Scope
This policy explains how South Coast Tree Lopping collects, uses, discloses and stores personal information through this website and our enquiry line. We handle personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
This site operates as a referral service. That shapes the policy considerably, because the main thing we do with your information is pass it to a tree contractor so they can quote your job.
What we collect
Information you give us. When you call or submit an enquiry we collect your name, phone number, email address if you provide one, the address or suburb of the property, and whatever you tell us about the job — tree species, access, urgency, photographs. If you tell us you rent rather than own, we record that, because it affects who can authorise the work.
Information collected automatically. Our web server and analytics record your IP address, the pages you view, the date and time, the referring page, and your browser and operating system. This is used in aggregate to understand which pages are useful and whether the site works properly on common devices.
We do not collect government identifiers, payment card numbers or financial account details through this website, and you should not send them to us.
How we use it
- To respond to your enquiry and to arrange a quote.
- To pass your job details to one or more independent tree contractors so they can contact you and quote.
- To follow up on a quote that has not been responded to.
- To keep a record of enquiries and any complaints.
- To maintain and improve the website.
We do not sell personal information. We do not use your details for unrelated marketing, and any electronic marketing we do send will identify us and include an unsubscribe facility, as required by the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).
Who we disclose it to
Your enquiry details are disclosed to the independent contractor or contractors we refer your job to. That is the point of the service. Those contractors are separate businesses responsible for their own handling of your information, and their own privacy practices apply once they hold it.
We may also disclose personal information to service providers who host this website, deliver our email, or provide analytics; and to a regulator, court or law enforcement agency where we are required or authorised by law to do so, or where disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect someone's safety or to investigate suspected unlawful activity.
Some of our service providers store data on servers outside Australia. Where that is the case we take reasonable steps to ensure the information is handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.
Cookies and analytics
This website uses cookies — small text files stored by your browser — and equivalent analytics technologies to remember preferences and to measure how the site is used. They do not read other files on your device. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings; the site will still work, though some conveniences may not.
Retention and security
Enquiry records are kept only as long as we have a reasonable business or legal need for them, generally no longer than seven years, after which they are deleted or de-identified. We take reasonable steps to protect information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access through access controls, encrypted connections and limiting who can see enquiry data. No transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Access, correction and complaints
You can ask us what personal information we hold about you and ask for it to be corrected or deleted. Contact us on (02) 4214 8006 or through the contact page. We will respond within a reasonable period, normally 30 days. If we refuse access or correction we will tell you why.
If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your information or your complaint, you can escalate it to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.
Changes
We may update this policy. The current version always appears on this page. Related documents: our terms and conditions and our disclaimer.