Privacy Policy

Policies

Policy 1 – Collecting Personal Information

1.1 Unless the purposes for collecting personal information are obvious and the client or customer voluntarily provides his or her personal information for those purposes, we will communicate the purposes for which personal information is being collected, either orally or in writing, before or at the time of collection.

1.2 We will only collect client, customer, member information that is necessary to fulfill the following purposes:

a. To verify identity;
b. To verify credit worthiness;
c. To identify our clients and customers preferences;
d. To open and manage an account;
e. To deliver requested products and services;
f. To enrol the client or customer in a program;
g. To contact our clients and customers for marketing purposes;
h. To ensure a high standard of service to our clients and customers;
i. To meet regulatory requirements;
j. To collect and process payments for products or services rendered;

Policy 2 – Consent

2.1 We will obtain client or customer consent to collect, use or disclose personal information (except where, as noted below, we are authorized to do so without consent).

2.2 Consent can be provided orally, in writing, electronically or, through an authorized representative or it can be implied where the purpose for collecting using or disclosing the personal information would be considered obvious and the client or customer voluntarily provides personal information for that purpose.

2.3 Consent may also be implied where a client or customer is given notice and a reasonable opportunity to opt-out of his or her personal information being used for mail-outs, the marketing of new services or products, and the client or customer does not opt-out.

2.4 Subject to certain exceptions (e.g., the personal information is necessary to provide the service or product, or the withdrawal of consent would frustrate the performance of a legal obligation), clients or customers can withhold or withdraw their consent for General Technologies Corp to use their personal information in certain ways. A client’s or customer’s decision to withhold or withdraw their consent to certain uses of personal information may restrict our ability to provide a particular service or product. If so, we will explain the situation to assist the client or customer in making the decision.

2.5 We may collect, use or disclose personal information without the client’s or customer’s knowledge or consent in the following limited circumstances:

a. When the collection, use or disclosure of personal information is permitted or required by law;
b. In an emergency that threatens an individual’s life, health, or personal security;
c. When the personal information is available from a public source (e.g., a telephone directory)
d. When we require legal advice from a lawyer;
e. For the purposes of collecting a debt;
f. To protect ourselves from fraud;
g. To investigate an anticipated breach of an agreement or a contravention of law;

Policy 3 – Using and Disclosing Personal Information

3.1 We will only use or disclose client and customer personal information where necessary to fulfill the purposes identified at the time of collection or for a purpose reasonably related to those purposes such as:

a. To conduct client, customer, member surveys in order to enhance the provision of our services;
b. To contact our clients and customers directly about products and services that may be of interest;

3.2 We will not use or disclose client or customer personal information for any additional purpose unless we obtain consent to do so.

3.3 We will not sell clients or customers lists or personal information to other parties.

Policy 4 – Retaining Personal Information

4.1 If we use client or customer personal information to make a decision that directly affects the client or customer we will retain that personal information for at least one year so that the client or customer has a reasonable opportunity to request access to it.

4.2 Subject to policy 4.1, we will retain client and customer personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the identified purposes or a legal or business purpose.

Policy 5 – Ensuring Accuracy of Personal Information

5.1 We will make reasonable efforts to ensure that client and customer personal information is accurate and complete where it may be used to make a decision about the client or customer or disclosed to another organization.

5.2 Clients or Customers may request correction to their personal information in order to ensure its accuracy and completeness. A request to correct personal information must be made in writing and provide sufficient detail to identify the personal information and the correction being sought.

5.3 If the personal information is demonstrated to be inaccurate or incomplete, we will correct the information as required and send the corrected information to any organization to which we disclosed the personal information in the previous year. If the correction is not made, we will note the clients’ or customers’ correction request in the file.

Policy 6 – Securing Personal Information

6.1 We are committed to ensuring the security of clients and customers personal information in order to protect it from unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification or disposal or similar risks. The following security measures will be followed to ensure that client or customer personal information is appropriately protected:

a. Physically securing offices where personal information is held;
b. Use of user IDs, passwords, and firewalls for electronic documents;
c. Restricting employee access to personal information as appropriate
i.e., only those that need to know will have access; contractually requiring any service providers to provide comparable security measures).

6.3 We will use appropriate security measures when destroying client’s and customer’s personal information such as shredding documents and deleting electronically stored information

6.4 We will continually review and update our security policies and controls as technology changes to ensure ongoing personal information security.

Policy 7 – Providing Clients and Customers Access to Personal Information

7.1 Clients and customers have a right to access their personal information, subject to limited exceptions.

7.2 A request to access personal information must be made in writing and provide sufficient detail to identify the personal information being sought.

7.3 Upon request, we will also tell clients and customers how we use their personal information and to whom it has been disclosed if applicable.

7.4 We will make the requested information available within 30 business days, or provide written notice of an extension where additional time is required to fulfill the request.

7.5 A minimal fee may be charged for providing access to personal information. Where a fee may apply, we will inform the client or customer of the cost and request further direction from the client or customer on whether or not we should proceed with the request.

7.6 If a request is refused in full or in part, we will notify the client or customer in writing, providing the reasons for refusal and the recourse available to the client or customer.

Policy 8 – Questions and Complaints: The Role of the Privacy Officer or Designated Individual

8.1 The Privacy Officer is responsible for ensuring General Technologies Corp.’s compliance with this policy and the Personal Information Protection Act.

8.2 Clients and Customers should direct any complaints, concerns or questions regarding General Technologies Corp’s compliance in writing to the Privacy Officer. If the Privacy Officer is unable to resolve the concern, the client or customer may also write to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia.

Policy 9 – Cookies and IP Addresses: Collection and Retention of Non-identifying Information

9.1 This website uses Google Analytics to collect data on usage, such as which pages are most viewed, and how the website is used. Google Analytics uses the IP address you used for your visit to the website to track which pages you visited and when. Google Analytics also tries to load a cookie on to your computer, so it can check to see if you have visited this website in the past. For more information on Google Analytics, please visit its webpage, and read Google’s privacy policy.

9.2 General Technologies does not combine non-identifying information with any identifying information, and can not track your use of other websites or internet usage. As an additional safeguard, Google does not allow General Technologies to use its cookie(s) directly, and does not disclose any identifying information to General Technologies. for additional information on what Google shares with General Technologies, please read the Google Analytics Terms of Use.

9.3 You can permanently disable Google Analytics from loading cookies on to your computer by disabling cookies in your web browser. Instructions on how to do this vary by browser and version.

Contact information for General Technologies Corp.’s Privacy Officer :

Attn: Privacy Officer
General Technologies Corp.
Unit 121 – 7350 72nd Street
Delta, BC V4G 1H9
Tel; 604-952-6699
Fax: 604-952-6690

Download Privacy Statement in PDF format:   GTC Privacy Statement (PDF 115K)