Privacy Policy
HVG Fabrics Privacy Statement, Privacy Policy, Credit Reporting Policy and Statement of Notifiable Matters
Privacy Statement and Privacy Policy
This Privacy Statement, Privacy Policy, Credit Reporting Policy and Statement of Notifiable Matters sets out the Privacy and Credit Information Policy of HVG Fabrics Pty Ltd (ACN 649 411 763) (ABN 30 649 411 763) of 29 Henderson Street, Turrella, NSW 2205 (referred to hereafter as “HVG Fabrics”).
Privacy Laws
HVG Fabrics is bound by the Privacy Act 1998, the Privacy (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Act 2012, the Credit Reporting Privacy Code and the Australian Privacy Principles (“the APPs”) as amended from time to time.
Privacy Statement
HVG Fabrics is committed to your privacy. Our policy on the handling of personal information is to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (“the APPs”) for the fair handling of Personal Information (any information from which your identity is apparent) and Credit Information (your repayment and default history, amount and type of credit provided, and any default information) as set out in the Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Act 2012 as amended. In accordance with those principles and the HVG Fabrics Privacy Policy and Privacy Statement, a copy of which is located on our website at www.hvgfabrics.com.au persons will be given access to their personal information on request. We use the types of Personal Information collected for several purposes which include considering and assessing applications for employment, enabling us to supply you with our products and/or services and for assessing Applications for Commercial Credit and Guarantee documents, managing accounts including overdue accounts and, if necessary, insuring our risk in collecting debts. This information may be disclosed to our related or associated entities, parties related to your employment (e.g. referees and others as set out in our Privacy Policy), contractors, other Credit Providers whether or not your account is overdue and, if necessary, our Risk Insurers, debt collectors, lawyers and other service providers, and Credit Reporting Bodies including Equifax (www.equifax.com.au), Illion (www.illion.com.au) and others. If all or part of the information requested is not provided we may not be able to consider any application made by you or to supply you with our goods and/or services and we may not be able to process your Application for a Commercial Credit Account. If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy, the type of information we may hold about you, or for corrections or complaints about a breach of your privacy, please direct your requests to the Privacy Officer at our Head Office address at 29 Henderson Street, Turrella, NSW 2205 or e-mail privacy@hvg.net.au.
Collection of your personal information
HVG Fabrics is committed to the protection of your personal information. Personal information is any information or an opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. Generally, the kind of information HVG Fabrics will collect about an individual include an individual’s name, signature, residential address, telephone number, date of birth, bank account details or credit card information, and commentary or opinion about a person, for example credit commentary, eligibility or information received from Veda or Dun and Bradstreet.
The specific types of personal and business information that we collect from you will depend on the services you require from us and how you interact with us. When you apply to do business with us we will ask you many details to do with you and your business. That information then assists us in making business decisions about our intended business relationship and the terms of that relationship. If the personal information requested is not supplied HVG Fabrics may not be able to consider any application made by you, or to supply you with our goods and/or services and we may not be able to process your Application for a Commercial Credit Account.
At the time of collecting personal information about an individual, or as soon as practicable after that time, HVG Fabrics takes reasonable steps to ensure the individual is aware of:-
a) The identity and contact details of HVG Fabrics and HVG Fabrics’ Privacy Officer;
b) The purposes for which the information is being collected;
c) Any organisations to which HVG Fabrics may possibly disclose the information to;
d) The fact that an individual has a right to gain access to the personal information collected;
e) The main consequences (if any) for the individual if all or part of the information is not provided.
We will not collect any personal information from you revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, or details of health, disability or sexual activity or orientation. Exceptions to this include:
a) Where you have given express consent to HVG Fabrics to do so;
b) Where is it necessary for HVG Fabrics to carry out one of its primary functions;
c) Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that disclosure is necessary to prevent a threat to life or health;
d) The use is authorised by law or reasonably necessary to enforce the law; or when the information is necessary for the establishment, exercise of defence of a legal claim.
When you use HVG Fabrics’ website at www.hvgfabrics.com.au, our Internet Service Provider (ISP) may make a record of your visit and log your server address, your domain name, the date, time and duration of your visit, the pages and documents you accessed, the previous site you had accessed (i.e. the referring URL) and the type of browser you are using. This information is collected for statistical purposes only, and HVG Fabrics will not make any attempt to identify users according to their browsing activity.
In the unlikely event of an investigation, a law enforcement agency or other government agency may exercise its legal authority to inspect our business records or ISP’s logs. It is also possible that your ISP is logging your activity while you visit our site. This is obviously beyond the control of HVG Fabrics.
While you are visiting our site, we may use cookies to facilitate a more personalised web browsing experience. Except where you volunteer personal or business information, we will not procure information about you via any alternative means while you visit our website.
How we use and disclose personal information
The personal information that you provide to us before during or after our business relationship, or before or after or during interaction on this site, and in other interactions between us, is used for a number of primary purposes, including the following:-
a) Enabling us to supply you with our products and services;
b) Managing, servicing and reviewing Accounts, including overdue accounts;
c) Managing Customer Payment information, including credit card information and bank account details;
d) Considering and assessing applications for employment;
e) Providing you with better service for the supply of products and services; and
f) Insuring and assessing our risk in collecting debts.
HVG Fabrics will not sell, rent or trade your personal information.
Any personal or business information which you do supply will only be used internally at HVG Fabrics and will not be divulged to a third party unless that third party is associated or integral to the purpose for which you gave us the information or where required by law. We will only use and disclose information about you for the purpose for which you gave us that information. We may use and disclose information about you for a purpose other than the purpose for which you gave us the information where:
a) That other purpose is related to the purpose for which you gave us the information;
b) You have given us your consent for the personal information to be used or disclosed for the additional purpose;
c) Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that use or disclosure is necessary to prevent a threat to life or health;
d) Where we suspect that unlawful activity is or has been engaged in and we use or disclose the personal information to investigate the suspected unlawful activity; or
e) The use or disclosure is authorised by law or reasonably necessary to enforce the law.
During the ordinary course of business, HVG Fabrics may disclose your information as required by law or to parties related to your employment (e.g. referees or WorkCover Insurers), our contractors, other credit providers (whether or not your account is overdue) and, if necessary, our Risk Insurers, debt collectors, solicitors, other professional advisors and Credit Reporting Bodies including Equifax (www.equifax.com.au), Illion (www.illion.com.au) and others. HVG Fabrics may also disclose your personal information to organisations involved in a transfer or sale of all or part of our business or its assets or one involved in managing our corporate risk and funding requirements.
HVG Fabrics’ Credit Department has well-documented detailed procedures, which are compliant with the APPs, in managing personal data relating to the administration of customer accounts. Compliance to these procedures is monitored on an ongoing basis.
Direct Marketing
HVG Fabrics may also use your personal information, including e-mail addresses, for the purpose of direct marketing. We may only use your personal information or data for the purpose of direct marketing in relation to promotional activities where it is impracticable for us to obtain your prior express consent. However, when we do this, we will provide an express opportunity when we first contact you to decline receiving any further marketing communications from us, via an opt-out mechanism. Please contact us if you do not want to receive any direct marketing information or if you do not want your information disclosed for direct marketing purposes.
Overseas Disclosure
In the normal course of its business, HVG Fabrics may disclose personal information to overseas recipients such as HVG Fabrics’ related or associated companies, or to third parties. This disclosure may occur if HVG Fabrics’ service providers are located overseas, if any transactions, information, products or services have an overseas connection, where the individual consents, where the disclosure is for the benefit of the individual or is for the performance of a contract with HVG Fabrics. HVG Fabrics will take reasonable steps to protect an individual’s privacy if this disclosure occurs. You agree and consent to the possible use and disclosure of this information to overseas recipients from time to time in accordance with this Privacy Policy and Privacy Statement.
Security of your personal information
HVG Fabrics will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all personal information we collect, use or disclose is stored both physically and electronically in a secure environment accessed only by authorised persons. HVG Fabrics will take reasonable steps to protect any personal information that it holds from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, and to destroy or permanently de-identify personal information if it is no longer needed for any purpose. HVG Fabrics requires any third party, service provider, or other entity to which HVG Fabrics discloses information to comply with this Privacy Statement and Privacy Policy and to comply with the APPs.
HVG Fabrics maintains sophisticated IT systems to keep its customer, vendor and employee data on master files. HVG Fabrics has security measures designed to protect against the loss, misuse and/or alteration of the information under its control, including restricted access, firewalls and encryption.
While HVG Fabrics employs anti-virus software and encryption technology when interfacing with its customers, suppliers, contractors and other parties, you should be aware that there is a residual risk in transmitting any data electronically. This risk is inherent in any Internet dealings.
How to access, correct or update your information
HVG Fabrics will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date, and will review information on its databases at regular internals to ensure all information kept is up to date.
You have a right to seek access to your personal information and to make correction to that information. Please contact the Privacy Officer if your details change or if you believe the information we have about you is not accurate or complete. We will provide you with reasonable opportunity to access your personal information and have it corrected or updated. A fee may apply to such access and you will be required to provide the appropriate identification.
Exceptions to your access rights may include:
a) Where providing access will pose a serious threat to the life or health or any individual or pose an unreasonable impact on the privacy of an individual;
b) Your request for access is frivolous or vexatious;
c) Where the information relates to existing legal proceedings between HVG Fabrics and you and the information would not be discoverable in the process of those legal proceedings; or
d) Where providing access would be unlawful, may prejudice an investigation of possible unlawful activity, may prejudice enforcement of laws, or denying access is specifically authorised by law.
Where HVG Fabrics refuses a request for correction or access, you will be provided with written reasons for the refusal and details of complain mechanisms.
Complaints
HVG Fabrics takes your complaints seriously. If you believe that HVG Fabrics has not dealt with your personal information in a manner that complies with the Privacy Act 1998, the Privacy (Enhancing Privacy Protections) Act 2012, the Credit Reporting Privacy Code and the Australian Privacy Principles (“the APPs”) as amended from time to time, please contact the Privacy Officer, 29 Henderson Street, Turrella, NSW 2205 or e-mail privacy@hvg.net.au or via any of our contact details listed at www.hvgfabrics.com.au. You will be required to put your complaint in writing. HVG Fabrics will use its best endeavours to provide a response in writing within a timely manner, and to correct any personal information and notify any other entity required with updated information.
HVG Fabrics has detailed procedures for dealing with Privacy breaches. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint, or if HVG Fabrics refuses to provide access to, or correction of, your personal information, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at http://www.oaic.gov.au.
Transparency
This Privacy Statement and Policy is available on HVG Fabrics’ website at www.hvgfabrics.com.au. A copy of this Privacy Statement and Policy will be made available to anyone who requests it. This Privacy Statement and Privacy Policy may be reviewed and amended from time to time, and any updated version will be made available on and will apply from the date the updated version is published on HVG Fabrics’ website or upon request.
How to contact us
You can contact HVG Fabrics and our Privacy Officer at our head office premises at 29 Henderson Street, Turrella, NSW 2205 or e-mail privacy@hvg.net.au or via any of our contact details listed at www.hvgfabrics.com.au.
Credit Reporting Policy
This Credit Reporting Policy sets out how HVG Fabrics will manage your Credit Information (your repayment and default history, amount and type of credit provided, and any default information) and your Credit Eligibility Information (Information provided by other Credit Providers and Credit Reporting Bodies). Our handling of your Credit Information complies with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (“the Act”) and the Credit Reporting Privacy Code (“CR Code”).
This Credit Reporting Policy is to be read together with our Privacy Policy and our Statement of Notifiable Matters.
Collection of your Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information
HVG Fabrics may collect, use, hold and disclose Credit Information about you. You consent to such collection, holding, use and disclosure of your Credit Information in accordance with the terms of this policy.
If you apply for commercial credit or provide a guarantee for commercial credit, the kinds of Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information that we may collect and hold includes information used to identify you, your creditworthiness and any other related information necessary or incidental to the products and services which HVG Fabrics provides or proposes to provide to you. This may include:
• identification information; or
• consumer credit liability information; or
• repayment history information; or
• a statement that an information request has been made in relation to you by a credit provider;
• payment or default information; or
• new arrangement information; or
• court proceedings information; or
• personal insolvency information; or
• publicly available information in relation to your creditworthiness.
Sometimes, we may gather Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information about you from a third party, for example, from Credit Reporting Bodies (“CRB’s”) (for example, Veda and Dun & Bradstreet) or intermediaries and spouses or from publicly available information.
The Credit Information that you provide assists us in making business decisions about our intended business relationship and the terms of that relationship. We may not be able to transact business with you if you do not provide all of the information requested and we may not be able to process any Application for Commercial Trading Account.
How we Use and Disclose your Credit Information and your Credit Eligibility Information?
We will collect, hold, use and disclose Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information for a number of primary purposes, including the following:
• assessing Applications for Commercial Credit Accounts and Guarantee documents and whether to accept you or anyone else as a guarantor in relation to credit;
• to assist you in avoiding any default on your credit obligations;
• assessing your credit worthiness;
• notifying a CRB or other credit providers of any defaults by you;
• comply with any legal or regulatory requirements; and
• to advise you of services and products from time to time.
We will also collect, hold, use and disclose Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information about you to comply with Australian legislation, including the Corporations Act 2001, Proceeds of Crime Act 1987 and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006 and any amendments to these Acts.
Disclosure of Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information
We may disclose your Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information to any of the following third parties:
• any regulatory, governmental organisation or industry or legal body which governs the conduct of any part of our business in any jurisdiction or as required by law or regulation;
• our related bodies corporate;
• a third party who is supplying a service to us;
• any other third party provided that we obtain your prior written consent;
• your representatives (including your legal adviser, mortgage broker, financial adviser, executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, or attorney);
• where permitted by law, debt collection agencies or other lenders; or
• as otherwise permitted by law.
Overseas Disclosure
HVG Fabrics may disclose Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information to overseas recipients such as our related or associated companies, or to third parties. This may also occur if our service providers are located overseas. We will take reasonable steps to protect your privacy if this disclosure occurs.
Storage and Security of your Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information
We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information that we collect, use or disclosed, is stored both physically and electronically in a secure environment accessed only by authorised persons. We will take reasonable steps to protect any such information that we hold from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure and to destroy or permanently de-identify personal information if it is no longer needed for any purposes.
We maintain sophisticated IT systems to keep such information and data on master files. We have security measures including restricted access, firewalls and encryption.
While HVG Fabrics employs antivirus software and encryption technology when interfacing with its customers, suppliers, contractors and other parties, you should be aware that there is a residual risk in transmitting any data electronically. This risk is inherent in any internet dealings.
Credit Reporting Bodies and your Credit Information
CRBs are permitted under the Act and the CR Code to use and disclose your Credit Information. If you apply for commercial credit or offer to act as a guarantor, we may disclose your Credit Information to, or collect Credit Information about you from a CRB. This information is used for the purpose of determining your Eligibility for credit, and we may process the information to assess your creditworthiness and suitability for credit.
HVG Fabrics deals with the following Corporate Reporting Bodies:
• Equifax
Level 15, 100 Arthur Street, North Sydney NSW 2060, www.equifax.com.au, 13 83 32; and
• Illion
Level 7, 479 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004, www.illion.com.au, 13 23 33.
Further information about how these bodies manage credit related personal information can be found in their privacy policies available on their websites or by contacting them directly.
How to Access, Correct or Update your Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information
HVG Fabrics will take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure all information collected, used or disclosed is accurate, complete and up to date. You have a right to seek access to your Credit Information and Credit Eligibility Information and to make correction to that information. Your request must be reasonable and practicable. Please contact our Privacy Officer on privacy@hvg.net.au should your details change or if you believe the information we have about you is not accurate or complete or to make an access or correction request. We will endeavour to respond to your request within a reasonable time. If you are not satisfied with our response to your access or correction request, please see our Complaints Section below, for information on making a complaint.
You will be required to put your complaint in writing and we will use our best endeavours to provide a response in writing within a timely manner and to correct any personal information and notify any other entity required with updated information.
HVG Fabrics has detailed procedures for dealing with privacy. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint or should we refuse to provide access to or correction of your information, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au.
Changes to our Credit Reporting Policy
We may, at our discretion, change our approach to the handling of Credit Information and will, in such instances, update the Credit Reporting Policy to reflect these changes. The most up-to-date copy of the Credit Reporting Policy will be available at www.hvgfabrics.com.au and any such updated version shall apply from the date the updated version is published on our website.
Statement of Notifiable Matters
This Statement has been prepared by HVG Fabrics to provide you with information on the Credit Reporting Bodies (CRB’s) that HVG Fabrics deals with and to notify you about the rights you have in relation to your Credit Information.
Credit Information
Credit Information and Credit Eligibility information is personal information that may have a bearing on commercial credit that has been provided to you or that you have applied for or is about you as a guarantor of commercial credit. Credit Information about you may include:
1. identification information; or
2. consumer credit liability information; or
3. repayment history information; or
4. a statement that an information request has been made in relation to you by a credit provider; or
5. default information; or
6. payment information; or
7. new arrangement information; or
8. court proceedings information; or
9. personal insolvency information; or
10. publicly available information in relation to your creditworthiness.
Credit Information applies to both consumer credit and commercial credit.
CRB’s and your Credit Information
CRB’s are permitted under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Credit Reporting Privacy Code to use and disclose your Credit Information. If you apply for commercial credit or offer to act as a guarantor, we may disclose your Credit Information to, or collect Credit Information about you from, a CRB. This information is used for the purpose of determining your eligibility for credit, and we may process the information to assess your creditworthiness and suitability for credit.
CRB’s that HVG Fabrics may disclose Credit Information to
HVG Fabrics will deal with the following CRB’s:
• Equifax
Level 15, 100 Arthur Street, North Sydney NSW 2060, www.equifax.com.au , 13 83 32; and
• Illion
Level 7, 479 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004, www.illion.com.au , 13 23 33.
Further information about how these CRB’s manage credit related personal information can be found in their privacy policies which can be obtained from their websites or by contacting them directly.
HVG Fabrics’ Credit Reporting Policy and how you may access your Credit Information
HVG Fabrics’ Credit Reporting Policy contains further information on:
• how you can access the Credit Information that HVG Fabrics holds about you;
• how you can correct the Credit Information that HVG Fabrics holds about you;
• how you can complain about a breach of regulatory obligations by HVG Fabrics;
• the locations outside of Australia that HVG Fabrics may disclose your Credit Information to.
Your rights in relation to your Credit Information
CRB’s offer a service to credit providers wishing to send direct marketing material about credit services to individuals. This is called “credit pre-screening”. You have the right to request the CRB’s do not use your Credit Information for this purpose. To opt out of credit pre-screening, contact the CRB, using the contact details provided above.
You can also ask a CRB not to use or disclose your credit reporting information for a period if you believe on reasonable grounds that you have been or are likely to be a victim of fraud