Privacy Policy
Effective date: March 10, 2026.
Nearer Pty Ltd (ABN: 77 872 764 846) ("Nearer", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and otherwise handle personal information in connection with the Nearer platform, website, and related services (collectively, the "Platform"). This policy is written in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
1. Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to all individuals whose personal information we collect and handle, including:
- Merchants: Businesses and individuals who integrate Nearer into their checkout flow.
- Organisers: Community groups and organisations registered to receive contributions through the Platform.
- Customers: Individuals who interact with the round up feature at checkout.
- Visitors: Anyone who visits nearer.to or otherwise interacts with our Platform.
2. What personal information we collect
The type of personal information we collect depends on how you interact with the Platform.
From Merchants and Organisers we may collect: Full name, business or organisation name, email address, phone number, billing and payment details, ABN or ACN, and account login credentials.
From Customers we may collect: Email address, postcode or location data used to match contributions to nearby causes, and transaction data associated with round up contributions.
From all users we may collect: Device and browser information, IP address, usage data and analytics, and communications you send to us. We collect location derived data such as postcode for the purpose of matching customers to local community causes. We do not collect precise real time GPS location without your explicit consent.
3. How we collect personal information
We collect personal information directly from you when you:
- register for an account
- complete onboarding as a Merchant or Organiser
- interact with the round up feature at checkout
- contact us with an enquiry or request
- subscribe to communications from us
We may also collect information automatically through cookies, analytics tools, and similar technologies when you use the Platform. See Section 9 for more on cookies.
Where possible, we collect personal information directly from the individual concerned. In some cases, we may receive information from third parties such as payment processors or ecommerce platforms through which our integration operates.
4. Why we collect and use personal information
We collect and use personal information to:
- operate and improve the Platform
- process contributions and payments
- match customers to local community causes based on location
- communicate with you about your account, transactions, and platform updates
- comply with our legal and regulatory obligations
- detect and prevent fraud or misuse of the Platform
We will not use your personal information for purposes unrelated to those listed above without your consent, unless required or permitted by law.
5. Disclosure of personal information
We may share personal information with third parties in the following circumstances.
Service providers: We engage third party providers to assist with payment processing, cloud hosting, analytics, and customer support. These providers are required to handle personal information only as directed by us and in accordance with applicable privacy law.
Merchants and Organisers: Limited transaction and location data may be shared between platform participants to the extent necessary to process and attribute contributions.
Legal and regulatory: We may disclose personal information where required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or where we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Nearer, our users, or the public.
Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, personal information may be transferred to a successor entity, subject to equivalent privacy protections.
We do not sell personal information to third parties.
6. Overseas disclosure
Some of our third party service providers may be located or store data outside Australia, including in the United States or other jurisdictions.
Where we disclose personal information to overseas recipients, we take reasonable steps to ensure those recipients handle the information in a manner consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles.
By using the Platform, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred to and stored in jurisdictions outside Australia.
7. Data security
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
These steps include using encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and reputable third party infrastructure providers.
No method of data transmission or storage is completely secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
If you become aware of any security concern related to your account, please contact us immediately at contact@nearer.to.
8. Data retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
When personal information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de identify it securely.
9. Cookies and tracking
The Platform uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve user experience, analyse usage patterns, and support platform functionality.
You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but this may affect your ability to use certain features of the Platform.
We do not use tracking technologies to serve targeted advertising to customers on behalf of third parties.
10. Access and correction
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if that information is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.
To make a request, contact us at contact@nearer.to. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles.
In some circumstances we may be unable to provide access, for example where doing so would unreasonably impact the privacy of another individual or where we are required by law to withhold the information. If we decline a request, we will explain why.
11. Complaints
If you believe we have handled your personal information in a way that breaches the Australian Privacy Principles, you may lodge a complaint with us by contacting contact@nearer.to.
We will acknowledge your complaint promptly and aim to resolve it within 30 days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.
12. Children's privacy
The Platform is not directed at children under the age of 18.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it promptly.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices or legal obligations.
Where changes are material, we will notify you via email or a notice on the Platform.
Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
14. Contact us
For any questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact:
Nearer Pty Ltd
contact@nearer.to