1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 |
The Horizon Group (Horizon Accounting Group ABN 37 303 413 878 and Horizon Wealthinvest ABN 31 594 402 718) provides accounting and financial planning services (Services). We are not subject to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) but we do handle personal and credit information. This policy has been developed to ensure that our credit information is handled appropriately. |
1.2 |
We are committed to complying with the Privacy Act in relation to all credit information we collect. Our commitment is demonstrated in this policy. |
1.3 |
The privacy of your personal information is also important to us, and we have safeguards in place to manage that information. |
Who does the policy apply to?
1.4 |
This policy applies to any person for whom we currently hold, or might in the future collect, credit information. |
What information does the policy apply to?
1.5 |
This policy applies to ‘credit information’ and ‘credit eligibility information’. In broad terms, these types of information relate to financial information that may impact your credit eligibility. |
2. WHAT KINDS OF CREDIT INFORMATION MIGHT WE COLLECT?
2.1 |
In our capacity as a credit provider, we will only collect your identification information and payments details. |
2.2 |
However, in the course of providing the Services for you, we might collect and hold the following kinds of credit information, if it is necessary to provide you with the Services:
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2.3 |
We may also collect personal information which may affect your credit worthiness from other credit providers (e.g. banks) that collect that information from credit reporting bodies. The kinds of personal information we collect may include:
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3. HOW AND WHEN DO WE COLLECT CREDIT INFORMATION?
3.1 |
In most cases, we will only collect credit information about you if you disclose it to us and it is relevant in providing you with the Services. |
3.2 |
Other sources we might collect credit information from include:
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3.3 |
We generally do not collect and hold credit information from credit reporting bodies unless it is incidentally collected in providing the Services for you, however we do engage a debt collection agency that might collect credit information from credit reporting bodies. |
4. HOW DO WE STORE AND HOLD THE CREDIT INFORMATION?
4.1 |
Our usual approach to holding credit information includes:
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4.2 |
We secure the credit information we hold in numerous ways, including:
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4.3 |
If we have no reason to hold your credit information, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify the information is a safe and secure manner (subject to our professional obligations). |
5. WHY DO WE COLLECT THE CREDIT INFORMATION?
5.1 |
Our usual purpose for collecting, holding, using and disclosing credit information about you is to enable us to provide you with the Services. |
5.2 |
We might also collect the credit information to process payments relating to our Services. |
6. OVERSEAS DISCLOSURE OF THE CREDIT INFORMATION
6.1 |
We will not disclose your credit information to entities without an Australian link unless you expressly request us to. |
7. HOW CAN YOU MAKE COMPLAINTS AND ACCESS AND CORRECT YOUR CREDIT INFORMATION?
7.1 |
It is important that the information we hold about you is up-to-date. You should contact us if your credit information changes. |
Access to information and correcting credit information
7.1 |
You may request access to the credit information held by us or ask us for your credit information to be corrected by using the contact details in this section. |
7.2 |
We will grant you access to your credit information as soon as possible, subject to the request circumstances and our professional obligations. |
7.3 |
In keeping with our commitment to protect the privacy of credit information, we may not disclose credit information to you without proof of identity. |
7.4 |
We may deny access to credit information if:
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7.5 |
We may charge a fee for reasonable costs incurred in responding to an access request. The fee (if any) will be disclosed prior to it being levied. |
7.6 |
If the credit information that we hold is not accurate, complete and up-to-date, we will take reasonable steps to correct it so that it is accurate, complete and up-to-date, where it is appropriate to do so. |
Complaints
7.7 |
If you wish to complain about an interference with your privacy, then you must follow the following process:
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Who to contact
7.8 |
You can complain or request to access or correct credit information we hold about you by using the contact details below. Any complaints must be made in writing:
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8. CHANGES TO THE POLICY
8.1 |
We may update, modify or remove this policy at any time without prior notice. Any changes to the policy will be published on our website. |
8.2 |
This policy is effective from March 2014. If you have any comments on the policy, please contact the privacy officer with the contact details in section 7.8 of this policy. |