Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies
Privacy Statement
Maintaining the privacy of our clients has been a fundamental part of our operations since our inception. We are committed to ensuring the accuracy, confidentiality and security of the information we hold about you. This practice is more than a legal requirement to us; we feel it is our ethical obligation to you.
As a result of our efforts to ensure our compliance with the new federal privacy legislation, Bill C-6, we will be able to address your privacy concerns more effectively and efficiently. We assure you that the personal information we currently collect is used only to provide you with the high level of service you have come to expect from Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies.
The nature of our business requires a relationship of respect with the users of our Web Sites. As with other companies that maintain Internet sites, we want you to know about our Internet privacy practices. The following statement sets forth our current practices and applies to www.barronsfinancialgroup.com and any other sites that are owned, operated and controlled by Barron’s in Canada. The privacy policy notice included with any insurance policy is separate and in addition to this Internet privacy statement. Changes to this Internet privacy statement may be made at any time, as described in Section 1 of the Terms of Use.
If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy, please contact us for further information.
Our Code for the Protection of Personal Information
Introduction
We collect two kinds of information about our Web Site users: personal and non-personal information. Personal information is information that can identify an individual personally, such as name, address or policy information. We collect personal information only when it is voluntarily offered and solely for purposes that are clearly identified on the Web Site. For example, if you choose to register for a newsletter, the information that is collected online is used only to facilitate your requests, process any transactions you might initiate, or update your account information.
Non-personal information is collected to track the total number of guests visiting Barronsfinancialgroup.com or any other sites that are owned and to guide our efforts to improve the Web Site. To achieve these improvements, the Web Site, like many Web Sites, use "cookies" (a small text file placed on the user's hard drive) to facilitate site navigation, maintain quality of online service, provide additional security, and allow the customization of your access to the Web Site. Cookies themselves do not enable us to access any personal information about our users; however, they do allow us to analyze use of the Web Site. The "cookies" automatically collect information about your computer hardware and software, which can include browser type, access times and Internet Protocol (IP) address. The Web Site does not use "cookies" to collect information for distribution to third parties for any purpose, nor does it use "cookies" to secure information from other Web Sites you may visit.
We may personalize your user experience by using information about your interests to recommend other services or sites that might be of interest to you. We may also monitor user traffic patterns and site usage to help provide enhancements to our services. We may use the information it collects to notify you about new services or special offers.
In adopting our Code for the Protection of Personal Information, what has been our accepted practice becomes our documented commitment to you.
Principles
Ten interrelated principles form the basis of the Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies Code for the Protection of Personal Information.
- Accountability
Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies is responsible for personal information under its control and has designated an individual who is accountable for the compliance of Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies with the principles of the Code.
- Identifying Purposes
When establishing a new or enhanced client relationship, Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies will identify the purposes for which personal information is collected at the time or before the information is collected.
- Consent
The knowledge and consent of the individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, except as other wise required or permitted by law.
Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies will assume that you wish us to continue to use your personal information in the same manner and for the same purposes as we have in the past. You can instruct us otherwise by notifying our Privacy Officer in writing using the form at the end of this document.
An individual may withdraw his/her consent to the collection, use or disclosure of information at any time subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.
- Limiting Collection
The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies. Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies shall collect personal information by fair and lawful means only.
Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies may collect information from external sources, such as credit reporting agencies and income sources, identified or known to Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies for these purposes.
- Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies shall not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies shall retain personal information only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of identified purposes.
- Accuracy
Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies shall ensure that any personal information collected and used is as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is used. Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies will generally rely on individual clients to provide updated information such as changes to the client addresses and other contact information.
- Safeguards
Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies shall protect all personal information retained by it by using security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the personal information. Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies will take the same standard of care as it takes to safeguard its own confidential information of a similar nature.
Employees of Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies are individually required to abide by a Code of Conduct, including a commitment to keep an individual’s personal information in strict confidence.
- Openness
Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies shall make specific, understandable information about its policies and practices relating to the management of personal information readily available to individuals.
- Individual Access
Upon receipt of a request in writing, Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies will inform an individual of the existence, use, and disclosure of his/her personal information, and will give that individual access to that individual’s personal information retained by Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies, except where the law requires or Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies, with reason and with a legal right, denies access. An individual is entitled to question the accuracy and completeness of the personal information we retain and to have it amended as appropriate. An individual may be required to pay a fee for his/her request, but only if Barron’s Financial Group and it’s affiliated companies has informed the individual of the cost and the individual has agreed to proceed with the request.
- Compliance
An individual may question the compliance of Barron’s Financial Group and its affiliated companies with the above principles. Such inquires shall be directed to:
Barron’s Financial Group
Attention: Privacy Officer
Suite 500, 2800 Skymark Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario,
Telephone: (905) 891-3676
Facsimile (905) 891-2604
E-mail: Privacy.officer@barronsfinancialgroup.com
Download a printable “Withdrawal of Consent” Form
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