Trash or Treasure? Why You Should Shred

One man's trash is another man's treasure, at least this is what we're led to believe if we choose to live by old wives' tales. To think of "treasure" in a trash can, though, one might first picture an object that's been thrown away like used furniture or an old toy that can be refurbished. You might not imagine that a discarded bank or credit card statement could be considered treasure to some. In truth, it offers a goldmine to identity thieves, but the personal information provides them with a means to steal your name, reputation, and money.

When you carelessly toss away personal documents - regardless of how worthless they appear to you - it is important to make sure the words printed there are completely illegible. You need to do this in order to protect your identity, your credit score, and anything that identifies with you. Why? Even with a simple bank statement, an identity thief can glean enough information to cause you trouble.

Consider this: if you were to toss away your trash without shredding the important documents thoroughly, somebody can pick up the papers and try to assume your name. If said thief knows of a way to obtain credit through a store or bank using what information you provided in the trash, that thief can get a card and start charging up a hefty debt. The bills, of course, go to you, and the onus is on you to prove that you are the victim.

Identity thieves cannot operate if you give them no ammunition, so before you make that trip to the recycling center consider instead a call to your local shredding service. Whether you work for yourself or have collected financial data over the years, you need a sound system for destroying receipts, statements, and unused credit cards.

Mobile shredding provides the best option for identity protection in that the shredding services comes to your home or place of business and handles the document destruction, and you can watch the process for yourself to confirm. Find a service where the employees are bonded, one recommended by friends or colleagues. Most reputable shredding services, will recycle the refuse for you, leaving you with the peace of mind that nobody else will see this information.

Don't let your trash bring treasure to an identity thief. Take precautions to properly shred your documents so you and your family remain safe.


Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach shredding services and Charlotte shredding services.

Is Mobile Shredding the Best Solution?

When you think of shredding documents to keep your identity and financial records safe, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a small device for the home office. Perhaps it connects to a waste basket that collects all the paper strips, and you use it once or twice a month when you clean out your invalid and expired financial papers and statements. Afterward, maybe you divide the paper ribbons into smaller piles so as to further ensure your security, and either throw everything away or have it recycled. This is one good way to help keep your information - like your Social Security number and your bank accounts - away from curious eyes, but is it really the best solution for you?

These days, smaller businesses and individuals with large amounts of paper to shred have turned to mobile shredding services to clear the clutter and protect their interests. In just minutes, a mobile shredder can destroy several file boxes of paper and even hardware like USB drives, floppy discs, and removable hard drives. The more you have going to a shredder, the better your name and financial situation is protected. Companies with mobile options for destruction offer perhaps the most sound and secure services.

Why is this so? Let's consider the process of shredding. If you were to go to a shredding business in town, you'll have to pack your and make sure everything in there. You run the risk of a paper or two sliding out into your car or the street, where it can be easily picked up and used for dubious purposes. A mobile service, by contrast, comes to you. A large truck using state of the art equipment drives to your place of business or home, and a bonded employee handles your items.

You witness the actual destruction of your refuse. The mobile service that comes to your home or workplace typically has state of the art shredding equipment inside, so your paper doesn't go anywhere else. The service usually gives you certification of the shredding, and what is left over is taken to be recycled and seen by nobody else. Your bank account numbers, employee and medical records, and other sensitive data is secured.

Mobile shredding offers you the peace of mind that the risk of identity theft is greatly decreased for you. Consider calling a reputable service in your area today to handle your document destruction.


Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach shredding services and Richmond shredding services.

What Needs to Be Shredded? Take Care of Your Identity's Safety

When you have the opportunity to take your personal documents to be shredded, you can decrease the risk of having your identity stolen by thieves who will apply for credit cards in your name. It is important to ensure that none of your important papers with personal information are made available to people who may try to take advantage of you. Therefore, when you meet with a professional shredding service, here are the top items to have ready for destruction.

Cancelled Checks - After you have reconciled payments from your checking account, shred the checks that come back to you - if your bank still does this. Don't leave any trace of your checking account number behind.

Pre-approval Mail from Credit Card Companies - We may be inclined to throw out that envelope that screams how we are pre-approved for credit. If you throw it out whole, somebody could fill out that application and get a card in your name. Don't take that chance.

Expired Credit Cards - Leave one behind and somebody could try to use it to steal your identity.

Medical Records - These records contain your life health history and other private information. Some things do not need to be made public.

Storage Data - Anything you have used to keep personal information - USB drives, cassettes, floppy discs, and even microfilm - should be destroyed if it's no longer used.

Work-Related Documents - These may include payroll reports, employees records, accounting records, contracts, and proposals for projects. Anything considered exclusive and confidential should be shredded if they are no longer relevant to your needs.

Inventory Records - If you maintain a warehouse, an inventory list can assist in thief in knowing what to take from you. What records you do not need, seal them away or have them destroyed.

Legal Documents - Leases, contracts, outdated wills are among the legal documents you should shred if you no longer need them.

Correspondence - Letters, faxes, and e-mails saved to a disc reveal more personal information than an identity thief needs to know about you. If you have no reason to keep the letters in a safe place (for sentimentality), take them to a shredder.

Once you rid your home or office space of the paper clutter, you reduce the risk of somebody finding your information and using it to their advantage. Thieves are clever when it comes to stealing identities, so don't give one an easy ticket.


Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Newport News shredding and South Carolina shredding.