This Privacy Policy Statement sets out how Victoria Teachers Credit Union Limited (the Credit Union) manages and protects the personal information we collect and use in managing the products and services we offer and provide to you. Your privacy is important to you and to us and we value your trust in our ability to safeguard your personal information.

The Credit Union collects personal information from you for managing your membership and supplying products and services to you. This information may include your name, addresses, date of birth, tax file number, contact details (including your telephone number, mobile telephone number and email address), employment details, financial position and other such information required to provide the product or service to you. Personal information may be obtained from any source and in respect of individual loan applicants and guarantors includes anything about credit worthiness, standing, history and capacity which, under or in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, may be lawfully exchanged.

Where personal information about you which we collect from third parties is sensitive information, such as health details, criminal record or information about your membership of a professional or trade association, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure the third party has obtained your consent to provide this information to us.

If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information, we may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking.

When we collect personal information including sensitive information about you, we will always comply with the National Privacy Principles relating to collection.

Using Personal Information

We use your personal information for:

  • Assessing and processing applications for membership, products and services;
  • Marketing the services of Victoria Teachers Credit Union, including banking, financial planning and insurance services;
  • Marketing any services which we provide with any of our commercial affiliates. Marketing material may be co-branded with our affiliate's logo;
  • Developing an understanding of the products and services you may be interested in receiving from us;
  • Managing the provision of services to you and enforcing our rights in connection with such services;
  • Identifying you prior to discussing your account details with you.

We do not use identity numbers from government agencies, such as Tax File Numbers or Pension Numbers, to identify your applications, information or accounts.

When we use your personal information we will always comply with National Privacy Principles relating to use.

Disclosing Personal Information

There may be occasions where the Credit Union will disclose your personal information to:

  • Our contractors and service providers, such as a mailing house for the purposes of sending account statements;
  • Our commercial affiliates such as insurance companies in order to provide you products or services not offered directly by us;
  • A credit reporting agency or debt collecting agency;
  • An insurer who provides insurance to you or to us in respect of risks relating to you;
  • A person who is legally responsible for you following receipt of your consent to do so, such as a guardian;
  • Prevent a threat to life, health or safety;
  • Comply with regulatory or legal obligations imposed on us; and
  • Where we are otherwise permitted by law.

On occasions we may be required to forward some of your personal information overseas, such as in cases where we are attempting to resolve visa card fraud or when transferring funds internationally.

The Credit Union does not sell, rent or lease any information about you to any third party including email listing marketing or market research companies.

When we disclose your personal information we will always comply with the National Privacy Principles relating to disclosure.

Opt out

You may call, email or write to the Credit Union at any time to opt out of receiving direct marketing material for products and services offered by the Credit Union or our affiliates at any time.

If you do opt out, we will only provide information relating to your existing accounts or services. This may include notification of changes to those accounts or services.

Accurate information

The Credit Union endeavours to keep your personal information as complete, accurate and up to date as possible.

When we do so, we comply with National Privacy Principles relating to data quality.

Please contact us if you have any reason to believe that your information is incorrect or requires amendment.

Internet usage

If you use our website it is important that you understand that we use cookies to help us collect important information. Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored by your web browser on your computer hard drive. Cookies can remember what information you access on one web page to simplify future interactions with the website.

Cookies hold data pertaining to the acceptance of Internet Banking Terms and Conditions. We do not use cookies to capture your individual email address or any personal information which may identify you.

You should be aware that where we provide you with an option to link directly with other websites, you are actually moving to another website. When this occurs we encourage you to read any related privacy statements associated with such websites.

Protecting your information

Security of your personal information is of paramount importance to the Credit Union. Our internal security policies are designed to protect your information from misuse, loss, unauthorised modification, disclosure or access.

Our security policy complies with the National Privacy Principles relating to data security.

You Can Access Information

Upon your request the Credit Union will provide you with information which we hold about you which may lawfully be provided, and the purposes for which it is used. In some circumstances charges may apply for retrieval of this information and you will be advised of any charges at the time of your application for access to this information. In some circumstances we may deny you access to your personal information, however we will only do so in compliance with National Privacy Principles relating to denial of access.

Requests for copies and updating

We will make our Privacy Policy Statement available to you at your request. For the ongoing prudent management of the Credit Union we may update this Privacy Policy Statement from time to time.

If you would like to know more about the National Privacy Principles, please refer to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website: www.oaic.gov.au.

Not Satisfied

A Complaint and Dispute Resolution Guide is available in our branches, on our website and by request. The guide is used to inform you on how to lodge a complaint, including who to contact and how the Credit Union aims to deal with the complaint. If you lodge a complaint you will be offered this guide.

Privacy Policy Statement last updated : 24/11/2011