Credit Information Privacy Policy

This policy explains how Gibson's Limited trading as Skretting Australia ABN 23 009 476 064 (We or Us) collect, store, use, disclose, maintain and destroy credit related personal information. We are bound by Part IIIA of the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) as amended (the Act) as a credit provider. We are also bound by the credit reporting code (CR Code) approved under the Act.

This policy was last updated 12 March 2014.

What’s the short version?

• This policy applies when We provide credit to an individual (including when an individual guarantees credit for another person or entity) 
• We will communicate with one or more credit reporting bodies to obtain information and disclose information to them
• We use the credit information We collect to determine eligibility for credit and to manage that credit
• Individuals can access and/or correct information We hold about them
• Individuals can complain to Us or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner about breaches of the Act or the CR Code
• Contact details for our financial controller, who is the person responsible for privacy for us, are at the end of this document

What is covered?

This policy applies to credit information, credit eligibility information and information We derive from credit or credit eligibility information. This policy applies when We are providing goods or services to an individual on credit of at least seven days. This policy also applies whenever We are acting as a credit provider within the meaning of the Act.

Our privacy policy (available at www.skretting.com.au) also applies to all personal and sensitive information We collect, use and disclose except to the extent it is inconsistent with this policy.

What kind of information do We collect and hold?

We may collect and hold a range of credit information about an individual, including:

• Identification information
• Information about consumer credit liabilities
• Information about other credit the individual has sought or obtained
• Information about the individual’s repayment of other credit
• Information held by a credit reporting body about the individual
• Information about the individual’s previous defaults, payments and payment arrangements relating to credit provided to them
• Information about the individual’s insolvency
• Information about court proceedings involving the individual
• Publicly available information about the individual’s creditworthiness

 How do We collect and hold information?

We may collect information from the individual, from a credit reporting body, from publicly available sources or by making assessments of an individual’s creditworthiness.

We also maintain records of information related to the credit We supply to the individual, including their repayment history, payment arrangements, defaults, payments, court proceedings or insolvency.

How do We use information We collect?

We collect information for the purpose of determining the individual’s eligibility for credit and for managing that credit. We may collect or use this information at the time an application for credit is made or at any other time during our relationship with the individual. This includes regular or ad-hoc reassessments of suitability for credit which We may conduct without notifying the individual.

We will never use credit related information for direct marketing.

When do We disclose information to others?

We may disclose information to a credit reporting body in accordance with the Act and the CR Code.

We may also disclose information to a debt recovery contractor, credit application processor or other contractor where necessary for providing or managing the credit in accordance with the limits imposed by the Act and the CR Code.

We may disclose that We suspect a serious credit infringement (e.g. fraud or an intention not to comply with credit obligations) to other credit providers or enforcement agencies in accordance with the Act or CR Code.

We may disclose credit information about individuals who are seeking credit to our trade insurers, but this will not include information received from a credit reporting body about that individual (or information derived from that).

We may disclose information where required or authorised by law, including the Act or the CR Code.

When do We disclose credit related information overseas?

We disclose credit related information to related bodies corporate in the Netherlands and Norway for the purposes of assessing suitability for credit and managing credit. We have taken reasonable steps to ensure those overseas bodies provide appropriate privacy protections (including compliance with certain APPs and credit information privacy provisions) as required by section 21NA of the Act.

How can an individual access or correct information We hold about them?

Individuals can request access to the information We hold about them by contacting our financial controller using the details listed below. There is no fee for requesting access to information but We may choose to charge a reasonable fee to provide access to or copies of the information. 

We will normally permit an individual to access their information, however if for some reason We do not We will explain why We have made that decision. We will normally respond to all requests within 30 days.

If an individual wishes to update the information We hold about them they can do so by contacting our financial controller on the details listed below. There is no fee for requesting us to update information but We may choose to charge a reasonable fee to do so. We will normally respond to all requests within 30 days.

If We are asked to update information We do not hold then We will consult with credit reporting bodies to determine whether the information is held by them. We will also explain this to the individual.

Where We have disclosed information to another body and We later update that information, We will disclose the updated information to that body.

How can an individual complain about our use of their information?

Individuals concerned about their privacy should contact our financial controller on the details listed below. We will investigate all complaints and provide a response within 30 days. We may indicate in that response that additional time is required to complete the investigation, in which case We will specify a timeframe for further communication.

Individuals may also make complaints about breaches of the Act or the CR Code to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Details are available at http://www.oaic.gov.au

How can We be contacted?

Enquiries about privacy (including complaints) should be directed to:

The Financial Controller, Skretting Australia

Mail: PO Box 117, Rosny Park, TAS 7018

Phone: (03) 6216 1201

Email: enquiries.au@skretting.com