Free Shredding Event with Mead Police and TBK Bank

Join the Mead Police Department and TBK Bank for the free community shredding event on April 6 at Mead Town Hall (441 Third Street) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event provides a free and secure way for community members to shred sensitive documents, reducing identity theft risk. Document shredding will be performed on-site using mobile shredding trucks and then recycled.

Why shred?

“Dumpster diving,” or rifling through trash cans for personal information, is a tactic identity thieves use. 

What should I shred?

In short, destroy all sensitive information, including junk mail and paperwork that includes:

• Account numbers
• Birth dates
• Passwords and PINs
• Signatures
• Social Security numbers

To protect your privacy, you should also consider shredding items that include:

• Names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• E-mail addresses

How long should I keep sensitive documents?

When sorting through dusty file boxes or the pile of papers on your desk, it’s easy to confuse which records you need to keep and those you should shred. Here are some guidelines to help you determine how long to keep records:

Tax Records: Seven years, to be safe. The IRS has three years to audit your return if the agency suspects you made a mistake and up to six years if you likely underreported your gross income by 25 percent or more. If you failed to file a return for any year, keep records indefinitely.

Pay Stubs: One year. Match them up to your W2 form, then shred them.

Bank Statements: One year. But hold onto records related to your taxes, business expenses, home improvements, mortgage payments, and major purchases for as long as you need them. Many financial institutions now provide the option to receive your bank and credit statements online instead of by mail.

Credit Card Statements: At least 45 days. The rules here are similar to those for bank statements; hang on to those you may need for your taxes or as proof of purchase. Shred the rest after you’ve confirmed payment.

Medical Records: At least a year, but often longer. Keep medical bills for at least a year in case of a dispute over a reimbursement. Some experts suggest keeping other records for five years from when treatment for the symptoms ended. Hang on to information about prescriptions, specific medical histories, health insurance information, and contact information for your physician.

Insurance Records: Keep policy information for the policy's life plus an additional five years. Additional records, such as statements, hospital bills, car repair bills, copies of prescriptions, etc., should be kept up to five years from the service's date.

Utility and phone bills: Shred them after you’ve paid them unless they contain tax-deductible expenses.

IRA Contributions: Until you withdraw the money. You can shred quarterly statements as soon as you match them with your yearly statement.

Home Purchase/Sale/Improvements: Until six years after you sell. Improvements you make, as well as expenses such as your real estate agent’s commission, are factored in when you sell your home, lowering your capital gains tax.

Warranties: As long as they are current. Expired warranties can be recycled unless they contain personal information.

Below is a list of specific items to consider shredding for your safety and privacy:

• Address labels from junk mail and magazines
• ATM receipts
• Bank statements
• Birth certificate copies
• Canceled and voided checks
• Credit and charge card bills, carbon copies, summaries, and receipts
• Credit reports and histories
• Employee pay stubs
• Employment records
• Expired credit and identification cards, including driver’s licenses, college IDs, military IDs, employee badges, medical insurance cards, etc. 
• Expired passports and visas
• Legal documents
• Insurance documents
• Investment, stock and property transactions
• Medical and dental records
• Papers with a Social Security number
• Pre-approved credit card applications
• Receipts with checking account numbers
• Signatures (such as those found on leases & contracts)
• Tax forms
• Transcripts
• Travel itineraries
• Utility bills (telephone, gas, electric, water, cable TV, Internet)