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 is not a lender. We act as an intermediary to connect you with lenders and assist you in obtaining suitable finance. (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.

By contacting us or using our services (including via phone, website, online applications, or social media), you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this policy.

Where required by law, including when conducting credit checks, we will obtain your express consent before proceeding.

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, you should not use our services. If you would like more information about how we handle your personal information, please contact us on 0800 001 561.

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 collect and use personal information where it is necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, or where you have provided consent.

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 identity.

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 retain information for at least 7 years where required. In some cases, we may retain information longer where necessary for legal, regulatory, or dispute resolution purposes.

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.

Where permitted, 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.  You can opt out at any time.

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

• Harmoney Services Limited

• Heartland Bank

• Oxford Finance Limited

• SMB Money Ltd

• Autosure

• Cove Limited

• Provident

• Protecta Insurance New Zealand Limited / Assurant 

• Tower Limited

• Clipped Assist

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

• Centrix Group Limited

• EQUIFAX NEW ZEALAND INFORMATION SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LIMITED; and

• Experian Data Registries (NZ) Limited

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 Experian by: 

telephone on (0800 733 707); or  online at https://www.experian.co.nz/contact-us

Experian privacy policy is available at: https://www.experian.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. 

We are generally not able to provide you with copies of credit reports obtained from credit reporting agencies. However, you can request a copy of your credit reporting information directly from the relevant credit reporting bodies listed above.

Where you choose to use our self-service or comparison tools to apply for a financial product without the assistance of a consultant, we may collect your personal information for the purpose of facilitating your application and, where relevant, disclose that information directly to your selected lender or insurer. This enables you to compare available options and progress an application with the provider of your choice.

At the point of collection, and before your information is submitted, you will be made aware of the specific lender(s) or insurer(s) to whom your information will be disclosed. By proceeding with a self-service application or quote request, you acknowledge and authorise us to share your personal information with those selected third parties for the purposes of assessing your application or providing a quote.

Our digital automations may provide information and assistance in relation to financial products. Where financial advice is provided, it is given in accordance with our obligations under applicable financial services laws. Further details are available in our Disclosure Statement.  

This may include:

• 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 you 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. Automated tools are used to assist, but not replace, responsible lending assessments required under applicable law.  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 the right to request human review of any decision or recommendation generated through automated processes.

You have full control over your data. You can:

•  Request a copy of your personal data that we hold on file.

•  Ask us to correct your information.

•  Request deletion where permitted by law and regulatory requirements.

•  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 data but we may share your information with lenders, insurers and partners to provide or recommend financial products, but only in connection with services you have requested or consented to.  Your data may also 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 use cookies, analytics tools, and similar technologies to understand how you use our website, improve your experience, and support marketing and service delivery activities. These technologies may collect information such as device identifiers, IP address, browser type, and browsing behaviour.  We may also use third-party analytics and advertising providers who may use cookies or similar technologies to collect information about your interactions with our website.

Our web services generally collect domain-level information rather than personally identifiable information such as your email address, unless you choose to provide it to us.

Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us recognise returning users, analyse website traffic, and improve functionality. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, however this may affect the performance and functionality of certain parts 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 with Finance Consultants based 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.  For the avoidance of doubt where personal information is disclosed to any of our Finance Consultants, all protections under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 are applicable.

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.

We may monitor and record telephone calls and other communications for the purposes of quality assurance, staff training, compliance, and maintaining records of our interactions with you.

As part of this process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate summaries of conversations. These records form part of the personal information we hold about you and help ensure we maintain documentation of information provided and discussed. They also support our obligations under applicable laws, including responsible lending and financial advice requirements in New Zealand.

In some circumstances, a call may not be transcribed, including where the interaction is brief or not relevant to a financial product or service. In these cases, our consultants will record appropriate file notes to document the interaction. These notes are maintained in accordance with our record-keeping obligations under New Zealand law.

AI-generated call summaries may be made available where required for compliance reviews, dispute resolution, including engagement with our lenders, insurers and regulators. However it should be noted that original call recordings are not generally available for direct access and only the summary is maintained in our CRM system. 

We take reasonable steps to protect all call recordings, transcripts, summaries, and associated records from unauthorised access, use, or disclosure. This includes the use of security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption, and access controls (including password protection).

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, or as soon as reasonably practicable.  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 22nd April 2026.