With all the identity-theft-scare-tactics around at the moment, have any of your resorted to shredding paper to preserve your identity?

We are busy shredding everything with our names and address on at the moment in a frantic effort to keep our own identity to ourselves.

This way, if anyone goes in our bin, they will come out minus the vital information they went in for.

The trouble is, we have our name and address on the bin.

Oh dear.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
With all the identity-theft-scare-tactics around at the moment, have any of your resorted to shredding paper to preserve your identity?

We are busy shredding everything with our names and address on at the moment in a frantic effort to keep our own identity to ourselves.

This way, if anyone goes in our bin, they will come out minus the vital information they went in for.

The trouble is, we have our name and address on the bin.

Oh dear.

Yes we have a paper shredder, don't use it much anymore, it's a small one and fills up too fast.

Yup. Bought a cheapo one (£10) which packed in after about a month.

Now got a cross shredder (chops it up into little bits rather than strips) from Staples and it does the biz. Got a decent sized bin on it too.

Marketing info from your credit card co., mortgage co., bank etc can all have your whole or part account numbers on them. And those flamin cheques that the credit company insist on putting in with you bill (even tho you tell them not to!!).

Yeah, love it.

I think my identity is pretty safe - I use the shreddings as hamster and mouse bedding, so anyone who wants it would have to fish through the cleanings out from the cages :S

Yep. Got a cross shredder from stationary box on the moor recently for about £14.
They aint going to get Draggles ID :suspect:

I've been doing this for years (after dire warnings from various places about not letting any post/ documents with your name & address on them get into the wrong hands.

I don't have a shredder though - have been almost tempted to get one a few times - I just rip up each bit of junk, personal or official mail into lots of little pieces before getting rid of it. It's very therapeutic all that shredding :P

I also shred and so do my family members - better safe than sorry.

We bought shredders for all the males in the family one Christmas since they like gadgets and such but it seems the females are getting in on the act now.

I've been doing mine for years and years now. I think it's really scary that identity theft is so easy. Someone I used to have working for me had her identity stolen, and it took years to get it sorted out.

While it hasn't damaged her credit rating as such, she has been added to a list where she will never be able to walk into a shop / car showroom and get 'instant credit'. They always have to do extra security checks on her, but at least she wasn't liable for the debts that weren't hers!

K x

Originally posted by Shine
Yeah, love it.

I think my identity is pretty safe - I use the shreddings as hamster and mouse bedding, so anyone who wants it would have to fish through the cleanings out from the cages :S

That's interesting: we have a hamster and wondered whether we could use the shreddings. We were concerened about the hamster chewing the paper and the ink upsetting him.

Anyway, we had one of those manual shredders, but bought an electric one from stationery box today as you did Draggles.

Much easier.

I've never had any problems, but I think it is not recommended because of the ink.

I've never known any small animals to eat their bedding really, though.

Save yourselves money and take the waste to work and place in 'Restricted Waste' sacks there if you have them - mega secure and saves buying a shredder :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Sam Miguel

Anyway, we had one of those manual shredders, but bought an electric one from stationery box today as you did Draggles.

Much easier.
Sam - Pre- shredding, I used to tear off the name/address/account number and put it into the kitchen bin, the main part of the letter went into the blue bin.
Shredding is far more satisfying though:) It even shreads old credit cards, although I suppose I could just cut them in two, like I have done for years....:D
:suspect: :suspect: :suspect:

Wow, funnily enough, I knackered my shredder today! I was putting a load of stuff in my manual one and thought I was feeding two sheets through (which is allowed!), but they were folded double. Now it just perforates the paper instead of cutting it! So. I'm thinking, should I buy a bit posh electric one? You lot seem to swear by them, but they just seem to take up so much room...?

What do ya reckon?

We just keep any letters that need shredding and put them in the bin that came with the shredder. After about 6 months we shred the lot of them (including credit cards). It only takes 20 mins or so and we do it the night before the recycle bin is due for collection and take the bin out as late as possible.


BoroughGal:

I'd definately invest in an electric shredder. They're dead cheap now anyway ;).

Ours measures 14x12x6 (inches) BoroughGal, and tucks in at the side of a two drawer filing cabinet :)
Ah just love that shredding. Hic.:)

Right, you've made my mind up. I'm going to get one over the weekend. It can go in my spare (junk) room! Thanks for that, you two.

So the cheapest is about £10 then?

Originally posted by BoroughGal
Right, you've made my mind up. I'm going to get one over the weekend. It can go in my spare (junk) room! Thanks for that, you two.

So the cheapest is about £10 then?
Don't quote me, but after xmas, stationary box did a 'traditional' one for £10 (ish) and a cross cut for £14 (ish) Both electric. Staples may be worth a visit - nearby..
:)

Cross-cut Shredder :thumbsup: Yes !

Mix it with garden waste :thumbsup:
good compost ==> Bring it on!
Fine borders.

I shred everything... dont want them to steal me!!
:suspect: :suspect:


Gets very addictive though seeing things go through the machine, especially when its a new toy. You start to look around the room for more bait.... what can i shred.....what can i shred.... I'm sure hubby has finished with this old magazine....shred....... i'm sure I dont need this insurance document anymore....shred......... and before you know it no more paper anywhere in the house.

clutter free:clap:

I know what you mean. Everything is shredded in the house now! I don't know what to do with myself. I might have to shred the hamster next.

I shread all documents containing sensitive information. For the extra few seconds it takes to put a few sheets through an electric shredder, it's worth it.

http://www.sheffieldtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=963029

Originally posted by BoroughGal
Right, you've made my mind up. I'm going to get one over the weekend. It can go in my spare (junk) room! Thanks for that, you two.

So the cheapest is about £10 then?
Ours is right by the front door. Handy for all the junk mail that we don't even need to open now :D 'Cept the stuff they put pens in :mad:

I'm getting my mom once for mothers day !!!!

Can anyone think of any useful fun things to do with all the shredded paper ?

I got one last year for my birthday, while a worthy thing to own i wasn't impressed..... they hadn't even wrapped the bugger.

Why not have an anonymous bin Sam.
Hal.

The most satisfying thing about shredding is getting junk mail,taking out the pre-paid envelope,and shredding the rest of the contents.
When you have shredded all you can,stuff the pre-paid envelope with the afformentioned stringy bits,and seal it up.Then you stick the envelope in the post box,and the company that sent you this junk,gets to open all their own shreddings,AND has to pay 7p per returned envelope for the privilage.
This is more theriputic than an all over body massage and makes you feel ten feet tall.



I urge you all to try it.

Originally posted by uncleheed
The most satisfying thing about shredding is getting junk mail,taking out the pre-paid envelope,and shredding the rest of the contents.
When you have shredded all you can,stuff the pre-paid envelope with the afformentioned stringy bits,and seal it up.Then you stick the envelope in the post box,and the company that sent you this junk,gets to open all their own shreddings,AND has to pay 7p per returned envelope for the privilage.
This is more theriputic than an all over body massage and makes you feel ten feet tall.



I urge you all to try it.

I always send the stuff back in the prepaid envelope! Haven't ever shredded it though, been thinking recently I need to invest in a shredder though. Will have to follow your advice forum folk and head down to the stationary box!

Originally posted by uncleheed
The most satisfying thing about shredding is getting junk mail,taking out the pre-paid envelope,and shredding the rest of the contents.
When you have shredded all you can,stuff the pre-paid envelope with the afformentioned stringy bits,and seal it up.Then you stick the envelope in the post box,and the company that sent you this junk,gets to open all their own shreddings,AND has to pay 7p per returned envelope for the privilage.
This is more theriputic than an all over body massage and makes you feel ten feet tall.

I urge you all to try it.
I like that uncleheed,I jusy used to return others junk mail in some one elses envelope.

I think shredding everything is over-reacting a bit, but if it makes you feel safer.

Whats the worse thing that could happen if someone did steal your identity ?

Originally posted by nick2
I think shredding everything is over-reacting a bit, but if it makes you feel safer.

Whats the worse thing that could happen if someone did steal your identity ?

Apart from the hassle that can occur in the future as Kristian pointed out, I find the thought of it makes me shudder. It's a complete invasion of your privacy and I think if it happened to me I would feel very violated and upset.

Although I don't have a shredder (yet!) I'm still carefull and rip up receipts etc and try and separate the bits!!

I also feel more vulnerable living in a flat because all our rubbish goes into two great big bins that anyone can access, and I have seen people rummaging through them on several occasions.

I like some of the solutions to the junk mail problem :thumbsup: Shame there isn't a beach in Sheffield. Wet sand. Then they'd have to pay the excess postage too :hihi:

Someone told me you could selotape the return envelope to a brick and send it back, they are legaly bound to pay for the postage.

My gerbils are well into the shredding. They cant get enough of the stuff.

Going to take a bill and make it into a nest - that's the way they like it!

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
With all the identity-theft-scare-tactics around at the moment, have any of your resorted to shredding paper to preserve your identity?

We are busy shredding everything with our names and address on at the moment in a frantic effort to keep our own identity to ourselves.

This way, if anyone goes in our bin, they will come out minus the vital information they went in for.

The trouble is, we have our name and address on the bin.

Oh dear.

Well, the majority of written correpondence I keep - I keep statements locked away safely (in chronological order - :P ); I don't really get any junk mail - and mini statements from the ATM I rip up before it goes in the bin... This "modern society" greatly annoys me - people will go in the bin just to try and learn who you are!

Alex

I have bought a shredder last week and now shred anything that has my name and address on, also it shreds plastic cards as well.
Funny enough I was worried over someone trying to get my Idendity when I advertized something on a web site which made me go all security concious and went and bought a shredder.
By co-incidence Jeremy Vine was doing a topic about identity theft the same day.

I shred papers, but more cos it's fun than cos I'm worried about identity theft. I mean, I am, but I'd shred anyway!

Therapeutic and cathartic :)

i've had a great "shredding session" done the lot a real sort out.
driving licence,marriage certificate ,mot certifcate, autograph-
book, deeds,25 yard certificate etc.....bugger wrong folder lol

Yes, Shredders are really cheap and a worthwhile investment IMO.

Just dragged this old thread up, all those people out there that shred paper , what do you do with it after? Do you want to give it to me? I promise I won't try and put it all back together and steal your identity, I mix it with shavings and use it for horse bedding, saves money and recycles. I can pick up from anywhere in Sheffield. So please if you have any amount of shredded paper drop me a PM. (No amount is too much!) Thank you X

I was a victim of ID theft just over a year ago - not just at one house but at two as were in the process of moving - now i am not sure that they actually stole out details from us, it could have been the solicitors, the estate agents - a variety of people had our details.

It has taken me over a year to straighten the mess out, have had to deal with police, bailiffs, and been treated like a criminal - some of the companies involved were not willing to accept that it was ID theft and some when i actually contacted them to warn them that theft was a strong possibility - it became clear how the thieves were working - didn't even take any notice of me, so when my name and address was used to commit a crime against them, they had been prewarned and failed to act. It is so easy to do.

We now shred everything although to be honest it's not hard to do, you could look in a phone book for someone's id and use it if you wanted - the only details that were taken from us were surname and addresses - they made up initials for the surname - lots of them and used both addresses - we weren't even living at one of the addresses, this makes it really hard to work out that you have been a victim - proving that you are not that person is the hard bit though and even after you are armed with a police reference number, some companies find it really hard to accept and will continue sending the baliffs round and round and round.

It cost me over £200 in phone calls and over 50 letters to sort our problem out and i'd say about 500 hours all in all.

Thankfully when i applied for some credit recently and a new mobile phone on contract i wasn't refused but i know a lot of people who have been on the basis that they have been victims of ID fraud.

£9 i paid for our shredder in Morrisons - i also recycle the shredded paper and use it as packing although not the stuff with our address on it - i rip the address off and shered that seperately then stick it in a bag and dispose of it well.

I always unplug mine when not in use purely as I'm paranoid my dogs floppy ears will get shredded!!

That sounds absolutley awful Goodlife, I still don't quite understand what is in it for the theives though, could you explain why somebody would steal an ID? I can understand with bank details etc but you said it was just your name and address?

That sounds absolutley awful Goodlife, I still don't quite understand what is in it for the theives though, could you explain why somebody would steal an ID? I can understand with bank details etc but you said it was just your name and address?
they can apply for credit cards, store cards, loands and rack you up huge debts. Then you have to convince all these companies you were the vicitm of ID theft and if you fail to do this you will have to pay off all these debts. And even if you manage this getting credit (e.g. mortgage) will be hard in the future.