Picking Out a Shredder To Fight Identity Theft
What Your Shredder Needs to Fight the Identity Theft Battle
Shredders are a critical component of one's identity theft arsenal. The question is, how do you know which shredder to buy? They range in price from $20 to more than $1,000 with a range of features so broad it makes car shopping look easy. If you're serious about getting an affordable shredder that can help you fight identity theft, there are some features you have to look for. Don't compromise when it comes to these...
Child Safety
The horror stories are out there and the scary thing is that most of them are true. Little fingers (and even pet's tongues) being caught and mangled in a paper shredder. If you want to ensure the safety of those living with you, make sure you buy one that has a safety sensor. These sensors will turn the moment something that's not supposed to be touching it does.
Confetti Cut
Those strip-cut shredders aren't worth the paper they somewhat destroy. It's not too hard for a thief to tape those strips right back together again. Because of this, you want to get a shredder with a cross cut or confetti cut for identity theft prevention purposes. They cost a bit more but it's worth every penny in the long run.
Plastic Too
Many shredders nowadays will shred CDs and credit cards along with paper. This is a huge plus. Those unwanted or expired credit cards can now be destroyed safely and computer storage CDs containing sensitive information can also be sent through. I highly suggest walking away from any shredder that doesn't offer this feature.
Price Matters
In the world of shredders you do get what you pay for. You're probably going to be using the thing at least once a week if you're serious about protecting yourself from identity theft. Because of this, you can't get by with a $20 shredder. It'll burn out. Plan on spending at least $50, if not more, for a shredder that can stand up to your wear and tear with the features you need.
By keeping the above in mind, finding the right shredder isn't a shot in the dark. And let's face it, we need all the help we can get when it comes to identity theft prevention.