Privacy Policy
Effective: 30 April 2025
In this Privacy Policy, "us", "we" or "our" means Howmuch2 Pty Ltd (ABN 15 682 879 303). We are committed to respecting your privacy. Our Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information. We are bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
By providing personal information to us, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and any other arrangements that apply between us. We may change our Privacy Policy from time to time by publishing changes to it on our website howmuchto.com.au. We encourage you to check our website periodically to ensure you are aware of our current Privacy Policy.
What Personal Information Do We Collect?
"Personal information" includes information or an opinion about an individual that is reasonably identifiable. This may include:
- Name
- Mailing or street address
- Email address
- Telephone number and other contact details
- Age or date of birth
- Payment-card information
- Your device ID, device type, geo-location information, computer and connection information, page‐view statistics, IP address, and standard web‐log information
- Details of products and services we have provided to you or that you have enquired about
- Project information and files you upload to obtain AI‐generated cost estimates (e.g., floor plans, budgets, material specifications)
- Any additional information you provide to us directly or through our website/app
- Information you provide through customer surveys
- Any other personal information required to facilitate your dealings with us
How Do We Collect Personal Information?
We may collect personal information either directly from you or from third parties. We gather information when you:
- Register on our website
- Communicate with us via correspondence, chat, or email
- Share information through social platforms you connect with us
- Interact with our sites, services, content, or advertising
- Upload project data to generate AI estimates
- Invest in our business or enquire about purchasing our business
If you apply for employment or a position with us, we may also collect information (e.g., name, contact details, work history, records checks) from recruitment consultants, previous employers, and other referees.
While we endeavour to collect directly from you, in some cases we may obtain your information from third‐party service providers or publicly available records.
Why Do We Collect, Use, and Disclose Personal Information?
We may collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information for:
- Enabling access to our website, services, and app
- Operating, protecting, improving, and optimising our website, services, AI models, and user experience (including analytics, research, and marketing)
- Generating AI‐driven construction‐cost estimates and refining our estimation models
- Sending service, support, administrative messages, reminders, technical notices, updates, security alerts, and information you request
- Sending marketing and promotional messages (emails, SMS, mail) in compliance with the Spam Act and Privacy Act
- Administering rewards, surveys, contests, or other promotional events
- As part of a sale, transfer of assets, or corporate transaction
- Complying with legal obligations, resolving disputes, and enforcing agreements
- Considering your employment application
We may also disclose your personal information to trusted third parties who hold other information about you to develop anonymised consumer insights, personalise your experience, and enhance our products and services.
Do We Use Your Information for Direct Marketing?
We and/or our carefully selected business partners may send you direct‐marketing communications (emails, SMS, mail) about our services or products. You may opt out of marketing materials by contacting us at privacy@howmuch2.com.au or using the unsubscribe link provided.
To Whom Do We Disclose Your Personal Information?
We may disclose personal information to:
- Our employees and related bodies corporate
- Third‐party suppliers and service providers (e.g., cloud‐hosting, analytics)
- Professional advisers, dealers, and agents
- Payment‐systems operators (e.g., merchants receiving card payments)
- Existing or potential business partners or sponsors
- Sponsors or promoters of competitions we conduct
- Any transferee of our assets or business
- Third parties authorised by you to receive information
- Government, regulatory, or law‐enforcement agencies as required or permitted by law
Disclosure of Personal Information Outside Australia
We may disclose personal information overseas to cloud‐service providers and analytics platforms in the United States, Singapore, and the European Union. By providing information, you consent to these cross‐border disclosures. While we're not required to ensure overseas recipients comply with Australian privacy law, we will take reasonable steps to ensure they handle data consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.
Using Our Website and Cookies
We may collect personal information when you access our website (e.g., pages visited, time and date, IP address). We also use cookies and similar tracking technologies to monitor usage and remember preferences. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality. Any personal information collected by cookies is handled as described in this Privacy Policy.
Security
We hold your personal information in electronic or hard‐copy form and take reasonable steps to protect it from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. Measures include encryption at rest and in transit, role‐based access controls, and regular security audits. However, we cannot guarantee complete security.
Accessing or Correcting Your Personal Information
You can request access to, or correction of, your personal information by contacting us at privacy@howmuch2.com.au. We may verify your identity before providing access.
Making a Complaint
If you believe we have breached the Privacy Act or mishandled your personal information, contact our Privacy Officer with your name, contact details, and a description of your complaint. We will acknowledge receipt and respond within a reasonable timeframe. If dissatisfied with our response, we will advise on further steps.
Contact Us
Privacy Officer
Howmuch2 Pty Ltd
Email: privacy@howmuchto.com.au
Australian Privacy Law – Factsheet
Last updated: 30 April 2025
Does the Privacy Act apply to you?
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) incorporates the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and governs the collection, handling, storage, use, disclosure, and destruction of personal information in Australia. An organisation must comply if it has turnover ≥ A$3 million, or falls within specific categories (e.g., health‐service provider, trades in personal information, related body corporate, Commonwealth contract, reporting entity under the Anti‐Money Laundering and Counter‐Terrorism Financing Act 2006, or operates a residential‐tenancy database). Although Howmuch2 currently falls below the A$3 million threshold, we have adopted the APPs as best practice.
Why do you need a Privacy Policy?
APP 1 requires a clear and up‐to-date Privacy Policy describing how personal information is managed, including collection methods, purposes of use, storage locations, and disclosures. If the Privacy Act applies and you lack a compliant policy, you may face penalties (up to A$2.22 million for corporations or A$444,000 for individuals) under the OAIC's enforcement powers.
What do you need to do with your Privacy Policy?
You must make your Privacy Policy available free of charge in an accessible form (e.g., footer link on each webpage and within any mobile app). Keep it up‐to-date as your privacy practices change.
What is personal information?
Personal information is any information or opinion about an identified individual, or one who is reasonably identifiable, whether true or not and recorded or not. Information linked with other data to identify an individual (e.g., device IDs combined with purchase records) is also personal information. Employee‐record information for current/former employees is generally exempt from the APPs, but contractors are not.
What is sensitive information?
Sensitive information includes personal data or opinions about an individual's racial/ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, criminal record, health, genetic, or biometric information. More stringent obligations apply to its collection, use, and disclosure.
Why is a Collection Notice required?
APP 5 requires that, at or before (or as soon as practicable after) collecting personal information, individuals are notified of certain matters (Collection Notice). Examples include when a user registers on your website/app, enquires via email or phone, or when a new app feature collects extra personal information. If collecting from a third party, ensure they provide a compliant Collection Notice (e.g., via contractual obligation).
Other privacy obligations
- Direct marketing (APP 7): specific conditions and the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) apply to email/SMS marketing.
- Cross‐border disclosure (APP 8): take reasonable steps (or use a recognised exception) before disclosing data overseas.
- Security (APP 11): protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access/modification/disclosure, and destroy/de‐identify when no longer needed.
- Credit‐reporting obligations: separate obligations if dealing in credit information.