Builder Search complies with the National Privacy Principles. A copy of the National Principles are available for your perusal at our premises or you may access a copy from the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner.
We recognise the importance of protecting the privacy of information collected about visitors to our site, in particular information that is capable of identifying an individual ("personal information").
This internet Privacy Policy governs the manner in which your personal information, obtained through the site, will be dealt with. This privacy policy does not apply to parties that may be linked or associated with our website. Those website owners are responsible for the privacy of the information they collect and should be contacted directly for details of their privacy policies. We reserve the right, to modify or remove portions of this Privacy Policy at any time. This Privacy Policy should be reviewed periodically so that you are updated on any changes.
This policy is to be read in conjunction with the Terms of Use.
Your Personal Information
Personal information about visitors to our sites is collected only when knowingly and voluntarily submitted. For example, we may need to collect such information to provide you with further services or to answer or forward any requests or enquiries. It is our intention that this policy will protect your personal information from being dealt with in any way that is inconsistent with applicable privacy laws in Australia.
How We Collect Personal Information
In an online environment there are several means by which information may be collected. The type of information collected depends on how you have interacted with our website.
1. Browser detection and Server log files
When you visit our website (or any Internet site) the server records a number of details of your visit, including:
• the type of browser and operating system (eg. Mac, PC) you are using
• the address of the referring site (ie. the previous site that you visited)
• your IP address (a number unique to the computer through which you are connected to the Internet)
• the country or region you come from
• the date and time of your visit
• the address of the pages accessed and documents you downloaded
2. Cookies
Cookies are pieces of information that a website can transfer to an individual's computer hard drive for tracking the websites browsed by the person. This tracking enables us to customise our site information to your requirements and interests. By these means our website can become easier to use as the cookie will store information about your preferences on our website, for example if you’ve already seen a Flash movie you won’t have to see it again. Cookies are not unusual, most major websites use them. Indeed most internet browsers accept cookies. However, you can set your internet browser to refuse the cookies entry into your computer's hard drive. If you are not sure how to do this, contact the company which produces your browser. You can also delete the cookie after leaving the site so that you are seen as a new user when you next visit. Your level of satisfaction using our site may be impeded if you do not accept our cookie.
3. Email & Web Forms
If you send us, or one of the builders advertising on the website, email via our website or you complete a form on our website (eg. to request more information), the personal information submitted may be retained for the purposes of answering your query or complying with your request. Every email we receive is automatically stored on our server and backed up in accordance with our usual data management procedures. Any information we collect is held in the strictest confidence and in accordance with our privacy policy. It is stored securely and access is restricted.
4. Registered Members
If you decide to register with What House for a customised website experience, we may collect personal information from you such as Name, Address, Contact Phone Numbers, Building Site Details etc. This information is automatically stored on our server and backed up in accordance with our usual data management procedures. Any information we collect is held in the strictest confidence and in accordance with our privacy policy. It is stored securely and access is restricted.
How Personal Information is used
We will generally use personal information to:
• provide you with the products and services you have requested;
• personalise and customise the advertising, products and services included on the site;
• manage our business and enhance our products and services;
• contact you and allow Builder Search suppliers and sponsors to contact you; and
• comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
We may share your personal information with our website suppliers and sponsors for these purposes. We do not provide your information to mailing list companies and will not otherwise disclose your personal information without your consent. You should be aware that providing information to a service provider through our site will result in the information being passed onto the service provider/s and your information may then be held in any way that does not conform with this Privacy Policy.
Builders who are registered with Builder Search have access to an online site where they can view statistics on the plans being searched for, and plans that have been viewed, or added to a member’s shortlist. At no point are your personal details provided to the builders as part of this statistics reporting function. Additionally, we may provide aggregated statistical information about access patterns, navigational techniques, product sales, etc. to reputable third parties. However, in all instances such information will simply comprise aggregated data collected users, and will not include any direct personal information that identifies any site visitor.
We may sometimes use the personal information we collect for a secondary purpose, that is, for use in a way different from the original reason for collection. We will only do this in the following circumstances:
• Where you have consented
• Where the secondary purpose is directly related to the primary purpose, and you would reasonably expect us to use or disclose the information in such a way or
• Where we are permitted or required by law, or it is in the interests of public safety to do so.
Consent
By providing your personal information you consent to us and our sponsors and service providers using your personal information to provide you value added services. Based on your preference, this includes contacting you by telephone, mail or e-mail to discuss products and services. You also consent to us, our sponsors and service providers, offering you products and/or services which you may agree to purchase, and this extends to goods or services from us or any third party.
Disclosure
Personal information may be disclosed:
• Where you have consented;
• Where disclosure is necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was submitted;
• In special situations where we have reason to believe that doing so is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against anyone damaging, injuring, or interfering (intentionally or unintentionally) with our site's rights or property, users of this site, or anyone else who could be harmed by such activities; or
• If we are required or authorised by law to disclose the information.
Correcting information
You can also request that information about you be accessed, corrected or deleted by contacting us by email at privacy@buildersearch.com.au. This is part of our commitment to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the information we hold about you is accurate, complete and up-to-date.
Security
We strive to ensure the security, integrity and privacy of personal information submitted to our site. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be totally secure. However, we will endeavour to take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information you may transmit to us and to ensure its security on our systems. In addition, our employees and the contractors who provide services related to our information systems are obliged to respect the confidentiality of any personal information held by us. However, we will not be held responsible for events arising from unauthorised access to your personal information. While we take all appropriate measures to safeguard against the unauthorised disclosure of personal information, no responsibility can be accepted for the conduct of third parties outside of our control. We have appropriate security measures in place in our physical facilities to protect against the loss, misuse, disclosure or alteration of your personal information.
Sensitive information, such as credit card and related financial information that is transmitted to our and from our servers is secured using encryption methods such as secure socket layers technology (SSL). You will know when transmitted data is safe by the appearance of a security notice when you enter a secure page. A secure icon will also appear on your browser - for Microsoft Internet Explorer this is a lock icon, and for Netscape Navigator it is small key icon. Finally, you can identify secure pages by the fact that they begin with "https://" (as opposed to http:// for standard pages).
Links to other sites
We provide links to Web sites outside of our web site, as well as to third party Web sites. These linked sites are not under our control, and may not protect your personal information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy. The provision of a link does not imply any endorsement, nor can we accept responsibility for the conduct of companies linked to our site. Before disclosing your personal information on any other website, we advise you to examine the terms and conditions of using that site and its privacy statement.
Further Privacy Information
For more information about privacy issues in Australia and protecting your privacy, visit the Australian Federal Privacy Commissioner's website. If you have any queries about this Privacy Policy, or have a problem or complaint, then you should contact us at privacy@buildersearch.com.au.