6 Common Document Destruction Service Myths

For 18 years, Abraham’s On-Site Shredding Service has provided mobile confidential document destruction services to commercial and residential customers in southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.  While we have a clear understanding of how vital it is to have your private and confidential information destroyed by professionals, there are still others who may not be convinced. For 18 years, Abraham’s On-Site Shredding Service has provided mobile confidential document destruction services to commercial and residential customers in southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.  While we have a clear understanding of how vital it is to have your private and confidential information destroyed by professionals, there are still others who may not be convinced.

Here are a few of the MYTHS associated with using a mobile confidential document destruction service.

Myth #1: Our business does not have anything that requires shredding.

FACT: The U.S. is home to some of the largest and most expensive cases of identity theft. An effort to protect both consumer and organizational information has led to a number of Federal and State data protection laws requiring business to properly maintain and destroy confidential and sensitive information. Some of these laws include: Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (1999) Financial Services Modernization Act, The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA), and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Myth #2: A shredding service is only for large offices.

FACT: Virtually every business, regardless of size produces confidential information that requires proper destruction. A shredding service makes sense for any size office.

Myth #3: A shredding service is more expensive than doing it ourselves.

FACT: When all costs are included such as the purchase price of the shredder, maintenance, disposal fees and employee wages….outsourcing your document destruction can be considerably less expensive than shredding in-house and it is much more convenient.

Myth #4: Shredding in the office is more secure.

FACT: Employees already have a pile of work that needs to get done. Shredding often becomes a very low priority therefore it is often left to pile up; only to be dumped into the trash when the job gets too daunting. Shredders can be loud and the work is often put off to prevent disturbing co-workers or customers. Plus, some confidential information is classified and should not be exposed to employees for destruction; therefore, it is best to be outsourced to a mobile document destruction company.

Myth #5: There is no harm in retaining our old records since we have space.

FACT: Businesses are required by law to maintain a variety of records. Records can go from being an asset to becoming a liability once they are kept longer than the recommended retention period; therefore, it is important that every business has an established retention policy that includes the shredding of expired documents. Old documents, office files, contracts, order forms, and customer files can be used in tax audits, lawsuits, and compliance reviews for as long as you still possess them – even if you could have legally destroyed them years and years ago. It is not worth the risk!

Myth #6: Shredded paper can’t be recycled.

FACT: At one time, there was the misconception that shredded paper had shorter fibers and, therefore, was unwanted by paper mills. This is simply not true. Thousands of tons of shredded paper are recycled every day in this country. In fact, document destruction companies send their shredded paper to these mills by truckload for recycling on a regular basis. The paper mills produce both tissue paper and office paper from the shredded paper.

Hopefully, this list has helped detail why teaming up with document shredding specialists is so beneficial and, ultimately, the best way to go.  For more information on the mobile confidential document destruction services that we offer, please visit our website and/or contact our office:  262.877.8878   “Shredding + Recycling = Security.”