Privacy Policy

The information you have or may provide during the process in connection with your credit application is being collected by Simplify Holdings NZ Limited (NZBN 9429047345119/Registered Company Number 7341879), Simplify Holdings International Pty Ltd (FSP455126/ACN 605 951 068) or one of its related bodies, corporate partners, Interposed Persons, Nominated Representatives or Financial Advice Providers. (Simplify, we, our, us).

Simplify is committed to protecting the privacy of the information we hold about each of our customers, including your personal information and credit related information. We will comply with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, that governs how we collect, use, hold and disclose your personal information, and how we ensure it is accurate and secure.

Please note that when you contact us by phone or through our digital platforms, you are agreeing to our privacy policy, including but not limited to our website, online application and social media. Should you wish to obtain further information about your privacy before using these services please contact us on 0800 001 561. 

By accessing and using our services, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this policy. Any participation in our services will constitute acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree to abide by this policy, please do not use our services.

Personal information is any information or opinion about you, that identifies you or from which you can be reasonably identified. “Personal Information” as defined in the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 (“the Privacy Act”), means all information about an identifiable individual (a natural person, rather than a company or other legal entity). 

Credit related information includes identification information as well as information about your current financial and credit situation, and history. Generally speaking, credit-related information will include your name and address, your contact details, your date of birth and gender, details of your credit history (including any repayments missed or late repayments that you have made), information about any credit provided to you by credit providers (such as financial institutions, utilities or telecommunications providers), any credit rating or credit assessment score that we have derived or that is provided to us by a credit reporting body and details of any credit-related court proceedings or insolvency applications that relate to you.

We have a legal obligation to ensure any credit services we assist you with are not deemed unsuitable for you. As a Simplify customer, we will collect your personal information from you in order to allow us to provide services to you, which includes assisting you to obtain credit suitable for your purposes and to meet your objectives, through our panel of lenders and to provide you with information about other services we consider appropriate. 

The information we collect may include your first name, last name, mobile number, address, email address, date of birth, drivers licence and address as evidence of your identity, New Zealand residency status, relationship status, employment details, credit history and financial details like income, assets, household liabilities and assets.

This will allow us to: 

• Make reasonable enquiries about your borrowing needs and objectives 

• Make reasonable enquiries about your financial circumstances and; 

• Take reasonable steps to verify the details of your financial situation and identify.

Any personal information will be collected directly from you, unless you have authorised us to collect that information from another party (for example, a credit reporting agency).

When we collect personal information from you, we will make clear the ways in which we may use or disclose that information, and will ask for your authorisation to do so. You do not have to provide us with information we request, however it may affect the services we can provide to you, if you do not.

We may electronically record and store your personal information which we collect from you. This may include engaging a third party to provide services relating to the security and storage of that information, such as third party cloud service providers to store and process the information we collect. We ensure that our cloud-based service providers are subject to appropriate security and information handling arrangements and that the information stored or processed by them remains subject to confidentiality obligations. We will take all practicable steps to safeguard your personal information and prevent unauthorised disclosure. You should notify us immediately if you feel your personal information has been compromised in any way, to assist us in preventing unauthorised disclosure. We will not continue to store personal information when it is no longer required for any of the purposes for which it may be used.

Specifically, we must retain as a minimum:

• Credit Application Data: For 7 years from the date of application, regardless of whether the application was successful, as required for regulatory and auditing purposes.

• Transaction Records: For 7 years from the date of each transaction, to comply with financial and tax obligations.

• Identification Verification Documents: For 7 years from the date of collection, as required for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.

• Marketing Preferences: Until you unsubscribe or withdraw your consent. If you opt out of marketing, we will keep your preference details to ensure we do not contact you again for marketing purposes.

We have controls in place to ensure that your personal information will be used only for the purposes for which it was collected and purposes which you have authorised. Generally, these purposes will be:

• to consider providing you with credit or other services; 

• to administer and develop our business (and that of our Lenders/Insurers), including administering and monitoring any agreement with you; 

• to register security interests; to comply with laws, rules or regulations (including identity verification requirements, Anti Money Laundering

• Counter Financing of Terrorism compliance and audit and reporting requirements, in New Zealand or overseas, including any laws, rules or regulations that we reasonably expect to be put in place;

• for direct marketing purposes; 

• to assess your creditworthiness; 

• to exercise our rights and fulfill our obligations under any agreements with you or at law; and 

• generally to do business with you, including to defend or enforce our rights.

Unless you inform us that you do not wish to be contacted by us, we may use your personal information to contact you including by mail, email and telephone (including SMS), to provide you with information about and discuss other products or services provided by selected third parties, (lenders and Insurers), in which we think you may have an interest.

We will not use or act on any of your personal information without taking reasonable steps, (having regard to the purpose for which the information will be used), to ensure that the information is accurate, up to date, complete, relevant, and otherwise not misleading. If we believe that your information is inaccurate, not up to date, incomplete, irrelevant or otherwise misleading, we will ask you, (or with your consent, another person or organisation) to verify that information before we use it.

As a Simplify customer, you consent to your personal information being disclosed to or obtained from other organisations or people we consider appropriate for the purposes listed above.

• Those other organisations or people include: 

• our related companies; 

• our service providers; 

• other financial or insurance institutions; government departments, government bodies or agencies in New Zealand or overseas (including tax authorities); 

• the New Zealand Transport Agency’s ‘Driver Check’ service; any organisation or person providing us with guarantees or security under any agreement with you; 

• our existing and potential business partners; 

• any organisation or person to whom we consider assigning or transferring any of our rights under any agreement with you; 

• your employer and accountant; and 

• any other organisation or person you authorise your personal information to be disclosed to or obtained from.

In particular, we may use the services of credit reporting agencies on an on-going basis, and may exchange information about you with those agencies (including information about your default and repayment history). Those agencies may retain that information and provide that information to other customers who use their credit reporting services.

We may also disclose your information where that disclosure is permitted under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, such as where the disclosure:

• is necessary to facilitate a sale of all or part of a Lenders business; or 

• is necessary to prevent a serious or imminent threat to public health or safety; 

• is authorised by the Privacy Commissioner; 

• is of information which is already publicly available; or 

• is of information which is not in a form which identifies you.

The lenders, insurers and partners with whom we may share your information are listed below. To view their privacy policy and information statements, please click on the lender/insurer/partner below:

• Alphera Financial Services

• Auto Finance Direct

• Avanti Finance Limited

• CFI Finance

• Community Financial Service

• Financial Holdings Limited

• Finance Now Limited

• Geneva Finance Limited

• Heartland Bank

• Oxford Finance Limited

• Cove Limited

• Autosure

Partners

• Clipped Assist

The credit reporting bodies that we deal with include, but are not limited to:

• Centrix Group Limited and 

• Equifax Pty Ltd; 

• Dun & Bradstreet Inc. (Trading as Illion Data Registries).

You may contact Centrix by:  telephone on (0800 236 874); or  online at https://www.centrix.co.nz/about-us/ Centrix privacy policy is available at: https://www.centrix.co.nz/privacy-policy/

You may contact Equifax by:  telephone on (0800 698 332); or  online at https://www.equifax.co.nz/contact  Equifax privacy policy is available at: https://www.equifax.co.nz/privacy 

You may contact Illion by: telephone on (0800 733 707); or  online at https://illion.co.nz/contact-us/  Illion privacy policy is available at: https://illion.co.nz/privacy-policy/

You have a right to request that a credit related body not use or disclose credit reporting information they hold about you in circumstances where you reasonably believe that you have been or are likely to be a victim of fraud, including identity-related fraud. 

If we refuse your application or offer based on information provided to us by a credit reporting body about you, we will inform you of this and any other information required by law to be provided to you. 

You can make a request to any of the credit reporting bodies listed above to obtain copies of your credit reporting information. 

Our digital automations assist with:

• Account Services: Checking balances, transactions, and loan eligibility.

• Financial Advice: Providing product insights, comparisons and credit score guidance.

• Security Alerts: Notifying us of suspicious activities or fraud risks.

• Regulatory Compliance: Assisting with identity verification (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks.

When you interact with our digital automations, we may collect:

• Personal Information: Name, contact details, and account-related information.

• Transaction Data: Payment history, loan applications, or credit inquiries.

• Device & Location Data: IP addresses, device types, and geographic location for fraud detection.

We only collect the minimum necessary information and never store sensitive financial data without your consent.

We use industry-leading security measures to safeguard your information:

• End-to-End Encryption: All interactions are securely encrypted.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Extra layers of security for account access.

• Real-Time Fraud Monitoring: Digital automation continuously detects and prevents suspicious activities.

• Regulatory Compliance: We follow global privacy laws, including industry codes of conduct to protect your rights.

You have the right to access and request correction of any personal information that we hold about you, and full details of every organisation or person to whom we have disclosed information about you, by contacting Simplify on 0800 001 561.

There are some circumstances in which we are not required to provide your access to your personal information. If we disagree that your information should be corrected, deleted or you are refused access, we will tell you why in writing, except where the law permits us from doing so. There is no fee for correcting your personal information. In processing your request for access to personal information, a reasonable cost may be charged. This would cover locating, obtaining and supplying the information to you including any fees charged by the lender.

If you notice inaccurate information, you can request a correction or speak with our customer service team as detailed under Your Rights and Choices below.

To provide reliable financial assistance, we ensure:

• Real-Time Data Validation: Digital automations fetch verified financial updates from regulatory sources and our partners.

• Human Oversight: Sensitive requests are reviewed by trained professionals.  All applications are handled by trained professionals and never submitted to a lender or insurer without human intervention.

• Explainable Digital Automation: Our digital services provide clear justifications for financial recommendations.

To enhance transparency and comply with Information Privacy Principle 4 (IPP 4) under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, it is important to clarify that while we utilise digital automation tools and analytics to assist with the initial assessment of your application, such as pre-screening eligibility based on stated income, expenses, and indicative credit profiles, all final lending decisions are subject to human review and approval. These automated insights are used to streamline the process, flag potential risks, and provide tailored product comparisons; however, they do not constitute a sole decision-making mechanism. This ensures that each application is assessed fairly and responsibly, taking into account your individual circumstances. If you have questions or concerns about how automated processes may apply to your application, you are encouraged to contact us directly for further explanation.

You have full control over your data. You can:

•  Request a copy of your personal data.

•  Ask us to delete or correct information.

•  Opt-out of Digital Communication interactions.

•  Restrict certain types of data processing.

To exercise your rights, contact our customer service team at:

• info@simplify.com.nz

• T: 0800 001 561

We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Your data may only be shared:

•  With regulatory authorities, when required by law (e.g., AML, KYC).

•  With trusted service providers for fraud prevention or cybersecurity.

•  Only with your explicit consent for optional services.

We may collect and verify your vehicle ownership and registration details directly from the NZTA’s Motor Vehicle Register, in accordance with our authorised access under  section 241 of the Land Transport Act 1998.

Simplify may access personal information, which includes your name and address details from the NZTA Motor Vehicle Register under section 241 of the Land Transport Act 1998. 

This information is used solely for legitimate business purposes.

The purpose is tied specifically to:

• Verifying vehicle ownership

• Confirming legal entitlement of the borrower or seller

• Assessing security for a finance agreement

• Meeting anti-fraud and responsible lending requirements.

Individuals have the right to opt out of having their name and address information disclosed from the Motor Vehicle Register.  This will not affect your application, but it may require us to request additional documents to confirm vehicle ownership.

To exercise this right, you can apply to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency using their opt-out form, which can be found here: https://transact.nzta.govt.nz/transactions/PersonalInfoAccess/entry

Additionally, those granted confidential status will have their information withheld from authorised users like Simplify.

All information obtained from the Motor Vehicle Register is handled in compliance with the Privacy Act 2020, ensuring appropriate security measures are in place to protect personal data.

Our web service collects the domain names, not the email addresses of visitors. 

Our web server may require an individual to place a "cookie" (small data file) on a user’s computer's hard drive, in order to track statistical information about navigation to and throughout certain areas of our website.

Through our website and social media pages, you may be able to link to other websites which are not under our control. We do not take any responsibility for the privacy or security practices of those third party websites. 

We do not accept any liability for any loss suffered by you relying on anything contained or not contained within these website links.

We operate our business both locally in New Zealand and within Australia. Whilst we operate on and offshore, this does not change our commitment to you to safeguard your privacy and your information remains subject to confidentiality obligations.

When transferring personal information overseas, Simplify ensures that the recipient agency provides comparable safeguards to those under New Zealand’s privacy laws, as required by the Information Privacy Principle 12.  They may involve entering into contractual agreements incorporating the Privacy Commissioner’s model clauses.

Phone calls may be monitored or recorded and kept for quality control, training, regulatory compliance, and to prevent fraud or other illegal activities. 

Recordings are accessed via secure logins with password protection and multi-factor authentication. These recordings are not downloaded or shared outside of Simplify due to their access method. However, a summarised transcript of each call can be provided upon request.

If a lender accepts your application, we will highlight the key features of the loan agreement with you, including all fees and charges. This will also detail things like the amount you’re borrowing, the time frame for repayment and how often you make repayments. It also includes information about what might happen if you don’t make repayments. 

If you have any questions about the key features of the loan agreement at any time, don’t understand any of the key features or if you think any of the key features might not be right for you, it is important that you call us before you sign your loan agreement. 

A copy of the fees that Simplify may charge you in relation to assisting you obtain finance can be viewed on our website found here;  Fees and Charges.

If you are concerned about how your personal information is being handled or if you have a complaint about a breach by us of the Privacy Act you can contact our Privacy Officer in these ways:

• Telephone: 0800 001 561 

• Email: complaints@simplify.co.nz 

• In writing to: Simplify Holdings NZ Limited C/- Nz Tax Accountants Limited, Suite A, Floor 8 Harbourview Building, 152 Quay Street, Auckland Central, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.

We will:

• Acknowledge your complaint within two business days of its receipt.

• Let you know if we need any further information from you to investigate your complaint.

• Aim to resolve complaints as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

• Strive to resolve complaints within five business days, but in some cases where we need to obtain further detail, this may take a little longer to resolve.

Our full complaints handling procedures can be found here: https://simplify.co.nz/about/complaints-handling

If you are not satisfied with the way we have handled your complaint, you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in these ways:

• Lodge a complaint on the Privacy Officer website: www.privacy.org.nz 

• Telephone: 0800 803 909 

• Email: enquiries@privacy.org.nz 

We may change this privacy and credit reporting policy from time to time at our sole discretion.  We will give notice of any changes directly or indirectly by means of an electronic message, through our websites or mobile apps, through the internet, through the media, or otherwise as we see fit and permitted by applicable law.  Any changes will be effective from the date of posting.

This document was last updated on 19th May 2025.