Shred on Site

We often assume that shredding is only appropriate for confidential information and documents that contain sensitive data. However, not all of the sources of this information and data are obvious. Some of the documents we deal with every day could give away a lot of personal information about us and yet we don’t destroy them properly. To ensure that you’re completely covered when it comes to security, these are the 8 important documents you should shred.

1. Junk mail. Most of us will instantly put junk mail in the trash. However, because of the way that companies are able to get hold of your information and add it to their mailing lists, junk mail can actually be a source of personal data. So, it’s important to ensure that you shred any junk mail that’s sent to you so that no one else can mine it for information.
2. Bank statements. No matter how far they go back, bank statements will always provide someone with a lot of personal information about you. That includes your name and address, as well as your bank details and transaction dates. They are a goldmine for identity thieves so make sure they are shredded when the time comes to dispose of them.
3. Old boarding passes. QR codes in boarding passes contain all sorts of personally identifiable information so it’s essential that they are properly destroyed.
4. Travel schedules. Whether it’s for business or personal reasons it’s essential to shred old travel itineraries. These could be used to ‘prove’ your identity if this ever turns on where you’ve been and could give someone access to travel accounts and even the opportunity to rebook for themselves.
5. Identification and images. If you’re clearing out old forms of ID then it’s vital to shred these, as they are a prime source of identity theft. The same goes for photos and images - shredding is the only way to ensure they won’t end up in the wrong hands.
6. Shipping documents. When you get a delivery make sure you check for documents inside the little plastic pouches that are often attached to shipping boxes. These frequently contain a lot of data, from your address to your full name, phone number and sometimes even date of birth or the last four numbers of your credit card. Make sure you remove shipping documents and shred them as soon as you no longer need them.
7. Post-it notes. We all use Post-its and these little squares of paper can seem so harmless but hold so much use for identity thieves. Make sure you’re not giving away vital personal data by shredding them instead of just screwing them up and throwing them in the bin.
8. Cancelled cheques. If you take a look at your cheque book you’ll see that it contains a ton of personal data, including bank details and card numbers so it’s key to make sure that cheques are destroyed, even if they have been cancelled.

If you want to ensure that you’re fully on top of your personal data protection then shred these 8 documents when you no longer have a use for them.

Get in touch with us today to request a quote for all your shredding needs, whether that’s a one-off service or setting up a regular service. Why not try our online tool.