1. Introduction and Overview
At Fortune9 Loans, we respect your right to privacy and are committed to safeguarding the personal and financial information you share with us. We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), which set out standards for the collection, handling, use, disclosure, and security of personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, apply for credit, or engage our mortgage and finance broking services.
2. Information We Collect
To assess your financial requirements and facilitate loan applications across our panel of lenders, we must collect relevant personal, financial, and employment information.
The types of personal information we collect include:
- Identity and Contact Data: Full legal name, date of birth, gender, residential address, previous addresses, phone numbers, email address, and copies of identification documents (e.g., driver's licence, passport, citizenship certificates).
- Financial Position Data: Proof of income (payslips, tax returns, notice of assessments, bank statements), breakdown of living expenses, liabilities (credit cards, existing loans, store cards), asset holdings, savings, and superannuation details.
- Employment and Business Data: Occupation, current and previous employer details, job tenure, ABN/ACN details, company structures, and trading statements (for self-employed applicants).
- Credit Information: Credit scores, credit history reports, repayment history, and default records obtained through credit reporting bodies.
-
Technical Data:
IP address, device specifications, browser type, and user activity collected automatically via cookies when navigating our digital platforms.
3. How We Collect Personal Information
We collect personal information directly from you wherever reasonable and practicable to do so. Collection channels include:
- Completed application forms, online borrowing tools, and fact-find questionnaires.
- Document upload portals and contact forms on our website.
- Consultations conducted in person at our Augustine Heights office, via telephone, or through secure video meetings.
With your explicit consent, we may also collect information about you from third parties, including:
- Credit reporting bodies (e.g., Equifax, Illion).
- Employers, accountants, financial planners, conveyancers, and real estate agents.
- Related corporate entities, including Fortune9 Accountants, where integrated services are requested.
4. Purposes for Collecting, Holding, and Using Information
We collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information for the primary purpose of providing credit broking, asset finance, and financial assessment services. Specifically, this includes:
- Assessing your borrowing capacity and financial eligibility.
- Identifying suitable loan products and structures from our panel of 30+ lenders.
- Preparing, packaging, and submitting formal credit applications to selected banks and non-bank lenders on your behalf.
- Managing ongoing customer relationships, providing loan status updates, and conducting post-settlement reviews.
- Complying with our legal and regulatory obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (NCCP) and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF).
5. Disclosure of Personal Information
To deliver our services effectively, we may disclose your personal information to third parties under strict confidentiality arrangements. Recipients may include:
- Lenders and Financial Institutions: Credit providers on our panel to whom loan applications are submitted.
- Service Providers: Aggregators, IT cloud storage providers, software vendors, and administrative support platforms operating on our behalf.
- Professional Advisers: Accountants, solicitors, conveyancers, real estate agents, and valuers involved in your property transaction.
- Regulatory Bodies: Government agencies, law enforcement bodies, or dispute resolution schemes where required or authorized by law.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third-party marketing organizations.
6. Credit Reporting and Credit Information
- When you apply for finance through Fortune9 Loans, we may exchange information with credit reporting bodies to verify your identity and assess your creditworthiness.
- The credit reporting bodies we deal with include Equifax and Illion. You can request a copy of their privacy policies directly from their respective websites.
- We utilize preliminary soft-touch assessment tools where possible to minimize adverse impacts on your credit score during initial reviews.
- If you fail to meet your payment obligations to a lender or commit a serious credit infringement, the lender may disclose this information to a credit reporting body.
7. Storage, Security, and Cross-Border Disclosure
We store your personal information in secure cloud-based repositories, encrypted databases, and physical files located within Australia.
- Data Security Safeguards Technical Measures: SSL/TLS encryption for online transmissions, multi-factor authentication, firewalls, and secure access protocols.
- Organizational Measures: Role-based access restrictions for staff, confidentiality agreements, and regular system audits.
- Physical Measures: Locked document storage and secure premises access at our Augustine Heights office.
Overseas Disclosure
Generally, we hold and process personal information within Australia. If cloud storage software or IT infrastructure providers store data on servers located overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure that the overseas recipient handles your information in compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles.
8. Accessing and Correcting Your Personal Information
Under the APPs (Principles 12 and 13), you have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if you believe the information is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, or misleading.
- Access Requests: To request access, please contact our Privacy Officer in writing using the contact details provided below. We will respond within 30 days. In some circumstances authorized by law, we may refuse access (e.g., if providing access would breach another person's privacy or reveal commercially sensitive information).
- Corrections: If we agree that your information requires correction, we will update our records promptly and notify any relevant third parties where required.
9. Direct Marketing Choices
We may occasionally send you communications regarding market updates, interest rate changes, financial strategy tips, or relevant service offerings.
You can opt out of direct marketing communications at any time by:
- Clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any marketing email.
- Contacting our Privacy Officer directly via email at privacy@fortune9loans.com.au.
- Opting out of direct marketing does not affect essential service-related communications regarding active credit applications or ongoing loan accounts.
10. Complaints and Dispute Resolution
If you have a query, concern, or formal complaint regarding how your personal information has been collected, handled, or disclosed, please contact our Privacy Officer:
- Privacy Officer
- Fortune9 Loans
- Unit 2, 20 Success Cct, Augustine Heights QLD 4300
- Email: privacy@fortune9loans.com.au
- Phone: 0415 469 369
- We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 5 business days and investigate the matter thoroughly. We aim to provide a formal written resolution within 30 days.
- External Escalation If you remain dissatisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with independent regulatory bodies
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):
- Website: www.oaic.gov.au
- Phone: 1300 363 992
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA):
- Website: www.afca.org.au
- Phone: 1800 931 678
11. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, internal processes, or technology. Any revised version will be published on our website with the updated effective date.