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To obliterate your address on packaging

(105 Posts)
Shinamae Tue 26-Mar-24 10:40:12

Just seen this on Jeremy Vine, if you rub a small amount of hand gel onto the address,onto the barcode,anything like that that you’re going to put out for recycling, it completely obliterates it.
That to me is a very useful tip

buffyfly9 Tue 26-Mar-24 10:44:15

Thanks for this! I get a lot of stuff on Amazon (guilt) and spend time pulling off the labels and shredding them. I will try this straight away!

Witzend Tue 26-Mar-24 10:47:58

I usually just use a thick black marker pen, but will def. try this - thank you.

ExDancer Tue 26-Mar-24 11:09:50

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Allex50 Tue 26-Mar-24 11:13:02

Used to shred but changed to black indelible marker (NOT wipe board) some months back.

BigBertha1 Tue 26-Mar-24 11:15:04

I cut off the addresses and shred them as instructed to do so by a security expert.

Charleygirl5 Tue 26-Mar-24 11:20:48

I am sure Amazon uses superglue because I have great difficulty scraping off the labels. That seems an easy method, thanks.

tanith Tue 26-Mar-24 11:36:41

I too cut all addresses off and shred.

nanaK54 Tue 26-Mar-24 11:44:05

Thank you for the tip.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 26-Mar-24 11:56:19

I've found that Wob (previously World of Books) labels can have the address washed off with a damp cloth. Very useful if you want to reuse the packaging.

Wheniwasyourage Tue 26-Mar-24 11:57:15

Thanks for the hand gel tip, Shinamae - not all address labels are as easily cleaned off as the Wob ones!

lixy Tue 26-Mar-24 13:04:33

I cut mine off and put them in the compost bin - worms haven't scammed me yet!

Good tip about the hand gel - thanks.

kircubbin2000 Tue 26-Mar-24 13:13:38

Why would you need to do that?

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 26-Mar-24 13:17:13

What annoy me are all the communications from charities which I don’t support - not only are your name and address printed on the front of the letter but also tucked away on the donation slip they enclose so I have to go hunting for that. We burn or shred all the name and address labels.

rosie1959 Tue 26-Mar-24 13:52:19

Can’t say I have ever bothered

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 26-Mar-24 13:58:44

You would be if you were the victim of identity theft. Don’t make it easy for fraudsters!

mummytummy Tue 26-Mar-24 14:16:38

I always cut off and shred, have a fantastic shredder cuts into very tiny pieces.

When I have to take newspapers to a big recycling bin at supermarket, there is one you have to lift the lid and it never fails to amaze me how people throw away bank statements with name, address, bank account no. and balance all intact for “anyone” to use and commit fraud if they had a mind to 🤬

Theexwife Tue 26-Mar-24 15:01:37

I dont bother removing, there are easier ways of finding a name and address rather than rummaging through someone's recycling.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 26-Mar-24 15:24:09

You realise that people pay for names and addresses? I wouldn’t trust the recycling centre employees not to look out for such information - therefore it never goes in the bin unless shredded.

Theexwife Tue 26-Mar-24 15:50:43

Companies sell lists of peoples info, just a name and address from a recycling centre employee would not be worth anything.

Georgesgran Tue 26-Mar-24 15:57:51

I got a couple of black ink roller things from QVC. One swipe over and the labels are totally illegible.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 26-Mar-24 16:03:45

The sort of people interested in buying your name and address are not companies buying lists for marketing. My address - easily found but not my name - was used for insurance fraud. If the fraudsters had had my name as well they would be well on their way to taking out loans in my name. It happens. Legitimate companies abide by data protection laws - fraudsters don’t.

Jaxjacky Tue 26-Mar-24 16:11:13

You can also request your name and address are not widely visible on the electoral register.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 26-Mar-24 16:16:22

Yes. We have done that.

Nanderin Wed 27-Mar-24 13:50:01

I just use a black sharpie.