What To Seek In Paper Shredders

A law goes into effect June 1 requiring anyone who has one or more employees and keeps their personal information on paper, such as Social Security numbers, to destroy the records before throwing them away.

That will impact more than just companies. Families who employ a nanny, for example, will need a shredder.

In any event, law or no law, consumer advocates say it's important for all of us to protect ourselves from identity theft, and having a shredder is a significant step in that direction.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there were 27.3 million identity theft cases nationwide over the past five years.

But what features should you look for when buying a shredder?

Consumer Reports magazine Managing Editor Kim Kleman stops by The Early Show to offer tips.

She pointed out to co-anchor Harry Smith that the new law doesn't require anyone to get a shredder, but it does require that the records be destroyed, and shredding them "is an easy way to do that."

Kleman added that, "We don't have a rask of 'dumpster divers' throuhout the nation" going through peoples' trash to get personal information from discarded papers.

"The biggest reason there's an identify theft problem is that businesses and the government are not doing a good job protecting your personal information. But you, as a consumer, have to be vigilient, and (shredding) is a good way to do that."

The first thing to know when buying a shredder, Kleman says, is how much you think you'll be shredding at a time, to help you determine the capacity you need.

Consumer Reports recommends using a cross-cutting shredder. The other kind, strip shedders, are fast, but they produce long paper bands that can reassembled.

Cross-cut models produce finer paper, but they're slower than the simpler cutting shredders and generally will handle fewer sheets of paper at a time.

Home shredders range from about $29.99 to $150. The less expensive ones will need a longer cooling down period after shredding for a few minutes. This can be inconvenient if you need to shred a lot of paper.

There are shredders on the market now that will cut through credit cards, CDs, diskettes and staples. Be aware of whether your machine takes staples. Too many staples could damage it.

Follow the instructions, Kleman stresses. Avoid overheating the machine.

Most shredders come with a trash can to hold the paper.

The Early Show had several types of shredders on hand: