Privacy Policy

At Area Specialist Pest Solutions ("we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and manage your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). By engaging our services or interacting with us, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

1. What Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

1.1 Information You Provide:

Name, address, phone number, and email address (e.g., when you book a service or contact us).
Payment details (e.g., credit card or bank account information).
Details about your property or pest issues (e.g., location, type of pest problem).
Any health or safety information you share (e.g., allergies, pets, or pregnancy) to ensure safe service delivery.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically:

Website usage data (e.g., IP address, browser type, pages visited) if you visit our website.
Cookies or similar technologies to improve your online experience (if applicable).

1.3 Information from Third Parties:

Information from partners or contractors (e.g., referral details) if you were referred to us.
Publicly available information (e.g., property details) if relevant to providing our services.

2. How We Collect Your Information

We collect personal information:

Directly from you when you request a quote, book a service, or contact us via phone, email, or our website.
During the provision of our pest control services (e.g., site visits or inspections).
Automatically through our website or digital platforms (if applicable).
From third parties, where permitted by law and relevant to our services.

3. Why We Collect Your Information

We collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:

3.1 To Provide Our Services:

To schedule and perform pest control services at your premises.
To process payments and manage billing.
To communicate with you about your booking, service updates, or follow-ups.

3.2 To Improve Our Business:

To respond to inquiries, complaints, or feedback.
To analyze and enhance our services and customer experience.

3.3 Legal and Safety Reasons:

To comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax or safety regulations).
To ensure the safety of our staff and customers during service delivery (e.g., noting health concerns).

3.4 Marketing (Optional):

To send you promotional offers, newsletters, or updates about our services, but only with your consent (you can opt out at any time).

4. How We Disclose Your Information

We may disclose your personal information:

4.1 To Service Providers:

To trusted third parties who assist us in delivering our services (e.g., payment processors, IT support), under strict confidentiality agreements.

4.2 For Legal Reasons:

If required by law, court order, or government authority (e.g., to comply with taxation or workplace safety laws).

4.3 Business Transfers:

In the event of a sale, merger, or restructuring of Area Specialist Pest Solutions, your information may be transferred as part of the business assets, subject to privacy protections.

We do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with unrelated third parties for marketing purposes without your consent.

5. Storage and Security

5.1 Where We Store It:

Your information is stored securely in Australia, either electronically (e.g., on secure servers) or in physical records (e.g., locked files).

5.2 Security Measures:

We use reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse (e.g., encryption, restricted access).

5.3 Retention:

We retain your information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law (e.g., tax records for 7 years). After this period, we securely delete or anonymize it.

6. Overseas Disclosure

We do not typically disclose your personal information overseas. If this becomes necessary (e.g., using an overseas IT provider), we will take reasonable steps to ensure the recipient complies with the APPs or equivalent standards, and we will seek your consent where required.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to:

7.1 Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
7.2 Correction: Ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
7.3 Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by contacting us or using the "unsubscribe" link in our emails.
7.4 Complaints: Raise concerns about how we handle your information (see Section 10).

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 10. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. Access is generally free, though a reasonable fee may apply for excessive or complex requests.

8. Cookies and Website Tracking

If you visit our website, we may use cookies or similar technologies to:

Enhance your browsing experience (e.g., remembering preferences).
Analyze website usage (e.g., via Google Analytics).
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may affect website functionality.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will be posted on our website, and significant changes will be communicated to you where appropriate.

If you’re unsatisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.