The paperless trap.
19 Aug 2018
Dear LPG,
I was reading your article which has the title ‘Proof of address is important for all…’, and which you posted on 17th July this year and I had a thought.
How on earth are we supposed to be able to produce a paper bill when we need one? So many of the services that provide our gas, electricity, phones, broadband and insurances have, in recent years, been trying their very best to tempt their customers to ditch paper bills, and go direct debit while we check our statements on line. I understand that the environment is being helped by this corporate initiative but we also have to take into account that not sending out bills saves them when it comes to buying paper, stamps and a workforce to physically get the bills ready for posting.
No company is actually forcing their clients to give up paper bills, but the incentive of a bill saving of, on average well over £20.00 per year is a reason for some of the financially less well-off pensioners who already pay by direct debit, to opt out of paper bills.
I believe that the council always send a posted letter to inform us of their annual tax bill and regardless of whether we are eligible to pay or not, every household receives a Television license renewal letter, and there may be a few other exceptions.
I think that JA made an excellent point about making sure that you have at least one regular bill that arrives on your front door mat and has your name on it if you move in with one of your children, especially a daughter - whose Surname is highly unlikely to be the same as yours, but it is something that we should all consider as we go paperless.
So, as most agencies using this as proof of where you live want posted evidence which is less than three months old, don’t be persuaded to make the change with every bill. It is perhaps worth paying the extra £20.00 on just one of those bills.
Remember that the council tax renewal and TV license bills only arrive on our doorstep once a year unless we forget to pay them.
KY, Forest Hill
LPG found this information online which informs that more and more agencies wanting proof of address are beginning to accept copied and forwarded emails showing the information and also in some cases photocopies. But such facilities are by no means available to all.
