Credit Reporting Policy

 

This Credit Reporting Policy explains how ACT Plasterboard Pty Ltd 151 324 748, trading as Plastamasta Canberra, and its related bodies corporate (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) (we, us, or our) collect, hold, use, disclose, and otherwise handle credit-related personal information about individuals.

This Credit Reporting Policy applies to our handling of credit-related personal information to the extent Part IIIA of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the Privacy (Credit Reporting) Code 2025 (Code) apply, including where we obtain or use consumer credit reporting information in connection with an individual’s application for commercial credit or a guarantee.

1. Acceptance and application

By applying for trade credit, providing a guarantee, requesting that we consider a commercial credit arrangement, or otherwise dealing with us in a manner that requires us to collect, use, disclose, or otherwise handle your credit-related information, you agree and acknowledge that your information will be handled in accordance with this Credit Reporting Policy, our Privacy Policy, and applicable law.

We may update this Credit Reporting Policy from time to time. The current version will be made available on request and, where applicable, on our website.

2. The kinds of credit-related information we collect and hold

Depending on the circumstances, the credit-related information we collect and hold may include:

    • Identification information, such as your name, date of birth, gender, current or previous addresses, and driver’s license or other identity details where lawfully collected
    • Information in and about your credit applications, guarantees, trade references, and account history
    • Information requests made by credit providers, mortgage insurers, or trade insurers
    • Default information, court proceedings information, personal insolvency information, and other publicly available information relating to your creditworthiness
    • Consumer or commercial credit liability information and repayment history information where applicable and permitted by law
    • Credit eligibility information obtained from credit reporting bodies and credit providers
    • Credit scores, ratings, or other assessments derived by a credit reporting body
    • Other information reasonably necessary for us to assess, provide, manage, or recover credit, or otherwise permitted by law

3. How we collect and hold credit-related information

We usually collect credit-related information directly from you or from someone authorised to act for you (for example, a broker, accountant, solicitor, other representative, or the entity applying for credit). We may also collect credit-related information from third parties where it is unreasonable or impracticable to collect it directly from you or where the law otherwise permits.

Those third parties may include:

    • Credit reporting bodies
    • Other credit providers, financiers, trade references, or guarantors
    • Our agents, contractors, debt recovery service providers, and professional advisers
    • Public registers, courts, insolvency databases, and other publicly available sources
    • Other persons or entities involved in assessing, providing, or managing credit

4. Why we collect, hold, use, and disclose credit-related information

We may collect, hold, use, and disclose credit-related information for purposes including:

    • Assessing applications for trade credit, commercial credit, deferred payment arrangements, and guarantees
    • Making and recording creditworthiness assessments and decisions
    • Managing accounts, payment arrangements, and credit limits
    • Participating in the credit reporting system as permitted by Part IIIA of the Privacy Act and the Code
    • Collecting overdue payments, enforcing rights, and undertaking debt recovery activities
    • Dealing with complaints, correction requests, fraud or identity theft issues, and dispute resolution
    • Complying with legal and regulatory obligations
    • Other purposes permitted or required by law

If you do not provide requested credit-related information, we may be unable to assess or approve a credit application, continue to provide credit, accept a guarantee, or otherwise deal with you on credit terms.

5. Disclosure to credit reporting bodies & consent

We may disclose credit-related information to credit reporting bodies where permitted by law, including when seeking a consumer or commercial credit report, assessing an application for credit or a guarantee, or reporting a payment default or other information authorised by Part IIIA of the Privacy Act.

Credit reporting bodies may include that information in reports they provide to other credit providers to assist them to assess your creditworthiness.

We are likely to disclose credit-related information to the following credit reporting bodies and their successors and assigns:

    • Equifax Australia, GPO Box 964, North Sydney NSW 2059, www.equifax.com.au, 138 332
    • Creditor Watch, GPO Box 276, Sydney NSW 2001, creditorwatch.com.au, 1300 501 312
    • Experian, PO Box 7405, St Kilda Road, Melbourne Vic 3004, www.experian.com.au, 1300 783 684
    • CMSA Pty Ltd, STE 203, 91–99 Mann Street, Gosford NSW 2250, www.cmsa.au, (02) 4322 6855
    • Gallagher Insurance, L16, 100 Arthur St, North Sydney, NSW 2060

You agree that we may be required by our insurer/s to report credit defaults, overdue invoices, accounts, and similar, that are owing to us.

You consent to us making the following enquiries/disclosures pursuant to the following sections of the Privacy Act:

    • Obtaining a copy of your credit report from a credit reporting body for a commercial credit-related purpose (item 2 of section 20F(1))
    • Obtaining a copy of your credit report from a credit reporting body for a credit guarantee purpose (item 3 of section 20F(1))
    • Obtaining a copy of your credit report from a credit reporting body for a trade insurance purpose (item 8 of section 20F(1))
    • Disclosing credit eligibility information about you to other credit providers (section 21J(1) or 21K(1))
    • Disclosing credit eligibility information about you to another entity and/or its professional legal or financial advisers where the recipient proposes to use that information for the purposes described in section 21N(3) of the Privacy Act (section 21N(2))

Where you, or any person acting on your behalf, request an increase to a customer’s credit limit, you consent to us undertaking the searches referred to above. You acknowledge that these consents are continuing in nature and may be withdrawn prospectively by written notice to us (noting that information already disclosed cannot be recalled). If consent is withdrawn, we may be unable to continue to provide credit or approve any increase to the customer’s credit limit.

6. Your rights in relation to credit reporting bodies

You have rights under the Privacy Act in relation to credit reporting bodies, including the right to:

    • Request access to the credit information a credit reporting body holds about you (free of charge in the circumstances prescribed by law)
    • Request that a credit reporting body does not use your credit reporting information for the purpose of pre-screening
    • Request that your credit information not be disclosed if you reasonably believe you have been, or are likely to be, a victim of fraud or identity theft

7. Disclosure to other recipients

Subject to law, we may disclose credit-related information to our related bodies corporate, agents, contractors, service providers, insurers, financiers, trade insurers, legal and other professional advisers, debt collection agencies, guarantors, trade referees, other credit providers, and persons involved in the management or recovery of credit provided by us.

We may also disclose credit-related information where you have consented, where the disclosure is required or authorised by law, or where otherwise permitted under the Privacy Act.

8. Overseas disclosure

We do not usually disclose credit-related information to recipients located outside Australia. However, some service providers that assist with technology, data storage, or administration may have overseas operations or access. Where we disclose credit-related information overseas, we will do so only as permitted by law and will take reasonable steps to ensure the information is handled appropriately.

9. Security and retention

We take reasonable steps in the circumstances to protect credit-related information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Those steps may include physical, administrative, and technical safeguards such as access controls, password protection, secure storage, staff training, and secure destruction processes.

We retain credit-related information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with legal and record-keeping obligations. When no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify it, subject to any legal retention requirements.

10. Access to your credit-related information

You may request access to the credit-related information we hold about you by contacting our Privacy Officer. There is no charge for making an access request. We may need to verify your identity before giving access.

We will respond within a reasonable period and, where required by applicable law, within 30 days. We may refuse access where permitted by the Privacy Act. If we refuse access, we will give you written reasons (unless it would be unreasonable to do so) and details of available complaint avenues.

11. Correction of your credit-related information

If you believe credit-related information we hold about you is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading, you may request correction by contacting our Privacy Officer. There is no charge for making a correction request.

We will deal with your request within a reasonable time and, where applicable, correct the information within 30 days of your request or within any longer period agreed with you in writing. If necessary, we may consult a credit reporting body or another credit provider in dealing with your request, in accordance with applicable legal requirements. If your request is successful, we will take reasonable steps to notify other entities to whom we disclosed the information, where required by law or, if you request it, where practicable. If we refuse your request, we will provide written reasons, details of available complaint avenues, and information about any other rights you may have.

12. Complaints

If you believe we have breached Part IIIA of the Privacy Act, the Code, or another applicable privacy obligation in relation to your credit-related information, you may lodge a complaint with our Privacy Officer. Please provide enough detail for us to investigate your complaint.

We will acknowledge receipt within a reasonable time and aim to investigate and respond within 30 days, although some matters may take longer. If we need more time, we will let you know. If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Details are available at www.oaic.gov.au.

13. Statement of notifiable matters

This statement is provided in accordance with section 21C of the Privacy Act and paragraph 4 of the Code. At or before the time we collect personal information about you that we are likely to disclose to a credit reporting body, we are required to notify you of the following matters.

    • Information requests—If the likely disclosure is an information request: (i) your consent to the disclosure being made is not required; (ii) a record of the information request may be used and, as relevant, disclosed for the purposes of the credit reporting body or a credit provider assessing your creditworthiness, including calculation of a credit score or credit rating (subject to any other use or disclosure limitations under the Privacy Act, the Regulations, or the Code); and (iii) in general terms, an information request may affect a credit score or credit rating calculated by a credit reporting body in relation to you
    • Use by credit reporting bodies—The credit reporting body may include the information in reports provided to credit providers to assist them to assess your creditworthiness
    • Default and serious credit infringement reporting—If you fail to meet your payment obligations in relation to consumer credit or commit a serious credit infringement, we may be entitled to disclose this to the credit reporting body
    • Access to policies—You may obtain a copy of our policy about the management of credit-related personal information required by section 21B of the Privacy Act (this Credit Reporting Policy) by contacting our Privacy Officer using the details set out in clause 14 below, or, where applicable, by accessing it on our website. You may obtain a copy of the credit reporting body’s policy about the management of credit-related personal information required by section 20B of the Privacy Act from the credit reporting body’s website. The contact details of the credit reporting bodies to which we are likely to disclose your information are set out in clause 5 above
    • Your rights in relation to us—You have the right to (i) access the information we hold about you, (ii) request that we correct the information, and (iii) make a complaint to us. Further information about how to exercise these rights is set out in clauses 10, 11, and 12, respectively
    • Your rights in relation to credit reporting bodies—You have the right to request the credit reporting body: (i) not to use your credit reporting information for the purposes of pre-screening of direct marketing by a credit provider and (ii) not to use or disclose credit reporting information about you if you believe on reasonable grounds that you have been, or are likely to be, a victim of fraud

Contact details

Privacy Officer

ACT Plasterboard Pty Ltd

45 Val Reid Crescent, Hume ACT 2620

Email: receivables@pmcbr.com.au

Phone: 02 6260 2200