CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Today is tax day. A perfect time to think about all those boxes and bags stuffed full of old receipts, tax returns, credit card statements and other documents that are cluttering up your garage, attic and closets. Do you want to get rid of these documents, but you worry about identity theft? The Better Business Bureau urges consumers to prevent identity theft by shredding personal documents.
It's time to clean out all that clutter and responsibly dispose of it during the BBB's nationwide "Secure Your ID Day" this Saturday, April 18. Free document shredding services will be available at four locations throughout the Charlotte area from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Individuals and small businesses are encouraged to bring bags and boxes of documents to be destroyed on-site at one of these locations:
- Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church parking lot, located at 1117 South Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28203 - document and electronic shredding (computer discs, hard drives, cds, dvds, video tapes, cell phones).
- Charlotte Shred-It parking lot - 3421 Axar Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28208 (off Mulberry Church Road and Billy Graham Parkway).
- Carmel Road Post Office parking lot - 6300 Carmel Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28226.
- Mint Hill Police Department parking lot - 7200 Matthews/Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, N.C. 28227. Mint Hill, N.C. 28227.
According to the BBB, you should shred these types of documents after the suggested retention time has passed:
- Documents with Social Security numbers, birthdates, PIN numbers or passwords
- Banking documents and other financial information
- Leases, contracts or letters that include signatures
- Pre-approved credit card applications
- Medical or dental bills
- Utility bills
- Used airline tickets
- Personal DVDs, CDs, Videos
- Old cell phones
- Hard drives from old computers
- Floppy discs
For information on identity theft prevention, records retention, and the BBB's "Secure Your ID" Day, please visit
www.charlotte.bbb.org or call 1-877-317-7236 toll-free in N.C. and S.C.
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