Watchdog Alarms Pty Ltd (ABN 65 603 879 438) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information entrusted to us.
This Privacy Policy explains how Watchdog Alarms collects, holds, uses and discloses personal information in connection with our website, online store, security products, installations, servicing, monitoring and related services.
We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to the extent they apply to us.
1. Who We Are
Watchdog Alarms provides security products and services including:
alarm systems;
CCTV and video security;
access control;
alarm monitoring;
smart security and automation services;
security system installation and servicing; and
the sale of security products and accessories.
Watchdog Alarms Pty Ltd
ABN 65 603 879 438
Matheson Road
Applecross WA 6153
Phone: 1300 123 400
Website: watchdogalarms.com.au
2. Personal Information We May Collect
The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with us and the products or services you use.
It may include:
your name;
residential, business, billing and delivery addresses;
email address and telephone number;
order, invoice and payment information;
records of products and services purchased from us;
details about your property or premises relevant to providing security services;
installation, service and maintenance records;
alarm system details and equipment identifiers;
alarm event and monitoring information;
nominated contacts and authorised users;
access-control information and event logs where relevant to the service provided;
information you provide when requesting a quotation, contacting us or lodging a support request;
communications between you and Watchdog Alarms;
warranty and return information; and
information generated when you use our website or connected services.
Where relevant to a service you use, security systems may generate information such as alarm events, device status information, access events, system activity and video or images.
We do not collect more personal information than is reasonably necessary for our functions and activities.
3. Security and Monitoring Information
Because of the nature of our business, some of the information we handle may relate to the security of a home or business.
This may include information about:
the location and configuration of security equipment;
alarm zones and devices;
authorised users;
nominated emergency contacts;
alarm activations;
access events;
system status;
monitoring instructions; and
video or images where these form part of a service being provided.
We recognise that unauthorised disclosure of this type of information could create particular security risks and take this into account when handling and protecting it.
Watchdog Alarms does not necessarily receive or store all information generated by a customer's security system. The information available to us depends on the equipment, monitoring service, cloud platform and other services selected by the customer.
4. How We Collect Personal Information
We generally collect personal information directly from you when you:
purchase a product;
request a quotation;
arrange an installation or service call;
establish a monitoring or connected-security service;
contact us by telephone, email, online form or another method;
create or use an online account;
make a warranty or return request; or
otherwise deal with Watchdog Alarms.
We may also receive information from:
another person authorised to act on your behalf;
a property owner, tenant, employer or business that has engaged us;
monitoring centres;
manufacturers and security technology providers;
payment and ecommerce providers;
contractors or service providers involved in supplying services to you; and
publicly available sources where appropriate.
Where practicable, we will collect personal information directly from the individual concerned.
5. Information About Other People
You may sometimes provide us with personal information about another person, such as an emergency contact, employee, tenant, family member or other authorised system user.
Where you provide another person's personal information, you should only provide information that you are authorised to provide and that is reasonably necessary for the service being supplied.
6. Why We Collect and Use Personal Information
We may collect, hold and use personal information to:
provide products and services;
prepare quotations;
process and fulfil orders;
arrange delivery;
install, program, commission and service security systems;
provide alarm monitoring and related security services;
establish and administer connected security accounts;
provide technical support;
verify customers and authorised contacts;
respond to alarm events where applicable;
provide warranty, repair and return services;
communicate with customers;
process payments and maintain business records;
manage customer accounts;
improve our products, services and website;
prevent or investigate fraud, misuse or security incidents;
meet regulatory, licensing, accounting and legal obligations;
resolve complaints and disputes; and
provide information about Watchdog Alarms products and services where permitted.
We may also use information for another purpose where you have consented or where the use is otherwise permitted or required by law.
7. Disclosure of Personal Information
We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to provide our products and services.
Recipients may include:
alarm monitoring centres;
security technology and cloud-platform providers;
equipment manufacturers and distributors;
telecommunications and connectivity providers;
technicians, contractors and service providers;
payment processors and financial institutions;
website, ecommerce and hosting providers;
delivery and logistics providers;
professional advisers such as accountants, insurers and legal advisers; and
government agencies, emergency services, regulators or law-enforcement agencies where authorised or required by law.
We do not sell personal information to data brokers or other organisations for their own independent marketing purposes.
8. Alarm.com and Other Connected Services
Some security products supplied by Watchdog Alarms operate using third-party platforms, applications or cloud services, including services provided by Alarm.com.
If you choose to use a third-party connected service, information generated by your security system may also be collected, stored and processed by that service provider.
The provider's own privacy policy and terms may therefore apply to its handling of your information in addition to this Privacy Policy.
The information processed by connected-security services may include device information, alarm events, account information, video or images, automation activity, access information and other system data depending on the products and features you activate.
9. CCTV and Video Information
Where Watchdog Alarms installs, configures, services or supports a CCTV system, our personnel may need temporary access to live or recorded images to perform the work requested.
Where a cloud video service or monitored video service is used, video or images may also be processed by the relevant platform or service provider.
Watchdog Alarms will only access or use CCTV information where reasonably required to provide the requested service, with appropriate authority, or where otherwise permitted or required by law.
Customers remain responsible for operating their own CCTV systems in accordance with laws applicable to their premises and circumstances.
10. Payments
Payments may be processed using third-party payment providers.
Depending on the payment method used, the payment provider may collect information such as card or account details directly.
Watchdog Alarms may receive transaction information including the amount paid, payment status and transaction reference without necessarily receiving or storing your complete payment-card details.
Payment providers handle information in accordance with their own privacy policies and security requirements.
11. Website Information, Cookies and Analytics
When you visit our website, information may be collected automatically by us or our website providers.
This may include:
IP address;
browser and device information;
pages viewed;
referring website;
date and time of access;
interactions with our website; and
information collected through cookies or similar technologies.
We may use this information to operate and secure our website, understand how visitors use it and improve our services.
Our website may use essential, analytics, functionality and marketing technologies provided by us or third parties.
Where our website provides cookie controls, you can use those controls to manage non-essential cookies. You can also manage cookies through your browser settings, although disabling some technologies may affect website functionality.
12. Direct Marketing
Where permitted by law, we may use your contact details to tell you about Watchdog Alarms products, services, offers or information that may be relevant to you.
You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:
using the unsubscribe facility contained in an electronic marketing message; or
contacting Watchdog Alarms.
Opting out of marketing does not prevent us from sending communications that are necessary to provide a product or service you use, such as service, account, security or transaction-related communications.
13. Overseas Disclosure and Storage
Some technology and service providers used by Watchdog Alarms operate or store and process information outside Australia.
As a result, personal information may be disclosed to or processed by overseas recipients.
Countries may vary depending on the service being used. The United States is one country in which personal information may be processed or stored, including through website, cloud and technology service providers.
For example, our website platform may transfer data to countries in which it or its subprocessors operate, including the United States.
Where the Australian Privacy Principles apply to an overseas disclosure, Watchdog Alarms will take reasonable steps required by law in relation to that disclosure.
14. How We Protect Personal Information
Watchdog Alarms takes reasonable technical, physical and organisational measures to protect personal information from:
misuse;
interference;
loss;
unauthorised access;
unauthorised modification; and
unauthorised disclosure.
Security measures may include access controls, account-security measures, technology safeguards, staff procedures and the use of reputable service providers.
Because Watchdog Alarms operates in the security industry, we also seek to limit access to customer security information to people who require it for legitimate business purposes.
No electronic storage or transmission system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore regularly consider security risks and the measures appropriate to the information we hold.
15. Retention of Personal Information
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or another permitted purpose.
Different information may need to be retained for different periods because of:
ongoing customer services;
warranty and service requirements;
accounting and taxation obligations;
security or incident records;
contractual requirements;
dispute resolution; or
other legal or regulatory obligations.
When personal information is no longer required and we are not required by law to retain it, we will take reasonable steps to destroy it or de-identify it.
16. Data Breaches
Watchdog Alarms takes suspected privacy and data-security incidents seriously.
If we become aware of a data breach, we will take reasonable steps to contain and assess the incident and reduce any potential harm.
Where the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme applies and a breach is likely to result in serious harm, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required by law.
17. Access to Your Personal Information
You may request access to personal information that Watchdog Alarms holds about you.
To protect customer security and privacy, we may need to verify your identity before providing access.
There may be circumstances permitted by law in which access can be refused or limited, including where providing access would unreasonably affect another person's privacy or create another legal or security issue.
Where required, we will explain the reason for refusing an access request and the available complaint mechanisms.
18. Correcting Your Personal Information
If you believe personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, please contact us.
We will take reasonable steps to correct information where appropriate.
Because accurate contact and security information can be particularly important to alarm monitoring and emergency response, customers should tell us promptly if relevant information such as telephone numbers, addresses or nominated contacts changes.
19. Anonymity and Pseudonyms
Where practicable and where permitted by law, you may interact with Watchdog Alarms without identifying yourself or by using a pseudonym.
However, identification will often be necessary where we need to:
deliver products;
attend a property;
install or service security equipment;
establish a monitoring service;
administer a customer account;
process a payment; or
verify that a person is authorised to access security information or make changes to a security system.
20. Privacy Complaints
If you believe Watchdog Alarms has not handled your personal information appropriately, please contact us and ask for your matter to be referred to the Privacy Officer.
Please provide enough information for us to understand and investigate your concern.
We will investigate privacy complaints and seek to respond within a reasonable period.
Privacy Officer
Watchdog Alarms Pty Ltd
Matheson Road
Applecross WA 6153
Phone: 1300 123 400
You may also contact us through the contact form at watchdogalarms.com.au.
If your complaint is not resolved, or you have not received a response within a reasonable period, you may be entitled to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
21. Links and Third-Party Services
Our website and products may contain links to or integrate with third-party websites, applications and services.
Watchdog Alarms is not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. You should review the privacy policy of a third-party service before providing personal information to it.
22. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our information-handling practices, technology, products, services or legal obligations change.
The current version will be published on our website and will show the date it was last updated.
23. Contact Us
For privacy questions, requests for access or correction, or privacy complaints, contact:
Privacy Officer
Watchdog Alarms Pty Ltd
ABN 65 603 879 438
Matheson Road
Applecross WA 6153
Phone: 1300 123 400
Website: watchdogalarms.com.au