How we handle your information.

Acquire Conveyancing Pty Ltd (we, us, our) is committed to protecting your privacy. We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the thirteen Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This policy applies to our website, acquireconveyancing.com.au, and to every conveyancing matter we act on.

1. The information we collect

Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. The kinds we collect and hold include:

• Identity details: your name, date of birth, and residential address
• Contact details: email address, phone numbers, and postal address
• Verification of identity documents such as a passport, driver's licence, Medicare card or similar, which we are required to sight and record under the electronic conveyancing Participation Rules
• Financial information: bank account details, loan and mortgage details, rates, taxes and settlement figures
• Property and transaction information: titles, contracts, Form 1 statements, plans and related correspondence
• Website information: pages visited, browser type, device information and IP address, when you use our site

Some of this is sensitive information under the Privacy Act. We collect it only where it is reasonably necessary for our services, and with your consent or as permitted by law.

2. How we collect it

Wherever it is reasonable and practicable, we collect personal information directly from you: when you contact us, complete our enquiry form, engage us for a matter, or provide documents during a transaction. Sometimes we collect it from third parties involved in your matter, such as real estate agents, mortgage brokers, banks, solicitors, the other party's representative, or government registries. We only do so where you would reasonably expect it, or where you have consented.

3. Why we collect, hold, use and disclose it

We use your personal information to:

• Provide the conveyancing services you have engaged us for
• Verify your identity as required for electronic settlement
• Prepare, lodge and exchange documents with the relevant parties and registries
• Respond to your enquiries and provide quotes
• Issue invoices and manage payments
• Meet our legal, regulatory and professional obligations
• Improve our website and services

If you do not provide the information we ask for, we may be unable to act for you or complete your settlement.

4. Who we disclose it to

To complete a conveyancing matter we routinely disclose personal information to:

• Land Services SA and other land registries
• PEXA and other electronic lodgement network operators
• Banks, lenders and mortgage brokers involved in your transaction
• The other party and their conveyancer, solicitor or agent
• Real estate agents acting on the transaction
• RevenueSA, local councils and other government or statutory authorities
• Identity verification providers
• Our professional advisers, insurers, and IT and software service providers
• Any person you have authorised us to deal with

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not disclose it for another party's marketing purposes.

5. Overseas disclosure

We do not routinely disclose personal information to overseas recipients. Some of our software and cloud hosting providers may store data on servers located outside Australia, including in the United States. Where that occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure those providers handle your information consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.

6. How we keep it secure

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These steps include secure and access-controlled systems, encryption of information in transit, confidentiality obligations on our staff, and secure destruction or de-identification of information once we no longer need it and are no longer required to retain it.

We retain your information for as long as required to provide our services and to meet our legal and professional record-keeping obligations, after which it is securely destroyed or de-identified.

7. Data breaches

If we suspect a data breach involving your personal information, we will assess it promptly. Where a breach is likely to result in serious harm, we will notify you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in accordance with the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

8. Accessing and correcting your information

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. Contact us using the details in section 11. We will respond within a reasonable period, usually within 30 days. We do not charge for making a request, though a reasonable fee may apply for the cost of retrieving and providing extensive records. If we refuse access or a correction, we will explain why in writing and how you can complain.

9. Anonymity, cookies and marketing

You may deal with us anonymously or by pseudonym when making a general enquiry. This is not possible once we act for you, as we are legally required to verify your identity.

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate correctly and to understand how the site is used. You can disable cookies in your browser, though parts of the site may not function as intended.

If we send you marketing communications, every message will include a simple way to opt out, and we will action your request promptly. You can also opt out at any time by contacting us.

10. Making a complaint

If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, please contact us using the details below. Set out your concern in writing so we can investigate it properly. We will acknowledge your complaint, investigate, and respond in writing, usually within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992.

11. Contact us

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or the law. The current version is always available on this page, with the date it was last updated shown at the top. Where changes are significant, we will take reasonable steps to notify you.