More and more these days, there’s a push to “go green” and part of that effort is reducing the amount of paper that we consume. Many companies over the last several years have been trying to go paperless wherever possible. One such example is cell phone companies who offer their subscribers the option to sign-up for paperless billing. If they choose to sign-up, some offer something like a one-time $5 dollar credit because in the end they save money. Other examples include banks who no longer send you a copy of your checks, or monthly statements, instead you can access all of that information on their online websites. Often time credit card companies allow you to opt-out of receiving a paper bill as well and allow you to view your activity online.
When we talk about paperless services, I can’t help but think of that YouTube video of someone flipping through their 300+ page iPhone bill from AT&T. It was shortly after that video was posted that AT&T decided to push their paperless program.
With so many opportunities to opt-in to paperless billing and statements, we are curious how many people actually take advantage it, hence our new poll.
New Poll
Do You Take Advantage of Paperless Services (e.g., bills and statements)?
- Yes, whenever possible
- Yes, but only with certain things
- No
You can either cast your vote below if you have Flash enabled, or you can vote in the sidebar.
Previous Poll Wrap-up
In our last poll, we asked you what type of security protection you use on your wireless router. Here’s what we found:
- 31% of you use WPA2
- 26% of you use WEP
- 23% of you use WPA
- 9% of you don’t have a wireless router
- 5% of you don’t use security
- 4% of you said “other” including mac filtering
- 2% of you just aren’t quite sure what you’re using
I’ve done the paperless route for several years now. All my bills, statements, etc are paperless. The only thing I still get paper statements (and lot of them) is from Blue Cross/Blue Shield every time I file a claim they have to keep sending me statements on that claim. I just one yesterday for a doctor’s visit from back in February showing they finally paid my doctor.
On a semi-related topic I have a gripe about some of these stores like Target and Wal Mart on how much paper they waste with their receipts. Yes, I want a paper receipt, but Target for example 1/3 of the total paper used is for the receipt itself. The other 2/3 is the gift receipt (which should be upon request) and their call-in sweepstakes. Wal Mart is just as bad, but at least they do their gift receipts upon request.
I’m only taking advantage of a paperless office with certain things. For sure you don’t get advantages here for services that try to go paperless. They do it the other way around: they take away options that were free for paper, or they make you pay for paper. That way you almost have to switch to paperless.
The thing I do not want to use paperless advantages for is financial stuff. Since you have to keep 5 years of financial history for taxes, I need access to that history going 5 years back. Statements online only go back 12-24 months, so I am forced to still request paper statements
This would also count for all services you use that you can deduct from taxes. If you don’t have them on paper and you switch companies, you’d lose all access to your previous statements if you don’t have them on paper. They should think of a solution for that.
I’d like to see receipts get trimmed down as well, and having worked at Target I can confirm that the printing of gift receipts automatically is a waste. They do analyze your purchases though to see what you’re buying and how much your spending to determine whether a gift receipt should be given. For example, if you go in to buy just groceries you’re actually not supposed to receive a gift receipt.
That’s a really good point. Maybe what they should do is always provide all of your statements in a PDF format that can be downloaded and stored on your computer at anytime. That way if you switch companies you can download and save all the statements to your computer.
Actually, now that you mention it, my internet & phone providers supply PDF’s. One sends it per email, the other lets you download it (after login). I think the first option is the best, because most people won’t go through the trouble of clicking a link, logging in and then finding the bill to download. Plus they only keep the last 12 statements. It’s about time more companies do that
Sprint emails statements as a PDF as well, and it is pretty nice not having to go download it later on. None of my other services do that though.