Privacy

Privacy Policy

HomeStart Finance ("HomeStart") is committed to the protection of your right to privacy. HomeStart has stringent privacy policies and procedures to ensure that your personal information and privacy is protected. HomeStart loans are available through its network of Loan Managers (see Section 12 below). This Policy also applies to HomeStart's Loan Managers.

HomeStart complies with the South Australian Department of Human Services' Code of Fair Information Practice ("Code"). The principles in the Code are similar to the National Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("Act"). In addition, HomeStart complies with the requirements of Part IIIA of the Act (which regulates credit providers and credit reporting) and the Credit Reporting Code of Conduct under the Act.

As a HomeStart customer, we collect, use, disclose and hold personal information about you. Your "personal information" is any information or opinion about you that is capable of identifying you.

This Policy is intended to cover most of the ways that personal information is generally handled by HomeStart, but is not exhaustive. If you have any queries about HomeStart's management of your personal information, please contact HomeStart or one of its Loan Managers for further information.

• 1. Collection of Personal Information

  When collecting your personal information, HomeStart takes reasonable steps to make you aware of the purposes for which the information is being collected, the organisations to which HomeStart would usually disclose your information, legal obligations (if any) requiring HomeStart to collect the information, and any consequences if you fail to provide any information that is requested.

  HomeStart limits the personal information collected to that which is necessary for HomeStart's functions or activities. When reasonable and practicable, HomeStart only collects your personal information directly from you (often through its Loan Managers).

  If you do not provide the personal information requested by HomeStart, we may be unable to assist you (for example, we may not be able to approve any application you make for a HomeStart loan).

  HomeStart may collect personal information from you in a number of circumstances, including:

  • when you apply for a HomeStart loan
  • when you respond to HomeStart's marketing activities (such as surveys, email campaigns or polls)
  • when you contact HomeStart, for example, to enquire about HomeStart's products or services

  The personal information that HomeStart may collect includes your name, address, telephone number, and birth date. We may also collect other personal information (such as any credit defaults that may have been recorded about you by a credit reporting agency) in connection with the ongoing management of your HomeStart loan/s.

  Sometimes HomeStart may need to collect sensitive information about you, which may include information about your racial or ethnic origin or your health. However, HomeStart will not collect sensitive information unless you have consented or we are otherwise permitted to collect this information under the Code or by law.

• 2. Use of Personal Information

  HomeStart will generally only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, and for related purposes that are within your reasonable expectations. HomeStart will seek your consent prior to using or disclosing your personal information for another purpose, unless we are required or authorised by the Code or by law to do so without seeking your consent.

  If you apply for a HomeStart loan, HomeStart will use personal information from your loan application to determine your eligibility for a HomeStart loan.

  Your personal information may also be used in market research studies to analyse products and customer needs and develop new products, although we will use de-identified information for these purposes when possible. If you respond to a survey or questionnaire, HomeStart will use that information to improve HomeStart's services or the products HomeStart offers to customers. Personal information collected in these circumstances will not be disclosed to any third parties and will be used for HomeStart's internal marketing and research purposes only.

  Your personal information may also be used to enable HomeStart to offer you other products or services that are related to products or services HomeStart has previously provided to you.

  If HomeStart collects sensitive information from you, that information will be used in a considerate manner by HomeStart and will be securely and privately stored.

• 3. Disclosure of Personal Information

  HomeStart may collect personal information from you in a number of circumstances, including:

  • HomeStart Loan Managers, for purposes connected with the administration of your HomeStart loan
  • credit reporting agencies, for the purpose of obtaining your credit report
  • other credit providers, for the purpose of obtaining information from them about your credit history
  • your solicitor, conveyancer, real estate agent, builder, home insurer, valuer or financial adviser, for purposes connected with your home purchase
  • contractors or third party service providers (for example mail houses and archive companies), for purposes such as sending materials to you
  
  

  When HomeStart engages contractors and third party service providers to provide specialised services such as bulk mailing and market research services, these contractors and service providers are required to sign confidentiality agreements and may only use personal information disclosed to them by HomeStart for the specific purposes for which it was provided.

  HomeStart will not sell your personal information to any third parties.

• 4. Access to Personal Information

  You are entitled to obtain access to the personal information about you held by HomeStart, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (SA) ("FOI Act"). HomeStart may deny your request for access if required or authorised to do so under any law (including the FOI Act). A request for access to your personal information must be in writing and sent either to HomeStart or to your Loan Manager (who will forward it to HomeStart). HomeStart will respond to your request within 30 days of receiving the request.

• 5. Storage of Personal Information

  HomeStart takes reasonable steps to store your personal information securely, and has policies and procedures intended to ensure that your personal information is not misplaced or misused, and that unauthorised access to, or modification or disclosure of, your personal information does not occur.

• 6. Credit Reporting and Privacy

  HomeStart will not conduct any credit checks or exchange information with other credit providers until you have completed and signed HomeStart's Privacy Act authority form. HomeStart will not approve a loan application until it has received a completed Privacy Act authority form.

  HomeStart is audited periodically by independently appointed accountants to ensure that we comply with Part IIIA of the Act.

• 7. Privacy Online

  In this Privacy Policy, "online services" refers to any services provided by HomeStart via the Internet (including email).

  • 7.1 Automatic Server Logs

    When you visit HomeStart's web site, our web server collects the following information for statistical and customer service purposes:

    • the numbers of users who have visited our web site
    • the date and time that users have visited the web site
    • the number of pages viewed and the documents downloaded
    • the type of browser software that you are using; and
    • the type of operating system software that you currently use
    
    

    HomeStart makes no attempt to identify you or to track or monitor your browsing activities from the above information. We only use this information to improve the performance of HomeStart's web site and HomeStart's services to HomeStart's customers.

    HomeStart may collect personal information from you (such as your name, email address, and any other personal information that you provide) if you submit this information to HomeStart via HomeStart's online services (for example, if you send HomeStart an email message or if you submit information to HomeStart using the enquiry form). We will use this personal information to contact you to respond to your message, and for other related purposes within your reasonable expectations.

  • 7.2 Security

    When indicated to you, HomeStart uses encryption and security technology (such as the Secure Sockets Layer ("SSL") standard, which encrypts information so that it cannot be viewed by another party as it is transmitted through the Internet) to protect any personal information you provide to HomeStart while it is in transit to or from HomeStart's web site. This includes information that is supplied in any surveys or responses to other marketing research methods.

    You acknowledge that, if you provide any personal information to HomeStart via HomeStart's online services (including email) or if we provide such information to you by such means, the privacy, security and integrity of this information cannot be guaranteed during its transmission unless HomeStart has indicated to you beforehand that a particular transmission of information will be protected (for example, by SSL, as outlined above).

  • 7.3 Cookies

    • 7.3.1 HomeStart

      HomeStart uses pixels, or transparent GIF files, to help manage online advertising. These GIF files are provided by our ad management partner, DoubleClick. These files enable DoubleClick to recognize a unique cookie on your Web browser, which in turn enables us to learn which advertisements bring users to our website. The cookie was placed by us, or by another advertiser who works with DoubleClick. With both cookies and Spotlight technology, the information that we collect and share is anonymous and not personally identifiable. It does not contain your name, address, telephone number, or email address. For more information about DoubleClick, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to
      http://www.doubleclick.net/us/corporate/privacy.

    • 7.3.2 eHomeStart

      HomeStart's web site uses "session cookies" for existing customers who use the eHomeStart secure customer site.

      Session cookies are used as a means of identification for the eHomeStart secure customer site to ensure that you are the authorised person to use the site, that your customer number and password details are correct, and so that we can provide your confidential information to you. These cookies are an integral part of the security process for using HomeStart's online services.

      Upon closing your browser the session cookie set by the eHomeStart secure customer site will be destroyed and a new cookie will be created the next time you log in to the eHomeStart secure customer site. No information returned to HomeStart's server by the session cookie is used to track your browsing habits, and no other personal information is retained from your session.

  • 7.4 Other Online Services

    If any of HomeStart's online services (including any email messages we send to you) contain links to other online services that are not maintained by HomeStart ("Other Services"), or if Other Services link to HomeStart's online services, we are not responsible for the content of those Other Services or the privacy practices of the organisations that operate them, and by providing such links we do not endorse or approve the Other Services. This Privacy Policy applies only in respect of HomeStart's online services.

• 8. Amendment

  HomeStart undertakes periodic reviews of its policies and procedures with guidance by HomeStart's legal advisers to ensure that the personal information held is managed by HomeStart appropriately. HomeStart therefore reserves the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time. You may obtain a copy of the current version of this Privacy Policy by contacting HomeStart, HomeStart's Loan Managers or from HomeStart's web site.

• 9. Queries regarding HomeStart's Privacy Policy

  A copy of this Privacy Policy may be obtained from our web site, by contacting a HomeStart Loan Manager, or by contacting HomeStart.

  If you have any queries regarding this Privacy Policy, or if you require further information about the ways we manage your personal information, please contact HomeStart.

• 10. Complaints

  If you believe that a breach of your privacy has occurred, we encourage you to contact HomeStart to discuss your concerns.

• 11. Contact Information

   

  • HomeStart Finance
  • 153 Flinders Street
  • ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5001;
  
  
  • Ph: (08) 8203 4777 or (08) 8203 4718;
  • Fax: (08) 8203 4001;
  • Internet: www.homestart.com.au
  • Contact: www.homestart.com.au/contact

   

  
  

• 12. HomeStart Loan Managers

  • BankSA
  • 97 King William Street
  • ADELAIDE SA 5000
  • Ph: 8424 4748
  
  
  • Homeloans Plus
  • 33 Franklin Street
  • ADELAIDE SA 5000
  • Ph: 8410 8777
  
  
  • Bernie Lewis Home Loans
  • 200 South Road
  • MILE END SA 5031
  • Ph: 8300 8300
  
  
  • The Home Loan Centre
  • Suite 1/1568 Main North Road
  • SALISBURY SOUTH SA 5106
  • Ph: 8281 9522

Click here for Frequently asked question concerning HomeStart's Privacy Policy.