Identity Theft – Don’t be Fooled

MEDIA ALERT

1 April 2005

Identity Theft - Don’t be Fooled

April 1 Consumer Promotion

Wellington, April 1, 2005 - Baycorp Advantage announces the national launch of a service providing consumers with a copy of their credit file free of charge on April 1 2005. The promotion will involve two performers working the area between Lambton Quay and Courtenay place, taking in Midland Park, Civic Square and Cuba Street. The performers will be searching for their stolen identities. The theme of their search is “Don’t be fooled¡Kinto thinking your identity is safe”.

The performer’s search will take place between 11am and 2pm.

“In an era of unprecedented use of credit, Baycorp Advantage is responding to the increasing demands and protections for New Zealanders by providing an online service via www.mycreditfile.co.nz that allows consumers free access to a copy of their credit file” said Andrew Want, Baycorp Advantage Managing Director.

“There are strict preconditions to access that ensure the individual’s privacy is secured” Want added.

Baycorp Advantage encourages consumers to take an active role in the administration of their credit file to maintain their own credit worthiness.

Once a credit transaction is conducted, a credit file is raised at Baycorp Advantage. Under the provisions of the new Privacy Code, this credit file can only be used for:

- Determining credit worthiness, debt collection, pre-employment checks, and by prospective landlords, and prospective insurers. (Rule 11 type of subscriber); and

- Other grounds such as for conduct of court proceedings

- Baycorp Advantage is partnering with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in implementing this requirement by April 2006

The law currently provides that access to personal information held by Baycorp Advantage must be for reasons set out in Information Privacy Principle 11. (See attachment)

“We are determined to spread the message that Baycorp Advantage is there to protect the New Zealand consumer’s two greatest assets - their identity and their credit history. The best way to maintain the integrity of our important databases is for the consumer to play an active role in the maintenance of their credit file.” said Andrew Want.

Currently only 3500 consumers a year seek access to their credit file. Baycorp Advantage aims to increase that ten-fold.

- ENDS -

www.baycorpadvantage.com

An agency that holds personal information shall not disclose the information to a person or body or agency unless the agency believes, on reasonable grounds,¡X

(a) That the disclosure of the information is one of the purposes in connection with which the information was obtained or is directly related to the purposes in connection with which the information was obtained; or

(b) That the source of the information is a publicly available publication; or

(c) That the disclosure is to the individual concerned; or

(d) That the disclosure is authorised by the individual concerned; or

(e) That non-compliance is necessary¡X

(i) To avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law by any public sector agency, including the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of offences; or

(ii) For the enforcement of a law imposing a pecuniary penalty; or

(iii) For the protection of the public revenue; or

(iv) For the conduct of proceedings before any court or [tribunal] (being proceedings that have been commenced or are reasonably in contemplation); or

(f) That the disclosure of the information is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to

(i) Public health or public safety; or

(ii) The life or health of the individual concerned or another individual; or

(g) That the disclosure of the information is necessary to facilitate the sale or other disposition of a business as a going concern; or

(h) That the information

(i) Is to be used in a form in which the individual concerned is not identified; or

(ii) Is to be used for statistical or research purposes and will not be published in a form that could reasonably be expected to identify the individual concerned; or

(i) That the disclosure of the information is in accordance with an authority granted under section 54 of this Act.

ENDS

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