Privacy Policy

Introduction

Westserve Process & PI Services Pty Ltd ("Westserve", "we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals whose personal information we collect and handle in the course of our business operations. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose and protect personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.

Information We Collect

During the course of our daily business activities as a process serving company, we collect, record, use and disclose personal information about individuals who are:

• A customer of Westserve or a director/representative of a company that is a customer
• A person to be served with legal documents (the "recipient" or "defendant")
• A debtor, guarantor or referee of a Westserve customer
• A contractor or supplier of goods and services to Westserve
• A solicitor, law firm or other professional consultant engaged by Westserve or engaging our services

The type of information collected varies depending on the nature of our engagement and may include:

• Name, address and contact details (phone, email)
• Date of birth, driver's licence particulars and other identification information
• Employment and/or business details
• Physical description and photographs (for identification purposes in process serving)
• Location data including GPS coordinates (to verify service of documents)
• Vehicle registration details
• Details relating to legal proceedings

How We Collect Information

Personal information is primarily collected:

• Directly from individuals or their authorised representatives
• From our clients (law firms, solicitors, businesses, individuals)
• From publicly available sources and databases
• Through our service request forms and website
• During the course of serving legal documents
• From third parties with legitimate connections to the matter

Purpose of Collection

We collect personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide process serving and document delivery services
• To locate individuals for the purpose of serving legal documents
• To prepare affidavits of service and other legal documentation
• To communicate with clients regarding the status of their matters
• To manage our business operations and maintain records
• To comply with legal obligations and court requirements
• To provide quotes and invoices for our services

Disclosure of Personal Information

The nature of our work as process servers may require personal information to be disclosed to parties outside of Westserve. External parties to whom information may be disclosed include (but are not limited to):

• Courts and tribunals (as part of affidavit evidence)
• Our clients (law firms, solicitors, businesses, individuals who engaged our services)
• Government departments or agencies (where required or authorised by law)
• Insolvency practitioners such as Administrators, Receivers, Liquidators
• Insurers and insurance assessors
• Professional consultants including solicitors and auditors
• Other process servers or agents acting on our behalf

We require anyone to whom personal information is disclosed to respect the privacy of the individuals concerned and handle information in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

GPS and Location Data

As part of our process serving services, we collect GPS location data and photographs at the time of service. This information is collected to:

• Provide verifiable proof of service location
• Support affidavit evidence for court proceedings
• Ensure accuracy and accountability in our service delivery

GPS data and photographs are included in service documentation provided to our clients and may form part of court evidence.

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Security measures include:

• Secure electronic storage systems with access controls
• Password protection and encryption where appropriate
• Physical security measures for paper documents
• Staff training on privacy obligations
• Secure disposal of personal information no longer required

Retention of Information

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy legal, accounting or reporting requirements. Service records and affidavits are retained for a minimum of 7 years in accordance with legal requirements.

Access and Correction

Individuals have the right to request access to personal information we hold about them and to request correction of any inaccurate information. To make a request, please contact our Privacy Officer using the details below.

Please note that due to the nature of our work (serving legal documents), there may be circumstances where we are unable to provide access to certain information, particularly where doing so may prejudice legal proceedings or compromise the safety of individuals.

Complaints

If you believe we have breached your privacy or have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer. We will investigate your complaint and respond within a reasonable timeframe.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.