General

Nothing is more sacred than an individual's personal security and the trust that they place in another when they reveal personal information to us. We at Quality Underwriting Services (QUS) recognize the significance of that trust and the obligation that we bear when our clients and customers share with us the privileged information that they place in trust with us.

In order for us to complete the services that we render to our clients, we must receive detailed information regarding the clients that we serve. Without this exchange of information, it would not be possible to enable applicants, for insurance and other financial services, to complete the necessary processes required in the underwriting and claims procedures. While necessary, it is nevertheless our duty to safeguard this information at all times.

We take this responsibility very seriously.

For this reason, we have developed stringent security protocols and methodologies to ensure that information is neither shared without authorization nor retained beyond the necessary timeframe to complete our appointed tasks.

QUS values our clients and respects the importance of their privacy. We recognize the significance of safeguarding the information that is provided to us as we communicate with each other in order to complete the many services that we provide to our customers. For this reason we maintain the highest level of security to protect the personal information that we receive. Our Privacy Policy has been established to advise all users of our Site of our commitment to the privacy and confidentiality of all information that we obtain and to ensure this is done responsibly.

While privacy legislation is fairly recent, QUS has long been committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information of any identifiable individual.

We complete services for our customers in many different jurisdictions and regions of Canada. As a result, different privacy acts and regulations govern us. We ensure that we are compliant with the various acts. These include but are not limited to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and various Provincial Privacy Laws, as well as Provincial Consumer Reporting Acts.

Our Privacy Policy

This statement discloses the privacy practices for QUS and its website. We have designed the website to ensure that personal identifying information is not accessible to the general public. This is a secure website using industry standard SSL encryption and is user ID and password protected. In addition, specific areas of the Website have added security features.

QUS has a long-standing history of commitment to confidentiality and to protecting the privacy of its customers. This tradition of trust and absolute privacy continues today.

• We ask for the minimum of information we need to serve you and your clients.
• We conform to Federal and Provincial Privacy legislation and to Confidentiality and Privacy Guidelines as set out by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.
• Personal information that has been obtained by us is used solely for the purpose as outlined in an informed consent given at the time of application for insurance.
• We do not release personal information to anyone except with consent or where we are required to do so by law.
• We do not disclose personal information or the knowledge of its existence and use to any other Third Party.
• Personal information that has been processed is stored in secure and confidential databases with strict access control and is retained for the period of time necessary to fulfill the purpose of the information.
• Every reasonable attempt is used to ensure that personal information is accurate and complete.

This organization abides by the Ten Privacy Principles based upon the federal government's privacy legislation - the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

1. Accountability - QUS is responsible for personal information under our control. The Chief Privacy Officer of QUS is accountable for the company's policy and practice with respect to the management of personal information and is responsible for ongoing compliance with the Privacy Principles and the Act.
2. Identifying purpose - The purpose for which personal information is being collected will be identified by your insurance agent or broker. The purpose is outlined in a consent (or authorization) signed by you at the time of your application for life insurance, disability insurance or similar coverage.
3. Consent - QUS will not collect, use or disclose personal information without your consent. It is generally accepted practice for the insurance company to obtain this consent prior to any service being ordered. Your consent may be expressed in writing although it may also be given verbally, electronically or through your agent or broker.
4. Limiting Collection - We will collect information only by fair and lawful means; that information limited to the purpose as identified in your consent. In general terms this information will be (but is not limited to) personal, medical or financial information necessary to fairly and impartially assess and underwrite the "risk" by the insurance company.
5. Limiting use, disclosure and retention - The personal information we obtain about you may be used or disclosed solely for the purposes for which it was collected and solely to that insurance company that you have permitted; or, for other purposes to which you consent, except in accordance with exceptions as specified in PIPEDA. A copy of any personal information may be retained as long as is necessary to satisfy the purpose for which it was obtained.
6. Accuracy - We endeavour to ensure that any personal information collected, used, or disclosed by us will be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary for the purpose for which it is to be used.
7. Safeguards - QUS will protect personal information with security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. Any employee, contractor or representative acting for or on behalf of the company is required to comply with this Privacy Policy. No employee, contractor or representative of the company will have access to your personal information except as necessary to fulfill his or her responsibilities or functions and only on a "need-to-know" basis.
8. Openness - Information about our Privacy Policy and Practices shall be made available to you upon request.
9. Access - Upon written request you have the right to be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of any personal information we may have on you. You also have the right to have access to any information we may have, subject to certain exceptions as specified in PIPEDA. You may verify completeness and accuracy of any such information and request that it be amended if appropriate.
10. Inquiries, complaints and resolution - You may contact us if you have any questions, complaint or concern about our privacy policies and procedures.

Information Collected

When you visit our website, QUS collects certain technical information from your computer's web browser. This information includes the amount of time spent on the site by a visitor with a unique Internet identifier, the pages visited, the operating system and web browser used and the referring IP address. These server logs do not contain any personal information and can only by accessed by QUS. Such server log files are used to track visits to our Website and improve the content, layout and functionality of our site. We also collect user registration and maintain this information for purposes of order accuracy as well as security purposes.

We do not sell or distribute user information to any other person, organization or entity.

The information you provide to us relating to specific applicants upon who service is required is fully secure. We do not sell, distribute or allow others access to this information.

This is a secure website, using industry standard SSL encryption, which supports Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers. Certain minimum requirements for your web browser to use this website may exist.

During the course of services ordered by and/or for the insurance company, specific information of a personal, medical or financial nature may be submitted to the insurance company in order to appropriately underwrite the "risk". Informed consent must be obtained when an application for life insurance, disability insurance or similar coverage has been made. The personal information is submitted only to that company to which the identifiable individual applied for life insurance, disability insurance or similar coverage. QUS will not release information to any other individual, organization or entity without first receiving consent (express or implied) from the identifiable individual.

Any specific details on underwriting, risk analysis, company-specific requirements, etc., should be obtained through a licensed agent or broker.

Security

At QUS, we use technology and maintain security standards to ensure that your personal information is protected against unauthorized access, disclosure, inappropriate alteration or misuse. All safety and security measures are also appropriate to the sensitivity level of your information.

QUS further protects personal information by restricting access to it to those employees that the management of QUS has determined need to know that information in order that QUS may provide its services.

Client Files
Electronic client files are kept in a secured environment with restricted access. Paper-based files are stored in locked fire-resistant filing cabinets or filing rooms equipped with sprinkler systems. Access to these areas is also highly restricted.

Electronic Security
We manage our server environment appropriately and our firewall infrastructure is strictly adhered to. Our security practices are reviewed on a regular basis and we routinely employ current technologies to ensure that the confidentiality and privacy of your information is not compromised.

Our computer security specialists build security into all our computer systems. For information stored in electronic format, this protects your information at all times, when it is stored in data files or handled by our employees. Our systems also protect your information if and when it is transmitted, for example, between our offices.

Our web sites or web applications where personal information is collected or stored use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and 128 bit encryption technologies to enhance security when you visit the secured areas of these sites. SSL is the industry standard tool for protecting and maintaining the security of message transmissions over the Internet. When we access or send information from secured sites, encryption will scramble your data into an unreadable format to inhibit unauthorized access by others.

To safeguard against unauthorized access to your accounts, you are required to “sign-on” using an encrypted password to certain secured areas of our web sites (where applicable). If you are unable to provide the correct password, you will not be able to access these sections.

Your password information is encrypted which is presently the most effective way to secure electronic data.

Cookies are pieces of information generated by a Web server and stored in the user's computer, ready for future access. Cookies are embedded in the HTML information flowing back and forth between the user's computer and the servers. Cookies enable your computer to access our site more easily upon subsequent visits.

Anyone can browse our website with their cookies turned off; however, if you wish to become a registered user of QUEST, our Internet Enabled Ordering and tracking system, you must accept cookies. A cookie variable is assigned to you when you log in and placed upon your computer for programming purposes. This is a temporary or session cookie that uniquely identifies you as you move from page to page on QUEST. It ensures that you are properly logged in.

As do many organizations, QUS attempts to strike a reasonable balance between security and convenience. In communicating with clients and others, QUS often requests the right to use a method of communication that is less secure than some of its less convenient alternatives. An example of this is e-mail. At this time, when we use e-mail, it may be sent as unencrypted plain text. We do this because QUS believes that many of our clients and others cannot readily process encrypted e-mail. This is done for their convenience but has the security concern that, if misrouted or intercepted, it could be read more easily than encrypted e-mail. At the present time, we do not send health information by e-mail.

Copyright

This site has been developed by and is the property of Quality Underwriting Services Ltd. Copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws of Canada and other countries protect any and all information and materials contained on this site. Subject to the limited license to use this site as described above, no person may copy, redistribute, reproduce or republish in any form, or link to this site or its contents in any manner whatsoever, including by way of hyperlinks or framing, unless that person has obtained the prior written consent of QUS. Any form of infringement of any kind of the rights of QUS may result in appropriate legal action.

Trademarks

Certain trademarks, trade names, designs, graphics, text pictures and logos on this site are the sole and exclusive property of QUS. No material contained in this site may be reproduced, in any form, printed, or re-transmitted or republished, posted or distributed or transmitted in any manner whatsoever, except as expressly provided by QUS. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing contained in this site shall be construed as conferring any license, software or right under copyright or other intellectual property rights.

Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

All information, material and instructions contained in this web site is provided on an "as is, where is" basis. QUS makes no representations or warranties, either express or implied, as to the fitness or accuracy of any information or material contained herein. By accessing and using or attempting to use this site, the user acknowledges that QUS makes no warranties representation or other guarantees regarding the content of this site with respect to accuracy or completeness, suitability, reliability or any other warranty, guarantee or representation of any kind with respect to this site and the material contained therein. The user acknowledges that QUS makes no warranties, guarantees or representations to the validity, accuracy or completeness to any information contained in any site linked to this site. The user further irrevocably waives any claim against QUS with respect to such sites.

Privacy Policy Changes

If we decide to change our Privacy Policy we will post the changes on our website so that you may be updated as to what information we collect, store and how it may be used and whether such information may be disclosed to any third parties.

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions or comments on our privacy policy, please contact us at support@qus.ca. You may also contact us in writing at:

Quality Underwriting Services Ltd.
Chief Privacy Officer
105-111 Granton Dr.
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 1L5

Governing Laws and Jurisdiction

QUS controls this website from its offices located within the Province of Ontario, Canada. The website can be accessed from all provinces and territories of Canada, as well as from other countries around the world. As each of these jurisdictions have laws that may differ from those of the Province of Ontario, by accessing this website, the user agrees that all matters relating to access to, or use of, the website, shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. The user also agrees and hereby submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the Province of Ontario and acknowledges that the user does so voluntarily and is responsible for complying with local laws.

The user is reminded that personal information on any identifiable individual is confidential and may be used only with the permission of that identifiable individual as dictated by Canada's Federal Privacy Act or Provincial Privacy Acts, as appropriate.