Why shred personal documents

You do not want to come up empty in the event you need a particular document. Take control of your files and secure your information by following our guide on what to keep and when to shred various types of personal documents. There are several less consequential documents that can hold personal information which in the wrong hands could lead to fraud or identity theft. For instance, some of junk mail, most notably credit card offers, could be used by criminals to open accounts in your name and destroy your credit.

Before placing any piece of paper in the trash, take a moment to consider if it has any personally identifying information, if so, securely shred it instead. To help you determine which documents to shred, here is a list of items which are considered personally identifying. Note that this list is specific for personal documents. For a breakdown how long business-related documents should be held, see our Retention Guide for Small Businesses.

There are some documents you can shred as soon as you have read or paid the associated bill. You may choose to hold some of these items for up to one month in order to verify charges with your bank or credit card statement.

The bank routing number and account numbers listed on the check are just as easy to steal even if it says void. Make sure to shred all void or canceled checks upon cancelation to avoid any problems with identity thieves. Pay Stubs: At first glance, pay stubs seem harmless, but they do contain critical information that can be used by an identity thief.

Some pay stubs include financial institution information and account information, Make sure to dispose of them properly. Convenience Checks: Have you ever received one of those blank checks from your credit card company, which you can use to borrow against your credit line?

Thos are called convenience checks. Any documents that are permanent records need to be kept in a secure manner. Locked file rooms, locked file cabinets, and safe deposit boxes are good options Here are some examples;. Also, keep auto titles and home deeds stored safely for as long as you own the property. Do you have questions about our secure shredding services? Please visit our FAQ section or call us at:. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance.

Next Day Shredding… Monday — Saturday. What to Shred? When to Shred? Many security professionals recommend that you can shred many documents sooner than seven years.

Identity thieves are clever and can gain a great deal of usable information from documents like:. You also have a legal obligation to ensure the privacy of your clients and employees by responsibly destroying discarded confidential information. Our certification demands strict compliance, with standards for:.

To achieve and maintain certification, TrueShred must pass annual audits and even random ongoing audits. When you partner with TrueShred, you also fulfill an environmental responsibility. We recycle tons of shredded paper every day, saving millions of trees every year. Every little bit helps! We are proud to be a D. Keep your personal information secure. Make shredding a part of your business and personal routine. If you have any questions about confidential shredding and document destruction in the D.

TrueShred provides multiple options for secure and discrete disposal of your private documents.