Security

Absolutely! And often more so than many other payment methods!

• PayFast is developed with the same demands on security and performance as web sites used for banking services and share trading. Your account login, personal details and all money transactions are secured using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology with high security 256 bit encryption.
• Your sensitive financial information (like credit/debit card details) is never sent to the people you pay! So you can send money without sending your financial information! So you don't need to worry about paying people you don't know.
• We make use of 3D Secure to further enhance the security of credit card transactions on PayFast for all high value transactions.

In short, very safe!

Security is one of our top priorities and one of the areas where we feel a lot of merchants and existing payment processors are lacking.

We make every effort to ensure the security of your details provided to us, and will continue to increase the security of the service we offer through the effective use of technology.

With regards to bank details specifically, you are not required to give us your banking details unless you need to receive a payout. Most users who pay for things online will probably never need to furnish their bank details, it really been only the receivers of money (Premier and Business account holders) who will need to do this.

To verify your account, you will need to provide us with the documentation indicated below (dependant on your account type). This documentation can either be submitted securely online through your account or faxed to us.

The documentation must be clear however, and while faxing normally renders legible documents for text-based documents (eg. proof of physical address), copies of identity documents sent by fax are often unclear. For this reason (as well as for improved security), we highly recommend that you scan this documentation and submit it via our online system, or, if preferred, submit all other documentation by fax and scan your identity document and submit it via our online system separately.

• Certified copy of your Identity Document
• Proof of your physical address (What can I use?)
• Proof of bank account ownership
  • a bank account statement showing your name and bank account number, OR
  • a letter from bank confirming your name and bank account number, OR
  • a cancelled cheque showing your name and bank account number

• Certified copy of Identity Documents
  • Copy of each member/director's ID
• Proof of physical address
  • Proof of your physical address of the business (What can I use?)
  • Proof of your physical address for each member/director (What can I use?)
• Proof of bank account ownership
  • a bank account statement showing the company name and bank account number, OR
  • a letter from bank showing the company name and bank account number, OR
  • a cancelled cheque showing the company name and bank account number

• Company registration documentation
  • CC
    • CK1 (Certificate of Incorporation)
    • CK2 & CK2A (Certificate of Amended Founding Statement) (If applicable)
  • (Pty) Ltd
    • CM26 (Certificate of Confirmation)
    • CM9 (Certificate of Change of Name of Company) (If applicable)
    • CM1 (Certificate of Incorporation)
    • CM46 (Certificate to Commence Business)
  • Trust
    • Trust registration documentation (IT number)
    • Trust agreement
  • Partnership
    • A partnership does not have legal persona and is intrinsically tied to its members
    • Partnerships must register for a Premier account in the name of one of the partners

• Same as for Premier Account (See above)
• Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) registration certificate
  • Copy of NPO registration certificate as issued by the Department of Social Development
• Public Benefits Organisation (PBO) registration confirmation (if applicable)
  • Copy of PBO registration confirmation as issued by the South African Revenue Service (SARS)

• Same as for Business Account (See above)
• Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) registration certificate (if applicable)
  • Copy of NPO registration certificate as issued by the Department of Social Development
• Public Benefits Organisation (PBO) registration confirmation (if applicable)
  • Copy of PBO registration confirmation as issued by the South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Any of the following documents:

• Rates and Taxes statement from Municipality / City Council
• Account statement from Telkom / Neotel / Vodacom etc.
• Account statement from Edgars etc.
• Bank account/Credit card statement
• Bond statement
• 1st Page of lease agreement
• etc.

Please remember that these documents must show your name and your physical address in order to be accepted.

If there is nothing available in your name, then please supply the appropriate documentation with a letter from the person whose name it is in, attesting to the fact that you reside with them at the address stating their ID number as well.

Any of the following documents:

• Rates and Taxes statement from Municipality / City Council
• Account statement from Telkom / NeoTel / Vodacom
• 1st page of lease agreement

Please remember that these documents must show the company name and your physical address in order to be accepted.

For added security it is possible for you to restrict your login to your account to a host name/IP address and country.

1. Login to you PayFast account.
2. Go to the “My Account” tab and then click on security.
3. Once on the security page click on the pencil and note pad next to login restrictions.
4. In the box “Allow hosts” you will be able to fill in the IP address or host name that you would like to restrict login to.
5. Once you have filled in your IP address or host name of choice click on update.

1. Login to you PayFast account.
2. Go to the “My Account” tab and then click on security.
3. Once on the security page click on the pencil and note pad next to login restrictions.
4. Next to the allow countries heading you will be able to select the countries from where your account will be able to be accessed from.
5. Once you have selected your countries of choice click on update.

Please see our credit cards page for more information on 3D Secure.