What Are Confidential Documents and How Should You Shred Them?

No matter how organized we try to be, paper still manages to pile up in our homes and offices. Securely disposing of all this paper can be challenging, especially when it contains confidential information. What do you do with these documents? That’s where TrueShred comes in. We offer secure shredding services in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Types of Confidential Documents

Businesses often have confidential materials, but homes also have documents that contain sensitive information and should not land in the wrong hands. At TrueShred, we destroy a variety of documents, both personal and commercial.

Personal Sensitive Documents

Are you spring cleaning your home? You likely have a pile of confidential documents you no longer need but can’t throw out. Tax returns are a common example. You need to keep them for three years from the due date of the return.

When you’re ready to dispose of old tax documents, keep in mind that they still have sensitive information on them. That means you will want to shred them to protect yourself from fraud. Schedule an appointment with TrueShred for your spring cleaning day, and we will help you destroy those documents with your personal information.

Commercial Confidential Documents

Most businesses have confidential documents, whether they contain personal client information or proprietary company details. Your clients hold you responsible for protecting their personal information, so it is essential to dispose of confidential documents responsibly. Throwing them in the trash is not an option — you need a confidential document shredding service. Be sure to shred any documents containing names, important numbers and financial information, such as credit card and bank statements.

The Importance of Destroying These Documents

Of course, you want to keep confidential information safe and secure. That is the primary reason behind shredding your documents. Why is it so important to do this regularly? Here are three important reasons.

Protect Your Business and Customers From Fraudulent Activity

Identity theft continues to plague people around the globe. Although we are more aware of it, criminals are only getting smarter. Employee pay stubs, Social Security numbers, credit card statements and tax information are things imposters use to steal someone else’s identity. Shred these documents regularly to keep them out of fraudulent hands.

Adhere to Legal Requirements

Some companies and organizations have to follow specific rules of data protection. For example, hospitals must adhere to strict privacy guidelines according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Throwing confidential documents away is a violation of these data protection laws. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) was enacted in 2003 to reduce the risk of identity theft by requiring responsible destruction of all discarded consumer information.

Clear Out Some Space

While this reason may not be as crucial as the first two, it certainly makes a difference in your home or office. Instead of allowing confidential documents to pile up, dispose of them responsibly with TrueShred.

Ways to Destroy Confidential Documents

Here at TrueShred, we offer a variety of ways to shred your documents:

• One-time shredding: Our one-time shredding services are perfect for those annual spring cleaning projects.
• On-going shredding: Perhaps your company or organization needs to destroy confidential documents regularly to maintain compliance with privacy acts. You can schedule an on-site or off-site appointment.
• Shred events: TrueShred hosts monthly community shredding events in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Bring your confidential documents and join the fun. 

Contact Us for All Your Shredding Needs

Since TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified company, our clients trust us to handle sensitive documents and recycle the shredded paper. Contact us online to schedule your secure shredding appointment in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.!