why your privacy is important to us
Switchwise Pty Ltd (ABN 98 126 526 298) ("Switchwise" or “we” or “us”) aggregates information from a variety of sources, including from Retailers and other third-party sources.
As your privacy is of great importance, we wish to explain to you how we deal with your personal information. Personal information is information or an opinion about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained. It includes all personal information regardless of where or how it was obtained.
This Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, use, manage and protect your personal information. Any information that you provide to Switchwise through our website or call centre may be collected and used by Switchwise according to this Privacy Policy. In conducting our business, including the delivery of services via the website or the call centre, Switchwise complies with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the National Privacy Principles.
This Privacy Policy is in addition to Switchwise's terms and conditions governing the website and call centre and should be read in conjunction with such terms and conditions. You must not use our website or call centre if you do not accept this Privacy Policy and the Switchwise Terms and Conditions.
how we collect information about you
Whenever you visit our website, Switchwise.com.au, our servers may automatically record information about your usage of the website and the services provided by Switchwise, such as the time and length of your visit and which pages you visit. We may also transfer cookies to your computer’s hard disk. Cookies only identify your browser, not you personally. Most web browsers are set to accept cookies. However, if you do not wish to receive any cookies, you may set your browser to refuse them. In some instances this may mean you will not be able to use any or all of Switchwise’s services.
We collect this information and use cookies to help us to better understand which areas of the Switchwise service our customers use, which areas they don’t and to assist us to continually improve the quality, ease-of-use and relevance of our website. Cookies also assist us to provide a faster and more streamlined customer experience by avoiding the need to re-enter information you have previously provided to us. In these instances, the information we collect about you remains anonymous.
We will, if it is reasonable or practicable to do so, collect your personal information directly from you. This may happen when you fill out an application form to switch your energy retailer.
The collection of some of your personal information is essential for some of the services offered and delivered by Switchwise. If we do not collect and make use of some of the data that you enter, we will not be able to complete some of the functions for which this website is designed.
You can assume that we collect and hold the personal information provided by you when using the Switchwise website or call centre, including your name, postal and residential address, email address, the property owner’s real estate agent contact details (if the relevant property is rented), telephone and fax number, date of birth, internet service provider address (to the extent that this constitutes personal information), username, password, password reminder, credit card, bank account or other payment details, drivers’ licence number or other identity verification details, marketing preferences and other information considered necessary for any application process you may be undertaking. No matter how your personal information is collected, it is dealt with by Switchwise in accordance with the National Privacy Principles.
If you participate in an online, mail or phone survey, the information you give and that we collect is usually on an anonymous basis, or is subsequently aggregated on an anonymous basis. In any case, this information is used only in aggregated form unless we specifically tell you otherwise at the time we collect it, and you may always chose not to participate in such surveys.
We may use third parties to measure and analyse usage across our website. The analytics software we use may collect information on the following:
- the number of page impressions;
- the number of unique users;
- the average time spent by unique users on the website; and
- entry and exit points to our website.
This aggregated, non-personal information is collated and provided to us to assist in analysing usage of the Switchwise website. The data is also accessible by media organisations and research companies for the purpose of conducting industry comparisons with other Internet sites.
Where possible, we will only collect this information from you or from a person who represents that they are authorised by you to provide us with this information on your behalf.
why we collect information about you
We collect personal information primarily to:
- provide you with information on the energy retailers selected by Switchwise and who are listed on the Switchwise website (“Retailers”), and the services and products offered by the Retailers;
- disconnect you from a product or service provided by one Retailer and connect you to a product or service offered by another Retailer;
- understand and meet your energy and marketing needs and preferences; and
- bill and collect debts.
We may also use the personal information to:
- send newsletters or updates to you;
- inform you of products or services that are offered by the Retailers; and
- inform you of developments to the services offered by Switchwise.
However, we will provide you with a choice to opt out of any of the above and any of our marketing activities. We will respect your request to decline to receive these and marketing communications.
We do not collect sensitive information about you unless you specifically chose to volunteer it to us.
We provide links from the Switchwise website to third party websites. As we are not responsible for and we do not control these websites, we encourage you to review the privacy policies on these third party websites.
how we use your information
Switchwise may disclose your personal information to Retailers or other third party organisations whose products or services you have indicated that you might have an interest in.
Where your personal information is disclosed to a third party, we will seek to ensure that the information is held, used or disclosed consistently with the National Privacy Principles and other applicable privacy laws and codes. However, Switchwise is not responsible for and cannot guarantee the use of any information provided to the Retailers or other third parties.
Personal information may also be disclosed to third parties including service providers and technicians in relation to maintaining, reviewing and developing our business systems, procedures and infrastructure including testing or upgrading our computer systems or as required or authorised by law, for example, to government or regulatory bodies for purposes related to public health or safety, the prevention or detection of unlawful activities or to protect public revenue.
how we keep your information safe
We store information in different ways, including in paper and electronic format. The security of your personal information is important to us and we take reasonable steps to ensure that it is accurate, complete and up to date, and protect it from misuse and loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Some of the ways we do this are:
- requesting you to provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself;
- requesting you to update the information you have provided to us;
- if applicable, requesting you to keep your username and password confidential;
- confidentiality agreements for our employees and contractors;
- security measures for systems access;
- only allowing access to personal information where the individual seeking access has satisfied our identification requirements;
- controlling access to our buildings; and
- destroying or permanently de-identifying your personal information if it is no longer needed for the purpose which the information was originally collected, used or disclosed under National Privacy Principles.
If you believe that personal information we have collected from you is inaccurate or incomplete, please contact us.
how you can access the information we hold about you
You have a limited right to access all personal information that we hold about you. In limited circumstances, we may refuse your request, in which case we will give you a reason for that refusal.
If you have any issues you wish to raise with Switchwise in relation to the personal information that we currently hold about you, or would like to discuss any issues about this Privacy Policy, then please contact us by:
E-mail:email us
Phone:1300 867 948
Post:Switchwise Pty. Ltd., PO Box 325, Mont Albert, VIC 3127
how you can learn more about your privacy rights
For more information about your privacy rights in Australia, you can visit the Australian Government’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner website.
our privacy policy may change
This Privacy Policy is not a static document, and we may make changes to this Privacy Policy from time to time for any reason. We encourage you to keep visiting our Privacy Policy to see if any updates have been made.
Updated: 20 June 2008