Our
Commitment to Your Privacy
At
Choice Insurance Brokers, we are committed to providing our
clients with excellent service. Doing business with
property and casualty insurers involves providing
information about you, so protection of your personal
information is one of our highest priorities.
As a result of federal legislation which came in effect
January 1, 2004, we’ve further strengthened our privacy
commitment by informing you of why and how we collect, use
and disclose your personal information. You can be assured
that we will only handle your personal information in a
manner that a reasonable person would consider appropriate
in the circumstances. Below is a summary of our privacy
practices.
Why
do we collect personal information?
When
you first become a client or whenever you acquire or renew
a product from us, we need to collect some of your personal
information. Common purposes for which we collect your
personal information are to:
• Enable us to acquire or renew an insurance policy for
you.
• Assist you and assess your ongoing needs for insurance.
• Assess your needs for other products, such as financial
products, and then offer them to you
• Ensure your information is accurate and up-to-date, and
• Protect us both against error or fraud
What
personal information do we collect?
Personal
information is information that identifies you as an
individual client and relates specifically to you.
Depending on the purpose(s) for which we need to collect
it, we may ask you for the following personal information
including:
• Basic information such as your name, address, telephone
and fax numbers, e-mail address, birthdate and marital
status
• Claims history
• Credit and past payment records
• Driver’s record
• Details about your property such as the value of your
home and contents
• Medical information such as any condition that may affect
the operation of a vehicle
• Employment information
We
may obtain this information from:
• You
• Insurance Companies
• Other insurance Brokers or Agents
• Credit organizations
• Motor vehicle and licensing authorities
• Financial institutions
• Medical professionals
Who
do we disclose this personal information
to?
For
many of the purposes identified above, we will need to
share your personal information with others in order to
serve your needs. These parties commonly include:
• Insurance companies
• Other insurance brokers or agents
• Credit organizations
• Professionals working with adjusters or lawyers
• Financial institutions (for example, the organization
that carries your mortgage)
How
do we protect your personal information?
In
order to protect your personal information and right to
privacy, we will:
• Not collect, use or disclose your personal information
for any other purpose other that those that we identify to
you
• Keep your personal information only for as long as we
need it to fulfill the stated purpose or as required by law
• Maintain your personal information in as accurate,
complete and up-to date form as possible
• Safeguard your personal information to the best of our
ability
• Respond to a request you may make to access or correct
the personal information we hold about you
• Obtain the appropriate consent from you for the
collection, use or disclosure of your personal information
Consent
We
may obtain your express consent or we may determine that
consent has been implied by the circumstances.
• We might ask you for your express consent in writing, for
example in a signed consent or application form
• We may ask for your express consent in person or over the
telephone
• We may determine that by seeking insurance through our
organization, your consent has been implied for us to deal
with your personal information in a reasonable manner
There
are also legal exceptions in which we will not need to
obtain your consent or explain the purposes for the
collection, use or disclosure of your personal information.
For example, this could apply when there is an emergency
situation, or if it is necessary for your protection or
ours.
You
can control how we handle your personal
information:
We
want you to know that you do have choices in this matter.
You could refuse to allow us to obtain, use or share your
personal information or you could also withdraw a
previously consent at any time. However by doing that,
depending on the situation, you may be limiting or even
preventing our ability to provide you with the product or
service you desire. For example, if you do not allow us to
obtain information about your driving record, it is
unlikely that we will be able to provide you with auto
insurance. We will be happy to discuss particular
situations with you to help you with your decision.
CONTACT
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Choice
Insurance Brokers is committed to treating you with respect
and courtesy, and to providing the highest level of
service. Please contact our Privacy Officer at the address
below if you:
• Wish to access your personal information
• Wish to change your consent to the ways in which we may
collect, use or disclose your personal information
• Have a complaint about our privacy policies, or the
manner in which we have handled your personal information
• Have any other questions about our privacy policies, wish
to obtain a copy of our Personal Information Policy and
Procedure Handbook, or request additional information.
We
will respond to you promptly and do our utmost to resolve
your concerns.
225
Industrial Parkway South, Unit 2A, Aurora, ON L4G 3V5
Tel: 905-841-3000
Fax: 905-841-8352
Email:
choiceinsurance@on.aibn.com