Paper shredders are found all over the place now because they offer a convenient way to destroy those sensitive documents. If you don’t have one of these machines, you need to buy one. Here are four reasons why….
1.) To protect your identity. According to the Federal Trade Commission, some 9 million people become identity theft victims every year. Identity theft can result in a ruined reputation, a poor credit report, and the loss of money. It can also make you angry, depressed, and leave you feeling violated. You can prevent that from happening though by using a paper shredder to get rid of any document that contains your private information. This includes junk mail, bank statements, expired credit and debit cards, anything containing a Social Security Number, receipts, and more. If you shred these items, you’re much less likely to have your identity stolen and have to go through the hassle of piecing your life back together.
2.) To protect your company’s information. If you own a business, surely you can’t imagine simply tossing out documents containing your company’s financial data and marketing plans. If you did, it would be extremely easy for a competitor to steal your information, run you out of business, or ruin your reputation.
3.) To follow the law. Another reason to buy a paper shredder is so you can comply with federal laws. There are two main laws you need to worry about. The first is HIPPA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a law that’s designed to maintain the privacy of an individual’s health information. The second is FACTA, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which states that employees must destroy any personal information about an employee before tossing it out. Failure to follow these laws can result in fines and/or prosecution, which is expensive, embarrassing, and can make you look bad to both your customers and competitors.
4.) To save some cash. If you’ve already been using an off-site shredding service, you can save yourself a lot of money by having an in-house shredder and destroying your documents yourself. It can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to use one of these services, especially if you use one for a few years. Plus, there’s no guarantee that your paper will actually be shredded and that a worker won’t steal your information. So you can save money and your privacy by using your own machine.