COLLECTION

ACCI will only collect personal information where it is necessary for one or more of its functions or activities. The information will be collected lawfully and fairly and not in an unreasonable intrusive way.

For ACCI the primary function is commercial credit reporting.

The information ACCI collects to provide its commercial credit reporting is business-related. However, some information relates to the owners or principals of the business and to directors and Information collected about individuals is limited to that which our customers find relevant for business decision-making. That information is collected to give ACCI customers a sense of who is responsible for the decisions and to serve as a resource to assess the likelihood of business success. Insofar as reasonably possible ACCI will collect the information from the individual concerned. If this is not possible the information may be collected from other sources, including publications and databases that are publicly and commercially available.

Where information is collected from another source ACCI will take reasonable steps to ensure that the person is made aware of how to contact ACCI to access the information, how and why the information was collected and what will be done with the information, unless specific exemptions apply. Sensitive information will only be collected with consent, unless specific exemptions apply.

USE AND DISCLOSURE

ACCI will use and disclose information it holds about an individual for the purpose for which it was collected and for other related purposes for which the individual would reasonably expect us to use the information or to which the individual has agreed (either expressly or impliedly). In many cases the primary purpose of collecting the information is to include it in our database so that we can provide it to our customers as part of the commercial credit information service. Our customers will include both small and large businesses in the food services industry.

We ask registered users of our website to choose whether to receive e-mail updates about ACCI products and services. We honour the choices made. However, we reserve the right to e-mail customers on rare occasions when we think it is important. We do not allow other uses or disclosures of mail or e-mail addresses or registration information.

If ACCI engages anyone to do something on its behalf (for example, suppliers of internet support services, auditors, process servers or lawyers) then ACCI and the service provider may exchange information for the purposes for which the service provider has been engaged.

ACCI shares personal information with its related companies in Australia.

ACCI may also use or disclose information where it is required or permitted by law to do so.

Data Quality

ACCI will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information collected, used or disclosed is accurate, complete and up to date. When the information is no longer needed, ACCI will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify personal information.

ACCI will remove information from the credit information files when required by law (for example default information is removed after 5 years and bankruptcy information is removed after 7 years).

Data Security

Reasonable steps are taken to protect the personal information we hold from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Openness

ACCI has documented policies on management of personal information. This information can be made available on request.

ACCESS AND CORRECTION

Individuals can request access to their personal information which ACCI keep on record. If you believe that any information is incorrect or out of date, you may ask us to correct it. If ACCI disagrees that the information is incorrect ACCI, will if requested by the individual, include a note in the credit information file.

There is no fee for requesting access to your information, however we may charge you the reasonable cost of processing your request.

Complaints Procedures

If you have any complaints in relation to the handling of your personal information please contact ACCI at [address] or on [telephone number].

Trans-border Data Flows

ACCI will only transfer personal information about an individual to a foreign country with less privacy protection in specified circumstances.

It is ACCI policy not to transfer sensitive or personal information to countries with a lower level of privacy protection. Services which identify individuals and which are available to non-subscribers via our website are limited to data regarding companies and businesses and widely available information sources.

ACCESS AND CORRECTION

Individuals and businesses who would like more information about ACCI's approach to privacy are encouraged to contact ACCI on 03 9335 4149 or alternatively send us a message at info@acci.net.au

ACCI November 2004