Worcester Newspaper Needs a Paper Shredder

An organization that distributes information daily should know better.  With all of the constant advice to take care private records and confidential information, and all of the new rules regarding the proper disposal of consumer documents, all businesses have to be aware of the need for a paper shredder.  A news organization should have been aware of the new rules.  This irony has not been lost on organizations throughout the country, who have reported on this story, including pundits such as Rush Limbaugh.  Rush found it ironic that a newspaper that has harped about the invasion of privacy that may develop from Homeland Security has actually invaded the privacy of its readership.

It appears that the finance department used credit card information that should have been sent through a paper shredder, and used it as packing slips.  Thus almost a quarter million customers had their credit information printed on the back side of these routing slips.  Although most of the slips were undoubtedly thrown away, the gaffe subjected the papers subscribers to potential identity theft, and subjected the paper to potential litigation.

This mistake means that the subscribers will need to check their credit reports to verify that no fraud has been committed  on their  accounts.  Paper shredders are a critical piece of equipment for newspapers.