Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY STATEMENT

Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Policy

Alberta Home Loans Inc. recognizes the importance of your privacy and is committed to safeguarding the personal information entrusted to us by you, our clients. All mortgage consultants of Alberta Home Loans Inc. have a professional obligation to adhere to the principles as set out in this policy, and commit to manage your personal information in accordance with Albert’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act [PIPEDA]. This policy outlines the principles and practices we follow in respecting and protecting your personal information.

What is Personal Information?

Personal information means information that is gathered about an identifiable individual in connection with a mortgage application and mortgage products. This information can include, but not be limited to, a client’s name, home address, e-mail address, phone number, age, sex, martial or family status, an identifying number, financial information, or birth date.

What Personal Information do we Collect?

We collect only the personal information that we need for the purposes of providing services to you, including information needed to:

• verify your identity;
• verify your employment and income;
• provide mortgage brokering services to you;
• offer products and services best suited to your financial needs;
• establish client credit-worthiness through credit bureau inquiries;
• render accounts for services and collect fees and charges owing from time to time;
• advise you of on-going developments in the mortgage market and industry;
• notify you of upcoming events of interest;
• follow up with you to determine satisfaction with our products and services; and
• meet regulatory requirements as otherwise authorized or required by law.

How do we Collect Personal Information?

We collect your information directly from you and only by lawful means, and not in an intrusive way. As well, in order to verify certain aspects of your application, we may, with your consent, also collect your information from other lenders, financial institutions, credit bureaus, employers, insurance companies, government agency or registry, accountants, and employers.

We inform you, before or at the time of collecting your information, of the purpose for which we are collecting the information. Alberta Home Loans Inc. will not sure your personal information for any other purpose than noted, unless we seek your prior consent to do so.

Consent

We ask for consent to collect, use, or disclose your personal information, except in specific circumstances where collection, use, or disclosure without consent is authorized or required by law. We will assume your consent in cases where you volunteer information for an obvious purpose.

We ask for your express consent for some purposes and may not be able to provide certain services if you are unwilling to provide consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of certain personal information. Where express consent is needed, we will normally ask you to provide your consent verbally either in person or by telephone; in writing by signing a consent form or by checking a box on a form; or electronically by clicking a button. Consent may also be given through an authorized representative such as a lawyer, consultant, or broker.

You may withdraw consent to the use and disclosure of personal information at any time, unless the personal information is necessary for us to fulfill our legal obligations. We will respect your decision, but we may not be able to provide you with certain products and services if we do not have the necessary personal information.

How do we use and Disclose Personal Information?

We use and disclose your personal information only for the purposes for which the information was collected, except as authorized by law. For example, we may use your contact information to deliver goods. If we wish to use or disclose your personal information for any new business purpose, we will ask for your consent. We will not disclose or sell your personal information to any third party for any marketing purpose.

We may use your personal information without your knowledge or consent only:

• if we have reasonable grounds to believe the information could be useful when investigating a contravention of a federal, provincial or foreign law and the information is used for the investigation;
• for an emergency that threatens an individual’s life, health or security;
• if it is publicly available as specified in the regulations;
• if the use is clearly in the individual’s interest and consent is not available in a timely way; or
• if knowledge and consent would compromise the availability or accuracy of the information and collection was required to investigate a breach of an agreement or contravention of a federal or provincial law.
• We may disclose your personal information without your knowledge or consent only:
• To a lawyer representing Alberta Home Loans Inc.;
• To collect a debt you owe to Alberta Home Loans Inc., should that be necessary;
• To comply with a subpoena, a warrant or an order made by a court or other body with appropriate jurisdiction;
• To the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) as required by the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act;
• To a government institution that has requested the information, identified its lawful authority to obtain the information, and indicates that disclosure is for the purpose of enforcing, carrying out an investigation, or gathering intelligence relating to any federal, provincial or foreign law; or suspects that the information relates to national security, the defense of Canada or the conduct of international affairs; or is for the purpose of administering any federal or provincial law;
• To an investigative body named in the Regulations of the Act or government institution on the organization’s initiative when the organization has reasonable grounds to believe that the information concerns a breach of an agreement, or a contravention of a federal, provincial, or foreign law, or suspects the information relates to national security, the defense of Canada or the conduct of international affairs;
• If made by an investigative body for the purposes related to the investigation of a breach of an agreement or a contravention of a federal or provincial law;
• In an emergency threatening an individual’s life, health, or security (the organization must inform the individual of the disclosure);
• If it is publicly available as specified in the regulations; or
• If required by law.

How do we Safeguard Personal Information?

We make every reasonable effort to ensure that your information is accurate and complete. We rely on you to notify us if there is a change to your personal information that may affect your relationship with our organization. If you are aware of an error in our information about you, please let us know and we will correct it on request wherever possible. In some cases we may ask for a written request for correction.

We protect your personal information in a manner appropriate for the sensitivity of the information. We make every reasonable effort to prevent any loss, misuse, disclosure or modification of personal information, as well as any unauthorized access to personal information. We use appropriate security measures when destroying your personal information, including shredding paper records and permanently deleting electronic records.

We retain your personal information only as long as is reasonable to fulfill the purposes for which the information was collected, or for legal or business purposes.

Access to Records Containing Personal Information

As a client of Alberta Home Loans Inc., you have a right to access your own personal information in a record that is in our custody or under our control, subject to some exceptions. For example, we are required under the Act to refuse to provide access to information that would reveal personal information about another individual. We are also authorized under the Act to refuse access to personal information if disclosure would reveal confidential business information. Access may also be refused if the information is privileged or contained in mediation records.

If we refuse a request in whole or in part, we will provide the reasons for the refusal. In some cases where exceptions to access apply, we may withhold that information and provide you with the remainder of the record.

You may make a request for access to your personal information by writing to our Vice President of Operations who has been designated to ensure compliance with PIPEDA. You must provide sufficient information in your request to allow us to identify the information you are seeking. You may also request a correction of an error or omission in your personal information. We will respond to your request within 45 calendar days, unless an extension is granted. We may charge a reasonable fee to provide information, but not to make a correction. We will advise you of any fees that may apply before beginning to process your request.

Protection of your Personal Information

Alberta Home Loans Inc. maintains adequate safeguards to protect against loss, theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification of your personal information. These safeguards include physical security, computer and electronic security, destruction of information no longer needed, and contractual protections with third parties. Access of your personal information is restricted to only those mortgage consultants who have a need to know the personal information in the provision of mortgage services and the administration of such client relationship.

Website and Email Communications

Our web-site may contain links to other sites which are not governed by our Privacy Policy. As well, we may also monitor traffic patterns, site usage, and related site information in order to optimize our web services.

Alberta Home Loans Inc. is committed to ensuring appropriate security measures are employed in the transfer of sensitive information. However, when using e-mail or wireless communication, we cannot assure complete confidentiality and security. Our emails are sent with industry standard 128 bit encryption, however; this does not guarantee privacy and security as encrypted messages can, nonetheless, be subject to interception and translation. If you do not with us to communicate with you by e-mail, please speak with the broker or consultant handling your mortgage application about alternate communication arrangements.

Questions and Complaints

If you have a question or concern about any collection, use, or disclosure of personal information by Alberta Home Loans In., or about a request for access to your own personal information, please contact our Vice President of Operations who has been designated to ensure compliance with PIPEDA in the first instance:

Vice President of Operations

Alberta Home Loans Inc.

80 Scandia Rise N.W

Calgary, AB. T3L1V6

Phone: (403)230-8337

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you should contact the information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta:

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta

Suite 500, 640 – 5^th Avenue SW

Calgary, AB T2) 3G4

Phone: (403)297-2728

Toll Free: 1-888-878-4044

Email: generalinfo@oipc.ab.ca

Web site: www.oipc.ab.ca

Changes to Privacy Policy

From time to time, our policy will be reviewed and in the event any principles are amended, an appropriate notice will be posted on our web-site.



• Member of :