Whether you’re responsible for shredding sensitive documents in the workplace or at home – or both – chances are you have reached out to a few shredding companies to get a quote for their service. And chances are you got two different prices.
Rep at Company A, “That will be $49.”
Rep at Company B, “That will be $69.”
If this happened, you probably chose Company A. What could be complicated about shredding, right? Why would you not go with the lowest bidder?
Because the old adage “You get what you pay for” often rings true.
In the case of shredding, not all shredding companies abide by the law. And the last thing you need to worry about — personally or professionally — is whether your security or your company’s stability could be at stake because of a not-so-reputable service provider.
When you choose a shredding company, ask for proof that they abide by the law when handling confidential data. Confidential data includes, for example, medical records, credit card receipts, legal documents and customer lists. If they can’t provide you with proof of shredding, do yourself and/or your company a huge favor and steer clear of them. It doesn’t matter how steep a discount they offer, if they don’t properly handle your documents, they aren’t a good choice for a service provider.
Instead, choose a company that is a member of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) and AAA Certified by NAID. Here’s what this means:
- AAA Certified NAID members agree to undergo intense scrutiny every year to maintain their certification.
- Auditors for NAID make a site visit and examine every aspect of the AAA Certified Member’s shredding process. This includes their in-house equipment and containers as well as vehicles that travel to clients’ locations and shred on-site in their parking lot or driveway.
- Auditors also review the Member’s insurance policies and employee records, including background checks; inspect the Member’s alarm system and video cameras; evaluate how the Member handles incoming documents; and verify that the shredded bales of paper are sent off to the paper mills as the Member promises to clients.
- Members are also subject to surprise audits. Auditors can pull over their trucks at any time for inspection.
The next time you need to shred sensitive documents, do your research. Make certain that, as a starting point, the shredding company you choose is AAA Certified. Then ask how they prove they shredded a customer’s documents. Make sure you receive a certificate upon completion of a shred project. Finally, ask about service. Get a feel for how responsive each company is to their clients’ needs and requests. That will make your job of choosing the right service provider much easier.
Paper Tiger Document Solutions has been an NAID AAA Certified member since 2013. We handle residential and commercial shredding throughout the Chicago area and northeastern Wisconsin.Tags
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