The Best Way to Dispose of Credit Cards
How to dispose of credit cards while avoiding identity theft.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a credit card or two to dispose of at one time or another. The question is, how do you dispose of your credit cards without putting yourself at risk of identity theft? The answer may be simpler than you think.
Dispose of Credit Cards with a Shredder
Everyone should have a shredder. From extremely confidential documents to credit card statements, if you’re going to throw them away, they need to go through a shredder first. Most of the shredders available on the market today can accommodate credit cards as well as papers, so if you’re going to dispose of credit cards, put them through the shredder before putting them into the trash.
Cut Them Up
If you don’t have a shredder and you just can’t afford to purchase one right now, there is a way to safely dispose of your credit cards. Take a utility knife and scratch through the numbers on the front of the card and scrape the magnetic strip on the back of the card as well as the signature strip. Then cut the card into pieces. This is a safe way to dispose of credit cards when a shredder is not available.