My client forms have signatures and home addresses, and I was going to run them through PDF Bear to combine the pages. Is that actually safe, or do they keep the uploads?
Honestly I would not send client signatures and addresses through any random upload site, since you can’t really verify what they keep or delete. Do it offline instead: on a Mac, Preview merges PDFs in seconds, and on Windows you can combine pages and print to a new PDF. Safer and no upload wait.
I had the same worry handling patient intake forms at our clinic, since many online tools store files on their servers. I use PDFcap to combine sensitive forms safely now. You just upload the files on pdfcap.com, click merge, and download the combined document straight to your computer.
I wouldn’t trust any random website with customer addresses and signatures. Avoid uploading sensitive data to free online tools because you have no idea where it ends up, which I learnt the hard way with my baking invoices. My tip is to insert the files into a blank Word document and save that as a new PDF. It keeps everything safely on your own computer.
Had the same thing last month with sponsor contact sheets that had phone numbers on them. I would not run anything with signatures or addresses through a random web combiner, since you cannot know what happens to it server side. On a laptop you can combine pages using the built in print to PDF or Preview on Mac without uploading anywhere. Worth the extra step for client data.
sarcastic_sea The Word route is what I do with client statements too, then File and Save As PDF, and it never leaves my old laptop. Not sure if it’s the same on Mac.
@Emily.7 On Mac, Preview works well: open one PDF, show thumbnails, drag the other pages in, then use File > Export as PDF. It stays on the laptop, which is what I’d use for signatures and addresses.
For forms with signatures and home addresses, I would avoid uploading them to any web combiner unless the provider’s retention and deletion policy is very clear. I combine and redact sensitive PDFs locally in Acrobat, PDF-XChange, or Preview on a Mac, then check the output before sending. Learned this the hard way with tutoring records: deleting visible text is not the same as removing the underlying data.
I can’t confirm PDF Bear’s current retention policy, so I’d check its privacy policy before uploading signed client forms with home addresses. For merging, I use PDFsam or PDFgear’s desktop app, where the files stay on my computer. If you must use the web service, try a redacted test copy first and delete the test job afterward.
@evelyn2008 the hidden text part is what bites people. I select all in the output now and look for text sitting under my redaction boxes, since I got caught by that once with claim files. Preview and plain print to PDF handle the rest for me.
i do leases with signatures and addresses all the time and i wouldn’t send those through a site just to combine pages. they can say they delete files but i don’t trust it. i merge locally with preview on mac, or libreoffice if i’m on the other computer.