Manual - Prepared in accordance with Section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information ACT 2 of 2000

Company Overview:

The Company was formed in 1999 when a need was identified for a South African based, independent, consumer credit risk consulting firm. Today we believe that we are now the largest consumer credit decision support company based in the southern hemisphere.

The Company provides specialist customer management solutions to consumer credit grantors principally – but not exclusively – in the retail, financial services and telecomms sectors, by offering products and services centred around:
 

• Address Lists

• Company Directives

• Company Policies

• Employee Records

• Employment Equity Plan

• Internal Telephone Lists

• Licenses

• Permits

• Remuneration Records and Policies

• Sales Records

The Company has been appointed as the sub-Saharan sales and service representative of Fair Isaac Corporation, the world's leading provider of analytics and decision support technology. In addition to the link with Fair Isaac, the Company has agreements with a number of other providers of software and services enabling us to provide a range of ‘best of breed’ solutions to meet specific client needs.

As a strategic partner to businesses in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the Company provides clients with the products and services that help them target, acquire, manage and maximise customer relationships. Whether in risk management or marketing, we have the expertise to help clients make more informed and data-driven decisions about their customers – at any point of contact.

PART 1: (Information required under section 51(1)(a) of the Act)

PART 2: (Information required under section 51(1)(b) of the Act)
A guide on how to use the Act will be complied by the Human Rights Commission in terms of Section 10 of the Act by no later than August 2003. Any queries should be addressed to: 

The South African Human Rights Commission
PAIA Unit
The Research and Documentation Department
Private bag 2700
Houghton
2041
South Africa

PART 3: (Information required under section 51(1)(c) and 51(1)(e) of the Act)
A limited supply of brochures on some of the products and services offered by PIC Solutions and certain of our business partners are available on request. 

PART 4: (Information required under section 51(1)(d) of the Act)
Records are kept in accordance with such other legislation as is applicable to PIC Solutions which includes, but is not limited to, the following legislation:

• Companies Act 61 of 1973

• Income Tax Act 58 of 1962

• Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001

• Value Added Tax Act 89 of 1991

• Insolvency Act 24 of 1936

• Compensation For Occupational Injuries And Health Diseases Act 130 of 1993

• Occupational Health And Safety Act 85 of 1993

• Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995

• Basic Conditions Of Employment Act 75 of 1997

• Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998

• Skills Development Act 97 of 1998

• Skill Development Levies Act 9 of 1999

• Regional services Councils Act 109 of 1985

PART 5: (Information required under section 51(1)(e) of the Act)

5.1   Records That May Be Requested (subject to any legislative restriction)

Operational information

Such information as is required for the day to day running of PIC Solutions:

• Internal telephone lists

• Address lists

• Company policies

• Company directives

• Company directives

• Employee records

• Permits

• Licenses

• Employment Equity Plan

• Remuneration records and policies

• Sales records

Communications

Correspondence between persons within PIC Solutions and external parties.

Website
PIC Solutions website address is www.PICSolutions.com [www.TheCreditAcademy.co.za and www.CreditAcademy.co.za also belong to PIC Solutions] and is accessible to anyone who has access to the Internet. The website contains various categories of information relating to the Company

5.2  Request Procedures
5.2.1 The requester must use the prescribed form to make the request for access to a record. This must be made to the head of the private body. This request must be made to the address, fax number or electronic mail address of the body concerned [s 53(1)]

5.2.2    The requester must provide sufficient detail on the request form to enable the head of the private body to identify the record and the requester. The requester should also indicate which form of access is required and specify a postal address or fax number in the Republic of South Africa. The requester should also indicate, if in addition to a written reply, any other manner is to be used to inform the requester and state the necessary particulars to be so informed [s 53(2)(a) and (b) and (c) and (e)].

5.2.3    The requester must identify the right that is sought to be exercised or protected and provide an explanation of why the requested record is required for the exercise or protection of that right [s 53(2)(d)].

5.2.4    If a request is made on behalf of another person, the requester must submit proof of the capacity in which the requester is making the request to the satisfaction of the head of the private body [s 53(2)(f)].

5.3  Fees
A requester who seeks access to a record containing personal information about that requester is not required to pay the request fee. Every other requester, who is not a personal requester, must pay the required request fee:  

5.3.1     The head of the private body must, by notice, require the requester (other than a personal requester), to pay the prescribed fee (if any) before further processing the request [s 54(1)].

5.3.2     The fee that the requester must pay to a private body is R 50. The requester may lodge an application to the court against the tender or payment of the requested fee [s 54(3)(b)].

5.3.3     After the head of the private body has made a decision on the request, the requester must be notified in the required form.

5.3.4     If the request is granted then a further access fee must be paid for reproduction and for search and preparation and for any time that has exceeded the  prescribed hours to search and prepare the record for disclosure [s 54(6)]. 

PART 6: (Information required under section 51(1)(f) of the Act)
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has not made any regulations in this regard.

PART 7: (Information required under section 51(3) of the Act)
This manual is available for inspection by the general public upon request, during office hours and free of charge, at the offices of PIC Solutions. Copies are also available upon request from the South African Human rights Commission and the Government Gazette. The manual is also published on PIC Solutions website referred to above.

PART 8: (Prescribed forms and fee structure in respect of private bodies)
The forms and fee structure prescribed by the Act are available at the website of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (www.doj.gov.za), under the ‘regulations’ section.