Skip to content
Health

The paperless chase: A few nays

    by Sandy Bauers
    Published 

In this morning's column, I wrote about how paying bills online can save paper. Which, of course, saves trees and the energy used to make and transport paper.

Not to mention 42 cents for a postage stamp.

It prompted a lot of debate, and I want to share some of the responses I got:

* "Doesn't often work. I had accepted paperless billing with a large bank, covering costs of your paper delivery. No notice given for a couple of months, then a bill, late charges and penalty, of over $100. No explanation would settle. They said, "We do not give refunds." I contacted Comptroller of the Currency, who went to the bank and eventually, I was given the refund in full. Seems the e-mail billing with AOL did not go through - the reason I did not get the billings."

* "Another way to TRY to save paper if you have the money on hand is to pay annually. I did this with Comcast with my rental unit's TV service, but no matter how hard I tried and who I talked to they will not stop sending monthly bills with zero balance! They say their computers are not set up that way. Maybe you can get them more Green."

* "I have been reluctant to do it for several reasons. First, if my computer is down or I am unable to get my email for some reason, I will not be aware that a bill is due and I will not be pay it which could lead to problems. Also I have several friends who, for whatever reason, wanted to return from online transactions to paper bills and were unable to arrange it causing serious confusion, missed payments etc. Also, in terms of saving paper, most folks who need copies of the bills later for tax reasons will have to print the bills out on their own paper thereby paying for paper that previously was paid for by the phone or electric company etc."

And finally, this from a woman who signed herself Miss Doom and Gloom: "Twenty-five years ago the banks begged us to use their free ATM machines because it was a time and payroll saver. Now that I'm addicted to the machines they're charging $2 or more per transaction. … I fear that soon we will be billed for going paperless. We think it can't happen, but we'll be powerless when it does. We're on track to being charged for getting an invoice by any means, hard copy or online."

Yikes! Say it ain't so!