Code & Policies

SWA’s fee structure varies depending on the type, location & nature of each assignment. We provide special discounted rates to bulk users of our services, these are negotiated and contracted rates. SWA reserves the right to amend any fee structure to allow us to recover any costs incurred in the carrying out of any assignment. All assignments are provided to us on a fee for service basis. We do not support or accept results-only assignments.

SWA’s employees and independent external contractors undergo an in-house training program. This program incorporates the rules of service in all jurisdictions, The Privacy Act 1988, The Trades Practices Act 1974 (Section 60), ACCC and ASIC Guidelines with respect to Debt Collection, Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents Act 2004 and the Enclosed Lands Act. In New South Wales, under the Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents Act 2004, all Commercial and Private Inquiry Agents must attain a Certificate III in Investigative Services and or a Certificate III in Financial Services (Mercantile Agents). We are pleased to advise all of our office staff have also completed the Certificate III in Financial Services and are fully licensed. Our compliance program ensures all agents maintain their license and appropriate insurances to complete your instructions.

SWA’s is committed to quality in the delivery of our services. We aim to continually improve our systems and practices to ensure we achieve this goal.
As part of our business planning process, we set objectives for quality that continually test our process systems and ultimately delivers the most efficient, cost effective and desirable service possible.

As part of our processes, we set clear and defined frameworks to achieve compliance and continual improvements to our quality policy.
Quality is the responsibility of every employee and independent contractor and we are committed to using all of our skills in achieving our objectives. Every employee and independent contractor plays an integral part in the successful delivery of quality services.

SWA has developed business continuity strategy in the form of a “Disaster Recovery Plan”. This Plan is to be utilised in the event of a disaster, catastrophe or other significant event which causes major disruption to our business activities.

The major goals of this plan are the following:

• To minimize interruptions to the normal operations.
• To limit the extent of disruption and damage.
• To minimize the economic impact of the interruption.
• To establish alternative means of operation in advance.
• To train personnel with emergency procedures.
• To provide for smooth and rapid restoration of service

This is the Privacy Policy ofSteve Wallis Associates Pty. Ltd. trading as SWA Recovery & Investigation Group (SWA). Which is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and its 2000 Amendment (Privacy Act). As a licensed Commercial Agent and Private Inquiry Agent we understand and appreciate how important it is to safeguard your personal information. This privacy policy explains how your personal information will be treated when you deal with our firm.

We are licensed under the Commercial Agent and Private Inquiry Act 1963 (as amended) and as such we are licensed to obtain and furnish information as to the personal character of any person or as to the character or nature of business or occupation of any person, to search for missing persons on behalf of any other person, to ascertain the whereabouts of, or repossess, any goods the subject of a lease, hire-purchase agreement or bill of sale and to collect, request or demand payment of debts on behalf of any other person. 

SWA collects personal information that is necessary to inform clients as to the location & financial position of individuals and businesses and provide factual information for our clients to make informed decisions. We also collect personal information for our human resources and marketing requirements. The type of personal information we collect will vary according to the nature of the matter for which we act on our client’s behalf. Some examples of personal information that may be collected by us include names, addresses, contact details, photographs, financial details. We may also collect personal information about individuals who are not clients in the course of acting on our client’s behalf. 

Personal information we collect in the course of our enquires and efforts on behalf of our clients is usually collected from our clients and consists of legally available information obtained from data bases, photographic/video surveillance or physical enquiries whether by phone or in person. Personal information is also provided to us by lawyers, other professionals and individuals in the course of conducting our investigations.

Personal information used for marketing purposes is collected from forms filled out by individuals at our functions or sent to us by post, fax or e-mail. If you forward information to us either electronically or as a hard copy document, we will collect that information and use it for the purposes for which you have provided it to us.
When you visit our web site, our web site may store cookies which records details of your server address and your usage of our web site such as what pages you view and download from the web site. We use cookies only for internal management purposes and not to collect personal information. If you do not wish to use cookies, you can set your browser so that it will not accept them. 

SWA will take reasonable commercial steps to ensure that all information we collect, use or disclose is accurate, complete, up-to-date and stored in a secure environment accessed only by authorised persons.

When using our web site, you acknowledge that no data transmission over the internet is always secure. We strive to protect your personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorized access. However, you acknowledge that we cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us over the internet. Once we receive your transmission, we will take reasonable commercial steps to ensure its security.

We will, where commercially practicable and permitted by law, destroy or permanently de-identify personal information that is no longer needed. 

SWA will use the personal information it collects to:

• provide evidence and information to our clients;
• carry out administration related to those services;
• notify our clients and other contacts about relevant legal developments; – notify our clients and other contacts from time to time of alternative or additional services SWA may provide; and
• fulfil all legal and regulatory requirements of SWA.

If you do not wish to receive information about additional services offered by SWA, you can let us know by sending our Privacy Officer a message by post, fax or e-mail at any of the addresses set out below. 

The personal information SWA collects from clients and marketing contacts is strictly confidential. The personal information that SWA collects in the course of investigations, surveillance and field enquiries will be used for the purposes for which it is collected. This may involve disclosure to other advisors and experts involved in the legal proceedings or claims.

Other than as described above, we will not disclose personal information without first obtaining consent to any third parties other than:

• contractors SWA arranges to provide mailing services;
• as we may be required to do by law.

SWA will take reasonable steps to ensure that any personal information disclosed to a third party is protected by that party in accordance with the Privacy Act.  

On request, you may have access to your personal information held by SWA, except in circumstances where access may be denied under the Privacy Act or other law. Examples of these circumstances are:

• where providing access will pose an unreasonable impact on the privacy of another individual;
• where providing access would be unlawful, would pose a threat to the life or health of an individual, may prejudice an investigation of possible unlawful activity, may prejudice enforcement of laws; or
• where denying access is authorised by law.

To make a request for your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@swagroup.net.au or via contact details below.

We will endeavour to respond to a request for personal information within 14 days.

If personal information is provided to you as the result of a request, you may be charged a fee for costs incurred in providing that information such as photocopying, administration and postage.
If access is denied we will provide you with the reasons for our decision. 

If you believe that the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or not up-to-date please let us know. Provided we agree with you, we will correct it. If we do not agree with you, we will place a statement of what you allege is correct where that information is kept and accessed. 

We reserve the right to change this privacy policy at any time by publishing the varied privacy policy on our web site. The varied policy terms will apply from the date they are posted on our web site. You accept that by doing this, SWA has provided you with sufficient notice of the variation and agree you will be provided with no separate notification.