Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

BELFOR (Canada) Inc. Privacy Policy (March 12, 2008)

Privacy Protection Assurance

BELFOR (Canada) Inc. – hereafter referred to as "BELFOR" -  is committed to safeguarding the personal information that we collect, use and disclose. As our ethical standards are the backdrop for our restoration services, we respect your privacy and take all necessary measures to safeguard the information collected and to limit its use and disclosure. This Privacy Policy details our approach to protecting your privacy and was developed in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act (“PIPA”), and the federally legislated Personal Information Protection & Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”).

I. Scope of Policy

This privacy policy targets the protection of personal information about identifiable individuals or individuals that can be identified with the use of the information collected. The nature of information that we collect, use and disclose is dependent upon the distinct needs of our clients, customers, employees and volunteers, and the relationships that we establish with them. The information collected however is done so to fulfill only the purposes outlined in this policy and for purposes a reasonable person would consider appropriate given the circumstances.

II. Information Collected

BELFOR may collect the following types of information from our employees, customers and/or suppliers to be used and disclosed for the stated purposes in Section IV:

Collected From Employees

- Social Insurance Number
- Emergency Contact Information
- Bank Account Information
- Work History
- Education History
- Birth Date
- Past Employers
- Driver’s Licence Number

Collected From Customer/Employees/Suppliers

- Name
- Address
- Telephone Number

Collected From Customers/Suppliers

- Insurance Policy Number
- Liability Insurance Information
- GST Number

Collected From Customers

- House Contents
- House Alarm Code
- Credit Card Number

Collected From Suppliers

- WorkSafeBC Information

III. Accountability

  BELFOR is accountable for, and in control of the information in our custody. BELFOR has appointed a Privacy Officer to handle queries and complaints about the information in our possession and for the methods in which we use and disclose the information:

Will Cook, Privacy Officer
3300 Bridgeway Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 1H9
Will Cook
(604) 432-1123

Additionally, we have trained our staff in privacy protection policies to accommodate the needs of our customers and contractors. We strive to regularly audit the information in our custody so that we may revise as required, ensure accuracy and monitor the effectiveness of our procedures.

IV. Identifying Purposes for Collecting, Using and Disclosing Information

When collecting information either verbally or by way of form or application, BELFOR will consistently provide the motive for the information being collected and state the intent for use and disclosure. BELFOR collects information primarily to:

1. Establish, maintain, manage or terminate an employment or client relationship
2. Fulfill the production and operational requirements of our company as they relate to our restoration services

Additionally, BELFOR will collect information that includes but is not limited to the following:

- to ensure compliance with the CRA for income tax, GST, CPP and Employment Insurance
- to ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC
- to establish and maintain communication
- to assess or further investigate techniques required for the restoration of your home or business
- to verify credit worthiness
- to process/ collect payments and data
- to compile statistics for business review
- to comply with law enforcement and other Federal and Provincial Acts that take precedent
- to prevent and/ or detect fraud
- to manage personnel
- to follow up on accidents or emergencies
- to administer a benefits plan
- to provide information to third parties for the purpose of initiating the restoration process

BELFOR will identify any new purposes for collecting information in subsequent Addenda to this policy if required. Additionally, we will inform our customers and contractors if the original purpose for obtaining information changes, and obtain the information again with the newly stated purpose and intent.

V. Consent

BELFOR will obtain your consent to collect, use or disclose information except where BELFOR is authorized or required (by the Act) to do so without consent. When you are satisfied with the identified purposes for which we collect, use and disclose your information, we are then required to obtain your consent. Your consent may be expressed or implied. While there are some exceptions to this requirement, PIPA generally considers consent to be given when an individual, knowing of the purpose for the collection of his or her information, voluntarily gives the information to us.

In consideration of our purpose, the intent for use and disclosure, what kind of consent an individual would reasonably expect, the circumstance under which the information is collected, the sensitivity of the information and whether or not we may need to verify consent, BELFOR considers the following acceptable indications of your consent:

i Express Consent

Signifies that an individual, knowing what information is being collected and for what purposes, willingly agrees to the information being collected, used and disclosed as notified. Express can be given in writing or verbally.

ii Deemed Consent

Signifies that an individual is “deemed” to consent to collection, use or disclosure of personal information if the individual voluntarily provides it for a purpose that would, at the time, be considered obvious to a reasonable person. This consent is not required to be written or verbal as deemed consent is applied to purposes considered so obvious that notification would be unnecessary.

iii receipt and comprehension of this Privacy Policy

iv consent given through your authorized representative

v consent by not declining consent

Subject to certain legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable written notice, you may withdraw your consent at any time. BELFOR will inform you of the consequences of your withdrawing your consent at the time of your request to withdraw.

VI. Limited Collection

BELFOR will limit its collection of information to the minimum required to fulfill the stated purposes and to what is reasonably necessary to provide our product and services to you. BELFOR will not collect information indiscriminately.

VII. Limited Use, Disclosure and Retention

Your personal information will only be used or disclosed for the purposes outlined in Section IV, and as authorized by PIPA, PIPEDA and other laws. In accordance with the privacy legislation, we have established clear policies and retention guidelines that ensure we maintain and safeguard all information used to make a decision about an individual for at least one year. Conversely, information not used for any decision-making process or information that’s retention is no longer being served by the original purpose will be destroyed.

VIII. Accuracy

In order to keep information still required for a stated purpose accurate, BELFOR may make periodic requests for employees and customers to update their personal information and make reasonable efforts to ensure that information that we use and disclose is correct. BELFOR will amend information if it has been demonstrated that it is inaccurate or incomplete.

IX. Safeguarding Personal Information

BELFOR will safeguard personal information in its control or custody by making reasonable efforts to protect against loss, theft, unauthorized disclosure, copying, use, alteration or disposal.

X. Openness

BELFOR is open about the policies and procedures it employs to protect your privacy and about the ways in which we use and disclose your personal information. Our staff is knowledgeable about personal information protection and we have appointed a Privacy Officer to administer our policy. BELFOR will make available details on how to access personal employee information in our Employee Handbook.

XI. Access

You are entitled to access the personal information in our custody. While there are some exceptions to this in the area of solicitor/ client privilege and confidential commercial transactions, BELFOR will provide the information requested (upon authentication of identity), within 30 days.

XII. Complaint Handling

Our customers and employees have the right to challenge our compliance with the legislation. BELFOR will provide information about its complaint handling procedures upon request and describe the methods by which compliance may be challenged in our Employee Handbook.



Please direct all inquiries about this to the Privacy Officer noted in section III.

Yours truly,



BELFOR (Canada) Inc.