Privacy policy

At Australian Equipment Finance, we are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information, as well as your rights regarding access and correction of this information. We are dedicated to transparency and ensuring your privacy is safeguarded at all times.

Information Collection and Use

We collect personal information from you when we assist you with your finance needs. The type of information we collect may include your name, contact details, financial details, and any other relevant information necessary to assess and manage your credit requirements. We collect and use this information to:

- Provide advice on finance solutions and assist with your credit applications.

- Communicate with the companies or financial institutions you choose to deal with on your behalf.

- Manage our ongoing relationship with you, including invoicing, client surveys, and providing updates on your finance.

- Send product or service information that you have requested, or notify you of promotions, new services, and special offers, unless you have opted out of receiving such communications.

We may also use your information internally to improve our services, analyse client trends, and resolve any issues or concerns.

Opting Out of Communications

You may opt-out of receiving marketing communications or updates from us at any time by contacting us via email or phone. We will respect your preferences and will not send further promotional material unless you indicate otherwise.

What Happens if You Don't Provide Us with Your Information?

Providing complete and accurate information is crucial for us to fully assess your finance and credit needs. If you choose not to provide certain information, we may be unable to offer our services or provide adequate advice.

How We Protect Your Information

At Australian Equipment Finance, we take the security of your personal information seriously. We maintain high standards of reliability, accuracy, and security for the information we collect. We only retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected or to meet legal, regulatory, or reporting obligations.

To ensure your information is safeguarded, we implement strict physical, electronic, and procedural controls, including:

- Secure data storage systems, both in physical and electronic formats.

- Access controls for staff and third-party contractors.

- Encryption and secure password management systems for sensitive information.

- External storage providers located in Australia who are compliant with the *Privacy Act 1988*.

In cases where we archive your information with external providers, we ensure that these providers are subject to the same privacy laws and maintain appropriate security measures.

Disclosure of Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. However, in certain circumstances, we may need to disclose your personal information to third parties, including:

- Our credit licensee for administrative and supervisory purposes.

- Contractors who perform services for us, such as mailing and printing companies.

- Other companies, in the event of a corporate sale, merger, or reorganisation.

Additionally, we may be required to disclose your information by law, such as during legal proceedings or when required by government agencies. In all cases, we ensure that these third parties handle your information in accordance with the same privacy standards we uphold.

Accessing and Correcting Your Personal Information

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. If you believe the information we have is incorrect, incomplete, or outdated, you can request a correction. To request access or changes to your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer using the details provided below.

We will respond to all access and correction requests in a timely manner and will not charge you for making a request. However, in some cases, where the request involves a significant amount of time or effort, we may charge a reasonable fee for processing.

Your Consent

By engaging our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. Should you wish to withdraw your consent, please contact us immediately to discuss how this may affect the services we can provide.

Complaints and Dispute Resolution

At Australian Equipment Finance, we take privacy concerns seriously. If you have a complaint or feel that your privacy has been compromised, we encourage you to contact our Complaints Officer:

Please provide as much detail as possible regarding your complaint. We will work promptly to investigate and resolve the issue, following our internal dispute resolution procedures. In most cases, complaints are resolved quickly and amicably.

External Dispute Resolution

If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, or if the issue remains unresolved, you may contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) for an independent review. AFCA is a free and independent service for resolving complaints regarding financial services.

- Website: www.afca.org.au

- Phone: 1800 931 678

- Mail: GPO Box 3, Melbourne, VIC 3001

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal obligations, technology, or our practices. The most current version will always be available on our website or upon request. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed of any changes.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or feedback regarding our Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please feel free to contact us.

We are committed to working with you to ensure that your privacy is protected at all times.