Privacy Policy
The Allstate Home Loans Group of Companies recognises the importance of protecting your privacy. We are committed to ensuring the continued integrity and security of the personal information you entrust to us. We will therefore continue to collect and manage your personal information with a high degree of diligence and care. Our aim is to comply at all times with the privacy laws (incorporating the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 Commonwealth ) that apply to us. If you have a comment, query or complaint regarding a privacy matter, we encourage you to discuss it with us.
How we handle your personal information
This statement explains the types of personal information we collect and how we handle that information.
Types of information collected and held by us
We need to collect some of your personal details to enable us to establish and maintain a financial services relationship with you. The types of information we request will vary according to the product or service that we are providing to you. We will usually ask for your name, age, address and other contact details (such as phone, fax and email) so we can communicate with you. In some cases we may also need your financial details.
How we collect your information
In most cases we collect personal information directly from you. Sometimes we may obtain your information from a credit reporting agency, a third party acting on your behalf (such as a loan introducer, financial adviser or broker) or public records such as those relating to land titles and companies.
How we protect your information
We take all reasonable steps to ensure your information remains secure, and to prevent unauthorised access to your information. Although we endeavour to ensure that all personal information kept by us remains accurate, we also depend on you to tell us of any changes to your details.
We use our best efforts to ensure that information received via our website remains secure within our systems. We are regularly reviewing developments in online security, however users should be aware that there are inherent risks in transmitting information across the Internet. All of the information you provide via our on-line banking service is protected by a secure encrypted connection. This mechanism provides a high level of protection against unauthorised access to information transmitted to us over the Internet.
Our use of your information
Generally we only use or disclose your information where necessary and in order to provide you with the product or service you have requested. We may also use it for the group's internal business purposes such as research and product development; credit scoring; staff training; conducting market or customer satisfaction research; maintaining a relationship with you, and assessing your future applications for products or services provided by us. Preventing and investigating crime or fraud to protect your interest and Allstate Home Loans interest along with fulfilling our legal requirements (e.g. disclosure to law enforcement agencies or the courts).
We may use your information to tell you about other financial products and services we believe may meet your needs. You can notify us at any time if you do not want to receive these offers.
Our disclosure of your information
Like many financial service organisations we outsource some of our functions to specialised service providers (for example, we use mailing and printing houses). We may also disclose your information to IT providers, professional advisers, account holders and operators, and (in the case of loan products) credit reporting agencies, valuers, introducers, insurers, guarantors, debt collection agencies and government authorities. When your information is disclosed to those organisations it remains the property of Allstate Home Loans and is protected under our agreements with them. We will also disclose your information when required to by law. In the case of shareholders, personal information is disclosed to our share registry service provider. Specific requirements apply to the collection, use and disclosure of your information for credit reporting purposes.
Access to your information, queries and complaints
If you have a query, comment or complaint about privacy, or wish to access your personal information, please contact our Privacy Manager by phone 1800 101 368; fax 1800 101 838; email enquiry@allstatehomeloans.com.au, or post The Privacy Manager, Allstate Home Loans, PO Box 959, Spring Hill, QLD 4004. An access request form is available from our Privacy Manager. Please note that a charge may apply when we give you access to your information. If you feel that your query, comment or complaint has not been handled appropriately, you may wish to contact the Credit Ombudsman Service Limited by phone 1300 780 808; fax (02) 9261 2798; email info@creditombudsman.com.au; website http://www.creditombudsman.com.au, or post Level 7, 287 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000.
What to do if you think we have made an error
Allstate Home loans is committed to the protection of your privacy, and our policies and systems have been developed with this intent. However, sometimes human errors do occur. If you think we have not lived up to our commitment, we invite you to phone us on 1800 101 368 or write to : The Privacy Manager, Allstate Home Loans, PO Box 959, Spring Hill, QLD 4004.
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