Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for Payment Gateway Services

Effective Date: 09-10-2024

Welcome to Ascend Tech Solutions (“we,” “us,” or “our”). We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your data when you interact with our platform, products, or services.

1. Scope of this Policy

This policy applies to personal information collected by Ascend Tech Solutions directly from sub-merchants and, to a limited extent, from their customers through our API services.

It does not cover data independently collected by sub-merchants, for which they remain solely responsible.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only minimal personal data and strictly for technical and operational purposes. The data we collect includes:

  • Customer Name
  • Customer Phone Number

Note: Sub-merchants may collect and store additional data (e.g., CNIC, email, address, transactional history). Ascend Tech Solutions does not collect, store, or process such additional data.

Customers should refer to the respective sub-merchant’s privacy policy for information on how that data is handled.

3. Purpose of Data Collection

We collect and use this limited personal data solely for the following purposes:

  • To enable and operate our API-based services used by sub-merchants
  • To ensure transactional continuity, security, and operational integrity of the platform
  • To communicate with sub-merchants regarding API performance, security incidents, or misuse
  • We do not use customer information for marketing, profiling, or resale purposes.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, lease, or trade customer information. However, we may disclose limited data (name and phone number) under the following lawful circumstances:

  • Legal Obligations: When required by law, regulation, court order, or lawful request from government authorities.
  • Service Providers: To trusted infrastructure or cybersecurity partners assisting in secure system operations, under strict confidentiality agreements.
  • Audit or Compliance: When necessary to protect our systems or ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
  • Ascend Tech Solutions expects all sub-merchants to independently ensure the privacy and lawful handling of their customer data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard and regulatory-compliant security measures to protect personal information, including:

  • End-to-end encryption of API communications
  • Strong access controls and authentication protocols
  • Secure data storage and transmission practices
  • Regular security audits and infrastructure hardening

While we take all reasonable precautions, no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Users acknowledge this inherent risk when transmitting information online

6. User Rights

Individuals whose data (name and phone number) is collected may request the following from Ascend Tech Solutions:

  • Access to their stored information
  • Correction of inaccurate data
  • Erasure of their data (subject to lawful data retention requirements)

To exercise these rights, users may contact us via the email provided in Section 9. For any data outside Ascend Tech Solutions’ scope, users should directly contact the sub-merchant from whom the data was originally collected.

7. Sub-Merchant Obligations

All sub-merchants utilizing Ascend Tech Solutions APIs and infrastructure are contractually obligated to:

  • Collect and process customer data in accordance with applicable laws, including PECA 2016 and GDPR (where applicable)
  • Maintain their own comprehensive privacy policy
  • Clearly disclose their data handling practices to customers
  • Implement strong security measures to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or misuse of customer data
  • Ascend Tech Solutions reserves the right to suspend or terminate API access in the event of a data protection breach.

8. Retention of Data

We retain minimal customer data only for as long as necessary to:

  • Fulfill the operational purpose for which it was collected
  • Comply with legal, tax, regulatory, or contractual obligations
  • Investigate fraud or abuse (if required)

After the retention period expires, data is securely deleted or anonymized in accordance with industry best practices.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Ascend Tech Solutions may update this Privacy Policy periodically.

If significant changes are made, users will be notified via email or platform notice, and the “Effective Date” will be updated accordingly.

Continued use of our services after such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this policy, please contact us at:

📧 Email: Director@ascendtechsolutions.online

🏢 Office Address: Office No 8, 2nd Floor, Eman Shopping Mall, Khwazakhila, Swat, Pakistan