Privacy Policy

I.Application of this Policy

1.1This Policy applies to personal information collected, held, used or disclosed by Valuers4U Pty Ltd (ABN 13 951 044 552) (Valuers4U, we, us, our) through the Valuers4U platform at valuers4u.com and any related communication or service (the Platform).

1.2Valuers4U is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (the APPs) set out in Schedule 1 to that Act. References to personal information have the meaning given in section 6 of the Privacy Act.

1.3By using the Platform or providing personal information to us, the user consents to the collection, holding, use and disclosure of that personal information in accordance with this Policy.

II.Information We Collect

We collect only personal information reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, our functions or activities (APP 3).

2.1We do not knowingly collect sensitive information (as defined in section 6 of the Privacy Act) and request that users do not upload sensitive information to the Platform.

2.2The Platform is intended for professional users and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from any individual under the age of 18.

III.How We Collect Information

3.1We collect personal information directly from the individual concerned wherever reasonably practicable (APP 3.6), including when a user: (a) registers on the Platform; (b) lodges a Request or submits a quote; (c) corresponds with us; or (d) uploads supporting documents.

3.2Where we collect information about a Client from the engaging Professional, the Professional warrants that they have authority to disclose that information to us for the limited purposes set out in this Policy.

3.3We collect technical information automatically through standard server logging and analytics on the Platform.

IV.Why We Collect, Hold, Use and Disclose Information

We use personal information only for the purposes for which it was collected (the primary purpose) and for any related secondary purpose that an individual would reasonably expect (APP 6).

4.1Our primary purposes are to:

1. operate the Platform, including matching Requests with appropriately qualified Valuers and facilitating the quote, Appointment and audit-trail processes;
2. communicate with users about Requests, quotes, Appointments, fees and account matters;
3. issue, deliver and administer tax invoices in respect of Referral Fees and Success Fees;
4. verify the credentials of Valuers (including against the Australian Property Institute’s public register and other public records);
5. maintain the security and integrity of the Platform, prevent fraud and respond to misuse;
6. comply with applicable law, court orders, regulatory requests and legal process; and
7. improve the Platform, including through aggregated and de-identified analytics.

4.2We will not use or disclose personal information for any other purpose without the individual’s consent, unless permitted under APP 6 (including where required or authorised by law).

V.Disclosure to Third Parties

5.1We may disclose personal information to third parties to the limited extent reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in clause 4.1, including:

1. other users of the Platform participating in the same Request, in accordance with the anonymisation architecture described in clauses 5.3 to 5.5;
2. service providers acting on our behalf under contractual confidentiality obligations, including hosting providers, email and notification providers, accounting and invoicing providers (including Xero or Stripe Invoicing), and analytics providers;
3. professional advisers (legal, accounting, audit and risk) under duties of confidence;
4. regulators, law enforcement and other authorities where required or authorised by law; and
5. any successor entity in connection with a sale, merger, restructure or transfer of the Platform’s business or assets.

5.2We do not sell personal information.

5.3Anonymisation prior to selection. Where a Request is routed to multiple Valuers for competitive quotation, we disclose to each matched Valuer only such property and scope information as is reasonably necessary to enable that Valuer to prepare a fee quote. The identity of the engaging Professional, the engaging Professional’s firm, the Client and the full street address of the property are not disclosed to any matched Valuer at this stage. The brief delivered to matched Valuers is anonymised at the suburb level and contains no personally identifying information of the engaging Professional or the Client.

5.4Disclosure on selection — the directory bridge. When the engaging Professional appoints a Valuer’s quote, we disclose to that appointed Valuer (and to that Valuer alone) such identifying information about the engaging Professional, the engaging Professional’s firm, the Client and the full property address as is reasonably necessary to enable the Valuer to engage with the Professional and the Client directly. Concurrently, we disclose to the engaging Professional the identifying information of the appointed Valuer (name, firm, telephone and email). At and after this moment, Valuers4U acts as a directory bridging the two parties; the appointed Valuer engages the Professional and the Client directly under the Valuer’s own Letter of Engagement.

5.5Notification to unsuccessful Valuers. The two unsuccessful Valuers are notified that another quote has been appointed for the relevant Request. The identity of the engaging Professional, the engaging Professional’s firm, the Client, the appointed Valuer and the appointed quote amount are not disclosed to those unsuccessful Valuers.

5.6By lodging a Request or submitting a quote on the Platform, the engaging Professional and the Valuer each consent to the limited disclosure of identifying information to the other in accordance with clause 5.4 in the event of selection.

VI.Cross-Border Disclosure

6.1Personal information is stored primarily in Australia. Limited cross-border disclosure may occur where service providers operate, store or process data outside Australia, which may include the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom (where commonly-used cloud-hosting, email and analytics infrastructure is operated).

6.2Where we disclose personal information to an overseas recipient, we take reasonable steps to ensure that the overseas recipient does not breach the APPs in relation to that information, in accordance with APP 8.

VII.Storage, Security and Retention

7.1We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure (APP 11), including the use of access controls, encryption in transit, secure hosting and personnel training.

7.2No transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Users are responsible for the security of their own access credentials.

7.3We retain personal information only for so long as it is reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in clause 4.1, or as required by law (including taxation, anti-money laundering and corporations record-keeping requirements). When personal information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it (APP 11.2).

VIII.Direct Marketing and Electronic Messages

8.1We may send commercial electronic messages (including emails and SMS) to users in connection with the Platform and our services, in accordance with APP 7 and the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).

8.2Every commercial electronic message we send contains a functional unsubscribe facility. A user may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions in the message or by emailing e@valuers4u.com. Operational and transactional communications (for example, invoices, account notices and Request status updates) may continue to be sent following an unsubscribe, as they are not direct marketing.

IX.Cookies and Site Analytics

9.1The Platform uses cookies and similar technologies for session management, security, analytics and to improve user experience.

9.2Most browsers allow a user to refuse cookies. Disabling cookies may impair the functionality of the Platform.

9.3We may use third-party analytics providers (such as Google Analytics or equivalent) to gather aggregated, de-identified information about Platform usage. These providers may collect information directly through cookies in accordance with their own privacy policies.

X.Access, Correction and Deletion

10.1An individual may request access to, or correction of, the personal information we hold about them by contacting us at e@valuers4u.com (APP 12 and APP 13).

10.2We will respond to such requests within a reasonable period (and in any event within 30 days). We may decline access in the limited circumstances permitted by APP 12.3 (for example, where access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others or where required or authorised by law).

10.3We do not charge a fee for an access or correction request, save where a fee is permitted by APP 12.8 to recover reasonable costs.

XI.Notifiable Data Breaches

11.1Valuers4U complies with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme under Part IIIC of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

11.2Where we become aware of a data breach involving personal information that is likely to result in serious harm to any affected individual, and we are unable to prevent that harm by taking remedial action, we will notify the affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as soon as practicable.

XII.Complaints and Contact

12.1A complaint about the handling of personal information by Valuers4U may be made in writing to the Privacy Officer at the contact details below. We will acknowledge the complaint within seven (7) days and respond substantively within thirty (30) days.

12.2If the complainant is not satisfied with our response, they may refer the complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au, by telephone on 1300 363 992 or by post to GPO Box 5288, Sydney NSW 2001.

End of Privacy Policy.