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I asked a company that purported to be operating out of Perth called CV Check about which legislation applied them. This was their response:

CVCheck will only obtain information from an international source if you order an International Check.

On return of your result we handle all information consistently with our privacy policy available at https://cvcheck.com/privacy-policy; and deploy numerous security measures to keep your information safe. For further information in relation to how we handle information, please visit cvcheck.com. For further information on your rights and our responsibilities in relation to your privacy, you may care to look at the following website: https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-law/privacy-act/

Does the above say that the Privacy Act applies them and if so why are they charging me to access information held on me? Isn't there supposed to be a free/at cost way of obtaining this information under that act (I cannot connect to austlli as I use tor at the client).

Furthermore, what does their response mean if the client requests this? If I ask this for me, and it is available then this should be given me, should it not?

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If they turn over more than $3 million; yes.

As they are not a government agency, they are allowed to charge for access to your details. National Privacy Principle 12:

12.8 If:

(a) the APP entity is an organisation; and

(b) the entity charges the individual for giving access to the personal information; the charge must not be excessive and must not apply to the making of the request.

With respect to the request, they must allow you access that they have. They don’t have to go and get it for you - that appears to be the service you engage them to provide.

Presumably, if they have conducted a search on you in the past and still have the data, then they would have a lot of information about you that you are able to access for a nominal fee. If they have never heard of you, they would have very little but could, if you paid them, go and get more.

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  • But 38.50 is excessive. Credit reporting agencies charge the 2-5 dollar range worldwide. They also do not provide a sample of what you are to expect to receive. It looks more like a scam to me, as I don't know of any employers that report to this agency.
    – user15481
    Commented Feb 6, 2018 at 19:32
  • If you want to complain tell the ACCC - they can do something, we can’t
    – Dale M ♦
    Commented Feb 6, 2018 at 21:45
  • Does the ACCC look after the privacy act as well or is it the OAIC? What are employers using to identiy individuals that are permanently employed, tax file numbers? God forbid that sends up in some Indian data center.
    – user15481
    Commented Feb 6, 2018 at 23:15
  • Right, my bad, the OAIC it is.
    – Dale M ♦
    Commented Feb 6, 2018 at 23:20

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