The holidays are a time for celebration and family. It’s also a time when your home is likely packed with all sorts of sensitive information – bank statements, utility bills, credit card offers, etc. All this paper must be correctly disposed of, and shredding it is the best way to do that.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the dos and don’ts of holiday shredding. By following our tips, you can ensure that your personal information stays safe and out of the wrong hands.
How Should I Shred My Documents?
A professional shredding service is the best way to shred your documents. They have the equipment and expertise to destroy your copies, so they can’t be reconstructed.
What Should Be Shredded?
Any paper containing sensitive information should be shredded, including bank statements, credit card offers, and utility bills. If you need to decide whether or not something should be shredded, err on the side of caution and shred it anyway.
When in doubt, shred it!
Benefits Of Shredding During Holidays
Shredding during the holidays has a few benefits. First, it’s a great way to declutter your home before guests arrive. Second, it gives you peace of mind knowing that your sensitive information is destroyed and can’t be used for identity theft or fraud.
The Dos And Don’ts
Do Shred any paper containing sensitive information. This includes old bills to holiday cards, with your address.
Don’t Just throw this paper in the trash. Shredding is the only way to ensure that your information is safe.
Do Shred any envelopes with your name and address on them. Even if the letter inside has already been shredded, someone could still use your information if they find the envelope.
Don’t Forget to shred those holiday cards! Many of them will have your address printed right on them. Make sure to shred these as well.
Do Use a professional shredding service. Shredding services have the equipment and expertise to destroy your documents so that no one can reconstruct them.
Don’t Try to shred your documents yourself. You might need the right equipment, and even if you do, it’s straightforward to make a mistake that could leave your information vulnerable.
Do Create a destruction schedule. One of the best ways to ensure that all your documents are correctly shredded is to create a destruction schedule. It is simply a list of all the documents you need to shred and when you plan on shredding them.
Don’t Use an office shredder. Office shredders are not designed to shred large quantities of paper. You will likely damage the shredder if you try to shred too much at once.
Do Store your documents securely before shredding them. Once you’ve decided which documents need to be shredded, it’s essential to store them securely until they can be destroyed. It will help to prevent identity theft and protect your sensitive information.
Don’t Keep unused pre-approved credit card offers. They may seem harmless, but those pre-approved credit card offers can be a goldmine for identity thieves. Make sure to shred them as soon as you get them.
Do Check you are recycle bin after shredding. Identity thieves often go through people’s trash, searching for sensitive information. To be safe, shred any documents that contain personal information before throwing them away.
Shredding In Connecticut
If you’re looking for a professional shredding service, look no further than FileShred. We’re proud to offer on-site document destruction services throughout Connecticut. Our clients have trusted FileShred’s mobile shredding solutions for years. For digital security, we offer hard drive destruction. Call us at (860) 261-9595.
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Jim Dowse is the CEO of FileShred, a family-owned, local business specializing in document management and secure shredding services. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Jim is a Certified Secure Destruction Specialist (CSDS)—the highest certification in the document shredding field.
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