Metal credit cards offer an exclusive look in your wallet, yet their fees can be steep. Luckily, many credit card issuers provide prepaid envelopes so you can return it safely for disposal.
But you should avoid simply tossing it away or running it through a home shredder – this could leave personal information vulnerable to identity theft. Instead, follow these tips on how to destroy your metal credit card at home.
Tin Snip
Sometimes we accumulate credit and payment cards we no longer require or use, rather than recycling or disposing of them as trash. Instead of throwing these away or recycling them, it’s crucial that we destroy these cards so they do not fall into the wrong hands and cause issues later on. While cutting up plastic cards with scissors or running them through a home shredder may be simple enough, doing the same with metal cards may prove more challenging.
Metal credit cards can be more costly to replace if lost or stolen, which is why many choose to hide or destroy them as soon as they find them. Some may try security by obscurity by hiding their cards away in drawers with no one looking in; this, however, poses the risk of identity thieves accessing information necessary for theft from accounts and fraudulent purchases made using stolen accounts.
There are various ways you can safely dispose of a metal credit card to ensure the protection of your information. One easy method is returning it directly to the company that issued it – they likely have procedures in place that ensure its destruction and prevent its reuse again. Other techniques, like cutting or burning may be more risky; only attempt them if you have sufficient tools available.
Tin snips provide an effective and straightforward method for cutting credit cards up, and are widely available at hardware stores and craft supply retailers. Tin snips are specially-designed scissors intended to cut metal, which make this method especially helpful when trying to cut through credit card metal, magnetic stripse data storage devices like an EMV chip, magnetic stripes or any other source. Using this approach also offers those looking for alternatives who do not own suitable scissors an easy option to keep their card safe while cutting up bills that come their way.
Shredder
Metal credit cards have grown increasingly popular over time, adding class and durability to wallets. When replacing or closing accounts requires discarding one, however, ensuring personal information remains safe can require some forethought and care when disposing of it. There are a few ways metal cards can be properly disposed of that can help ensure this occurs safely.
To safely dispose of an old metal credit card, one effective and straightforward option is mailing it back in a pre-paid envelope provided by its issuer. Many card issuers offer this as an easy and secure method for getting rid of old cards while protecting against identity theft.
If you prefer more hands-on solutions, cutting up a metal credit card yourself can be achieved using tin snips. Tin snips are specially designed to cut through tough materials like sheet metal quickly and efficiently – they should make short work of your metal card. Just ensure all magnetic strips and EMV chips have been destroyed thoroughly!
Never put a metal credit card through your home shredder as this can damage it and expose sensitive information to fraudsters. Furthermore, it should never be bent until it snaps as this could result in flying pieces of metal which could cause injuries.
Always keep in mind that even though most credit card issuers offer $0 fraud liability policies, when your card expires or cancels you should destroy it to protect your identity from thieves – especially when dealing with metal credit cards. If you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself it is wise to contact your card company and request their specific guidelines on disposing of metal cards.
Mailing
Metal credit cards have grown increasingly popular due to their stylish designs and rewards, but once no longer needed it’s important that they be destroyed to prevent identity theft and other malicious acts. Luckily, disposing of metal cards safely is not as difficult as disposing of plastic ones – though traditional kitchen scissors or paper shredders will likely not do. There are various solutions for destroying these cards safely.
One of the safest and simplest ways to dispose of metal credit cards is sending them back to their issuer. Whenever cardholders apply for new credit cards, their issuer often includes a pre-paid envelope specifically designated to return old cards – this ensures that personal information remains private while not ending up lying around someone else’s wallet.
Alternative: drop the card off at one of your card issuer’s branches. Some banks allow customers to bring expired or unused credit cards and have them destroyed free. It is best to call ahead first though as some might require you to call first in order to know whether this option exists; this solution works best if you simply wish to stop using the card without closing an account, which can have serious repercussions for their credit rating.
Some individuals store their metal credit cards in drawers, file cabinets or any other suitable home storage space. Although this may provide an easy, temporary solution, this isn’t ideal; your card could get damaged while being out there somewhere and your name or social security number could end up somewhere else and be misused illegally.
Donating metal credit cards to charities or other organizations is also possible, though you must exercise extreme caution in doing so. Your card could easily be stolen and used fraudulently while the organization could encounter security concerns from donating. Furthermore, third-party services offering to destroy them might not be appropriate options either.
Bring to a Physical Branch
Metal credit cards have quickly become popular among premium cardholders, adding elegance and durability to their plastic counterparts. But when these cards reach the end of their lifespan – either expiring or being cancelled – disposing of them requires more thought than simply reaching for scissors or using your home shredder to dispose of it. This guide details some practical methods for doing just that while protecting personal information.
Most metal credit cards contain warnings on their backs to not attempt to cut or run them through a home shredder, for various reasons including that most home shredders aren’t designed to handle metal credit cards and trying it could damage or ruin your machine.
Metal credit cards typically come equipped with a return envelope that allows cardholders to return them directly to their card issuer for proper disposal or recycling. Furthermore, some card issuers provide mailing addresses or phone numbers where holders may find more information. Cardholders should always reach out directly to their issuer to inquire on what their recommended procedures for returning unused metal cards may be; procedures can differ depending on their credit card provider.
Few cardholders have tried more extreme measures of credit card destruction. Some cardholders have attempted drilling holes through the chip and magnetic stripe or burning their credit cards in fire, with mixed success. It’s generally not recommended to hand over retired or expired credit cards to third-party services that promise free disposal; such services could become vulnerable to identity theft themselves and use your old cards fraudulently or gather your personal data without your knowledge or consent.
Depending on where and how you reside, it may be easier to take your metal credit card to a bank or credit union branch for disposal. Their staff may offer their help in physically discarding it for you or helping find another method while safeguarding the data stored therein.