The best way to dispose of a credit card you no longer want depends on its material, ensuring your personal information is securely destroyed to prevent identity theft.
Why Proper Credit Card Disposal is Crucial
Improper disposal of a credit card can lead to serious consequences, including identity theft and unauthorized charges. Your credit card contains sensitive personal and financial information, such as your full account number, expiration date, security code (CVV), and your name. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for fraudulent activities.
Disposing of Plastic Credit Cards
Most credit cards are made of plastic, making them relatively straightforward to destroy at home using common tools. The goal is to render all critical information unreadable and unusable.
Recommended Methods for Plastic Cards
- Shredding: Using a cross-cut or micro-cut shredder is the most secure method. These shredders cut documents and cards into tiny, irregular pieces, making reassembly virtually impossible. Ensure the shredder can handle plastic cards and feed the card through the slot designed for CDs/cards if available. Make sure to shred through the magnetic stripe, EMV chip, account number, and your name.
- Cutting with Scissors: If you don't have a shredder, sturdy scissors can be effective, but require more deliberate action to ensure security.
Steps for Cutting Plastic Cards
When cutting a plastic credit card with scissors, follow these steps to maximize security:
- Cut through the account number: Ensure all digits of your credit card number are cut into multiple pieces.
- Destroy the security code (CVV): Locate the 3- or 4-digit security code on the back and cut through it.
- Sever the magnetic stripe: Cut along the entire length of the magnetic stripe on the back of the card.
- Damage the EMV chip: If your card has an EMV chip (the small metallic square), cut directly through it.
- Cut through your name and signature: Make sure your name and signature are also rendered illegible.
- Fragment further: Continue cutting the card into as many small, irregular pieces as possible.
- Separate Disposal: To add an extra layer of security, dispose of the fragmented pieces in separate trash bags or at different times. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone to reassemble the card.
Disposing of Metal Credit Cards
Metal credit cards are durable and cannot be destroyed using standard shredders or scissors. These cards require a specialized disposal process.
Return to Issuer for Safe Disposal
The most secure and recommended method for disposing of a metal credit card is to return it directly to your credit card issuer. Many credit card companies have specific programs for recycling or securely disposing of these durable cards.
How to Return a Metal Card to Your Issuer
- Contact Customer Service: Call the customer service number on the back of your metal credit card or find it on the issuer's official website.
- Inquire About Disposal: Ask about their specific instructions for disposing of metal credit cards.
- Follow Instructions: The issuer may provide a special pre-paid envelope for mailing the card back, or they might direct you to a physical branch for drop-off.
- Avoid Home Destruction: Do not attempt to shred or cut a metal credit card with household tools, as this can damage your equipment and is generally ineffective for secure destruction.
General Best Practices for All Discarded Cards
- Verify Account Closure: If you're disposing of a card because the account is closed, confirm with the issuer that the account is fully shut down and has a zero balance before disposal.
- Monitor Credit Reports: After disposing of any credit card, regularly monitor your credit reports for any suspicious activity or unauthorized accounts. Free annual credit reports are available from the three major credit bureaus.
- Never Just Toss: Never throw a whole credit card, plastic or metal, into the trash without first ensuring it has been thoroughly destroyed.
For more information on protecting yourself from identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website.
| Card Type | Recommended Disposal Method | Why It's Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Shredding or cutting into small pieces | Destroys sensitive data (numbers, chip, stripe) preventing reassembly. |
| Metal | Return to the credit card issuer for disposal | Requires specialized handling and ensures secure, often eco-friendly, destruction. |
