Privacy Policy

This policy explains how Better Rate Mate (TODO: ABN) collects, uses, discloses and protects your personal information. It applies to this website and to the comparison service we provide through it.

We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.

What we collect

When you complete a comparison on this site, we collect:

• Contact details: your first and last name, email address and phone number.
• Your answers: what you asked us to compare and the details needed to do it. Depending on the category this can include your street address, suburb, state and postcode, your property or business type, your current usage or bill size, and for loans the type and approximate amount you want to borrow.
• Technical information: the page you submitted from, the site that referred you, your browser's user agent string, and any campaign parameters in the link you arrived through.

We do not store your IP address in a readable form. It is converted to a one-way hash, which we use to limit abuse of the form. We do not collect government identifiers, bank account or card numbers, or credit report information through this website.

You do not have to give us your details. You can browse the site and read our guides without providing anything. If you choose not to complete a comparison, we simply cannot match you to providers.

Why we collect it and how we use it

• To compare products and prepare a shortlist for your situation.
• To contact you about that comparison by email or phone, including to answer questions and help you switch.
• To pass your enquiry to the relevant providers or brokers so they can quote or arrange a product for you.
• To operate, secure and improve the website.
• To meet our legal and regulatory obligations.

Who we disclose it to

Our service works by matching you to providers, so disclosure is a core part of what we do. We may share your personal information with:

• Product providers and brokers on our panel, such as lenders, mortgage brokers, energy retailers, internet providers and solar installers, so they can prepare a quote or arrange the product you asked about.
• Service providers who help us run the site and our systems, including our hosting and database provider and our analytics providers.
• Others where required or permitted by law, or where you have consented.

We do not sell your personal information. When you take up a product through us, the provider generally pays us a commission or referral fee. That fee does not change the price you are offered. You can read more on ourhow we're paid page.

Overseas disclosure

Our website and database are hosted with Railway, and our analytics providers are Microsoft, Google and Quantcast. These providers operate infrastructure outside Australia, including in the United States and the European Union, so your personal information may be stored or processed overseas. We take reasonable steps to ensure it is handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.

Cookies and analytics

This site uses the following third-party tools:

• Google Analytics 4, to understand how the site is used. You can opt out with theGoogle Analytics opt-out add-on.
• Microsoft Clarity, which records how visitors interact with pages to help us find usability problems. See theMicrosoft privacy statement.
• Quantcast, for audience measurement. See theQuantcast privacy policy.

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of the site may not work as intended if you do.

Direct marketing

If you complete a comparison, we may contact you about that enquiry and about similar products that could save you money. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time by contacting us at[email protected]. Opting out of marketing does not stop us contacting you about an enquiry already underway.

How long we keep it

We keep enquiry records for as long as needed for the purpose we collected them, and then for as long as we are required to keep them by law. When information is no longer needed for any authorised purpose, we destroy or de-identify it.

How we protect it

Personal information is stored in an access-controlled database that is not reachable from the public internet, and is transmitted over encrypted connections. Access is limited to people who need it to do their job. No system can be guaranteed completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access.

Accessing and correcting your information

You can ask us for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. Contact[email protected] and we will respond within a reasonable period. We may need to verify your identity first. If we refuse a request, we will tell you why in writing.

Complaints

If you think we have mishandled your personal information, contact us at[email protected] and we will investigate and respond. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner atoaic.gov.auor on 1300 363 992.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version is always available on this page, and the date at the top shows when it last changed.

Contact us

Better Rate Mate
TODO: registered postal address, Australia
[email protected]