Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

At Hosacricer ("we," "our," or "us"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website hosacricer.com or use our services, in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use our website or services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information from you:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, postal address
• Identification Information: Driver's license number, date of birth
• Financial Information: Credit information, income details, employment information (for financing applications)
• Vehicle Information: Details about vehicles you own, trade-in information
• Communication Records: Records of communications between you and us

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system
• Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click-through rates
• Location Information: General geographic location based on IP address
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: As described in our Cookie Policy

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

3.1 Primary Business Purposes

• Processing vehicle sales and purchase transactions
• Providing financing services and credit assessments
• Vehicle inspections and warranty services
• Customer service and support
• Processing trade-in evaluations

3.2 Communication Purposes

• Responding to your inquiries and requests
• Sending newsletters and promotional materials (with consent)
• Providing updates about our services
• Sending important notices and policy updates

3.3 Legal and Operational Purposes

• Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Fraud prevention and security measures
• Improving our website and services
• Conducting business analytics and market research

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Vehicle financing and credit checks
• Insurance services
• Vehicle inspections and certifications
• IT services and website maintenance
• Marketing and communication services

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, including:

• Compliance with court orders or legal processes
• Regulatory reporting requirements
• Fraud prevention and investigation
• Protection of our rights and property

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity, subject to the same privacy protections.

4.4 Consent

We may share your information with other parties when you have given explicit consent for such sharing.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data during transmission and storage
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and employee training
• Secure data storage systems
• Regular backup and recovery procedures

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Factors that influence our retention periods include:

• Legal and regulatory requirements
• Contractual obligations
• Business needs and legitimate interests
• Dispute resolution requirements

When personal information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

7. Your Rights

Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Right of Access

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to receive information about how we use it.

7.2 Right of Correction

You have the right to request correction of any personal information that is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading.

7.3 Right to Request Deletion

In certain circumstances, you may request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal and business requirements.

7.4 Right to Object

You may object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.

7.5 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 11. We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by law.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. For detailed information about our use of cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

You can manage your cookie preferences through our cookie management system or your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms, financing partners, and other service providers. This Privacy Policy does not apply to these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

12. Privacy Officer

Our designated Privacy Officer is responsible for ensuring compliance with privacy laws and handling privacy-related inquiries. You can contact our Privacy Officer directly at [email protected] for any privacy-related matters.

13. Complaints Process

If you believe we have breached your privacy, you can make a complaint to us using the contact details above. We will:

• Acknowledge your complaint within 5 business days
• Investigate the matter thoroughly
• Provide a response within 20 business days (or advise if more time is needed)
• Take appropriate action if a breach is found

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• Post the revised policy on our website
• Notify you of significant changes through email or website notices

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

15. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by New Zealand law, including the Privacy Act 2020. Any disputes arising from this policy will be subject to the jurisdiction of New Zealand courts.