Privacy Policy

PFIC Privacy Policy

PFIC respects the privacy of individuals and companies. This policy outlines the way we manage personal information that we collect or that is provided to us. It applies to PFIC and Australian companies in the PFIC group (PFIC, we, us).

PFIC is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (Principles) applicable to private sector organisations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). In summary, the Principles apply to ‘personal information’ as information (or an opinion) relating to an individual that can be used to identify that individual. PFIC sometimes handles personal information relying on exemptions under the Privacy Act, for example in relation to employee records. Where there is any inconsistency, we may rely on those exemptions despite what this privacy policy says.

Why does PFIC collect personal information?

We collect personal information about people we deal with and others, where relevant, in order to operate our businesses. As a publicly listed company, we also maintain records of our shareholders. Collecting personal information is also necessary in some circumstances to meet our legal obligations.

What kind of personal information do we collect and how do we collect it?
PFIC generally collects and holds personal information about:

  • our members
  • our directors
  • contractors who provide services to PFIC
  • other people who may come into contact with PFIC or one of PFIC’s partners

The type of information we collect varies, depending on the purpose, and may include your name, address, contact details, organisation, identification, positions held, payment details, credit information and marketing information.

This information may be obtained by way of forms filled out, information provided in person or by telephone, email or online by the individuals themselves, or from a public source or third party (for example, referees, other PFIC companies, your organisation, your representatives and information service providers). For additional information about our handling of personal information we collect through our web sites, please see the Security and Privacy Statement on the relevant site.

How do we use personal information and to whom may we disclose it?

In general, PFIC collects, uses and discloses personal information to:

  • provide membership or services that have been requested
  • maintain relationships with members, contractors and other parties
  • communicate
  • verify your identity and personal information
  • maintain and update our records
  • provide ongoing information and marketing communications about PFIC membership and services by telephone, email, online and other means as permitted by law, unless they opt out
  • comply with legal obligations and protect our lawful interests

We may not be able to do these things without your personal information. For example, we may not be able to respond to your enquiries or provide you a product or service you have requested.

We may also collect, use and disclose your personal information in connection with:

  • reasonable information requests from courts, government bodies and lawyers
  • suspected fraud, misconduct and unlawful activity
  • any sale or potential sale of any part of our business

PFIC uses the personal information it collects about members to fulfil its legal obligations and to keep its directors informed of PFIC’s progress.

Depending on the service concerned, personal information may be disclosed to:

  • other divisions or organisations within PFIC
  • service providers and specialist advisers to PFIC who have been contracted to provide PFIC with administrative, archival, auditing, accounting, customer contact, legal, business consulting, banking, payment, debt collection, delivery, data processing, data analysis, information broking, research, investigation, website, technology or other services
  • insurers, credit providers, courts, tribunals and regulatory authorities as agreed or authorised by law
  • credit reporting or reference agencies or insurance investigators
  • a person authorised by an individual

Some of the third parties described above may be located in New Zealand and other countries. While those third parties will often be subject to confidentiality or privacy obligations, they may not always follow the particular requirements of the Privacy Act.

Generally, we require that organisations outside PFIC who handle or obtain personal information as service providers to PFIC acknowledge the confidentiality of this information and undertake to comply with the Principles.

How do we handle credit-related personal information?

While we do not provide credit to consumers, we sometimes handle personal information from credit reporting bodies (CRBs) and certain other consumer credit-related personal information as described below (Credit-Related Personal Information) in the context of commercial credit arrangements. For example, information about an individual’s consumer credit worthiness may be handled where we provide commercial credit accounts to sole traders, or individuals such as directors provide personal guarantees in relation to commercial credit accounts.

We may collect and hold the following types of Credit-Related Personal Information, both in relation to your arrangements with us and those with third parties such as other credit providers:

  • name, sex, date of birth, driver’s licence number, employer and three most recent addresses
  • confirmation of previous information requests about you to CRBs made by other credit providers and credit insurers
  • details of previous credit applications, including the amount and type of credit and credit limit
  • details of current and previous credit arrangements, including credit providers, start/end dates and certain terms and conditions
  • permitted payment default information, including information about related payment arrangements and subsequent repayment
  • information about serious credit infringements (e.g. fraud)
  • information about adverse court judgments and insolvency
  • publicly available information about your credit worthiness
  • any credit score or credit risk assessment indicating a CRB’s, credit provider’s or our analysis of your eligibility for consumer credit
  • any other types of Credit-Related Personal Information about you permitted under the Privacy Act

We may disclose Credit-Related Personal Information to CRBs to assist the CRBs to maintain information about you to provide to other credit providers for credit assessments. We may collect Credit-Related Personal Information from CRBs for purposes including, to the extent permitted by law, to assess your application for credit or to be a guarantor, manage your credit/guarantee, assign debts and collect overdue payments. We may also exchange Credit-Related Personal Information with debt buyers, credit insurers and other credit providers.

 

The CRBs we use may include 

Dun & Bradstreet, Level 7, 479 St. Kilda Road Melbourne 3004, www.dnb.com.au, pacaustral@dnb.com.au, 1300 734 806
Veda, PO Box 964 North Sydney 2059, www.mycreditfile.com.au, 1300 762 207
Experian, GPO Box 1969, North Sydney NSW 2060, www.experian.com.au, 1300 784 134
Tasmanian Collection Service, 29 Argyle Street, Hobart, www.tascol.com.au, enquiries@tascol.com.au, (03) 6213 5555

You have the right to request CRBs not to:

  • use your Credit-Related Personal Information to determine your eligibility to receive direct marketing from credit providers
  • use or disclose your Credit-Related Personal Information, if you have been or are likely to be a victim of fraud

Please see other sections of this Privacy Policy for further details about how we collect and hold personal information, disclosures (including to other countries) of personal information, and access, correction and complaint rights and procedures. In some cases, we are subject to further obligations under the Privacy Act regarding Credit-Related Personal Information, and this Privacy Policy is not intended to limit or exclude those obligations. Additional privacy consents and notifications may also apply for our credit-related services.

How do we manage personal information?

PFIC trains its employees and members who handle personal information to respect the confidentiality of that information and the privacy of individuals.

How do we store personal information?

PFIC is required by the Principles to safeguard the security and privacy of your information, whether you interact with us personally, by telephone, mail, over the internet or other electronic medium. This includes an obligation to take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. The steps we take depend on the circumstances but may include measures such as firewalls, passwords, encryption, locked filing cabinets and building access restrictions.

We hold information in physical and electronic records at our own premises and with the assistance of our service providers. The Principles also require PFIC not to store personal information longer than necessary and to take reasonable steps to destroy that personal information or remove details which may identify individuals.

How do we keep personal information accurate and up-to-date?

PFIC takes reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate and up-to-date. We encourage you to contact PFIC as soon as possible in order to update any personal information we hold about you. PFIC contact details are set out below.

Can you check and update the personal information about you that is held by us?

You may obtain access to or correct any personal information which PFIC holds about you, unless one of the exceptions in the Principles applies.

To make a request to access or correct information PFIC holds about you, please contact PFIC in writing at the address set out below. PFIC will require you to verify your identity and to specify what information you require. We will provide reasons if we deny any requests for access to or correction of personal information. PFIC may charge a fee to cover the cost of providing access including locating, retrieving, reviewing and copying any material requested. Where we decide not to make a requested correction to your personal information and you disagree, you may ask us to make a note of your requested correction with the information.

What if you have a complaint?

If you consider that any action of PFIC breaches this privacy policy or the Australian Privacy Principles, you can make a complaint. In the first instance, please direct your complaint to the particular PFIC business or activity concerned – they are likely to be in the best position to deal with the matter quickly and effectively. Each PFIC business or activity has an officer appointed to handle complaints. If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, please make contact with the relevant privacy officer below. PFIC takes your privacy seriously and endeavours to respond promptly to complaints.

For information about privacy generally, or if your concerns are not resolved to you satisfaction, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au and on 1300 363 992.

How do you contact us?

E-mail: info@pfic.org.au

Updates to this Policy

This privacy policy will be reviewed from time to time to take account of new laws and technology, changes to our operations and practices and the changing business environment. All personal information held by PFIC will be governed by PFIC’s most recent policy. If you are unsure whether you are reading the most current version, please contact us using the contact information provided above.