors to nelcbyte.com and to customers using our services, including through the client portal at my.nelcbyte.com.

We handle personal data in line with the Cyber and Data Protection Act (Chapter 08:05) of Zimbabwe, and we apply internationally recognised data protection principles.

2. Information We Collect

Information you give us

• Account details — name, email address, phone number, company and billing address.
• Billing details — the payment method used. Card and mobile money details are captured and processed by our payment gateway; we do not store full payment card numbers on our own systems.
• Support correspondence — the content of emails, tickets, and messages you send to our support team, including anything you choose to attach.
• Domain information — the domain names you search for or register with us. For some TLDs, registrant contact details are published in the public WHOIS database unless privacy protection is included.

Information collected automatically

• Server and technical logs — IP addresses, timestamps, request URLs, and error records generated by our infrastructure when you use our services.
• Usage and analytics data — information about how visitors browse this website.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide, operate, and support the services you have purchased;
• Process payments, issue invoices, and manage renewals;
• Register, renew, and manage domain names on your behalf;
• Respond to enquiries and provide 24/7 technical support;
• Detect, prevent, and investigate abuse, fraud, and security incidents;
• Improve the performance and usability of our website and services;
• Send service notices, renewal reminders, and relevant product updates.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for third-party advertising.

4. Cookies and Analytics

Our website does not set its own tracking cookies or use local storage to identify you.

We do use Google Analytics to understand aggregate site traffic. Google Analytics may set cookies and collect technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device, and the pages you visit, in accordance with Google's own privacy terms. Because this data is collected by Google, it is governed by Google's privacy policy rather than this one. You can opt out using browser settings or Google's Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

5. Domain Lookups

When you use the domain search box on our website, the name you type is sent to rdap.org to check whether that domain is registered. The domain name you enter is therefore shared with a third party. We do not store these lookup queries.

6. Payment Processing

Payments are handled through our client portal and payment gateway. Card details are entered directly with the gateway and are not retained by NelcByte. We keep only the transaction references, billing addresses, and invoice records needed for accounting, tax, and dispute handling.

Prices are quoted and billed in the currency shown on our pricing pages. Mobile money and bank transfer payments may be reconciled manually by our billing team.

7. Sharing Your Information

We share personal information only where necessary, with:

• Payment gateways to process transactions;
• Registries and our domain registrar to register and renew domain names;
• Hosting, network, and security providers who supply the infrastructure our services run on;
• Professional advisers, auditors, and authorities where required by law or to establish or defend legal claims;
• Analytics providers, as described in section 4.

Our service providers are required to keep customer data confidential and to process it only for the purposes we authorise.

8. Data Security

We apply technical and organisational safeguards to protect your information, including encryption in transit, access controls on account and administrative systems, network-level protection, and daily backups. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Data Retention

We keep personal information for as long as needed to deliver the services you have contracted, to meet legal, tax, and accounting obligations, and to resolve disputes. When an account is closed, we retain billing and transaction records for the period required by law, and remove or anonymise other personal data within a reasonable timeframe. Server logs are retained for a limited period for security and diagnostics.

10. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:

• Request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you, and a copy of that information;
• Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete;
• Ask us to delete information we no longer have a lawful reason to keep;
• Object to, or request restrictions on, certain uses of your information, including direct marketing;
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@nelcbyte.com. We may need to verify your identity before we act on your request.

11. International Transfers

Some of our service providers operate outside Zimbabwe. Where your information is transferred abroad, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as contractual clauses, standard contractual arrangements, or an equivalent protection, consistent with applicable data protection law.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are aimed at businesses and are not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

13. Third-Party Links

Our website links to external sites, including our client portal, our tools portal, and social networks. Once you follow a link to another website, that site's own privacy policy governs how your information is handled. We are not responsible for the content or practices of third-party sites.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we make a material change, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify customers by email or through the client portal. Continuing to use our services after a change takes effect means you accept the revised policy.

15. Contact Us

Questions about this policy, or about how we handle your personal information, are welcome.