To shred or not to shred?

faddy

I'm disposing of a mountain of statements for closed credit card and bank accounts. Is there any need to shred them or can I just put them in the recycling? I presume the account numbers of closed accounts would be of no use to identity thieves?

Anthorn

I shred all statements and then recycle it. Advise a cross-cut shredder for this. In fact I also shred old cards.

faddy

Anthorn wrote: »

I shred all statements and then recycle it. Advise a cross-cut shredder for this. In fact I also shred old cards.

Our council says not to put shredded paper in the recycling. I shred all statements for accounts that are still open, but I'm wondering if there's any point for closed accounts.

Anthorn

faddy wrote: »

Our council says not to put shredded paper in the recycling. I shred all statements for accounts that are still open, but I'm wondering if there's any point for closed accounts.

My council says different.

Superscrooge

faddy wrote: »

Our council says not to put shredded paper in the recycling.

Same with our council. No shredded paper in the recycling

SailorSam

I chop my name & address and any a/c numbers off everything, they get shredded then go in the compost. The rest even if it's got figures on it goes into the recycle bin.

carlislelass

We can put shredded paper in recycling bag so long as newspaper is put on top, presumably to stop it blowing about

faddy

I appreciate all the replies, but no-one's said whether they think it's necessary to shred statements from closed accounts, and if so why

callum9999

faddy wrote: »

I appreciate all the replies, but no-one's said whether they think it's necessary to shred statements from closed accounts, and if so why

It would be wise as they presumably have your current name and address on. I'd imagine the old account numbers etc. will have a very small use for identity thieves - I've been asked questions about old accounts on my credit report before to verify my identity. If you didn't want to bother and just dumped them in the recycling bin it's unlikely anything would happen though.

I personally rip the personal details off the statement then put the rest in the recycling bin while burning the personal bit (I don't have a shredder).

No_6

If the account is closed all paper work will have been shredded.
If it's live, it still gets shredded, as all data is online.
Most statements are online only, so do not have many paper copies now.

Been doing this since early 90's and never had a problem or needed
paper statements.
All goes in a cardboard box, into the recycle bin, to stop it blowing about.

Mind you, I'm not thinking of a mortgage or loan.
Now retired and house is ALL mine.

jimmo

I know a couple of people who have had their identities stolen and, having seen what they had to go through, I shred absolutely everything which has my name and address on it. OTT maybe but the simple fact is that we don’t know what information is useful to identity thieves.
Where I live shredded paper goes in the garden waste bin, not recycling, and is turned into compost but, quite frankly, protecting my identity is far more important to me than environmental issues.