PRIVACY POLICY

Bell Mercantile Pty Ltd
ABN: 17 098 753 023
Last updated: 25 September 2026

1. About this Privacy Policy

Bell Mercantile Pty Ltd (“Bell Mercantile”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects the privacy of individuals and is committed to handling personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (“APPs”), where applicable.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information in connection with our business, including our debt collection, debt recovery and related services, and through our websites:

• bellmercantile.com.au
• bellmercantile.com

This policy applies to personal information we collect through our websites, email, telephone communications, correspondence, account placement information, debt recovery activities and other dealings with individuals and businesses.

2. What personal information do we collect?

Depending on our dealings with you, we may collect and hold personal information including:

• name and contact details;
• residential, business or postal address;
• telephone numbers;
• email addresses;
• employment or business details;
• information relating to debts, accounts, invoices and transactions;
• payment information and payment history;
• correspondence and communications with us;
• information provided by clients, debtors, representatives or other parties;
• information obtained during debt recovery, investigation and tracing activities; and
• other information reasonably necessary for us to conduct our business and provide our services.

Where necessary and permitted by law, we may also collect information from publicly available sources and from third parties involved in a debt or commercial transaction.

We do not generally seek to collect sensitive information. Where sensitive information is collected, we will handle it in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

3. How do we collect personal information?

We may collect personal information directly from you, including when you:

• contact us by telephone, email or through our website;
• submit an enquiry or request information;
• provide information in connection with a debt or account;
• make or arrange a payment;
• correspond with us; or
• otherwise deal with Bell Mercantile.

We may also collect information from third parties where this is reasonably necessary for our business activities. This may include our clients, businesses, representatives, professional advisers, publicly available sources and other parties connected with a debt or commercial transaction.

4. Why do we collect and use personal information?

We may collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for purposes including:

• providing debt collection and debt recovery services;
• investigating and recovering outstanding debts;
• communicating with clients, debtors and other relevant parties;
• verifying contact and account information;
• tracing individuals or businesses where reasonably necessary for debt recovery;
• negotiating payments and payment arrangements;
• processing payments;
• commencing or assisting with legal or enforcement action where instructed or otherwise permitted;
• responding to enquiries and requests;
• maintaining business records;
• managing our business operations;
• complying with legal and regulatory obligations; and
• protecting our legal rights and interests.

5. Disclosure of personal information

We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

Depending on the circumstances, information may be disclosed to:

• our clients;
• debtors and their authorised representatives;
• solicitors, barristers and other professional advisers;
• courts, tribunals and government authorities;
• process servers and other service providers involved in recovery activities;
• investigators and tracing service providers;
• technology, hosting and data-storage providers;
• payment service providers;
• overseas representatives, service providers or professional advisers where necessary for international debt recovery; and
• other parties where disclosure is authorised or required by law.

We do not sell personal information for marketing purposes.

6. Overseas disclosure of personal information

Bell Mercantile provides international debt collection and recovery services. In carrying out those services, it may sometimes be necessary to disclose personal information to recipients located outside Australia.

The countries in which overseas recipients may be located will depend upon the particular debt recovery matter and the location of the relevant debtor, client, representative, professional adviser or service provider.

Where applicable, Bell Mercantile will take reasonable steps required by Australian privacy law when disclosing personal information to an overseas recipient. The APP 8 framework can apply when an Australian organisation discloses personal information to an overseas recipient.

7. How we hold and protect personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Our security measures may include appropriate physical, electronic and administrative safeguards.

However, no method of storing or transmitting information can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

8. How long do we keep personal information?

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, to conduct our business, to meet contractual and legal obligations, to resolve disputes and to protect our legal interests.

When personal information is no longer required and we are not required to retain it by law, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it.

9. Access to your personal information

You may request access to personal information that Bell Mercantile holds about you.

We will deal with requests for access in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

In some circumstances, we may be unable to provide access, or may provide access subject to limitations permitted by law.

10. Correction of personal information

If you believe personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading, you may ask us to correct it.

We will consider and deal with requests for correction in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

11. Privacy complaints

If you believe Bell Mercantile has not handled your personal information appropriately, you may make a privacy complaint to us.

We will investigate the complaint and respond within a reasonable period.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

12. Website information and cookies

When you visit our websites, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our website, hosting provider, analytics services or other technologies.

This may include information such as:

• IP address;
• browser and device information;
• pages visited;
• approximate location information derived from technical data;
• referring websites;
• date and time of visits; and
• other technical information concerning website use.

We may use cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure and improve our websites and understand how visitors use them.

Where third-party services are used on our websites, those providers may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

13. Third-party websites

Our websites may contain links to websites operated by third parties.

Bell Mercantile is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party websites.

We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any third-party website you visit.

14. Contacting Bell Mercantile

If you wish to request access to or correction of personal information, or make a privacy complaint, please contact us.

Bell Mercantile Pty Ltd
Telephone: +61 3 9596 9311
Email: sale@bellmercantile.com.au
Address: PO BOX 9027 Brighton VIC 3186 Australia

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, technology, privacy practices or legal obligations.

The latest version will be published on our website and will show the date it was last updated.