Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

In this Privacy Policy, the expressions we, us and our includes us and our aggregator Australian Finance Group Ltd ABN 11 066 385 822 ('AFG') Australian Credit Licence 389087, its subsidiaries and Path Financial Solutions ABN 97193515627.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

To provide mortgage broking services, we collect the following types of personal information:

Identity Information

• Full name, date of birth, and gender
• Residential address and contact details
• Driver's licence, passport, or other identification documents
• Medicare number (for identity verification)

Financial Information

• Employment details and income information
• Bank statements and transaction history
• Existing loans, debts, and credit card limits
• Assets including property, vehicles, and investments
• Tax returns and notices of assessment
• Superannuation and investment statements

Credit Information

• Credit reports from credit reporting bodies
• Credit scores and credit history
• Details of previous credit applications
• Repayment history on existing credit products

Sensitive Information

We may collect sensitive information such as health information only where it is relevant to your loan application (e.g., income protection insurance requirements) and with your explicit consent.

3. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information:

• Directly from you when you complete application forms or communicate with us
• From your employer, accountant, or financial adviser with your consent
• From credit reporting bodies (Equifax, Experian, illion)
• From lenders in relation to your loan applications
• From government bodies such as the ATO
• Through our website when you submit enquiry forms or use our calculators
• From publicly available sources

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Assess your financial situation and borrowing capacity
• Identify suitable loan products from our panel of lenders
• Submit loan applications on your behalf
• Communicate with you about your application status
• Provide ongoing loan management services
• Comply with our legal and regulatory obligations
• Conduct internal business analysis and improvement
• Send you relevant updates about rates and products (with your consent)

5. Disclosure of Your Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

• Lenders on our panel for the purpose of loan applications
• Our aggregator, AFG
• Credit reporting bodies
• Lenders' mortgage insurers
• Valuers and property information providers
• Your solicitor or conveyancer
• Your accountant or financial adviser
• Government bodies as required by law (e.g., AUSTRAC, ATO)
• Our professional advisers (lawyers, auditors)
• Third-party service providers who assist our business operations

We will not sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Credit Reporting

Under the Privacy Act 1988, we may disclose your credit information to credit reporting bodies. These bodies may include this information in reports provided to other credit providers.

The credit reporting bodies we use include:

• Equifax Australia - www.equifax.com.au
• Experian Australia - www.experian.com.au
• illion - www.illion.com.au

You have the right to request access to your credit report and to request corrections if the information is inaccurate.

7. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Our security measures include:

• Secure, encrypted storage of electronic records
• Password protection and multi-factor authentication
• Secure physical storage of paper documents
• Staff training on privacy and data protection
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Secure destruction of information no longer required

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, and to comply with our legal obligations. Under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, we are required to retain certain records for a minimum of 7 years. After this period, we will securely destroy or de-identify your personal information.

9. Your Rights

Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information
• Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
• Request deletion of your information (subject to legal requirements)
• Withdraw consent for direct marketing
• Make a complaint about a breach of your privacy
• Request information about overseas disclosures

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below.

10. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyse website traffic. We may use:

• Essential cookies for website functionality
• Analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our site
• Marketing cookies to deliver relevant advertisements

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last updated" date.

12. Complaints

If you believe we have breached your privacy, you can lodge a complaint with us. We will investigate and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

• Website: www.oaic.gov.au
• Phone: 1300 363 992
• Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au