Privacy Policy

Purpose

We know that how we collect, use, disclose and protect your information is important to you, and we value your trust. That’s why protecting your information and being clear about what we do with it is a vital part of our relationship with you.

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to inform our clients and any users of our digital platforms (i.e. our website) about how we comply with the requirements of the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 (“the Privacy Act”) in managing your personal information.

Consent to Privacy Policy

Please note that when you contact us through our website, you are agreeing to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not contact through any of our digital platforms but call us on 0800 34 62 63.

Collection of personal information

Personal information is defined in the Privacy Act as information about an identifiable individual (a natural person as opposed to a company or other legal entity).

Types of personal information we collect

The types of personal information we will collect will vary on the nature of your dealings with us.

We will only collect personal information that is necessary. Were reasonable and practicable, we will collect your personal information directly from you and inform you that we are collecting it.

We mainly collect personal information directly from you, for example:

When you use our website, linsa.co.nz;
When you complete an application form through our website, or in any of our branches.
Over the telephone when you contact, or are contacted by, our staff;
When you email or write to us;
When you ask us to deal with any professional adviser e.g. Budget Services
When you participate in a marketing campaign, competition or promotion (or similar even) administered by us or our representatives.

If it is not obvious that we are collecting personal information from you, we will do our best to make it clear to you so that you are always aware when information is being collected.

We may also collect personal information about you from publicly available sources e.g. via the internet, phone book, social media platforms.

Generally, the types of personal information we collect and hold include your:

Name
Date of Birth
Contact details (such as your email address, postal and residential address, phone number(s), drivers licence or passport number)
Details relating to your use of any product or service offered by us
Information about your financial situation (including your budget, bank transaction history, purpose for borrowing)
Information about your credit and repayment history
Information about your residential and employment status and personal circumstances
Details of any contact with our staff, either electronically, by phone or in person

Online device information and cookies

If you are visiting us through our website, then we collect information about your use and experience on these by using cookies. Cookies are small pieces of information stored on your hard drive or on your mobile browser. They can record information about your visit to the site, allowing it to remember you the next time you visit and provide a more meaningful experience.

The cookies we send to your computer, mobile phone or other device cannot read your hard drive, obtain any information from your browser, or command your device to perform any action. They are designed so that they cannot be sent to another site or be retrieved by any non-Linsa Finance Limited website.

When you interact with us through our website, the information collected through cookies may include:

The date and time of visits.
Website page (or pages) viewed.
The website from which you accessed the internet and our website;
How you navigate through the website and interact with pages (including any fields completed in forms and application completed (where applicable));
Information about your location’
Information about the device used to visit our digital platform; and
IP address and the type of web browser used.

We will not ask you for personal information publicly over any social media platform. Sometimes we may invite you to send your details to us through a private message, for example, to answer a question.

Purpose of collection and use of personal information

Any personal information you provide us may be used to:

Check whether you are eligible for the product or services offered by us;
Manage, assess or enforce any agreement and/or security you have with us;
To assess your credit history and financial position from time to time;
To notify a credit agency or provider of your repayment history and account details, if you are in default of repayments and/or breach an agreement or arrangement you have with us;
To verify your identity as required from time to time by applicable law or regulations, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009;
Monitor your account for fraud or crime detection purposes
Collect any outstanding debt from you;
Share with third parties where you have expressly consented for us to do so;
Monitor and maintain our systems and networks, and provide staff training;
Respond to any query or complaints you may have;

We also have an obligation to maintain personal information to disclose to regulatory and similar bodies – see disclose of your personal information below. These bodies have a legal right to such information.

Storage and protection of your personal information

We may electronically record and store personal information which we collect from you. When we do so, we will take all reasonable steps to keep it secure and prevent unauthorised disclosure.

However, we cannot promise that your personal information will not be accessed by an unauthorised person (e.g. a hacker) or that unauthorised disclosures will not occur. If we provide you with any passwords or security devices, it is important that you keep these confidential and do not allow them to be used by any other person. You should notify us immediately if they security of your password or security device is breached, this will help prevent the unauthorised disclosure of your personal information.

Some of the information we hold about you will be stored in paper files while your loan with us is active. At the same time, and after your loan is closed, it will be stored electronically on physical hard drives and backed up on the cloud, by cloud service providers – see Cloud-based service providers below.

We use a range of physical and electronic security measures to protect the security of the personal information we hold, including:

Access to information systems is controlled through identity and access management, including secure passwords and firewall control on our server;
Our buildings are secured with locks and in some cases security cameras. Only staff have access to keys. In the event of employment being terminated, the key is recovered, or the locks changed with new keys issued;
Employees are bound by internal information security policies and are required to keep information secure;
Employees are required to complete training about information security and privacy;
When we sent information overseas or use service providers to process or store information, we put arrangements in place to protect your information, including reviewing the applicable privacy policy;
We regularly monitor and review our compliance with internal policies and industry best practice;
We only keep information for as long as we need it, or as long as the law requires us to. We have a records management policy that governs how we manage our information and records to make sure we destroy any information that is outdated, irrelevant or unnecessary.

Cloud-based service providers

We use third party cloud service providers to backup and store the information we collect. We use Acronis Data Centre cloud servers located in Sydney Australia. We ensure that our cloud-based service providers are subject to appropriate security and information handling arrangements and that the information stored or processed by them remains subject to confidentiality obligations.

Time frames for keeping personal information

We take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify any personal information as soon as practicable after the date of which it has no legal or regulatory purpose, or we have no legitimate business purpose with it.

In the case on information that relates to products or services we have provided; we are required by law to hold this information for seven years. After this time, provided that the personal information in no longer relevant to any services we are providing you, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify any personal information.

We have a records management policy that governs how we manage our information and records to enable us to destroy any information that is outdated, irrelevant or no longer necessary.

If there is a privacy breach

We work hard to keep your personal information safe. However, despite applying strict security measures and following industry standards to protect your personal information, there is still a possibility that our security could be breached. If we experience a privacy breach, where there is a loss or unauthorised access or disclosure of your personal information that is likely to cause you serious harm, we will, as soon as we become aware of the breach:

Seek to quickly identify and secure the breach to prevent any further breaches and reduce the harm caused;
Assess the nature and severity of the breach, including the ty[e of personal information involved and the risk of harm to affected individuals;
Advise and involve the appropriate authorities where criminal activity is suspected;
Where appropriate, notify any individuals who are affected by the breach (where possible, directly);
Where appropriate, put a notice on our website advising our clients of the breach; and
Notify the Privacy Commissioner.

Disclosure of your personal information

We may disclose your personal information to others outside of Linsa Finance Limited where:

It is necessary to enable us to achieve the purpose that we collected the information for;
We are authorised or required by law or where we have a public duty to do so;
You have expressly consented to the disclosure or your consent can be reasonably inferred from the circumstances; or
We are permitted to disclose the information under the Privacy Act 2020.

Parties we may disclose your information to

Your personal information may be used by us for the purpose of providing advice and services to you and may also be used by agencies such as, but not limited to:

Any outsourced service provider who assists in the services we are required to carry out such as auditors and external compliance reviewers;
Our external disputes resolution service;
The Regulator;
Credit reporting and debt collecting organisations;
Any person listed on the loan as a co-borrower or guarantor;
Work and Income New Zealand;
The Ministry of Justice;
The Department of Corrections;
The Inland Revenue Department;
Customs Service New Zealand;
New Zealand Transport Agency;
Any of your representatives, e.g. lawyer or budget advisor; and
Your employer.

If we don’t need to share your information with a third party in order to provide advice and services to you, we will not pass on your information without your consent. Under no circumstances will we sell or receive payment for disclosing your personal information.

Third party websites

Through our website or any other social media pages, you may be able to link to other websites which are not under our control. We are not responsible for the privacy or security practices of those third party websites and the sites not covered by this Privacy Policy. Third party websites should have their own privacy and security policies and we encourage you to read them.

In addition, we have no knowledge of (or control over) the nature, content, and availability of those websites. We do not sponsor, recommend, or endorse anything contained on those linked websites. We do not accept any liability of any description for any loss suffered by you by relying on anything contained or not contained on these linked websites.

Right to access, correct and delete personal information

You have the right to request access to, correct, and, in some circumstances, delete your personal information. You can do so by contacting us at:

Linsa Finance Limited
P O Box 14020
Tauranga 3141

Phone: 07 578 7717
Email: robert@linsa.co.nz

When you contact us with such a request, we will take steps to update or delete your personal information, provide you with access to your personal information and/or otherwise address your query within a reasonable period after we receive your request. To protect the security of your personal information, you maty be required to provide identification before we update or provide you with access to your personal information.

We are only able to delete your personal information to the extent that it is not required to be held by us to satisfy any legal, regulatory, or similar requirements.

There is no fee for requesting that your personal information is corrected or deleted or for us to make corrections or deletions. In processing your request for access to your personal information, a reasonable cost may be charged. This charge covers such things as locating the information and supplying it to you.

There are some circumstances in which we are not required to give you access to your personal information. If we refuse to give you access or to correct your personal information, we will let you know our reasons, except if the law prevents us from doing so.

If we refuse your request to correct or delete your personal information, you also have the right to request that a statement be associated with your personal information noting that you disagree with its accuracy.

If we refuse your request to access, correct or delete your personal information, we will also provide you with information on how you can complain about the refusal.

What happens if you do not provide us your information?

If you do not provide information we have requested, you may be unable to obtain or access our services for which the information is required. Please ask us if you are unsure what information is important and how this might affect you.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We review this Privacy Policy periodically to keep it current and available on our website, and in our branches. If the changes are significant, we may advise you directly. You may also obtain a copy of the latest version by calling us on 0800 34 62 63 or emailing robert@linsa.co.nz

Privacy Policy queries and concerns

If you are concerned about how your personal information is being handled or if you feel that we have compromised your privacy in some way, please contact us at:

Linsa Finance Limited
P O Box 14020
Tauranga 3141

Phone: 07 578 7717
Email: robert@linsa.co.nz

We will acknowledge your complaint within three working days of its receipt. We will let you know if need any further information from you to investigate your complaint.

We aim to resolve complaints as quickly as possible. We strive to resolve complaints within 5 working days, but some complaints take longer to resolve. If you complaint is taking longer, we will let you know what is happening and a date by which you can reasonably expect a response.

If you are not satisfied with our response to any privacy related concern you may lodge a formal complaint on the Privacy Office website (www.privacy.org.nz) or send a complaint form to the Privacy Commissioner at:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner
P O Box 10-094
Wellington 6143, New Zealand
Fax: 04-474 7595
Email: enquiries@privacy.org.nz

Telephone: 0800 803 909
Website: www.privacy.org.nz

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Opening Hours

174 Devonport Road, TAURANGA
Sun	Closed
Mon	8:30am - 5:00pm
Tue	8:30am - 5:00pm
Wed	8:30am - 5:00pm
Thur	8:30am - 5:00pm
Fri	8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday by appointment

13 Criterion Street, OTAHUHU
Sun	Closed
Mon	8:30am - 5:00pm
Tue	8:30am - 5:00pm
Wed	8:30am - 5:00pm
Thur	8:30am - 5:00pm
Fri	8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday by appointment

171 Great South Road, MANUREWA
Sun	Closed
Mon	8:30am - 5:00pm
Tue	8:30am - 5:00pm
Wed	8:30am - 5:00pm
Thur	8:30am - 5:00pm
Fri	8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday by appointment

Tauranga
Auckland
Auckland
Auckland

Shop 2, 361 Great North Road, HENDERSON
Sun	Closed
Mon	8:30am - 5:00pm
Tue	8:30am - 5:00pm
Wed	8:30am - 5:00pm
Thur	8:30am - 5:00pm
Fri	8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday by appointment

Client Check Sheet

As a Responsible Lender it is important to Linsa Finance Ltd (Linsa) that you as a client take as much time as you need to make an informed decision prior to entering into a loan agreement with us. We wish to ensure you fully understand how the agreement works, and what the credit fees and interest are.

Linsa staff is happy to answer any questions you may have prior to making this decision.

Things to consider prior to entering a loan with Linsa

Linsa’s loan agreement and terms and conditions are available both at its offices and on its web site for me to take away and seek legal advice and/or independent advice from others.

Have the key terms and conditions of Linsa’s loan agreement been explained to me, including its credit fees and interest rates?

Has Linsa explained to me that it must make inquiries regarding my income and expenditure to enable Linsa to understand my current circumstances, and ensure loan repayments under the loan agreement can be met without undue difficulty?

Has Linsa explained to me it must make inquiries as to the purpose of the loan so it can decide whether the proposed loan will meet my requirements and objectives?

Have Linsa’s staff provided me with the necessary information regarding this transaction clearly and in an understandable manner, and answered all questions I put to it?

That Linsa is offering only one product, a Consumer Credit Agreement with a fixed interest rate, and does this product meet my requirements and objectives?

That if Linsa hold security for a loan that the security could be at risk if the loan repayments are not made.

That there may be other options to obtain finance to meet my needs. eg. Bank Loan, Credit Card cash advance, payment arrangement with power company etc?

Linsa offers Repayment Waiver Protection as an optional extra. Would this protection and its benefits be appropriate for me to request with the loan?

If your loan is being refinanced? Has Linsa explained to me any key differences between my current loan, and the proposed loan?

That Linsa recommends that I repay this loan in full rather than refinancing the existing loan and maintaining a constant outstanding balance?

DECLARATION & PRIVACY WAIVER Linsa Finance Limited (Linsa)

I promise that everything I have said in this application form is true and correct. I hereby declare that the information provided in my application to Linsa is true and correct.
I understand that Linsa will ask other people whether or not I pay my bills on time. Linsa will also check other information about me so it can decide whether or not it wants want to lend to me. It will check to see what security I have given over my property before. For example, Linsa may check against my name to see whether or not anything I own is on hire purchase. I understand that Credit Checks and PPSR Checks will be obtained to enable the processing of my loan application.
So that the lender can decide to lend to me or not, I declare that I am not an undischarged bankrupt and know of no legal actions pending in the foreseeable future that have the potential to result in judgements against me, or bankruptcy.
I understand that in order to process my loan application Linsa is asking me to provide personal information about myself and that Linsa will use that information to access Veda Advantage’s, Centrix and/or other credit reporting services and undertake a credit check on me.
I understand that the provision of my driver’s licence number is voluntary and that my driver’s licence number will be provided to Veda Advantage/Centrix as part of processing a credit check.
I understand that Veda Advantage/Centrix and/or other credit services will give Linsa information about me for the purpose of assessing my loan application and that Linsa will give Veda Advantage/Centrix and/or other credit agencies information which will be held by those credit agencies on their systems and will be used to provide future credit reports. This means that the information I give Linsa and which Linsa passes on to Veda Advantage/Centrix and/or other credit agencies will be given to their respective customers who also use the particular credit reporting service. In addition I understand that motor vehicle register and PPSR checks may be obtained to enable the processing of this loan application.
I understand that Linsa may use Veda Advantage/Centrix and/or other party’s credit reporting services in the future in relation to the provision of credit to me. This may include using monitoring services and receiving updates if any of the information held about me changes.
If I default in my payment obligations to Linsa, I understand that information about my default may be given to Veda Advantage/Centrix and/or any other credit reporting services; information about my default may then be given to their respective customers.
I understand that I can access my personal credit information from Veda Advantage/Centrix and/or other credit services, and that if it is incorrect, request that it be corrected. Information held by Veda Advantage can be accessed through their website www.mycreditfile.co.nz or by writing to Veda Advantage at Private Bag 92156, Victoria Street, Auckland. Information held by Centrix can be accessed through their website www.centrix.co.nz/Personal/Get+my+credit+report.html or by writing to Centrix at PO Box 62512, Greenlane, Auckland.
I authorise Linsa to process Centrix Smart ID report in accordance with the requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.
I hereby irrevocably authorise Linsa and its successors and assigns to contact the following people or organisations, and they may give to and seek from them such personal, financial and commercial information as Linsa deems necessary relating to any loan application with them, the administration of any loans, and any ongoing debt recovery:
any other finance providers, or bank/s with which I have dealings with, or appear to have had previous dealings;
any government departments where that is directly material to my financial position;
any budget advisors I have used or use;
past or present employers;
past or present landlords;
credit reporting agencies;
relatives and referees, or other contacts that I have listed and any other person or organisations about which I have provided information to Linsa in the process of making this loan application.
debt collection agencies, solicitors, other creditors
In the event of default, I/we acknowledge and agree that item 11(g) may include supplying information to my family or other members of my household if Linsa is unable to make contact with me/us.
I acknowledge and agree that any costs relating to possible debt recovery are payable by me and that a default will be recorded against my credit history for non payment of debts incurred with the Linsa.
I understand and agree that the information on this form may be exchanged with other credit providers or other third parties to assist with the recovery of my debts.
I agree that you may produce this authority to such parties for the purpose of collecting such information.
Under the provisions of the Privacy Act 2020, I am aware that I am entitled to have access to and request correction of personal information held about me.
I understand that I am entitled to receive a copy of any information that you may receive from third parties about me, and any information that you may provide to third parties about me.
I declare that I am not known by any other name and that there are no official documents in New Zealand or overseas showing me with any other name or form of name.
I understand the importance of providing the correct information to Linsa and that failure to do this will affect my loan application and any loan agreement I have with Linsa. I declare that the information I have given is a true and accurate statement of my financial position and contains no omissions or false information which would materially effect the approval of the loan.
I understand that upon taking a loan agreement with Linsa, photo ID may be held on file for identification purposes.

21.I understand that Linsa may use the information I have provided to check by name against the Dow Jones Watchlist for any political affiliations. PLEASE NOTE: Any person who knowingly falsifies or omits relevant information may commit a criminal offence where a loan has been provided based on this information. I also confirm that I am not a un-discharged bankrupt or have ever made application to the Official Assignee for a “No Asset Procedure” form of bankruptcy I have read and accept the terms of this Declaration and Privacy Waiver.

CONDITIONS OF INSTRUCTION TO ACCEPT DIRECT DEBITS

The Initiator:

1.1. Will provide notice either: 1.1.1. in writing; or 1.1.2. by electronic mail where the Customer has provided prior written consent to the Initiator. 1.2. Has agreed to give advance Notice of the net amount of each Direct Debit and the due date of the debiting at least 10 calendar days (but not more than 2 calendar months) before the date when the Direct Debit will be initiated. 1.2.1. The advance notice will include the following message: “Unless advice to the contrary is received from you by (date*), the amount of $........... will be directly debited to your Bank account on (initiating date*).” *This date will be at least two (2) days prior to the initiating date to allow for amendment of Direct Debits. 1.3. Alternatively, the Initiator undertakes to give notice to the Acceptor of the commencement date, frequency and amount at least 10 calendar days before the first Direct Debit is drawn (but no more than 2 calendar months). 1.3.1. Where the Direct Debit System is used for the collection of payments which are regular as to frequency, but variable as to amounts, the Initiator undertakes to provide the Acceptor with a schedule detailing each payment amount and each payment date. 1.3.2. In the event of any subsequent change to the frequency or amount of the Direct Debits, the Initiator has agreed to give advance notice of at least 30 days before the changes come into effect. This notice must be provided either: (a) in writing; or (b) by electronic mail where the Customer has provided prior written consent to the Initiator”. 1.4. May initiate a Direct Debit on my/our account when authorisation is received from me/us in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed between me/us and the Initiator of each amount to be debited from my/our account. 1.4.1. notice will be sent of the net amount of each Direct Debit and the due date of debiting after receiving authorisation from me/us under clause 1.4 but no later than the date the Direct Debit will be initiated. This notice must be provided either: (a) in writing; or (b) by any other means which provides a verifiable record of the initiated transaction and where the Customer has provided prior written consent to the Initiator. 1.4.2. Where the notice is in writing it must include the following message: “The amount $....... was directly debited to your Bank account on (initiating date).” 1.4.3. Where the notice is provided by other means: (a) the Initiator should hold prior written consent of those means of providing notice; and (b) the notice should provide a verifiable record of the initiated transaction and include the amount and initiating date of that transaction. 1.5. May, upon the relationship which gave rise to this Instruction being terminated, give notice to the Bank that no further Direct Debits are to be initiated under the Instruction. Upon receipt of such notice the Bank may terminate this Instruction as to future payments by notice in writing to me/us.

The Customer may:

2.1. At any time, terminate this Instruction as to future payments by giving written (or by the means previously agreed in writing) notice of termination to the Bank and to the Initiator. 2.2. Stop payment of any Direct Debit to be initiated under this Instruction by the Initiator by giving written notice to the Bank prior to the Direct Debit being paid by the Bank. 2.3. Where no advance notice is provided under clause 1.4 a variation to the amount agreed between the Initiator and the Customer from time to time to be Direct Debited had been made without notice being given in terms of clause 1.4 above, request the Bank to reverse or alter any such Direct Debit initiated by the Initiator by debiting the amount of the reversal or alteration of Direct Debit back to the Initiator through the Initiator’s Bank PROVIDED such request is made not more than 120 days from the date when the Direct Debit was debited to my/our account. 2.4. Request the Bank to reverse any Direct Debits initiated by the Initiator under the Instructions by debiting the amount of the Direct Debits back to the Initiator through the Initiator’s Bank where the Initiator cannot produce a copy of the Instructions and/or Confirmation to me/us that I/we are reasonably satisfied demonstrate that I/we have authorised my/our bank to accept Direct Debits from the Initiator against my/our account PROVIDED the request is made not more than 9 months from the date when the first Direct Debit was debited to my/our account by the Initiator under the Instructions.

The Customer acknowledges that:

3.1. This Instruction will remain in full force and effect in respect of all Direct Debits passed to my/our account in good faith notwithstanding my/our death, bankruptcy or other revocation of this Instruction until actual notice of such event is received by the Bank. 3.2. In any event this Instruction is subject to any arrangement now or hereafter existing between me/us and the Bank in relation to my/our account. 3.3. Any dispute as to the correctness or validity of an amount debited to my/our account shall not be the concern of the Bank except in so far as the Direct Debit has not been paid in accordance with this Instruction. Any other disputes lie between me/us and the Initiator. 3.4. Where the Bank has used reasonable care and skill in acting in accordance with this Instruction, the Bank accepts no responsibility or liability in respect of: 3.4.1. the accuracy of information about Direct Debits on Bank statements; and 3.4.2. any variations between notices given by the Initiator and the amounts of Direct Debits. 3.5. The Bank is not responsible for, or under any liability in respect of the Initiator’s failure to give notice in accordance with clauses 1.1 to 1.4, nor for the non-receipt or late receipt of notice by me/us for any reason whatsoever. In any such situation the dispute lies between me/us and the Initiator. 3.6. Where notice given by the Initiator in terms of clause 1.4 to the debtor responsible for the payment shall be effective. Any communication necessary because the debtor responsible for payment is a person other than me/us is a matter between me/us and the debtor concerned.

The Bank may:

4.1. In its absolute discretion conclusively determine the order of priority of payment by it of any monies pursuant to this or any other Instruction, cheque or draft properly signed by me/us and given to or drawn on the Bank. 4.2. At any time terminate this Instruction as to future payments by notice in writing to me/us. 4.3. Charge its current fees for this service in force from time to time.