Having your documents destroyed safely is very important for protecting your identity and potential risk of identity theft, which can damage your credit rating and seriously harm your chances of getting an affordable loan/mortgage rate or getting a loan/mortgage at all. It doesn’t only stop at mortgages—it even affects applying for a mobile phone contract or something similar.
How can you protect yourself?
There are many ways you can protect yourself from identity theft:
• Remove all your name and address labels from post, packaging, and boxes that are posted to you.
• Avoid using unsecured networks for the internet.
• Have old computer hard drives destroyed properly, either by wiping or physically destroying them.
• Set up alerts on HM Land Registry in case someone tries to use your name or address.
• Consider using CIFAS protective registration to check if your data was leaked.
• Mostly it’s common sense; just be wary of leaving your private information anywhere or using it to download anything on the internet.
How can a paper shredding company help you?
A professional paper shredding company will be able to offer various services depending on what situation you are in.
You may be clearing your storage cupboard at home or work, so you may only require a few shredding bags, which would fall under a minimum charge for most companies. We have a minimum charge which includes 5 x 15kg shredding bags.
If you’re clearing a house after a loved one has passed away, we can either supply a number of bags or a 240L wheelie bin. Wheelie bins are perfect for clearing large amounts of sensitive paperwork from a house clearance.
If you’re clearing your office completely of old documents due to moving office, or just having a clearing of old documents as they are over the storage period, using a wheelie bin will make your clearance task much easier. Our bins can move large quantities of paperwork quickly and efficiently.
Shred boxes are also an option we can provide. They hold around 30kg of paperwork for shredding and they also stack really easily in the corner of a room. Our shred boxes are double-walled cardboard boxes, so they hold heavy paperwork easily.
How secure are paper shredding bags?
We use hessian paper shredding bags so they are strong and secure and do not suffer from degradation if they get wet. Most paper shredding companies either use hessian or paper sacks, but we prefer hessian. Hessian sacks are supplied with zip ties to secure your bag once you have filled it with your sensitive paperwork. Once the bag is collected, the whole bag is shredded including the contents.
Are wheelie bins as secure?
Wheelie bins are perfect for clearing large amounts of paperwork from your home or business. Once the bin has been filled, it is taken to the shredder and the contents tipped onto the heap awaiting shredding. The wheelie bin is secure, but the contents aren’t shredded as a single unit, unlike the paper shredding bag.