Most people know they should shred documents like credit card statements and tax information to protect their identity. But several others are often overlooked and need to be shredded as well.
If you’re unsure what should be shredded at home, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll talk about the different types of documents that you should destroy to keep your family safe and your finances secure. Stay on top of your shredding habits with this ultimate guide to home shredding!
What Is Residential Shredding
Residential shredding is the process of destroying personal and confidential documents at home. Shredding can be done by hiring a professional shredding service. Residential shredding is essential to protect your identity and keep your family safe.
Why Shred Documents At Home?
There are several reasons why you should shred documents at home, including:
To prevent identity theft: One of the most common ways thieves steal identities is by rummaging through trash cans and looking for sensitive information. By shredding these documents, you can make it much more difficult for thieves to get their hands on your personal information.
To protect your finances: If someone gets ahold of your financial documents, they could wreak havoc on your finances. You can help protect yourself from financial fraud and identity theft by shredding these documents.
To keep your family safe: If you have sensitive family information like medical records or adoption papers, it’s essential to keep them out of the wrong hands. Shredding these documents can help you protect your family’s privacy and safety.
What Documents Should You Shred At Home?
There are several types of paper records that you should shred at home, including:
Junk Mail
One of the most common — and easily overlooked — sources of sensitive information is junk mail. If you have your name and address on a mail, a thief can use that to start piecing together your identity. So, it’s important to shred any junk mail that comes into your home, even if it doesn’t have any other sensitive information. It includes credit card offers, store coupons, and even advertisements.
Financial Documents
You’ll want to shred any documents with your financial information. This includes bank statements, credit card bills, and investment account statements. But it would help if you were also looking for old tax returns, pay stubs, and loan documents. Even if these documents don’t have your financial information, they may have your Social Security number, which can be used to steal your identity.
Identity Documents
In addition to financial documents, you should also shred any documents with your personal information. It includes your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate. Identity thieves often use these items to open new accounts or get loans in your name. So, keeping them secure and destroying them when you’re done with them is essential.
Medical Records
Medical records can also be a goldmine for identity thieves. If these records get into the wrong hands, a thief could use them to file false insurance claims or get access to your medical benefits. So, it’s important to shred any old medical records that you no longer need, including doctor’s bills, prescription information, and insurance forms.
Travel Itineraries
If you’re planning a vacation, it’s critical to know that your travel itinerary could be a target for thieves. This document often contains your personal information and your flight and hotel details. So, it’s essential to shred or keep it in a secure location when you’re not using it.
When In Doubt, Have It Shredded
If you’re ever unsure whether or not a document should be shredded, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and have it destroyed. That way, you can rest assured that your sensitive information is safe and secure.
As you can see, there are a lot of different types of documents that you need to be shredded at home. But don’t worry — When you hire ATI SecureDocs, you can be assured we will provide secure and cost-effective services. Our destruction process is designed to ensure privacy and regulatory compliance, and we shred all information in paper documents, hard drives, tapes, and electronics.
ATI’s NAID AAA-certified document shredding will meet your requirements whether you have a few boxes or require a bin. Call us today at 877-314-5273.