Data Protection Act 1998

USE OF YOUR INFORMATION

What we will do when you apply:

In considering your applications we will search your record at credit reference and fraud prevention agencies, along with the record of your business. Information held about you by the credit reference agencies may already be linked to others with whom you have a joint account or similar financial association. All parties’ information may be taken into account when considering your applications.

If you provide us with false or inaccurate information and we identify fraud, we will record this with fraud prevention agencies. Law enforcement agencies may access and use this information.

We will use a scoring or other automated decision-making system to assess your applications and to verify your identity.

What we will also do if you have an agreement with us:

We will add to your record with the credit reference agencies details of your agreements with us, the payments you make under them, any default or failure to keep to their terms and any change of name and/or address.

Agreement information provided to credit reference agencies remains on file for 6 years after the agreement is closed, whether settled by you or upon default.

What the credit reference agencies will do:

Whether or not your applications proceed, the credit reference agency will place a record of our search on your credit file. This record (but not our name) will be seen by other organizations when you apply for credit in the future. A large number of applications within a short period of time could affect your ability to obtain credit.

Whether or not your applications proceed, the agencies will link your records and those of your financial associate(s), including any previous and/or subsequent names. These links will remain on your and their files until you or they tell the agency you are no longer financially linked and the agency accepts this.

The agencies may supply us with credit information, such as previous applications, the conduct of accounts in your and your financial associate’s name, any business accounts you have, fraud prevention information and public information such as County Court Judgments, bankruptcies and the Electoral Register.

How we and others use agency information:

Some information held by the credit reference and fraud prevention agencies will be disclosed to us and other organizations to, for example:

• prevent fraud and money laundering, for example by checking details on applications for credit and credit-related or other facilities, proposals and claims for all types of insurance and job applications and employee records;
• recover debts that you owe and trace your whereabouts;
• manage credit accounts and other facilities;
• verify your identity;
• make decisions on credit, insurance and other facilities, about you, your financial associate(s), members of your household or your business;
• carry out statistical analysis to help with decisions about credit and account management; and
• check details of job applicants and employees.

For these purposes we or they may make further searches. Although these searches will be added to your record, they will not be shared with others.

We and other organizations may access and use from other countries the information recorded by fraud prevention agencies.

Please telephone us on FREEPHONE '0800 CREDIT' (273348) if you want to have details of those credit reference and fraud prevention agencies from which we obtain and to which we pass, information about you. You have a legal right to these details. You have a right to receive a copy of the information we hold about you if you apply to us in writing. A fee will be payable.

We may also use agency information to:

• apply for credit protection insurance on your behalf;
• meet any disclosure requirements under the law;
• meet our internal Group processing, disclosure and audit requirements; and
• facilitate any relevant payment system.

We may also:

• record telephone conversations for security or training purposes. If we do we will advise you at the time;
• send you information about products of ours and those of others which we consider relevant and appropriate and may be of interest to you;
• pass your details to other Group companies and/or selected other businesses to send you information about their products.

You have a right at any time to stop us from direct marketing you by mail, fax, telephone, or e-mail, or giving your details to others for the purpose of direct marketing.

You should write to our marketing department at JCB Finance Ltd, The Mill, High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire, ST14 5JW if you wish us to stop using any or all of the above means of contacting you or passing your information to other businesses, for direct marketing purposes.

We will keep your personal information protected and retain it only for as long as the law requires or permits.