Privacy

As a leading intermediary in the insurance sector, Pottruff & Smith’s collection, use and disclosure of personal information is fundamental to the services we provide and the insurance products we place.

Our privacy policy is a statement of the general principles we, at the Pottruff & Smith Group of Companies, apply to the handling of personal information. We want our clients, potential clients, employees, representatives and business partners to be aware of how and why we handle personal information. 

This policy applies to those Pottruff & Smith Companies (“Pottruff & Smith” “we” “us” “our”), which are listed in the section of this policy called “The Pottruff & Smith Companies to which this Privacy Policy Applies”.

We obtain consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information.

Sometimes we collect, use, and disclose personal information because it’s necessary in order to serve our customers.  For example, automobile insurance can only be arranged on behalf of an individual if we are provided with their driver’s license number. 

When the purpose of additional collection or disclosure of information is not readily obvious, we provide notice of the insurance purpose for which we collect and disclose personal information at or before the time we collect the information.  Subject to contractual and legal restrictions, a customer is always free to revoke their consent to such collection and disclosure of personal information; we will then be unable to arrange for or administer insurance products or services on that individual’s behalf. 

Typically personal information is collected by us and used for insurance purposes such as, obtaining a quote, processing applications for insurance coverage, servicing any issued policy, processing claims, and assessing the insurance needs of our customers and potential customers.  We disclose the information provided to us to the insurer with whom the policy is placed but only to the extent it is required to obtain the requested insurance product or related services.  Sometimes the insurance company will need additional information for an application, a policy, or a claim.  With your permission, we will provide this.

Lastly, if we plan to collect, use or disclose personal information for other than the requested insurance purposes, we state such additional purpose at or before the time the information is collected and allow individuals to decline or revoke their consent.  For example, from time to time we offer our customers or other individual’s coverage upgrades and additional products and services, which we think may be appropriate or necessary to them.  Individuals may decline receiving such offers by contacting our Privacy Officer at the address set out in the section entitled “Contacting our Privacy Officer”.   We will service only those products and services we have placed for that individual.

We maintain procedures to ensure that the information we collect and use is accurate, up-to-date, and as complete as possible.  However, we rely on our customers to disclose all material information to us and to inform us of any changes.  

We treat the personal information of our customers as confidential and we do not disclose that personal information except as required in accordance with the appropriate authorization of the individual to whom the information relates, in accordance with this privacy policy and the law.  We apply appropriate safeguards to our computer networks and physical files and we restrict access to personal information to those Pottruff & Smith employees who need to know that information in the performance of their job duties.

Companies within the Pottruff & Smith Group of Companies sometimes perform administrative or marketing services on each other’s behalf.  Such administrative services could include systems infrastructure or audit services.  Marketing services could include the referral of a customer from Pottruff & Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. to Pottruff & Smith Travel Insurance Brokers Inc. or vice versa. 

An individual can decline or revoke their consent to the disclosure of their personal information for marketing purposes in the above context.  They may do this by contacting us in writing at the address provided below in the section called “Contacting our Privacy Officer”. 

We do not sell our customer lists or other personal information.

We retain personal information for only as long as is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected and to meet our legal and contractual obligations.  If personal information is no longer required, it will be destroyed or rendered anonymous.

People have a right to request access to the personal information we have about them.  They also have a right to request to correct any inaccurate information. They may do this by contacting us in writing at the address provided below in the section called “Contacting our Privacy Officer”. 

There are some exceptions established by law to the right to request access.  For example, if allowing a request to access would reveal personal information about someone else and the information cannot be separated, we will be unable to provide access.

The Privacy Officer
The Pottruff & Smith Group of Companies

Toll Free:  1-888-768-8001 ext. 444

Should you have:

• Questions about our personal information practices
• A request to access or correct your personal information
• Should you wish to decline or revoke your consent to the use, collection or disclosure of your personal information for marketing purposes.

Include your name, address and, if applicable, your policy number.

Pottruff & Smith Insurance Brokers Inc.
Pottruff & Smith Travel Insurance Brokers Inc.
Pottruff & Smith Investments Inc.