Privacy Policy
Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch (“Zurich”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal information we collect in the course of providing products and services to our customers.
We value the trust of our customers and others with whom we do business. This Privacy Policy and Online Privacy Statement apply to Zurichcanada.com (the “Site”) and other online and mobile services and applications that link to or post this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Online Services”), or through other means in the course of our business relationship with you. The Privacy Policy and Online Privacy Statement define our commitment to carefully managing and protecting your personal information.
Personal information may be collected from such sources as our affiliates, independent insurance brokers, other financial institutions, credit bureaus, government departments, claims organizations, a policyholder, a customer, a customer's employee, a claimant, a claimant's employer or a claimant's employee. We may collect personal information from persons who witnessed incidents, or persons retained by a claimant or by us in the process of administering or servicing a policy or handling a claim. Such people might include physicians, lawyers, accountants, repair shops, consumer reporting agencies and appraisers as permitted or required by law.
We may also collect personal information when you use our corporate website, as outlined in our Online Privacy Statement. All personal information collected, whether through our website or otherwise, is governed by this Privacy Policy. For more information on how this Privacy Policy applies to our website, please read our Online Privacy Statement and Terms of Use.
Prior to collecting your personal information, we will state the purpose of our request and obtain your consent as required by applicable law. We may collect, use, and disclose personal information (and that of any other individuals(s) whose personal information is collected as part of your application) for the purpose of underwriting, administering and/or servicing an insurance policy, handling a claim or providing requested services. Additional purposes for which we need your personal information may include, but are not limited to:
- To process your application for insurance (e.g., to verify your identity and confirm the information you provided in your application);
- to communicate with you about your insurance policy;
- to evaluate which insurance products and related services meet your needs;
- to investigate and adjust your claims;
- to respond to complaints;
- to prevent, detect, and/or investigate crime or fraud;
- to comply with laws, directives and recommendations imposed by authorities, as well as Zurich Canada internal policies;
- to conduct data analytics;
- to reinsure risks as required;
- to establish and collect premiums in relation to our products and services; and
- as may be required or authorized by law.
We may use artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to assist with certain analytics and inform decision-making involving our Online Services and products in accordance with applicable laws. Where necessary, we obtain your prior consent for this use.
Zurich Canada-affiliated and non-affiliated third parties that may receive or have access to the personal information in our care are not authorized to use such information for any marketing purposes except as permitted by law. They may not copy or disclose personal information to any other party and may use it only for the purpose of performing their responsibilities to us, one of our policyholders or claimants and as otherwise permitted or required by law.
Personal information may be shared with affiliated and non-affiliated third parties in Canada and abroad, if needed for the purposes listed above. We do not rent or sell personal information to third parties.
- Affiliates include insurance companies, third-party insurance administrators and other providers of financial products and services.
- Unaffiliated third parties include other insurers, independent insurance brokers, agents, the policyholder, third parties retained to assist in the administration of policies and/or claims (e.g., adjusters, appraisers, repair shops and medical service providers), regulators or other governmental or public bodies, taxing authorities, insurance support organizations, reinsurers, companies with whom we have joint marketing agreements and others as permitted or required by law.
Depending on the nature and sensitivity of your personal information, your consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information is usually required. This consent can be express (oral or written) or implied and, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, may be withdrawn. Most of the personal information collected by Zurich is provided to us by independent insurance brokers or agents with your consent. If an insurance broker or agent tells Zurich that they have a customer’s consent to collect and use personal information for a purpose set out in this Privacy Policy or otherwise required by law, Zurich will rely on that statement. Zurich may also obtain your consent and collect such information directly or through insurance adjusters, private investigators or lawyers representing Zurich or our insured. By providing information about a third party, such as a family member, director, officer, or employee, you represent that you have obtained that person's consent to the collection, use and disclosure in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Generally, you may refuse or withdraw your consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information at any time. If you do withdraw your consent, Zurich may no longer be able to provide you with insurance coverage and services. If you would like to withdraw or alter your consent, please contact the Privacy Officer.
Zurich is responsible for the protection of personal information in its possession. Access to personal information is limited to those with a specific "need to know" in order to provide products and services to policyholders and to others as permitted or required by law. We maintain contractual, physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect against the misuse of personal information under our control. Zurich has a record retention schedule and an information governance framework which oversees the lifecycle of personal information. We may retain your personal information as needed to provide you services or as necessary to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
Your personal information is secured in our offices or those of our administrator or agent, both in domestic and foreign jurisdictions outside Canada.
To access your personal information on file, please send a request in writing to our Privacy Officer at the address provided below. Please specify the kind of information you are seeking. You will be contacted by our Privacy Officer and asked to provide some form of identification to confirm your right to access this information. Please note that there are certain circumstances where the law does not require us to provide you with access.
Zurich will use its best efforts to ensure that personal information is as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the identified purposes. To change or correct any personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer.
If you have a question, concern or complaint about privacy or our personal information handling practices, please contact our Privacy Officer at the address or number listed below or visit our website for details on how to bring your concern to our attention.
Privacy Officer
Attention: Canada Compliance
Zurich Canada
100 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5X 1C9
Telephone: 416-586-6800
Toll Free: 800-387-5454
Fax: 866-398-0234
Email: privacy.zurich.canada@zurich.com
If you are not satisfied with the way we have responded to a complaint or believe Zurich has contravened this Privacy Policy, you can file a written complaint with the Privacy Commissioner serving your province, or the Federal Privacy Commissioner who will conduct an investigation and take appropriate action.
This Privacy Policy is a stand-alone document. You may receive privacy statements or notices from other parties. The terms of this Privacy Policy do not modify, supersede, revise, or amend the terms of other privacy statements or notices received from other parties. This Privacy Policy may be amended from time to time.
We recommend reading the following alongside this Privacy Policy
Last Update: April 2024
Last updated April 2024