Our Commitment to Your Privacy
At Choice Insurance Brokers, we are committed to providing our clients with excellent service. Doing our 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 whatever 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-email address, birthdate and marital status
- Claim history
- Credit and past payment records
- Driver’s record
- Details about your property such as the value of the 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 purposes 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 a 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 e 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 toobtain 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 concenrs.