Privacy Policy

1. Why this privacy policy?

1.1. This is the privacy policy of PIA Group (hereinafter referred to as ‘PIA Group’, ‘we’, or ‘us’). You can find our contact and company details in Article 3 below.

1.2. We take your privacy very seriously. Consequently, we take all appropriate measures to protect your personal data in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

1.3. This privacy policy applies to the processing of your data by PIA Group via our website, accessible at pia.be. Among others, this document explains which personal data we process through the website, how and why we process it, what your rights are and with whom we may share your data. We aim to inform you as transparently as possible.

We recommend that you read this policy carefully. You can consult this policy at any time under the ‘Privacy Policy’ section of our website.

For any questions or requests feel free to contact us via email at privacy@pia.be.

1.4. Attention! Please note that this policy does not cover the privacy practices, declarations or terms of third parties, nor those of any websites referenced via hyperlinks on our website.

1.5. This privacy policy may be amended at any time. Please consult it regularly. The amended policy will be published on our website.

1.6. This privacy policy is governed by Belgian law. Only the courts of Ghent (division(s) Ghent) shall have jurisdiction in the event of a dispute.

2. Who is responsible for processing your data via the website?

We are (PIA Group). We are the so-called ‘data controller’, to use the legal term. This means that we determine the purposes and means of processing and are responsible for the lawful and proper processing of your personal data via our website.

3. How can you contact us?

4. Which personal data do we process and how?

4.1. PIA Group processes the following personal data through the website:
– Identification details: first & last name, address/place of residence, email address and telephone number.
– Any personal data you may voluntarily provide in or in connection with any message(s) submitted via the website.
– Electronic data: device data, log file information such as the IP address, browser and operating system, external websites, pages visited (including date and time of connection), and cookies.

4.2. PIA Group may receive your data directly from you, for example, when you submit it through the contact form on our website. We may also process your personal data through cookies placed on our website. You can consult our cookie policy at: Cookie Policy – PIA Group.

5. Why and on what basis do we process your personal data?

5.1. PIA Group processes your personal data for the following purposes:
– Contact, enquiries and information:
We process your personal data via the website in order to get in touch with you, to handle any queries you may have and to provide you with relevant information about PIA Group, our members and affiliated accountancy firms, our services, our website, or other information related to our services or activities.

The processing of your data for these purposes is based on PIA Group’s legitimate interests, insofar as these interests take precedence over your (privacy) rights or interests.

If you do not provide certain data, such as your identification details, we may not be able to contact you, provide the requested information or deliver any services.

– Direct marketing:
Your personal data may be used for direct marketing purposes. This includes sending you information, for example in the form of a newsletter, about PIA Group, its accountancy firms, services and activities, or any other content that may be of interest or relevance to you.

If you are a member of PIA Group or a client of one or more of its affiliated accountancy firms, this processing is based on our legitimate interests, insofar as these take precedence over your (privacy) rights or interests. If you are not a member or client, we need your prior consent to send electronic or digital marketing messages (e.g. via your cookie settings on our website). You are free to give or withhold this consent, and you may withdraw it at any time (for instance, by unsubscribing via the link in a newsletter or email, or by sending your unsubscribe request to privacy@pia.be).

If you no longer wish us to process your personal data for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time (unsubscribe or object to such processing), free of charge and without the need to provide any justification (see also Article 8.3 below). For this you can contact PIA Group at any time: privacy@pia.be.

– Ensuring the optimal operation of our website:
When you visit or use the PIA Group website, we may process certain electronic data, such as cookies and your IP address (see also Article 4.1 above). Cookies help facilitate interaction between you, as a visitor, and our website. They are used to enhance the user experience and to collect statistical data regarding website visits. Cookies also enable the storage of your personal settings and preferences or the playback of audiovisual material. Certain cookies may be placed by third parties, for example to measure website usage.

For more information about our use of cookies, please refer to our cookie policy: Cookie Policy – PIA Group.

– The possible transfer of your data to our web administrator, hosting provider or other IT partners in connection with the use of the website for the execution of the purposes mentioned above.

– Compliance with applicable legislation governing PIA Group, its activities or its services.

5.2. The processing of your personal data via PIA Group’s website is not subject to automated individual decision-making or profiling.

6. Who else may receive or process your data (in addition to PIA Group)?

6.1. Your personal data may also be processed by our partners, service providers or suppliers with whom we collaborate in relation to the website, for example our website administrator(s), hosting provider(s) and/or IT partners. These parties will only process your data within the scope of your visit to and use of the website.

6.2. We are not responsible for the processing of your personal data by third parties who act independently of PIA Group and are themselves responsible for such processing.

6.3. PIA Group may be legally obliged to disclose or process your data in response to a legal obligation and/or at the request of supervisory or government authorities.

7. Will your personal data be transferred outside the EU/EEA?

Your personal data will not be transferred outside the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EAA).

8. How long do we retain your data?

Your personal data will not be retained any longer than necessary for the purposes described above in Article 5, unless specific legal provisions apply to the retention or processing of such data. For more information on the retention periods for data processed via cookies on our website: Cookie Policy – PIA Group.

Certain data may be subject to specific statutory retention periods. In any case, we always apply the principle that your data will not be kept longer than necessary. Your personal data will be anonymised or deleted if it is no longer required for the intended purposes.

9. What are your rights?

9.1. You have the right to be informed about the processing of your personal data via the website. This is explained in this privacy policy. You may also request additional information from us at any time (via privacy@pia.be).

9.2. You have the right to request the following from us:
– access to your data.
You are entitled to receive one copy of the requested information free of charge. If you request additional copies, we may charge a reasonable fee to cover administrative costs.

– rectification of your data, if necessary;

– erasure of your personal data, if:
– processing the data is no longer necessary for the purpose(s) for which it was originally collected;
– you withdraw your previously given consent; 
– you object to the processing by PIA Group;
– the personal data were to be processed unlawfully by PIA Group;
– erasure is required to comply with a legal obligation; or
– the personal data was collected in relation to an offer of online services to children.

– restriction of the processing of your data.
You have the right to obtain restriction of processing if:
– you contest the accuracy of the data we hold;
– the processing is unlawful and you oppose the erasure of the personal data and instead request restriction of its use;
– we no longer need the data, but you require it for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; or
– you have objected to the processing on the basis of our legitimate interests and are awaiting verification of whether PIA Group’s legitimate interests take precedence over yours or your (privacy) rights.

9.3. You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data.
You may object at any time, free of charge, to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes (see also Article 5.1 above).

Simply send us an email at privacy@pia.be.

9.4. You have the right to data portability (to another data controller), but only if our processing is based on your consent or is carried out by automated means.

9.5. If our processing of your personal data is specifically based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw this consent at all times.

9.6. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Authority (Rue de la Presse 35, 1000 Brussels – T: +32(0)2 274 48 00 – E: contact@apd-gba.be). You may also contact PIA Group directly in the event of a complaint: privacy@pia.be.  

9.7. The exercise of your rights, as described above, is always subject to the conditions and requirements set out in the applicable legislation (such as the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR).

9.8. To exercise your rights simply send a request to PIA Group at privacy@pia.be. Take care to provide adequate identification. If we have reason to doubt your identity, we may request additional information to confirm your identity. In most cases, this means providing a copy of your identity card. We ask that you black out or otherwise remove or obscure any information or data that is not required to confirm your identity.

Questions? Feel free to contact us: privacy@pia.be.