Privacy Policy

Group Shield Benefits ("we," "our") is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (BC PIPA). This policy explains what we collect, why, and your rights.

Accountability

Michelle Filipenko is responsible for personal information under our control and acts as our privacy officer. Questions, concerns or access requests can be directed to us at 604-329-1439 or info@groupshield.ca.

What this website collects: almost nothing

The calculators on this site run entirely in your browser. The figures you enter — income, debts, business value — are not transmitted, collected or stored by us. This is deliberate. This website does not require you to create an account, and we do not sell or rent personal information to anyone, ever.

Our web hosting provider may automatically log standard technical data (such as IP address, browser type and pages visited) for security and operational purposes, as virtually all web servers do.

What we collect when you contact us

When you call, email or book a consultation, we collect the contact information you provide (name, phone number, email) and, as an advisory conversation progresses, the information reasonably necessary to provide insurance advice — which may include financial details and, at the application stage, health information required by insurers.

Why we collect it (purpose and consent)

We collect personal information only to: respond to your inquiries; assess insurance needs and provide advice; prepare and submit insurance applications to insurers with your knowledge and consent; service policies after they are issued; and meet legal, regulatory and contractual record-keeping obligations. We identify the purpose at or before the time of collection, and we do not use information for a new purpose without consent.

Who we share it with

Personal information is shared only as needed to serve you: with the insurers you apply to; with IDC Worldsource Insurance Network Inc., the managing general agency through which coverage is placed; and with regulators where required by law. Insurers and the MGA are themselves subject to Canadian privacy law.

Safeguards and retention

We protect personal information with safeguards appropriate to its sensitivity, and we retain client records only as long as necessary to serve you and to meet regulatory record-keeping requirements applicable to licensed insurance advisors in British Columbia, after which records are securely destroyed.

Your rights

You may ask what personal information we hold about you, request access to it, challenge its accuracy, withdraw consent (subject to legal and contractual restrictions), and complain about our handling of your information. We will respond to written requests within the timelines set by law. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

Electronic messages

We only send commercial electronic messages in compliance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) — with consent, with identification, and with a working unsubscribe.