Destroying Credit Cards the Right Way: Optimizing Protection from Identity Theft and Fraud
If you have a credit card that you no longer plan to use, you probably want to destroy it. However, you will want to do it correctly, taking precautionary measures to protect your identity and your credit rating.
The first step you should take is to contact the credit card company and ensure that the account is closed or canceled. Some people fail to do this and those who do remember need to know that it can take some time for the request to be processed. In the meantime, the card might still be able to be processed, incurring more debt for you, often at a higher interest rate, was your cause for canceling due to a change in terms and conditions. Follow these tips to ensure that your credit card is properly destroyed and you are protected. Don;t just toss it into the trash!
Scissors
It’s a tried and true method, but you do not want to cut that card just any old way. It is easy for a thief to piece cards back together and get the information they need. In this day and age, thieves can easily ruin your good name with online and telephone purchase, without ever having shown the card to a merchant.
Cut your card into tiny pieces. Be sure to cut through the numbers, cross cut, cut through the signature and make it next to impossible for anyone to piece it back together or to want to go to the effort.
Shred It
A document shredder that is designed for credit cards and cds, as well as paper can effectively do the job too. These cut the cars both vertically and horizontally, into teeny pieces, ensuring no one can get their hands on your information.
Erase the Magnetic Strip and Microchip
These are the information centers of your card. Cutting them is a great idea, but take it one step further for added protection. Before you begin to destroy the card itself, take a few extra seconds to run a strong magnet over the strip. In fact, do it a couple of times, just to be sure!
Bag It
Even though the card is destroyed, bag it separately from the rest of your trash. You may wish to double bag it and then put it in the bottom of your outgoing trash. While thieves do tend to dumpster dive, they are not likely to dig through a lot of messy stuff (like your kitchen refuse) or grab for things that are not readily identifiable. If they do find it, they have little chance of using it anyway.
Recycling
Recycling is a commendable practice to add to your lifestyle. However, tossing both your credit cards and important papers into the recycling bin without having first destroyed them is not a smart idea. These things are sorted by human beings. This means your info can be seen, and face it, there is no way for you to know who is honest and who is not. If recycling is your choice, destroy it, bag it and then toss it in the bin.
Flame Broiled
If you are worried that none of the above methods can really afford you foolproof protection, burn your credit card. Yes, it’s going to smell and it will make a mess. However, a flame broiled card is a sure way to keep your identity and your good credit safe.
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