BBB Hosts Free Shred Event at Westgate City Center April 16

As part of a national identity theft and fraud protection effort, Better Business Bureau (BBB) is hosting a FREE Secure Your ID Day shredding event on Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Westgate City Center located at Glendale and 95^th Avenue in Glendale, Arizona. 

Consumers can bring up to three boxes/bags of paper documents to be shredded on site by EZ Shredding Solutions. In addition to free shredding, the public can also bring used cell phones to be recycled by Wireless Alliance.

 "Not only does recycling your cell phone help the environment, it also helps you protect your identity by adequately discarding of all personal information stored in the device,” said Matthew Fehling, BBB President/CEO.  “And by taking advantage of free shredding, you are also helping the environment as the paper collected is then recycled.”

 BBB offers the following advice when deciding what documents to shred:

 ·         Pay Stubs: It is important to shred your pay stubs each year after submitting your tax return, because they contain sensitive information that can be used for identity theft, like your SSN.

·         Bank Statements: Statements can be shredded after a year, unless they contain tax related information.  If they contain tax related information, keep them for seven years.

·         Utility Bills: Bills can be shredded after a year.

·         Cancelled Checks:  To protect your financial information, shred cancelled checks after a year.  If they serve as proof of a charitable donation, keep the check for seven years.

 Shredding will take place in Parking Lot #2, located west of the AMC Theater.

 For more information on the April 16 Secure Your ID Day event, contact BBB Foundation at 602-264-2864 or visit arizona.bbb.org/id-day.

About BBB Serving Central, Northern & Western Arizona

BBB is an unbiased organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. Incorporated locally in 1938, today your BBB serves communities in Central, Northern and Western Arizona, supported by over 10,000 BBB Accredited Businesses. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Business Reviews^TM and charity BBB Wise Giving Reports^TM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust.