To shred or not to shred?

[David Ilvedson]

I have thought about the same thing when I dispose of my old directory.   I realize it is advertising income for the PTG, but couldn't a directory be online for PTG members?   If I needed the name of a tech in South Dakota, I could search it...maybe this already exists?   If so lets drop the paper directory....

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "paul bruesch" <paul at bruesch.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 6/8/2008 9:34:24 AM
Subject: Re: To shred or not to shred?


>Well, I think ID theft IS a bigger deal than some of the manufactured news,
>but it doesn't happen as a result of phone lists.  I don't live in a big
>city like Chicago, but I do know people that it has happened to in no small
>way, and it is U-G-L-Y.

>What CAN happen as a result of my not shredding my clients' less-than-public
>information is that our not-exactly-freedom-giving government could get
>their grubby little paws on it.  Will that happen? Very, VERY unlikely.
>Could it? Could Uncle Sam or the state use something against them? Sure.
>Possible. It's a simple, small courtesy I do for my customers.

>In my former corporate job, I used to get calls from headhunters (I STILL DO
>for that matter!) and the company insisted on special disposal of the
>printed company phone directories when new ones were circulated. That was in
>the company's interest so that these headhunters couldn't get their hands on
>a book and start recruiting our staff for other businesses firms (oh, but it
>sure did happen anyhow!)  I don't feel that's an issue here, and I have no
>qualms about my name etc. going in the recycling (as opposed to needing to
>be shredded.)

>Paul Bruesch
>Stillwater, MN

>On Sun, Jun 8, 2008 at 10:58 AM, Tom Sivak <tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>> Don't shred my name!  Some of my best customers have
>> gotten my phone number out of the trash heap!
>>
>> Seriously, is identity theft really such a big
>> problem?  Do you know ANYONE who has had their
>> identity stolen?   I don't, and I'm not in the least
>> bit worried about it.
>>
>> The news media has to generate so many stories to keep
>> people buying papers, watching the news, etc.  They
>> latch onto anything that might generate public
>> interest, and what generates interest better than a
>> scare tactic?
>>
>> I give my phone number out every day.   My address is
>> on my business card.   You can find out things about
>> me on the web.  When I sign my client's checks I have
>> to put my checking account number on the back.
>>
>> What harm is someone picking up the directory out of
>> the trash going to do?
>>
>> Tom Sivak
>>