Privacy Policy

Personal Information We May Collect

The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with Metro Containers and the services you request.

Information may include:

• Your name and contact details
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Billing and delivery address
• Order and transaction information
• Products you purchase or enquire about
• Quote requests and customer enquiries
• Delivery instructions
• Business or company information where relevant
• Correspondence with our customer service or sales team
• Website usage and technical information
• IP address, browser type and device information
• Cookie and similar technology information

How We Collect Information

We generally collect personal information directly from you when you interact with Metro Containers.

This may occur when you:

• Create or use a customer account
• Place an order through our WooCommerce store
• Proceed through the checkout process
• Request a quote
• Complete a contact form
• Send us an email
• Contact our sales or customer service team
• Subscribe to communications where offered
• Browse or interact with our website

We may also receive information from service providers involved in processing transactions, website operations, delivery, fraud prevention or other services connected with your interaction with us.

Why We Collect and Use Personal Information

We collect and use personal information where reasonably necessary for our business activities and where permitted by law.

These purposes may include:

• Processing and fulfilling customer orders
• Managing WooCommerce checkout transactions
• Providing quotes requested by customers
• Arranging shipping and delivery
• Confirming purchases and communicating order updates
• Responding to enquiries and support requests
• Managing returns, refunds and disputes
• Maintaining customer and transaction records
• Preventing fraud, misuse and security incidents
• Improving our website and customer experience
• Meeting accounting, taxation and legal obligations
• Establishing, exercising or defending legal rights

WooCommerce and Online Orders

Metro Containers operates an online store using WooCommerce. When you place an order, information required to process the transaction may be collected through the checkout process.

This can include your name, contact details, billing information, delivery information, products ordered, order value and transaction status.

Payment methods available to you are displayed at checkout. Payment information may be processed by the payment service provider associated with the payment method you select.

You should also review the privacy terms of any payment provider whose service you choose to use.

Payment Information

We collect only information reasonably required to process and administer your order.

Where payment is handled through an external payment provider, payment details are transmitted to or processed by that provider according to its own systems and privacy practices.

Metro Containers does not sell customer payment information or contact information.

Customers should only enter payment information through the payment options presented through our authorised checkout process.

Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to provide our products and services or where authorised or required by law.

Recipients may include:

• Payment processors and financial service providers
• Shipping, freight and delivery providers
• Website hosting and technology service providers
• Professional advisers such as accountants or legal advisers
• IT, security and fraud-prevention providers
• Government agencies, regulators or law-enforcement bodies where required by law
• Other contractors who assist us in operating our business

We do not sell customer contact details to third parties.

Overseas Disclosure and Processing

Some technology, hosting, payment, analytics or other service providers used in connection with our website may store or process information outside Australia.

The location of overseas processing may vary depending on the service provider in use at the relevant time.

Where Australian privacy law requires us to take steps regarding an overseas disclosure of personal information, we will take reasonable steps appropriate to the circumstances.

Where practicable, further information about relevant overseas processing can be requested by contacting us.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate essential website functions and improve the customer experience.

These technologies may be used to:

• Maintain your shopping cart
• Remember website preferences
• Support account and checkout functions
• Help maintain website security
• Understand how visitors use the website
• Measure website performance
• Support advertising or marketing where lawfully implemented

You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect shopping cart, account or checkout functionality.

Marketing Communications

Where permitted by law, we may send marketing communications to individuals who have requested them, consented to receive them, or where another lawful basis exists.

Commercial electronic messages will provide an appropriate way to unsubscribe where required.

You may ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time. Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent us from sending communications necessary to administer an existing order, transaction or customer service request.

Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information against misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

Measures may include:

• Secure website connections
• Access controls
• Administrative safeguards
• Account and password protections
• Website and system maintenance
• Use of appropriate third-party service providers

No internet transmission or information-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Customers should also protect their own account credentials and contact us if they suspect unauthorised activity.

Data Breaches

We maintain processes for responding to suspected or confirmed privacy and security incidents.

Where the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme under the Privacy Act applies and an eligible data breach occurs, we will assess the incident and make notifications to affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner where required by law.

Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, to administer customer transactions, and to satisfy legitimate business and legal requirements.

Retention periods may depend on factors including accounting, taxation, record-keeping, warranty, dispute-resolution and legal obligations.

When personal information is no longer required and we are not legally required to retain it, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it where applicable.

Access to Your Personal Information

Subject to applicable law, you may request access to personal information that we hold about you.

We may need to verify your identity before providing access in order to protect personal information from unauthorised disclosure.

In circumstances where access may lawfully be refused, we will handle the request consistently with applicable legal requirements.

Correction of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to keep personal information accurate, complete, relevant and up to date where required.

If you believe personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, you may contact us to request correction.

Children's Personal Information

Our products and online store are intended for customers capable of entering into purchasing transactions.

We do not intentionally design our website for the collection of personal information from children for independent commercial purchasing purposes.

Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.

Those third parties are responsible for their own privacy practices. We encourage customers to review the privacy information provided by third-party websites or services before supplying personal information to them.