Just bought a shredder, now what do I shred?

[Tissy]

Obviously bank and Visa statements, but what else? Do I shred everything with my name/ address on it (would amount to a hell of a lot of paper, as I clear my office of 15 years of accumulated clutter!). What about old phone bills, utility bills, etc, could anyone get anything useful from them, or do I put those in the recycle pile unshredded?

Having spent time with the local CID last year after my grandad's identity was stolen and loans/credit cards etc. taken out in his name, I now shred everything with my name and address on. A pain in the arse but that's what CID recommended...

I should shred everything with your name and address to prevent "your identitiy being stolen"

Great minds think alike Epigirl.

i would add bills to your list. ordinary correspondence - i rip off the top of the letter containing the address info (so you could shred that) and recycle the bottom half.

tissy, where did you get it from and how much? i assume you can recycle the shreddings...

We got one from Argos for £14.99

thanks, tallulah.

i put some shreddings in my compost - there's probably all kinds of chemical stuff in the paper but it makes me feel better and makes lovely compost!

bk, I got mine from John Lewis for £30ish- wish I'd gone to Argos now!!

Off on a tangent but related: how long are you supposed to keep bills, banks statements etc? (can you tell I'm trying to find things to shred? )

DH/P????

DH says you keep stuff like bank statements for 4 years.
Couldn't someone get name & address off the electoral roll, if they were trying to "steal identity"?

I shred any reciept with my switch/visa details on. Even if some of the numbers are blanked out. Once I have checked them off the statements and no longer need them they get shredded.

It may seem that a lot of paper needs shredded but rather that than some cretin using your details. And pop the shredded stuff in your paper recycling bag for the newspaper collection day - mix it up well of course.