# Disposing of old blank checks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665 "2013-03-11T23:56:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/1 "2013-03-11T23:56:36Z")
I have a few boxes of blank checks from an old account that’s been closed for several years. What’s the risk of just throwing them out in the trash? What’s the worst someone can do, if they tried to use them? It just seems like a PITA to have to shred them. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/2 "2013-03-12T00:03:11Z")
The account is closed. Paper shredding is pointless and a waste of electricity. Just throw them out. Wallpaper your spare room. Make origami. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/3 "2013-03-12T00:11:13Z")
While I wouldn’t bother shredding. I’d probably at least try to tear each packet in half. I’d think you could do that with not too much effort while your watching TV some evening (assuming you do). This might prevent someone else from getting stuck with a bad check. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/4 "2013-03-12T00:26:36Z")
Another quick and dirty alternative to shredding is soaking. Toss 'em in a five gallon bucket of water, maybe add some bleach, and leave it in the garage or back yard for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/5 "2013-03-12T00:49:42Z")
Shred or otherwise destroy them. I can imagine a scenario in which someone finds the checks, calls up the bank, uses the account/routing numbers and your name and address to figure out some other info about you, which leads to an identity theft. Then again, I suppose this could happen, and maybe more easily, with any check you write on an active account–who knows where they end up? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/6 "2013-03-12T00:56:48Z")
The last time I had to dispose of checks (my name was misspelled) I burnt them, but since I didn’t close the account (actually I’d just opened) it’s not quite the same situtation. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/7 "2013-03-12T00:57:07Z")
Or just take them by the bank the next time you go (if you ever visit the bank). They have big shred bins that handle all the sensitive documents. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/8 "2013-03-12T01:04:02Z")
shred bins sound like a good idea. Any office usually has them. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/9 "2013-03-12T05:10:10Z")
Scissors. How many checkbooks do you have? Just take them one at a time, cut it in half with one snip of the scissors. How hard can that be? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/10 "2013-03-12T12:06:06Z")
A check order had a minor misprint. When the corrected checks arrived I took the old ones and tore each book in half and tossed the halves in separate garbage cans. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/11 "2013-03-12T14:44:50Z")
Find a two year old and instruct him not to touch the checks. In five minutes they’ll be torn up beyond recognition 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/12 "2013-03-12T14:49:38Z")
A book of checks will KILL a cheap wastebasket shredder. I speak from experience. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/13 "2013-03-12T14:50:00Z")
> [@Carryon](#): > > Find a two year old and instruct him not to touch the checks. In five minutes they’ll be torn up beyond recognition 🙂 Would that be my wayward son, **Carryon**? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/14 "2013-03-12T14:59:40Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Would that be my wayward son, **Carryon**? Now there is a line you must have been saving for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/15 "2013-03-12T15:03:11Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Would that be my wayward son, **Carryon**? Either that, or Lovis Cumming Tuisall. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/16 "2013-03-12T15:04:53Z")
There’ll be peace when we are done. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/17 "2013-03-12T15:06:52Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > There’ll be peace when we are done. If they’re shredded, there’ll be pieces when he is done. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/18 "2013-03-12T15:07:12Z")
Lay your weary checks to rest. Don’t you cut no more. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/19 "2013-03-12T15:45:02Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > A check order had a minor misprint. When the corrected checks arrived I took the old ones and tore each book in half and tossed the halves in separate garbage cans. For the serious answer – this. > [@Carryon](#): > > Find a two year old and instruct him not to touch the checks. In five minutes they’ll be torn up beyond recognition 🙂 > [@echo7tango](#): > > Would that be my wayward son, **Carryon**? > [@echo7tango](#): > > There’ll be peace when we are done. > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > If they’re shredded, there’ll be pieces when he is done. > [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Lay your weary checks to rest. > Don’t you cut no more. “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665/20 "2013-03-12T16:06:18Z")
All we are is shreds in the bin. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-old-blank-checks/652665.md?page=2)