How To Choose The Right Shredding Company
Don't Hire Any Shredding Company Until You've
Asked Them These Nine Revealing Questions
Information Security
There are two types of shredding services. On-site shredding is the most secure because all confidential materials are shredded on-site, at your location. Off-site shredding means that all material is brought back to the company's facility for shredding. But not before it has been hand sorted to maximize its recycling value. This can put your organization at risk.
River Mill Data Management offers highly secure, on-site shredding.
Off-site shredding companies get top dollar for recycling your paper, because they separate the white documents (like copy paper and stationery) from the colored documents (such as yellow legal paper and file folders). So if you choose off-site shredding, someone will have to hand sort all your confidential documents. This unwanted access to your confidential information can expose your customers to identity theft and fraud...and expose your organization to severe fines, bad publicity and lost business.
River Mill Data Management never touches your confidential materials for any reason.
The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) acts as an independent auditor, checking a shredding company's compliance in 22 critical areas, including everything from shred size to employee background checks. They award their highest rating, "AAA Certified," to only a handful of companies that offer the ultimate in secure document shredding. In fact, of the 30 shredding companies operating in Georgia, only 7 have been AAA Certified by NAID. But buyer beware! Some unscrupulous shredding companies will claim to be AAA NAID Certified just to get your business. Ask for a copy of their NAID AAA Certified certificate as proof of their standing.
River Mill Data Management was the first shredding company in the area to be AAA NAID Certified. To see our NAID certification click here.
There are some people that you just don't want anywhere near your office.especially if they might have access to your confidential information. Ask for proof that an independent auditor (like NAID) has reviewed the criminal background checks conducted by the shredding company on all their employees that come in contact with confidential information. And that these same employees undergo random drug testing.
River Mill Data Management performs criminal background checks on all our employees and uses a firm to conduct ongoing random drug tests of every single member of our organization. We also submit to an independent audit of these checks and tests by the NAID.
Customer Service
You can't afford to hire a shredding company that misses your pickup day. Because that means your shred bins are overflowing. It also means that your confidential documents could fall into the wrong hands. Insist that your shredding company offer an "On Time or Shred Free" service guarantee.
River Mill Data Management offers an "On-Time or Shred for Free" Service Guarantee. If we're ever late for your regularly scheduled service.it's FREE!
On-call shredding means that you just call whenever you need service. There are no regularly scheduled pickups and no monthly fees. That's why most shredding companies refuse to offer this service. But if you're not sure you'll generate enough paper for a monthly pickup, why choose a shredding company that does not offer an on-call service option?
River Mill data Management offers both on-call shredding service and regularly scheduled service.
Most shredding companies use outdated equipment that can't shred anything but paper. That means someone may have to sift through your bins, take out the binders and snap open the rings to remove the documents. But there is a better way. Some shredding companies have invested in high tech shredding trucks. This technologically advanced equipment shreds everything, including paper, binders, CDs and even hard drives.
River Mill Data Management uses high tech trucks that can shred almost anything from three ring binders to CDs and even hard drives.
All shredding companies provide general liability insurance to protect their customers in the unlikely event that confidential documents fall into the wrong hands. However, most limit this protection to $1,000,000. Make sure your shredding company provides at least $2,000,000 in general liability insurance as well as a commercial crime bond.
River Mill Data Management exceeds industry standards with general liability insurance coverage of $2,000,000 as well as a commercial crime bond.
Cost
Some shredding companies will quote you a low, low price and then they'll slam you with hidden fees like fuel charges, security fees and pick up fees. Other shredding companies charge by the minute to shred your documents. So you're actually paying them to go slow. Get an exact quote in writing and always ask if there are any additional charges. That way you can be sure the price they quote is the price you'll pay.
River Mill Data Management provides our services for a low fee, with no hidden charges.
When it comes to "one-time shreds" (called purges) most shredding companies charge all their customers the same price. But shouldn't a regular customer get a discount on their one-time file purges?
River Mill Data Management always offers their regular service customers a 10% discount on all purges.
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