1. Who We Are
Smart Phone Deals ("we," "us," or "our") is an independent third-party telecommunications comparison and referral service operating in Australia. We help Australian residents compare mobile phone plans, NBN home internet, and TV & entertainment bundles from leading Australian providers. We are not a telecommunications carrier and are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any provider.
We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at privacy@smartphonedeals.com.au or call 1800 945 107.
2. How the Privacy Act Applies to Us
We only collect, use, and disclose personal information in ways that are consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles, including:
- Collection (APP 3): We collect only the personal information reasonably necessary to provide our comparison and referral service.
- Use and disclosure (APP 6): We use your information for the purpose you provided it, or a related purpose you would reasonably expect.
- Direct marketing (APP 7): We only send marketing communications where permitted, and always give you a way to opt out.
- Data quality and security (APP 10 & 11): We take reasonable steps to keep your information accurate and protected.
3. Information We Collect
We may collect the following personal information when you interact with our website or call us:
- Contact information: Name, phone number, email address
- Location information: State/territory or address (to check plans and connection availability in your area)
- Service preferences: Your current provider, desired services, and budget
- Call recordings: Calls may be recorded for quality assurance and compliance. You will be informed before recording begins.
- Website usage data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time on site (via cookies and Google Analytics)
- Advertising data: Click and call conversion data measured via Google Analytics and Google Ads
4. How We Use Your Information
- Match you with suitable mobile, internet, or TV plans available at your address
- Refer you to a partner provider if you choose to proceed
- Improve our comparison service and customer experience
- Meet our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 and other applicable law
- Send follow-up communications you have requested or consented to
- Measure and improve our advertising via anonymised analytics data
5. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with:
- Your chosen provider: If you wish to proceed with a plan, we refer you to the relevant provider, who will collect their own information directly under their own privacy policy
- Google: Anonymised analytics and ad-conversion data via Google Analytics 4 and Google Ads. See Google's Privacy Policy
- Regulators and authorities: Where required by law, court order, or a regulator such as the ACMA, the ACCC, or the OAIC
6. Cookies, Analytics & Marketing
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to help it work and to measure performance. We use Google Analytics 4 to collect anonymised data about site usage. You can opt out using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, and manage ad personalisation via Google Ad Settings.
Any commercial electronic messages we send comply with the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) and always include an unsubscribe option. Marketing phone calls are made in accordance with the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 — you can register your number for free at donotcall.gov.au.
7. Your Rights Under the Privacy Act
Under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles, you can:
- Access your information (APP 12): Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correct your information (APP 13): Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, out of date, or incomplete
- Opt out of direct marketing (APP 7): Ask us to stop sending you marketing communications
- Request deletion: Ask us to delete personal information we no longer need to hold
- Make a complaint: Complain to us, and if unresolved, to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
To exercise any of these, contact us at privacy@smartphonedeals.com.au. We will respond to access requests within 30 days, as required by APP 12.
8. Data Retention
We keep personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law, after which we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it (APP 11.2). Call recordings are retained for up to 6 months. Website analytics data is retained per Google Analytics' standard settings (default 14 months). Contact form submissions are retained for up to 2 years.
9. Overseas Disclosure of Information (APP 8)
Your information is handled primarily within Australia. Some service providers we use (for example, Google) may store or process data on servers located overseas, including in the United States. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information is handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.
10. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure (APP 11). However, no internet transmission is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted to our website.
11. Children's Privacy
Our service is intended for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law or our practices. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our service after changes are posted constitutes your acknowledgement of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us & Complaints
For any privacy-related question, or to make a privacy complaint, please contact us:
- Email: privacy@smartphonedeals.com.au
- Phone: 1800 945 107
- Website: smartphonedeals.com.au
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.