Overall privacy statement
Challenge Mortgages takes your privacy seriously. We adhere to the Privacy Act and National Privacy Principles (as Amended). To view the national privacy principles at www.privacy.gov.au/publications/npps01.html.

Because we gather certain types of information about our users we want to help you understand the terms and conditions surrounding the collection and use of that information. This privacy statement discloses the types of information we gather, how we use it, and how to correct or change it. These privacy practices apply to the Web site that you were viewing when you clicked through to this policy, which is operated by Challenge Mortgages.

1. What personally identifiable information does Challenge Mortgages collect?

Challenge Mortgages's primary goal in collecting personal information is to provide you with the best loan and financial services.

Challenge Mortgages collects personally identifiable information when you provide it to us, such as when you

• register for our members only area of our website,
• when you subscribe to our Challenge Review Newsletter
• and when you apply for any of our loan applications.
• when you use our loan matching process.

Several of the services that we offer and some articles, may require registration as a condition of use. Once you register with Challenge Mortgages you are no longer anonymous to us.

2. What anonymous information does Challenge Mortgages collect?

Cookies
Your Internet browser has a feature called "cookies" which store small amounts of data on your computer about your visit. However, cookies tell us nothing about who you are unless you specifically give us personally identifiable information. You do not need to have cookies turned on to visit most of Challenge Mortgages website, although active participation in using our members area of our site does require cookies. Cookies we use only aid in authentication purposes for access to the members area.

Web bugs & servers
Challenge Mortgages receives general information, through statistical software information from our servers and from your browser, including your IP address, the time, and information about the page you requested.

We use tracking technologies in a variety of ways, including:

• keeping count of return visits
• accumulating and reporting anonymous, aggregate (data collected in mass), statistical information on Web site usage
• determining which features users like best

3. How does Challenge Mortgages use information?
Challenge Mortgages uses the information we gather for four general purposes:

1. To provide excellent financial services and loans to our clients. Information you provide to us is used solely to enable us to assess your loan application in a professional manner and by the laws and regulations we are governed by and for no other purpose. We comply with the credit code, privacy act and have written approval as part of our loan application form.
2. To fulfill your requests for other certain products and services, such as sending out electronic newsletters and enabling users to participate in polls, contests, etc
3. To enable our customers to access members area. This is a value added service for those that wish to become a member. Membership is not compulsory. We aim to build the members area into a large repository of helpful information, articles, book excerpts, tools and other resources we think you will find valuable.
4. To gather feedback to help us build and maintain an excellent website. Feedback is important to us and we encourage you to provide feedback either good or bad so we can improve our service to you.

4. How does Challenge Mortgages share the information?

Personally identifiable information
Challenge Mortgages will make your personally identifiable information available to other companies or people when:

• We have your consent to share the information
• We have engaged services of other companies to process your loan or credit application. Companies such as baycorp Advantage, Lenders Mortgage Insurance and any funder that reviews, approves and makes a loan to you as part of our credit process. When you complete and submit our online application forms you agree to allow Challenge Mortgages to share your personal information only for the purpose of obtaining a loan as requested. This may involve sharing your personal information with other companies involved in the review, appraisal, approval and making of a loan to you for which Challenge Mortgages may be paid a commission.
• When you use our online loan application forms and or our loan matching service you are redirected to a Secure Sockets Layer (128 bit) the highest encryption available today. This is to protect your personal information from eavesdropping, modification, loss, interception, or other means during transit over the internet connection.
• When you use our online payment system. You are redirected to a secure Secure Payment Gateway that will process and validate your credit card details for the payment your have requested. Their use of your information is subject to their applicable privacy and security policies. See the PayPal Security Centre.
• We respond to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process; or we believe that your actions violate applicable laws, or threaten the rights, property, or safety of Challenge Mortgages, our users, or others.
  
  

5. What are my options?

Member Registration
Users who would rather not provide any of the user data requested by our registration process into our members ares, do not need to register with us. You can still view much of the content and use many of the services offered by us without registering.

Loan Matching Service
When using our loan matching services, your privacy is our chief concern. We understand that you entrust us with your private financial information to help us match you with a bank, lender or loan broker (we refer to all of these as "Lenders") or real estate professional who can meet your needs. In exchange for your trust, you expect and deserve our commitment to treat your information with respect. and that we protect your privacy. We user 128bit high encrption technology to protect your data. Under no circumstances will your information be sold, nor will we share any personal information about you to or with any person or company except: as authorised by you, to participating lenders, real estate professionals or other parties involved in this process, or as may be required by law or court order. We adhere to high standards in handling information about you and your loan request. You may also phone a Challenge Loan Expert who will take your information, if you would prefer not to use the internet.

Loan & Credit Applications
We require certain information from you when applying online for a loan and this information collected is essential to determining and assessing your eligibility for a loan. We, however also offer downloadable printable application forms which you may fax or send to us. You may even phone a Challenge Mortgages consultant and apply over the phone. We comply with the credit code, Privacy Act which requires that we obtain from clients written approval as part of our loan application process, and that your information be kept in a secure locked area and our premises have 24/7 site security. Our staff are also trained in confidentiality procedures.

We also give our users the following options:

Membership Registration tools
Challenge Mortgages - Members Area
Registration

6. How can I update my personally identifiable information?

Members Area
You can correct or change the information collected during registration for our members area by logging in and accessing your members menu, which gives you the ability to edit, update your member information. (see above for a description of the registration process). The instructions for doing this can be found in our member services areas. Users may change this information at any time and as often as necessary. Users who are experiencing problems or who have questions about how our services work can contact us using e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page. Currently, we do not offer users a means by which to completely delete personal information established at the time of registration.

Loan or Credit Card Applications
You can advise us in writing or by reaching us by any of our telephone numbers to advise any changes pertaining to your loan or credit card applications

7. How will I know if the privacy policy is changed?
Any modifications to our privacy practices will be reflected first within this document on our website. If there is a material change in our privacy practices, we will indicate on our sites that our privacy practices have changed and provide a link to the new privacy statement.

8. Privacy of children
Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13. We operate our website in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and do not permit or encourage registration by, and will not knowingly collect or use personally identifiable information from, anyone under 13 years of age. This requirement is clearly posted during the registration process.

Questions, comments
Questions regarding this privacy statement, or regarding any other aspects of Web sites, should be sent via e-mail to or to our corporate head office at

Level 3, Unit 6
Carlingford Village Shopping Ctr
372 Pennant Hills Rd
CARLINGFORD 2118

We read every email message submitted and try to reply promptly to every one. We may also file your comments to improve the site and program, or review and discard the information.

-- April 2002