Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

A Introduction

This privacy policy (Policy) is issued by META ELECTRICAL & SOLAR PTY LTD., ABN 71 654 130 159 trading as Meta Electrical & Solar (we, us or our), for individuals whose personal information we collect and hold (you or your) and sets out the way we manage your personal information, including:

• the types of personal information we collect and maintain;
• how we collect and maintain personal information; and
• the purposes for which we store, use, and disclose personal information.
• how to access and correct personal information we hold about you;
• how to complain if we violate the applicable privacy principles (or any related code of practise that binds us), and how we will handle such a complaint; and
• the circumstances under which we may disclose your personal information to overseas recipients.

This Policy is made available without charge at https://metaelectrical.com.au/privacy-policy/ but you may request a copy in another form by writing to the address set out below.

B Applicable Law

In relation to the personal information of Australian residents, this Policy is issued subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) as amended, applicable related regulations as amended, applicable related codes of practice as amended and successors to any of those (Australian Law).

C Collection of Personal Information

1 What kinds of personal information do we collect?

We gather the following basic personal information about you: your name, address, and contact information (e.g. email, phone, mobile number, address etc.).

We may collect credit card information, debit card information, EFT information, bank account information, and other similar financial information when you make a payment to us.

We get other personal information about you from third-party sources where it is necessary for the performance of our business operations and activities and it is impractical to obtain it directly from you (such as credit scoring information and consumer preference information).

In the course of your dealings with us or our representatives, you may voluntarily disclose other information to us. If this information includes or contains either unsolicited personal information or sensitive personal information, it will be treated as such.In addition to personal information (i.e. information that identifies you individually), we may also collect information that relates to you but which has been anonymised or otherwise de-identified; this information is statistical in nature.

Please note that as we expand our service offering and extend the apps and other software tools we make available to you, we may collect device-specific information (e.g. information relating to a specific phone or tablet), log information, GPS/WiFi location information and other tracking information; such information may also constitute personal information if it identifies you.

2 Who do we collect the personal information from?

Generally, we collect your personal information from you directly when you provide your name and contact details (e.g. when you request a quote, we conduct a site inspection for the purposes of providing a quote, you order products or systems from us, when we install products or systems at your address, when you request information from us, when you notify us of change of address, etc.). We also collect your personal information from third parties; these may include our shareholders, our business affiliates and our service providers.

3 How do we collect the personal information?

Generally, we collect your personal information directly either from you (when you provide your contact details to us in requests for quotes, placements of orders, emails, faxes, phone calls, social media postings and other online postings) or from third parties as described above. We also collect information about you indirectly through browser tracking cookies, mobile app reporting and webpage pixel tags when you use our website and apps.

Please note that most of the information we collect indirectly is not personal information (since it cannot identify you individually) but some may be (especially when held or used in combination with other information).

In addition to storing your quote, proposal and order details in physical files, we use a number of electronic systems to record and store your personal and other information, including call recording systems, customer notes systems, customer database systems and web database systems (including online fora and/or online ordering).

4 Why do we collect the personal information? The purposes of collection

Within the general purpose of allowing us to carry out our business activities and functions, we collect your person information to enable us to organise and carry out:

• Providing quotes, site inspections, placing orders, installing products or systems;
• Shipping and supply of our products (to us or to you as the case may be).
• Receipt (or making) of payment and associated payment processing
• Issuing invoices and account statements
• Issuing responses to your queries
• Recovering defaulted payment or monies owed (NB in the event that there is defaulted payment or monies owed by you to us, we may share relevant personal information with credit agencies and/or our debt collection agents)
• Competitions and special promotions
• Issue of refunds, credit notes, discount vouchers, reward vouchers and similar benefits
• Drop shipping of products (for bulky or specialist items)
• Product personalisation (if available)
• Credit scoring
• Use of internal and external business analytics tools (e.g. Google Ads)

Please note: To the extent (if any) that we engage in direct marketing, both that activity and the corresponding purpose(s) of collection of your personal information are described in the section of this Policy headed ‘Direct Marketing’.

If you do not provide us with some or all of the personal information we require (or the information you supply is materially incorrect or false) then it may not be possible for us to deal with you or continue to deal with you for the above purposes. In some cases (e.g. in relation to an account giving website access), supply of incomplete or incorrect information may lead to reduced functionality and/or restricted access to facilities that we provide (or may provide in the future).

D Direct Marketing

We are an organisation that engages in direct marketing and so you may reasonably expect us to use your personal information for that purpose.

After we collect your personal information from you, we may continue to use that personal information for the purpose of direct marketing to you for so long as we have not received an ‘opt out’ request from you.

If we collect your personal information from a third party, we may continue to use or disclose that personal information for the purpose of direct marketing to you, subject to your consent to do so unless it is impracticable to obtain such consent, for so long as we have not received an ‘opt out’ request from you.

You may also request that we (a) not use or disclose your personal information for the purpose of facilitating direct marketing by third parties and (b) identify the source of the personal information we hold about you.

If you wish to request:

• to ‘opt out’ from receiving direct marketing communications from us;
• that we do not provide your personal information to third party for the purpose of facilitating direct marketing; or
• that we tell you where we sourced your personal information,

then contact us as follows:

Meta Electrical & Solar Head Office: 0499 071 378 or office@metaelectrical.com.au

If we receive a request from you under (a) and (b) above, we will action your request within a reasonable period. If we receive a request from you under (c), we will notify you of the source within a reasonable period unless it is impracticable or unreasonable to so.

E Use or Disclosure

1 Limited use or disclosure

Unless we obtain your further consent, we will:

• only use or disclose your personal information for the purposes permitted or required by applicable law and otherwise in accordance with this Privacy Policy, and
• not allow third parties to hold, use or disclose personal information we collect from you except for purposes permitted or required by applicable law and otherwise in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2 Restriction on sale, rental or transfer

We will not sell, rent or otherwise transfer your personal information to a third party except where:

• such sale, rental or other transfer is part of larger transaction affecting us (e.g. sale of the business, sale of shares, company group reorganisation, etc.);
• the information sold, rented or transferred has been anonymised or otherwise de-identified (such that it is no longer personal information); or
• the sale, rental or other transfer is covered by one of the limited and specific exceptions set out below.

3 Our representatives

We utilise a number of individuals to carry out business functions and activities on our behalf including not only employees but also contractors, sub-contractors, agents and commercial representatives expressly affiliated to us (all collectively being representatives).

Our technical service providers are obliged to respect your privacy.

You consent to our disclosure of your personal information to our representatives other than our employees, and to the use and disclosure of your personal information by such representatives when it becomes necessary to enable them to carry out business functions and activities on our behalf.

To the extent that our technical service providers hold, use or disclose your personal information in connection with providing their services to us, you consent to such use and disclosure and our disclosure to them of your personal information.

4 Other service providers

In addition to our technical service suppliers, we use a number of other service providers in support of our business functions and activities, including couriers and suppliers.

Our other service providers are obliged to respect your privacy.

To the extent that our other service providers hold, use or disclose your personal information in connection with providing their services to us, you consent to such use and disclosure and our disclosure to them of your personal information.

5 Business affiliates

In addition to our representatives and service providers, we have commercial arrangements with a number of industry partners and other reputable business affiliates.

Our business affiliates are obliged to respect your privacy.

We will not disclose your personal information to our business affiliates except where:

• the information in question has been anonymised or otherwise de-identified (such that it is no longer personal information); or
• you have specifically consented to the disclosure of your information to the business affiliate for the purposes of accessing a particular product or service offered by the business affiliate.

Only to the extent of the limited exceptions set out above, you consent to the disclosure by us of your personal information to our business affiliates and to their holding, using or disclosing your personal information.

6 Overseas use or disclosure

Some of our service providers and business affiliates are located overseas.

To the extent that applicable law requires your consent to our transfer of your personal information to our service providers and business affiliates overseas, you consent to such transfer and to subsequent use and disclosure of your personal information by our overseas service providers and overseas business affiliates when necessary for them to provide their services and honour their commercial arrangements with us respectively.

7 Required or authorised collection, use or disclosure

If collection, use or disclosure of your personal information is required or authorised by law or by order of a court or tribunal, we will inform you of that requirement or permission with details (unless the law or order requires otherwise).

8 Quality and Security of Personal Information

We will take all reasonable measures to make sure that any personal information about you that we collect, hold, use or disclose is accurate, up-to-date and complete. If you are (or become) aware of any personal information that we hold about you that is not is accurate, up-to-date and complete, please contact us to let us know as soon as possible by contacting:

Meta Electrical & Solar Head Office: 0499 071 378 or office@metaelectrical.com.au

We will take all reasonable measures (including application of industry standards and industry best practice where possible) to protect your personal information from misuse, interference and loss, unauthorised access, unauthorised modification and unauthorised disclosure. To the extent we disclose your personal information to our representatives, our service providers and our business affiliates, they are subject to obligations in relation to privacy.

9 Access to your Personal Information

If you request access to your personal information, we will respond within a reasonable period and provide you with the information in the manner you request if it is reasonable and practicable to do so.

Please note that we are not obliged to give you access as requested in some circumstances, including where the request is frivolous or vexatious, the request would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others or the request is denied in compliance with applicable law (or under a court or tribunal order).

We will not charge you for making a request for access to your personal information.

If the estimated cost to us to provide you with the information exceeds $10, we reserve the right to charge you on a cost recovery basis for providing access to your personal information.

If we refuse to provide access to your personal information, we will issue a written notice that sets out the reasons for our refusal, the mechanisms to complain about our refusal and any other matters prescribed by applicable law. In relevant circumstances, we will consider providing an alternative means of access to your personal information to the refused means of access.

If you wish to seek access to your personal information, please contact us at:

Meta Electrical & Solar Head Office: 0499 071 378 or office@metaelectrical.com.au

10 Correction of Personal Information

If we are satisfied that the information does not meet those thresholds, we will take reasonable steps to correct it so that it is accurate, up-to-date, complete, relevant, and not misleading in relation to the purpose(s) for which it is held.

On your request, we may also correct your personal information. If you want to request that your personal information be corrected, please contact:Meta Electrical & Solar Head Office: 0499 071 378 or office@metaelectrical.com.au

If you make such a request, we will respond within a reasonable period.

If we correct your personal information and you request us to notify third parties to whom we have disclosed such information, we will take reasonable steps (if any) to give that notification unless it is impracticable or unlawful to do so.

We may refuse your request to correct your personal information if it is not reasonable in the circumstances (e.g. the correction you request us to make is inaccurate).

If we refuse your request to correct your personal information, we will issue a written notice that sets out the reasons for our refusal, the mechanisms to complain about our refusal and any other matters prescribed by applicable law.

If, we refuse your request to correct your personal information and you request us to associate with your personal information a statement that the information is inaccurate, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, we will take reasonable steps to associate the statement apparent to users of the information. If you make such a request, we will respond within a reasonable period.

We will not charge you for making a request for correction to your personal information, for correcting your personal information or associating a statement with your personal information that it is inaccurate, irrelevant or misleading.

11 Removing, Deleting or Destroying Personal Information

We try to remove, delete, or destroy personal information from our records as soon as it is no longer needed. However, there may be times when such removal, deletion, or destruction is either delayed or impossible, such as when backup, archival, or general record-keeping processes are involved in our electronic record systems. If it is not possible to remove, delete, or destroy personal information for technical or other reasons, we will place such information beyond use (e.g., in the case of our electronic record system, by marking an account inactive, locking a record, or by similar technical means) and we will not access it again unless you request it or we are required or permitted to do so.

F Miscellaneous

1. Your dealings with us

Because it makes it impracticable for us to carry out many of our core business functions and activities (e.g. order receipt, processing and despatch and installation of products and systems), you cannot normally deal with us anonymously or under another name (pseudonymously). However, if and where dealing with us anonymously or pseudonymously is practicable in respect of particular matters (e.g. providing online product reviews or posting to our other online forums), we will make that option available.

2 Unsolicited personal information

If in the course of communications with us or our representatives, you provide unsolicited personal information, we will review that information. If, upon review, that unsolicited information is relevant to our business functions or activities, we may hold, use or disclose that personal information consistently with your reason for disclosing it (for example, resolving a customer complaint).

3 Sensitive personal information

Please be aware that we do not seek to collect health or other sensitive information from you as defined by Australian law. However, if you provide unsolicited personal information that includes health information or other sensitive information as defined by Australian Law, you agree to us holding, using, or disclosing such health information or other sensitive personal information in accordance with your reason for disclosing it (for example, resolving a customer complaint).

4 Partial identification in commercial communications

Sometimes in the course of our commercial communications (e.g. communication of written testimonials, product conversations, product-related tweets or similar), we may partially identify an individual by reference to part of that individual’s name and an area (e.g. suburb, region or state). To the extent that such information might identify you as an individual, you nevertheless consent to us holding, using or disclosing your personal information in that way.

G Making a Complaint

If you wish to make a complaint with regard to a possible breach of this Policy or the Australian Privacy Principles, please contact:

Meta Electrical & Solar Head Office: 0499 071 378 or office@metaelectrical.com.au

For complaints regarding handling of your other requests or enquiries in relation to this policy, please contact:

Meta Electrical & Solar Head Office: 0499 071 378 or office@metaelectrical.com.au

H What happens to my complaint?

When we receive your complaint, we will contact you as soon as possible to notify you that we have received it.

We will investigate your complaint and make every effort to resolve it. We might contact you for more information.

We will notify you in writing of the outcome. We will make every effort to resolve your complaint within 30 days, but some complaints are more complex and will take longer. If this is the case, we will keep you updated.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint for any reason (for example, because the issue falls outside of our purview), we will notify you in writing.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

OAIC website: http://www.oaic.gov.au

OAIC telephone: 1300 363 992

OAIC postal addresses: GPO Box 2999, Canberra, ACT 2601 or GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001

I Reminder – Helping Us to Help You

While we will do everything possible to ensure that your personal information is correct, up to date, and comprehensive, we do require your assistance. If your personal information changes (for example, your name, address, or credit card provider), please contact us to let us know.

J Policy Changes

Please keep in mind that this Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect new laws and technologies, changes in our operations and procedures, and changes in the business environment.

We shall make the most recent version of our Policy available, together with a date and version notice, on our website(s) and, upon request, in other ways.

We shall no longer be able to accept or process orders from you or otherwise engage with you if you do not accept this Policy as modified. If you place an order with us at or after any modification to this Policy, you recognise and accept that you are granting permission to this Policy as updated, regardless of any change to the extent and kind of privacy that you enjoyed or may have enjoyed under any earlier version of this Policy.