Reason#1 why I own a good paper shredder: The Torn-Up Credit Card Application. The short version: A guy tore up, then taped together a credit card application he received in the mail. He filled it out, mailed it in, and ... the bank issued the card!
When Melanie and I got married, it seems we suddenly became very creditworthy. Every week we get a dozen or so credit card applications, a half-dozen “deposit this for an instant loan” checks, another half-dozen student loan refinancing apps with personal info on them, and more. Everything goes into the shredder. That’s also where I put old credit card receipts, pharmacy information, and anything else with private information on it. Frankly, I think my shredder was one of the best things I’ve purchased in the past year.
This is the one I bought. I got it at Staples. You might find better ones for a similar price.
Technorati Tags: identity-theft, privacy, shredder, technology
I bought a shredder myself about 2 weeks ago. Wasn’t using it for those stupid credit card apps, though…(sigh)
I used to shred them. Then I got tired of doing it. Now I stuff everything the credit card company sends me, including the application with “Void” written large upon it, back into the postage-paid envelope. I figure that since they want it back, they should get it.
“Stopping credit card offers is easy. You just need your address, former address within two years, and social security number. One call does it all for agencies Equifax, Trans Union, Experian and Innovis. Dial 1-888-5 OPT OUT (or 1-888-567-8688) 24 hours a day.”
This really works. It takes a few months to see the effects, but my wife and I get virtually no credit card offers nowadays.
See this link for more info:
Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls
http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/
My shredder also does credit cards. I suppose it would do a CD too.
Or you might have a woodstove already!