Privacy Policy

1. Who we are and what this covers

Ed Finances is a marketing name used by Edi Marinescu, Mortgage Broker, who provides mortgage services through Centum Total Mortgage Services Inc., operating as Mortgage Capital Investment. The brokerage is responsible for the personal information described here. This policy covers information collected through edfinances.com, by email and phone, and when you apply for a mortgage. It follows the ten fair information principles of PIPEDA.

2. Shared email domain

Edi Marinescu's email, edi@mcinvest.ca, uses the @mcinvest.ca domain, which is also used by MCInvest Inc., a separate company that is not a mortgage brokerage. Your mortgage information is not shared with MCInvest Inc. unless you consent or the law requires it. Please confirm who you are dealing with before sending sensitive documents.

3. What we collect

Through the website inquiry form:

• Your name, email, phone, mortgage purpose and property location, and optionally an approximate amount, timeline and a short message.
• Your consent choices and the time you gave them.
• Technical information needed to run and protect the site, such as your IP address and the spam-protection signals described below.

If you go on to apply for a mortgage, we also collect what the lender needs: identity, employment and income, assets and debts, property details and, with your consent, a credit report. The website itself never asks for your Social Insurance Number, banking credentials, tax returns, credit reports or ID. Please don't include them in a website message.

4. Why we collect it

• To respond to your inquiry and arrange a consultation.
• To find suitable mortgage options and submit applications to lenders and mortgage default insurers you choose.
• To verify your identity and meet legal obligations, including under the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006 and anti-money laundering law.
• To keep records, prevent fraud and protect the website from spam.
• To send occasional mortgage updates by email, only if you opted in.

5. Your consent

We collect, use and disclose personal information with your knowledge and consent, and with express consent for sensitive financial and credit information. You can withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual limits. Withdrawing it may mean we can't continue working on your mortgage. If you give us information about another person, such as a co-borrower, you confirm that you have their consent.

6. Credit reports

With your consent, the brokerage may obtain your credit report from Equifax and/or TransUnion and share it with the lenders and insurers your application goes to. They may also obtain their own reports, which can appear as inquiries on your credit file.

7. Who we share it with

• The brokerage, Mortgage Capital Investment, for supervision and record-keeping.
• Lenders you choose, and mortgage default insurers such as CMHC, Sagen and Canada Guaranty.
• Providers involved in your transaction, such as appraisers, lawyers and insurers.
• Service providers that run our systems: Zoho (CRM), Vercel (website hosting) and Google (reCAPTCHA spam protection), under agreements that protect your information.
• Regulators and authorities where the law requires it, such as FSRA, FINTRAC, the CRA, law enforcement or the courts.

We never sell, rent or trade your personal information.

8. Identity verification and FINTRAC

Under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, the brokerage verifies client identity, keeps records and reports certain transactions to FINTRAC. The law may not allow us to tell you when a report is made.

9. Website, cookies and spam protection

Inquiries sent through the website go straight to a private CRM database (Zoho CRM, Canadian data centre). Only authorized people can open it, with a username, password and additional security. The website itself doesn't keep a copy.

The inquiry forms use Google reCAPTCHA to block automated spam. It loads only when you start using a form and sends information about your device and interaction to Google for that purpose. Google's Privacy Policy and Terms apply. Visit statistics come from Vercel Web Analytics, which is cookie-free, doesn't identify you and never includes form contents. We record only that an inquiry was sent, not who sent it. There are no advertising cookies. See the Cookie Policy.

10. Email and marketing (CASL)

Marketing emails follow Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation. We send them only with your consent, we identify ourselves, and every message has an unsubscribe link. We record when and where you gave consent. Messages about your own mortgage continue either way.

11. Storage outside Canada

Inquiries are stored in Zoho's Canadian data centre. Some providers, such as Google for reCAPTCHA and our website host, may process information in the United States or elsewhere, where it is subject to local law and may be accessible to authorities there. We use contracts to require comparable protection.

12. How long we keep it

We keep personal information only as long as needed for these purposes, and at least as long as the law requires. That includes record-keeping rules under the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006 and FINTRAC, which is generally at least five years. After that, it is securely destroyed, erased or anonymized.

13. How we protect it

Safeguards include restricted access, confidentiality duties, strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, encrypted connections (HTTPS) and up-to-date software.

14. Privacy breaches

If a breach creates a real risk of significant harm, we will notify you as soon as feasible, report it to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and keep a record, as PIPEDA requires.

15. Access and correction

You can ask, in writing, to see the personal information we hold about you, how it has been used and who it was shared with. We respond within 30 days, unless the law allows an extension. If information is wrong, we will correct it and tell anyone we shared it with where appropriate. In the limited cases where we can't give access, we will explain why in writing.

16. Minors

This website and our services are intended for adults. We don't knowingly collect information from minors.

17. Other websites

Links to lenders, FSRA and other sites are for convenience. Their privacy practices are their own.

18. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. The date above shows the latest version, and we'll ask for consent again where required.

19. Questions and complaints

1. Contact the Privacy Officer, Radu Arvatescu, Principal Broker & Compliance Officer: radu@mcinvest.ca, 905-338-7100, or by mail to 455 Kerr Street, Unit B, Oakville, ON L6K 3C2. You can also reach Edi Marinescu at edi@mcinvest.ca.
2. We investigate every complaint and respond in writing.
3. If you're not satisfied, contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at priv.gc.ca or 1-800-282-1376.
4. For concerns about the conduct of the brokerage or broker, see the Complaints page.