Institute of Mercantile AgentsPrivacy Statement and Openness Policy
As a registered Debt Collection Agency in NSW, Guardian falls under the
provisions of the Federal Privacy Amendments (Private Sector) Act 2000.
In general this requires Guardian to be ethical in operating its business,
to diligently protect the integrity and accuracy of the information it
holds and to respect the privacy of the people it has dealings with.
The bulk of the information Guardian deals with is provided by creditors,
who collected such information in the normal operation of their business
in the context of supplying goods or services on credit.
Guardian gathers information from communications with debtors and where
appropriate the debtor's guardians, trustees or executors.
As a matter of practice and policy Guardian does not consolidate or
cross index information. Information on resolved debtor accounts
is not retained in databases. All information is organised at the
level of the creditor, since all requirements to access a debtor's information
is in the context of the creditor.
Guardian does not trade, sell or share information.
Guardian is aware that its obligations with respect to information policy must be maintained throughout all business processes, all staff and contractors are appropriately instructed. On the occasions when Guardian instructs solicitors, client confidentiality is attached. Guardian will provide courts with information where relevant, and will involve appropriate parties when implementing court orders.
Guardian's Computer systems:- Do not have applications which provide network services or operate as software agents.
- Do not have applications with enabled macro languages.
- Have anti-virus software with subscriptions to online updates and alerts.
- Are insulated from the InterNet by firewalls and NAT.
- Emails and attachments are actively scanned.
- Have online passwords which comply with length and content guidelines.
Access to and validation of information:
The Privacy Commissioner has promised to produce a set of guidelines
as to how organisations which hold information can satisfactorily establish
the identity of persons requesting information held on them. Upon
such time Guardian will adopt said guidelines and defer to the Commissioner's
judgement as to their appropriateness and correctness.
Requests for information must be in writing.
The Australian Government - Office of the Privacy Commissioner