Privacy Policy

Privacy & Credit Reporting Policy

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Thank you for trusting us with your information. We value that trust, and that’s why protecting your information, and being clear about how we collect, use, exchange and protect your information, is of huge importance and a vital part of our relationship with you.

  1. Thank you for trusting us with your information. We value that trust, and that’s why protecting your information, and being clear about how we collect, use, exchange and protect your information, is of huge importance and a vital part of our relationship with you.
  1. Your privacy is important to us

This Policy outlines how fundwise.com.au (fundwise.com.au. and our related companies from time to time) (“we / us / the Group”) collect, disclose, use, store or otherwise handle personal information. It is important to us that we manage your personal information securely and consistently with relevant legislation, including the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth), the New Zealand Privacy Act 1993 and the Credit Reporting Privacy Codes for Australia and New Zealand (as applicable), as amended or replaced from time to time (Privacy Laws).

This Policy explains:

    • The kinds of personal information (including credit-related information) we collect;
    • The purposes for which we collect this information;
    • How we manage the personal information that we collect about you;
    • How you can seek access to and correction of that information; and
    • If necessary, how you can make a complaint relating to our handling of that information.

This policy does not limit our rights and obligations under Privacy Laws.

This policy is not limited to current customers or guarantors of customers (where applicable) – it relates to all other individuals who deal with us, whether in relation to the provision of credit or otherwise.

  1. Information we collect from you

We collect information about you and your interactions with us, for example, when you request or use our products or services, make a card purchase or transfer money, phone us or visit any of our websites. When you use our website or mobile applications, we may collect information about your location or activity including IP address, telephone number and whether you’ve accessed third-party sites. Some of this website information we collect using cookies.

The information we collect from you may include your identity and contact details, other personal details such as gender and marital status and financial information. Where applicable, we also collect health information, for example, for insurance purposes.

2.1 Personal Information

We will collect certain information about you depending on the circumstances in which the product or service is being provided.  This information can include:
Key personal information such as your name, residential and business addresses, telephone numbers, email and other electronic addresses;
Financial and related information, such as your occupation, accounts, assets, expenses, income, revenue, dependents, and regarding your employment, financial and business dealings and other relevant events;
Your transaction history (with us and our associates or relevant third parties). This information includes products you may have used with us in the past, your payment history, and the capacity in which you have dealt or deal with us;
Other relevant information – depending on the circumstances this may also include health and medical information, membership of professional bodies, tax file number information and other government identifiers (e.g. if relevant to identifying you).

2.2 Information we collect from others

We collect information about you from others such as service providers, agents, advisers, brokers, employers or family members. For example, if you apply for credit, we may need to obtain a credit report from a credit reporting body. We may collect information about you that is publicly available, for example, from public registers or social media, or made available by third parties.

2.3 Sensitive information

The Privacy Act also protects your sensitive information, such as health information that’s collected on insurance or hardship applications. If we need to obtain this type of information, we will ask for your consent, except where otherwise permitted by law.

  1. How do we use your information?

In many circumstances, we will collect the above information primarily from you (or from someone who is representing or assisting you).  However, there are certain instances in which we will collect information about you from third parties where it is unreasonable or impracticable to collect it directly from you.  For example, even where your application is for credit, we may collect information about you from a business which provides information about commercial credit worthiness for the purpose of assessing your application. We use this information to:

  • Establish your identity and assess applications for products and services
  • Price and design our products and services
  • Administer our products and services
  • Manage our relationship with you
  • Conduct and improve our businesses and improve the customer experience
  • Manage our risks and help identify and investigate illegal activity, such as fraud
  • Contact you, for example if we suspect fraud on your account or need to tell you something important
  • Comply with our legal obligations and assist government and law enforcement agencies or regulators
  • Identify and tell you about other products or services that we think may be of interest to you.

We may also collect, use and exchange your information in other ways where permitted by law.

3.1 Direct marketing

By clicking submit on any of our forms on this site or any other sites in the fundwise.com.au group you agree to receive marketing communication from us or our related parties. If you don’t want to receive direct marketing, you can tell us by using any of the methods set out in section 9.

3.2 Gathering and combining data to get insights

Improvements in technology enable organisations to collect and use information to get a more integrated view of customers and provide better products and services. We may combine customer information it has with information available from a wide variety of external sources (for example census or Australian Bureau of Statistics data). We are able to analyse the data in order to gain useful insights which can be used for any of the purposes mentioned earlier in this policy. In addition, Group members may provide data insights or related reports to others, for example to help them understand their customers better. These are based on aggregated information and do not contain any information that identifies you.

  1. Who do we exchange your information with?

We exchange your information with other members of the Group, so that the Group may adopt an integrated approach to its customers. Group members may use this information for any of the purposes mentioned in this section.

4.1 Third parties

We may exchange your information with third parties where this is permitted by law or for any of the purposes mentioned in section 4.
Third parties include:

  • Your co-applicant(s) (if any)
  • Related entities based in Australia or overseas
  • Entities that provide services to us such as mailing houses or call centre operators
  • Service providers, for example law firms,  market research / data providers, and loyalty program redemption partners
  • Those to whom we outsource certain functions, for example, direct marketing, statement production, debt recovery and information technology support
  • Brokers, agents and advisers and persons acting on your behalf, for example guardians or persons holding power of attorney
  • References that you provide to us, for example landlord details or trade references
  • The supplier of any goods or services financed with credit we provide
  • Guarantors
  • Persons involved in arrangements that provide funding to us, including persons who may acquire rights to our assets (for example loans), investors, advisers, trustees and rating agencies
  • Claims-related providers, such as assessors and investigators, who help us with claims
  • Other financial institutions such as banks and credit providers
  • Auditors, insurers and re-insurers• employers or former employers
  • Government and law enforcement agencies or regulators
  • Credit reporting bodies and credit providers
  • Entities established to help identify illegal activities and prevent fraud
  • Overseas entities that provide products and services to us.

4.2 Sending information overseas

Generally, we use customer service teams located within Australia. However we may send your information overseas, including to overseas Group members and to service providers or other third parties who operate or hold data outside Australia. Where we do this, we make sure that appropriate data handling and security arrangements are in place. Please note that Australian law may not apply to some of these entities.

We may also send information overseas to complete a particular transaction or where this is required by laws and regulations of Australia or another country.

Where we send your information overseas, it is likely to be one of the following countries:

  • Canada
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Where we send your information to overseas Group members or service providers, we make sure that appropriate data handling and security arrangements are in place.

  1. Credit checks and credit reporting 

When you apply to us for credit or propose to be a guarantor, we need to know if you’re able to meet repayments under your agreement with us. We also want to avoid giving you further credit if this would put you in financial difficulty. One of our checks involves obtaining a credit report about you.

5.1 Credit reports

A credit report contains information about your credit history that helps credit providers assess your credit applications, verify your identity and manage accounts you hold with them. Credit reporting bodies collect and exchange this information with credit providers like us and other service providers such as phone companies.

The Privacy Act limits the information that credit providers can disclose about you to credit reporting bodies, as well as the ways in which credit providers can use credit reports.

5.2 What information can we or our lenders exchange with credit reporting bodies?

The information we can exchange includes:

  • your identification details
  • what type of loans you have
  • how much you’ve borrowed
  • whether or not you’ve met your loan payment obligations
  • if you have committed a serious credit infringement (such as fraud).

We also ask the credit reporting body to provide us with an overall assessment score of your creditworthiness.

The credit reporting bodies we use are Veda Advantage Information Services and Solutions Ltd, and Dun & Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd. You can access a copy of their respective privacy policies at:

Veda Advantage  
Website:  www.vedaadvantage.com
Phone: 1300 762 207
Address: Attention: Veda Advantage Public Access, PO Box 964, North Sydney, NSW 2059

Dun & Bradstreet
Website:  www.checkyourcredit.com.au  
Phone: 13 23 33
Address: Attention: D&B Public Access Centre, PO Box 7405, St Kilda, VIC 3004

Equifax

Website:  www.equifax.com.au

Phone: 138 332

Address: Attention: Equifax Customer Resolutions Team, PO Box 964, North Sydney NSW 2059.

New Zealand

If you are in New Zealand, we may exchange credit information with credit reporters and we also ask the credit reporters to provide us with an overall assessment score of your creditworthiness.

The credit reporting body we use is Equifax Inc, which may change from time to time at our discretion. Your personal information will be held by these agencies on their terms. You can access a copy of their respective privacy policies at:

Equifax

Website:  www.equifax.co.nz

5.3 What do we do with credit-related information?

We use information from credit reporting bodies to confirm your identity, assess applications for credit, manage our relationship with you and collect overdue payments. We also use this information as part of arriving at our own internal assessment of your creditworthiness.

We store credit-related information with your other information. You can access credit-related information we hold about you, request us to correct the information and make a complaint to us about your credit-related information. See sections 8 and 9.

5.4 Other rights you have

Credit providers may ask credit-reporting bodies to use their credit-related information to pre-screen you for direct marketing. You can ask a credit reporting body not to do this. Also, if you’ve been, or have reason to believe that you’re likely to become, a victim of fraud (including identity fraud), you can ask the credit reporting body not to use or disclose the credit-related information it holds about you.

  1. Keeping your information secure

We keep your hard-copy or electronic records on our premises and systems or offsite using trusted third parties. Our security safeguards include:

6.1 Staff education

We train and remind our staff of their obligations with regard to your information.

6.2 Taking precautions with overseas transfers and third parties

When we send information overseas or use third parties that handle or store data, we ensure that appropriate data  handling and security arrangements are in place.

6.3 System security

When you transact with us on the internet via our website or mobile apps we encrypt data sent from your  computer to our systems. We have firewalls, intrusion detection systems and virus scanning tools to protect  against unauthorised persons and viruses accessing our systems. When we send your electronic data outside the  Group we use dedicated secure networks or encryption. We limit access by requiring use of passwords and/or  smartcards.

6.4 Building security

We have protection in our buildings against unauthorised access such as alarms, cameras and guards (as required).

6.5 Destroying data when no longer required

Where practical, we keep information only for as long as required (for example, to meet legal requirements or our internal needs).

  1. Accessing, updating and correcting your information

7.1 Can I get access to my information? 

You can ask for access to your basic information (for example what transactions you’ve made) by going online or calling us. To obtain a copy of current credit-related information we hold about you, you can call or email us.

7.2 Is there a fee? 

There is no fee for making the initial request, but in some cases there may be an access charge to cover the time we spend locating, compiling and explaining the information you ask for. If there is an access charge, we’ll give you an estimate up front and confirm that you’d like us to proceed. Generally, the access charge is based on an hourly rate plus any photocopying costs or other out-of-pocket expenses. You’ll need to make the payment before we start, unless you’ve authorised us to debit your account.

7.3 How long does it take to gain access to my information? 

We try to make your information available within 30 days of your request. Before we give you the information, we’ll need to confirm your identity.

7.4 Can you deny or limit my request for access? 

In certain circumstances we’re allowed to deny your request, or limit the access we provide. For example we might not provide you access to commercially sensitive information. Whatever the outcome, we’ll write to you explaining our decision.
Updating your basic information It’s important that we have your correct details, such as your current address and telephone number. You can check or update your information at by going online, emailing or phoning us.

7.5 Can I correct my information? 

You can ask us to correct any inaccurate information we hold or have provided to others (including credit-related information) by contacting us. If the information that is corrected is information we have provided to others, you can ask us to notify them of the correction. We don’t charge a fee for these requests.
If your request relates to credit-related information provided by others, we may need to consult with credit reporting bodies or other credit providers. We’ll try to correct information within 30 days. If we can’t complete the request within 30 days, we’ll let you know the reason for the delay and try to agree a timeframe with you to extend the period.
If we’re able to correct your information, we’ll inform you when the process is complete.

7.6 What if we disagree that the information should be corrected?  

If we disagree with you that information should be corrected, we’ll let you know in writing our reasons. You can ask us to include a statement with the relevant information, indicating your view that the information is inaccurate, misleading, incomplete, irrelevant or out-of-date. We will take reasonable steps to comply with such a request.

  1. Making a privacy complaint 

8.1 We’re here to help 

We accept that sometimes we can get things wrong. If you have a concern about your privacy (including credit-related matters), you have a right to make a complaint and we’ll do everything we can to put matters right.

8.2 How do I make a complaint? 

To lodge a complaint, please get in touch with us using your point of contact or one of the customer service teams set out in section 9. We’ll review your situation and try to resolve it straight away. If you’ve raised the matter through your point of contact or our customer service teams and it hasn’t been resolved to your satisfaction, please contact our Customer Relations team using the details in section 9.

8.3 How do we handle a complaint? 

We acknowledge every complaint we receive and provide our name, a reference number and contact details of the investigating officer. We keep you updated on the progress we’re making towards fixing the problem.
Usually, it takes only a few days to resolve a complaint. However, if we’re unable to provide a final response within 45 days  we’ll contact you to explain why and discuss a timeframe to resolve the complaint.

8.4 Credit-related information complaints 

If your complaint is about our practices relating to credit-related information, then we may need to consult with other organisations, including credit reporting bodies or credit providers.
We will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within seven days. If we can’t resolve the matter within 30 days, we’ll contact you and explain the reason for the delay, the expected timeframe to resolve the complaint and seek your agreement to extend the period.

  1. How to contact us or find out more 

For privacy related queries, access or correction requests, or complaints, or to request a printed version of this policy, please contact us on 0800 839 383 or email hello@loanblaster.co.nz. Our call centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST.

We aim to resolve your query or complaint at your first point of contact with us. You can use your usual point of contact or call our customer service team.

9.1 To update your direct marketing preferences or request not to receive direct marketing 

You can call us using the number above or emailing us or generally clicking unsubscribe on the marketing email.

For more information about the Australian Privacy Principles and credit reporting rules visit:

  • Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (privacy generally)
  • Australian Retail Credit Association (credit reporting rules)

9.2 we will send your details directly to the lenders that we deem to be suitable for you. We reserve the right to exclude or include any lender from our selection for any reason. We accept no loss or liability for any damage caused by our process.

  1. Consent to Collect Personal Information

By accepting the following terms and conditions you consent to fundwise.com.au and our related companies from time to time (‘we’, ‘us’) collecting, using and disclosing personal information about you, in accordance with our Privacy Policy (as updated from time to time).

A summary of some of the key terms of our Privacy Policy is set out below.
We may use personal information about you for the purpose of providing you with credit, for direct marketing of products, and to enhance services offered by us or any of our associates. The information provided by you will be held by us. You can gain access to the information held about you by contacting us on 0800 839 383. You have the right to request not to receive direct marketing material by advising us at any time. If you do not provide personal information, we may be unable to provide a loan.

You consent that we and/ or our lenders (including any of our overseas associates on our behalf) can do any of the following at any time:

  • Credit information: Seek and use personal credit information about you to assess an application for credit.
  • Landlord information: Seek and use landlord information and rental confirmation from your current landlord.
  • Obtain a credit report from credit reporting bodies: Seek and use a credit report about you provided by a credit-reporting agency for the purpose of assessing your application.
  • Provide information to credit reporting bodies: Give to a credit reporting body personal or commercial information about you. The information may include identity particulars; the fact that credit has been applied for and the amount; the fact that we are a current credit provider to you; advice that payments are no longer overdue; advice that cheques drawn by you have been dishonoured more than once; in specified circumstances that in our opinion you have committed a serious credit infringement; and the credit provided to you by us has been paid or otherwise discharged.
  • Disclose personal information: Disclose personal information about you as required by law, or to organisations involved in providing credit to you, any of our associates or contractors, or people considering acquiring or taking an interest in our business or assets. This includes disclosing personal information about you to the third party technology providers that we use to process your application for a loan, some of whom are based overseas.
  • Bank Statements and third party account aggregation service provider: By obtaining from you access to your internet banking, our third party service provider will access your personal information for the purpose of providing your bank account information to us. We will obtain the last six months bank transactions on the date you apply for a loan, in addition to further ongoing bank transactions for the term of the loan, for the purpose of assessing any future loan application. We note that your bank’s terms may prohibit you from sharing your login, so you agree to appoint our third party service provider as your agent to access your internet banking on your behalf solely for this purposes and you consent to our ongoing access to this information for the term of the loan and the purposes outlined above.
  • Customer identification: Disclose personal information about you to a credit reporting agency for the purpose of verifying your identity against the information held on your credit file. Should you not agree to have your identity verified by these means, please contact us so that we can discuss other options with you.
  • Provide information about your loan, which may include personal information, to any introducer including but not limited to the loan term, balance and repayment history.

If you provide any personal information to us about another person, you confirm that you have the authority of that person to share their information with us and to permit us to hold, use and disclose their information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.  You must inform them of their rights to access and request correction of their information set out in our Privacy Policy (as updated from time to time).

  1. Consent to Receive Contract Documentation Electronically

You consent to us sending you notices and other documents in connection with your dealings with us (“Electronic Communication”) by electronic means, including by email, text or by the member log-in area via our web site.

You understand that upon the giving this consent:

  • We will make all notices, statutory disclosures (including, if applicable, the Information Statement and Credit Guide), statements of account, copy of the contract and other documents available for a reasonable period of time in the customers log-in area on our website for retrieval by you, OR we will send you such documents by e-mail or other form of electronic communication;
  • If the information is displayed in the customers log-in area, we will promptly send you an e-mail or other form of electronic communication to the e-mail address nominated notifying you that information is available for retrieval from our website and notify you of the nature of that information;
  • You must regularly check your nominated e-mail inbox for notices;

You may withdraw your Electronic Communication consent at any time by contacting us on 0800 839 383, provided you provide a suitable means for us to communicate with you.

Fundwise.com.au. and its associated entities loanblaster.co.nz  is not a lender and we offer no advice as to the suitability of the lender for you personal circumstances. By clicking submit you agree that you understand fundwise.com.au is not providing financial advice or credit advice and you will not hold fundwise.com.au responsible for any loss suffered in relation to our service.