While many industries have quickly embraced the idea of a paperless office, the legal field has yet to catch up. Some law firms are indeed switching to electronic records for certain types of documents, but there are inherent cybersecurity concerns. And at times there is uncertainty about about how long clients’ files must be maintained, they often end up with a veritable mountain of paper. If you’re facing a record management crisis, there are a few things you need to know about on-site document shredding services.

Which Documents to Save
Unfortunately, figuring out which documents you must retain is made far more complicated by the lack of uniformity among state requirements. Even within state guidelines, document shredding rules can differ among different practice areas. In California, for example, criminal files must be retained until the client dies, whereas documents pertaining to entrusted client funds and property must be preserved for five years after the date that the funds or property were disbursed to the client. Some documents, including those with pecuniary value, must be saved indefinitely unless you obtain the permission of the client to shred them.

Which Documents to Shred
As space becomes cramped, deciding which documents to shred becomes increasingly important. Diligent lawyers can contact the state bar association for detailed guidelines. In general, it is presumed safe to shred documents that pertain to civil cases and do not carry intrinsic value if five years have passed from the date that the file was closed. To shred a document sooner than this, it’s wise to obtain written permission from the client. Of course, exceptions do exist. If you’re unsure about a specific document, you can always connect with the state bar ethics hotline.

POUCH Self Storage offers convenient and secure on-site document shredding for your peace of mind. For those files that you cannot yet shred, we also provide secure self-storage units in Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. Look up a location nearest you at pouchselfstorage.com , give us a call if you have any questions and be sure to check out our professional packing supplies.

Your RV is a significant investment in your lifestyle. Keep it safe during the off-season with professional RV storage. Before bringing it to the RV storage lot, you’ll need to mouse-proof it. Watch this video from an experienced RV owner to learn how to keep rodents at bay.

He explains that he’s never had a problem with mice since he began using a botanical blend of concentrated peppermint and spearmint oil. Add a generous helping of this blend to several glass cups and place a cotton ball in each. Place a glass in the front, rear, kitchen, and bathroom of your RV. This RV owner also explains how he mouse-proofs the power outlet compartment using nothing more than a funnel and some electrical tape.

If you’re looking for safe RV storage in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, look no further than POUCH Self Storage for outdoor and covered storage options . Give us a call today at (800) 378-4598 to inquire about our vehicle storage options.

If you have a love for Christmas decorations, you’re not alone—Americans spend billions on them each season. The problem comes when the holidays are over and you need somewhere to store all of your favorite Christmas décor. That is where POUCH Self Storage comes into the picture. Our storage units are the perfect places to keep your decorations safe from damage and out of your way for the 11 months they’re on hiatus each year. Our self-storage facilities are available in a variety of sizes, and with our free moving truck, getting your items to and from your storage unit is always convenient. Check out this infographic for more tips on storing your Christmas decorations, and contact us to find out more about self-storage in Orange County. Chances are you have family and friends who are facing the same Christmas decoration conundrum, so please share this information.

Renting a storage unit is similar to moving. You need to pack your items appropriately to protect them from damage and to organize the space in your storage unit effectively. Fortunately, most storage units offer the packing supplies you need on-site, to make the process as convenient as possible.

After you rent a storage unit, you will need basics like boxes, box cutters, packing tape, bubble wrap, and newsprint. Depending on what you plan to store, you may also need dust covers for electronics, furniture covers, and mattress bags. You may need rope to secure your belongings, and everyone who rents a self-storage unit needs a sturdy lock.

At POUCH Self Storage, not only do we sell all of these supplies are our storage facilities in Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties, but we also offer a FREE moving truck to everyone who rents a unit to make the transfer process simple and affordable. Call us today and find out more about storage units and packing supplies by dialing (800) 378-4598.

Shredding documents is part of doing business, but taking care of the process on your own could be a costly mistake. There are practical reasons that in-house shredding doesn’t work, such as machine maintenance, and security reasons, such as exposing sensitive corporate information. Here are some reasons you should look for a facility with secure on-site document shredding for all of your document destruction needs.

Keep Your Information Secure
When you handle shredding in-house, you open yourself up to several security risks. First, you may have documents that contain information not all employees should see but that they could easily come across somewhere in the shedding process. This risk is especially prominent for medical offices, who risk violating HIPAA compliance guidelines, and law firms. Other businesses may simply want to reduce the number of people who see things like customers’ Social Security numbers or credit card numbers. Doing shredding in-house raises the chances this information can be accessed. Likewise, competitors and identity thieves may realize your trash is a treasure trove of information when you don’t use a secure facility with on-site shredding who can take of disposal for you.

Use Time More Efficiently
Shredding documents is not generally an efficient use of your employees’ time, and it could distract them from the tasks you really need them to perform. The more paper your company generates, the more time your employees will need to dedicate to shredding, which could significantly impact the efficiency of your business. Doing shredding out-of-house lets your employees focus on doing their jobs instead.

Avoid Shredding Machine Issues
Many companies who attempt in-house shredding quickly find out how frustrating it can be. Shredding machines are sensitive, and with a large number of people using them, it’s inevitable many people will do things to damage the machine, like overfeed paper or run staples through it. The time spent keeping the machine operational is a further drain on productivity.

POUCH Self Storage is pleased to offer secured on-site document shredding in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, alongside a Move you FREE truck program , and records management solutions offered at Pouch Records Management . Find out how we can help your business by calling any of our storage facilities at (800) 378-4598.

When you are choosing between self-storage units, one factor you will need to consider is whether you need climate control. Not all people need climate-controlled storage , but for others, it is the only way to safely store their items. Should you choose a storage facility with climate-controlled units? Here are some of the times you should consider renting a unit with climate control.

You will be storing items for an extended period of time.
No matter what you’re storing, if you plan to keep your self-storage unit for a long period of time, or if you aren’t sure how long you will be storing your items, then climate control may be a good idea. Climate control protects things like furniture, clothing, and artwork from damage during storing, so the longer you have those items in a unit without climate control, the more vulnerable they are to being ruined. Sometimes when your items are in storage for an extended period of time, even if they are boxes of books and other sturdy items, climate control keeps them in better shape.

You live in a humid climate.
Humidity and storage are a risky combination, especially when you are storing furniture, papers, clothing, and artwork. Humid conditions can allow mold and mildew to grow on your belongings, rendering them unusable. If humidity is a regular issue where you live, consider choose climate-controlled storage facilities for your things.

You live in climate that gets very hot or very cold (or both).
Like humidity, temperature can have an impact on your storage unit. If the temperature where you live consistently rises above 90 degree F or drops below freezing on a regular basis, climate control can offer protection to your items. Note that appliances, audio equipment, collectables, and furniture can be especially vulnerable to damage caused by temperature changes.

Contact POUCH Self Storage to find out options for climate controlled self-storage in Orange County. We also offer options for jumbo storage units, a Move you FREE truck program and packing supplies for purchase to make the process as easy as possible. Call (800) 378-4598 today for more information.

Every year POUCH Self Storage and POUCH Records Management are recognized by their Management Company, Yelland Properties for another year of hard work and dedication. Every year, the VP goes above and beyond planning for this yearly event. From choosing the venue, creating a theme, approving the menu, to hiring the entertainment and everything in-between every minute detail was put into place by her. This year we celebrated Bollywood Style!

1. Bol·ly·wood [ˈbälēˌwo͝od] NOUN
   1. the Indian movie industry, based in Mumbai (Bombay).

The night was so much fun, full of laughing, dancing… and lets not forget… AWARDS! Our team here in Tustin walked away with 4 team awards including Top Retail Sales and Shredding, Social Media Promotion, Top Truck Moves for an individual and…. The BIG one…. FACILITY OF THE YEAR! (Best Facility Performance). Along with some personal achievement awards, it was nice to be appreciated for our hard work throughout the year. We take great pride in our facility and although the job isn’t always easy… It’s nights like this that make it all worth it.

Thank you again for the wonderful night, we can’t wait for next years celebration.

It can be overwhelming to know what financial documents should be placed in storage units and which can be safely shred. Not keeping financial documents for long enough could be problematic if you are audited or if you have issues with your retirement accounts, but having too many records can lead to disorganization.

Which records should you keep in storage units, and which should you shred? Watch this video for advice. Always keep forms that support deductions on your taxes for the window in which you could be audited, and consider keeping forms relating to retirement accounts forever.

Whether you need storage facilities for your records or are ready to shred, POUCH Self Storage has the solutions for you. We offer self-storage units in a variety of sizes, and safe, on-site document shredding. For self-storage in Orange County, please call (800) 378-4598.

Document shredding is a major concern for certain businesses, especially for businesses in the healthcare, finance, and legal sectors. If your business deals with documents that pertain to consumer information, personal healthcare information, or other sensitive information, then you need on-site document shredding solutions. Be sure to pick a facility that is in compliance with all relevant regulations, including HIPAA, SOX, and FACTA.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
The SOX Act is a federal law that was enacted in 2002. It established new standards and enhanced old standards for all public company boards, public accounting firms, and management firms. One major aspect of the SOX Act is the requirement that public companies integrate detailed information systems into their operations, such as the secure disposal of business records that are no longer needed. For example, the SOX Act requires that companies store for at least five years all electronic information pertaining to an audit. Hard drives and tapes may be shredded and then recycled.

Fair Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) passed FACTA in 2003 and it came into effect in 2005. It was created to put an end to the improper disposal of consumer information. Every company that maintains, possesses, or otherwise handles consumer information needs to be in compliance of FACTA. The act is fairly flexible, requiring only that these companies take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access by destroying consumer information in some manner, such as by burning, shredding, or pulverizing.

Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA was a major achievement in furthering patient safety and increasing accountability in the healthcare field . Among other provisions, this legislation requires that covered entities dispose of personal health information in any reasonable way that prevents unauthorized access. In other words, disposing of paperwork in a dumpster is not acceptable, but shredding it is.

For business and personal needs, Pouch Records Management and POUCH Self Storage offers safe and reliable on-site shredding at all of our locations. In addition to on-site document shredding and records management, our storage facilities offer a variety of self-storage options in Orange County, including vehicle storage. You can request more information by calling (800) 378-4598.

Storage units come in a variety of sizes. Not everyone will need a jumbo storage unit, but these spacious rentals can come in handy for certain people. For example, if you own a business that relies on inventory, then you probably already know how tricky it can be to predict how quickly your inventory will run out. To ensure you can steadily supply your customers, you can purchase more inventory than you need and store the items in a jumbo storage unit for convenience. Some businesses might even use these super-size storage units for light workshop use.

Jumbo storage units can also be appropriate for personal use. For example, if you’re in the military and you’ve received notice of an overseas deployment, you’ll probably want to hang on to your furniture and other possessions without paying for a house or apartment. Long-term jumbo storage units are your solution.

POUCH Self Storage provides a full range of self-storage options in Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties, for business and personal use, including storage units of all sizes. We even offer a free moving truck to make your transition as easy as possible! Call us at (800) 378-4598 today for more information.