Privacy Policy

The Community Basket

ABN: 18 790 859 147

1. Introduction

The Community Basket (ABN: 18 790 859 147) operates a website at thecommunitybasket.com.au that sells fresh fruit, vegetables, and other food items to customers in Australia. We are committed to protecting your personal information and complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and your rights in relation to that information. By using our website or purchasing from us, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Please note that our website is used to browse and discover our products, while orders, accounts, invoicing, and payment processing are managed through a third-party ordering and fulfilment platform. When you place an order, you will interact with that platform, which operates on our behalf. Payments are processed securely by a third-party payment gateway. This policy covers how personal information is collected and handled across all parts of our business.

2. What Personal Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

When you place an order, create an account, or contact us, we may collect:

Name and contact details (email address, phone number, delivery address)
Payment information (processed securely via our payment provider; we do not store card details)
Order history and preferences
Communications you send us (e.g. enquiries, feedback)
Account login credentials if you create an account

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:

IP address and browser type
Pages visited and time spent on our website
Referring websites and search terms
Device information

This information is collected via cookies and similar technologies. See Section 7 for more detail.

2.3 Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods:

Card payments: processed securely through our third-party payment gateway. We do not store your card details.
Bank transfer: payment made directly to our nominated bank account. Bank details will be provided on your invoice.
Cash: accepted for eligible orders. Please contact us to arrange.

3. How We Use Your Personal Information

We use your personal information to:

Process and fulfil your orders, including arranging delivery
Generate and issue invoices for your purchases
Communicate with you about your orders and enquiries
Send you promotional emails or special offers (only with your consent; you may opt out at any time)
Improve our website, products, and customer experience
Comply with legal obligations
Prevent fraud and ensure the security of our systems

We will only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, or a related purpose you would reasonably expect.

4. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may share your personal information with:

Third-party ordering and fulfilment platform providers, who manage orders, customer accounts, and invoicing on our behalf
Payment gateway providers, who securely process card transactions
Delivery and logistics providers, to fulfil your orders
Website hosting and IT service providers, who assist us in operating our website
Marketing platforms, where you have consented to receiving communications
Government agencies or law enforcement, if required by law

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Where we share information with third-party service providers, we take reasonable steps to ensure they handle your information in accordance with the APPs.

5. Overseas Disclosure

Some of our service providers may store or process personal information outside Australia, for example through cloud hosting or email platforms. Where we disclose personal information to overseas recipients, we take reasonable steps to ensure those recipients handle your information in a manner consistent with the APPs.

By providing us with your personal information, you consent to it being transferred overseas in these circumstances.

6. Storage and Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include:

Secure SSL encryption on our website
Use of reputable, security-focused third-party platforms for ordering and payment processing
Payment processing through a PCI DSS compliant payment gateway
Restricted access to personal information by our staff

No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes set out in this policy, or as required by law, after which it is securely destroyed or de-identified.

6.1 Payment Security

Card payments are processed through a PCI DSS Level 1 compliant payment gateway. We do not store your full card number, CVV, or other sensitive payment details on our systems. For bank transfers, payment is made directly to our nominated bank account. For cash payments, no digital payment information is collected.

6.2 Virus Responsibility

While we take all reasonable care to ensure our website is free from viruses and malicious code, it remains your responsibility to scan any data downloaded from our website for viruses before use.

6.3 Account Security

If you create an account to place orders, your login credentials are intended to be kept private. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your username and password. Please sign out once you have finished your session, particularly on shared or public devices. If you forget your login details, please contact us and we will assist you.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use cookies to:

Remember your preferences
Analyse website traffic and usage
Deliver relevant advertising (if applicable)

You can disable cookies through your browser settings; however, some features of our website or ordering system may not function correctly if you do so.

8. Your Rights: Accessing and Correcting Your Information

Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), you have the right to:

Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of any inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete information

To make such a request, please contact us using the details in Section 12. We will respond within a reasonable time (generally within 30 days). We may need to verify your identity before granting access.

In some circumstances, we may decline a request for access or correction as permitted by the APPs. If we do so, we will provide written reasons.

9. Account Verification and Fraud Prevention

To protect our customers and our business, we may verify information provided to us. This can include:

Comparing names on customer accounts with payment information
Using phone numbers and email addresses to communicate about payments or suspicious activity
Checking delivery addresses against billing information

Where fraud or other criminal activity is suspected, we may communicate with police, banks, or other relevant authorities.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under the age of 18. If a child wishes to make a purchase or provide information through our website, it is important that they have the consent of a parent or guardian. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent.

11. Privacy Complaints

If you believe we have handled your personal information in a way that is inconsistent with the APPs, please contact us first. We take all complaints seriously and will respond within 30 days.

If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

Website: www.oaic.gov.au
Phone: 1300 363 992
Post: GPO Box 5288, Sydney NSW 2001

12. Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Business Name :The Community Basket

Address: 2/59 Kingswood Road, Engadine NSW 2233

Email: hello@thecommunitybasket.com.au

Website: thecommunitybasket.com.au

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on our website at thecommunitybasket.com.au with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.