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Getting rid of lots of private paperwork |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,279
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Getting rid of lots of private paperwork
Had a clear out in the loft and have about 15 years worth of old documents I want to get rid of - what is the easiest way to safely dispose of these without putting myself at risk of identity theft?
The documents include stuff such as old payslips, mortgage statements, utility bills, CVs, photocopies of birth certificates - stuff that would be useful for someone trying to steal my identity and we are told we should always shred - but nothing newer than 5 years old. Obviously shredding would be ideal, but it would take me about a month to shred that lot. And I don't want them blowing around on a rubbish dump as the ones near us are overrun with certain types who are on the lookout for documents of this type. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,798
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First hit on Google:
http://www.homeshreduk.co.uk/Home-Paper-Shredding.html There are some companies that will actually shred it outside your home in a lorry so you can see it being done, though. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 25,205
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Quote:
Had a clear out in the loft and have about 15 years worth of old documents I want to get rid of - what is the easiest way to safely dispose of these without putting myself at risk of identity theft?
The documents include stuff such as old payslips, mortgage statements, utility bills, CVs, photocopies of birth certificates - stuff that would be useful for someone trying to steal my identity and we are told we should always shred - but nothing newer than 5 years old. Obviously shredding would be ideal, but it would take me about a month to shred that lot. And I don't want them blowing around on a rubbish dump as the ones near us are overrun with certain types who are on the lookout for documents of this type. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,595
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Burn it, garden incinerator.
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,764
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My niece had a lot of important papers which she wished to be securely destroyed.
She considered various options but, in the end, her husband bought an incinerator and they burnt them. There's certainly no possible chance of them being taken by someone else, that's for sure! Something like: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/90L-GALVAN...EAAOSw8cNUNwSI |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 9,454
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Quote:
The documents include stuff such as old payslips, mortgage statements, utility bills, CVs, photocopies of birth certificates - stuff that would be useful for someone trying to steal my identity and we are told we should always shred - but nothing newer than 5 years old.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 9,160
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I'd take it to work, an A4 envelope full at a time, and stick it in the confidential waste in the post room.
It'd take a few weeks, but it would cost me nothing. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Crosby
Posts: 1,650
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Throw it over the back fence
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Stoke Prior, Leominster, Hfds
Posts: 1,399
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As others have said, an incinerator is a good way, provided that you have a garden.
I bought a mini incinerator from a hardware shop. It was specifically made for burning paperwork. I stood it inside a metal wheelbarrow. It took me around 4 hours to burn a lifetime of paperwork. The ash I was able to put on the compost heap. Don't burn wage slips or P60s. When you retire, you may need them to show to the pensions people just how much national insurance payments you did pay. Even with computers, they sometimes can't work it out without your help. Also remember that when you retire and when you die, you need to be able to produce a birth certificate to prove how old you are and where you were born, so keep one in an obvious place. Yes, a mini incinerator does a good job. It does get hot, so get some thick gardening gloves. And it is SO satisfying burning the past ! |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: At college, in L.A.'s office
Posts: 54,213
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Get a shredder and then put the shreddings into a black plastic bag or if you have pets use them for the litter tray or cage (for rabbits or hamsters) or whatever
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#11 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,163
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Another vote for burning.
That's what I do when I want to destroy anything sensitive. For small quantities I either burn them in an unused flower bed or a sacrificial foil roasting tray. Got my technique nailed - taking a cig lighter to a fat wad of paper won't catch so just start with a few then keep topping up the pile. I find it very therapeutic. Not 15yrs worth at a time though. Or another, dump them into a bucket of water, let it stand for a day, give it a stir now and again and turn them into paper mache. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,883
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Quote:
Or another, dump them into a bucket of water, let it stand for a day, give it a stir now and again and turn them into paper mache. Probably a job for summer though, that bucket of water will be icy this time of year. (I wouldn't go the full papier mache route, as that involves adding PVA glue to make it dry hard, leave it recyclable!) Or, if you've got a paper mill nearby that uses waste paper, give them a ring to see if you can drop it off there to go straight in their pulper. I'd offer but we don't use waste here at all. I wonder what would happen if you put it in the washing machine, in a sealed pillowcase. Anyway, getting it wet, squidging it about and letting it dry again will really fox anyone trying to re-read it after you put it in the recycle bin. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Wolf359
Posts: 96,673
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I burn all my paper work that has personal details on.
I normally do it once a year around bonfire night depending on the weather. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hebrides
Posts: 28,131
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Water with some bleach in it.
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#15 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 59,676
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Quote:
Get a shredder and then put the shreddings into a black plastic bag or if you have pets use them for the litter tray or cage (for rabbits or hamsters) or whatever
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#16 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 19,566
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Oh fire is the best tool in these circumstances.
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#17 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ilkeston,Derbyshire
Posts: 2,980
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Burn baby burn
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#18 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 10,733
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Just burn it, and be done with it. Even if it takes a small bit of fuel to kickstart the event its worth it.
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#19 |
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 9,454
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Quote:
lso remember that when you retire and when you die, you need to be able to produce a birth certificate to prove how old you are and where you were born, so keep one in an obvious place.
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 8,946
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Bought a cross-shredder and spent a few happy hours going through the stuff. Some of the old paperwork brought back a lot of memories - to the extent that I still have my first payslip (August 1968), my first cheque that I wrote (in 1968 - still with the duty stamp on it), and the cheques I've written for the 3 homes I've bought in my lifetime.
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#21 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Northants
Posts: 973
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Made incinerator from washing machine drum works brilliant
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#22 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 6,868
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Burning stuff creates a smoke nuisance, which is very inconsiderate.
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