Privacy Policy

This policy explains what personal information Declined ACC collects, why we collect it, and how we look after it. Because our work involves ACC claims, some of the information you give us is health information, and we treat it with particular care.

Who we are

Declined ACC is the trading name of Houghton Legal Limited, an incorporated New Zealand law firm specialising in ACC reviews. You can contact us about anything in this policy at [email protected] or on 027 488 2323.

What we collect

When you send us an enquiry through this website, we collect the information you provide in the form: your name, phone number and email address; details of what ACC has declined and where things stand, including the date of ACC’s decision letter and any review dates; and, if you choose to attach it, a copy of ACC’s decision letter. The decision letter and your description of your situation may contain health information about you.

If you contact us directly by email or phone, we collect the information you give us in that correspondence. Our website does not use advertising or analytics cookies and does not track you across other sites. Our hosting provider keeps standard technical logs (such as IP addresses) for security purposes.

Health information

Information about your injury, treatment and ACC claim is health information under the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. We only collect it so we can assess and, if you engage us, act on your ACC matter, and we handle it in accordance with the Code and the Privacy Act 2020.

How we use your information

We use the information you give us to assess your enquiry and tell you honestly whether we think you have a case; to provide legal services to you if you engage us; to communicate with you about your matter; and to meet our professional and legal obligations as a law firm. We do not use your information for marketing, and we never sell it.

Who we share it with

Enquiries submitted through the website are delivered to us by email and stored by our website and email service providers, who are only permitted to hold the information on our behalf. If we act for you, we share information with others only as needed to run your case and with your knowledge — for example with ACC, reviewers, and medical specialists — or where the law requires it.

How long we keep it

If we do not end up acting for you, we delete your enquiry, including any uploaded documents, within 90 days. If you become a client, your information forms part of your legal file, which we keep securely for as long as our professional record-keeping obligations require.

Your rights

Under the Privacy Act 2020 you can ask us at any time for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct it if it is wrong. Email [email protected] and we will respond promptly.

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please tell us first so we can put it right. You can also complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be published on this page. This policy was last updated on 28 July 2026.