Keeping *very* old diaries

Karmacat

Hi there

I've been self employed since the 1980s, and am just about to move house: I'm assessing *everything* I have, partly cos the house is slightly smaller, partly cos I've got too much stuff. One of the things I've got is old diaries - business diaries, appointments and whatnot and nothing else. Obviously, I need to keep the ones that parallel the accounts I have to keep for legal reasons, but can anybody think of a reason to keep them beyond that? I'm slowly backing out of the business, by the way, not intending to use them as a resource for marketing or whatever (and in any case, I'm a counsellor - the only issue for me would be confidentiality, i.e. shredding identifiable bits).

If anyone can give any yay or nay feedback, I'd be grateful!

borders_dude

shred them?

Personally id take them out to the garden and burn them. Just have the hose set up and ready to go.

Karmacat

I was hoping someone would say that

Savvy_Sue

I'm not sure why you need to keep diaries to parallel accounts, but the only other issue to consider is whether you counselled children, or adults where serious childhood issues were identified. If you did, you might need to keep them: I know childminders need to keep records for 25 years or something ridiculous like that in case they are ever required to back up a claim or enquiry or court case.

The alternative would be to scan, or use a storage facility.

Karmacat

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I'm not sure why you need to keep diaries to parallel accounts,
I've always imagined that if I got a random audit from the Inland Revenue, it would help to have the diary to hand - "whats this payment for", that sort of thing.... it may not be true, of course.

but the only other issue to consider is whether you counselled children, or adults where serious childhood issues were identified. If you did, you might need to keep them: I know childminders need to keep records for 25 years or something ridiculous like that in case they are ever required to back up a claim or enquiry or court case.

No, I'm referring to diaries - session and case notes are different, don't worry - these are just "see client, take cat to the vet" kind of thing.

The alternative would be to scan, or use a storage facility.

Yikes .... no, I think they're going to get shredded. There's nothing there that would help any client - each session has session notes in each client's file - tho they do still need to be shredded, as in those days I was sometimes still using a client's first name and surname, so they're completely identifiable, and thats not ethical practice to just throw them away.

Thanks for your feedback!

Contains_Mild_Peril

I'm a compulsive hoarder who keeps all sorts of random papers and other junk on the off-chance I might have a use for them some day, but I can't think of any reason you would need these again.

Karmacat

I'm that way if I don't watch myself - I thought I'd done pretty well decluttering my paperwork, but this move, which is now only a couple of months away I think, has got me thinking all over again.