Sensitive Document Disposal: Paper Shredding, Not The Dumpster

By Author: Ruby Badcoe
Total Articles: 71
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After using up your scratch paper at home, all that’s left to do with it is to crumple and throw it in the bin, right? As if it was that easy for companies and federal agencies; but they have their own way of disposing of used paper. If they don’t follow those methods people responsible can bid goodbye to their desks and companies can bid goodbye to their licenses.

In 2006, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found some boxes in a dumpster that contained personal records, tax returns, loan application forms, photocopies, and other files that shouldn’t be left in a dumpster. The FTC filed a case against the mortgage broker for failure to follow the proper protocol in disposing such items. You can clearly see some anomalies here right away. For starters, the dumpster is not a place for sensitive data – not now, not ever.

The FTC argued that the broker even told his customers that the two mortgage companies he owned, both based in Nevada, ensured the “physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards” of sensitive documents. He even stated that they complied with state and federal regulations. So, since when ...
... did disposing of sensitive documents in a dumpster become “federal regulation”?

Furthermore, the fact that the FTC found and identified the files as personal records and files of the sort means the papers were still intact. Failure to shred these documents alone is a security threat and can mean serious jail time. What if someone gets their hands on these files and use them to no good?

Without following proper information disposal protocol, companies can leave their customers at risk of identity theft. As if this isn’t a big enough problem already, the number of victims keeps on rising due to poor identity security measures. Paper shredding Los Angeles firms trust do takes care of unneeded sensitive files by shredding them. It’s not something complicated: just feed the shredder with paper and have a cup of coffee.

The FTC hopes nothing like this happens ever again, eventually closing the case in 2010. It’s a lesson to be learned: security protocols exist for a reason, not just for show. Paper shredding Los Angeles has to offer is a requirement for all companies and agencies.

You can read more on the case between the FTC and the two implicated mortgage companies at the FTC’s website at FTC.gov. If sensitive document disposal were to be done without Paper shredding Los Angeles companies do, someone may be illicitly posing as you right now.