Carshalton and Wallington MP has met with an organisation which is campaigning for residents for the "right to choose" how to hear about their finances.
Tom Brake MP met with Judith Donovan CBE, who chairs Keep Me Posted, to hear more about and support the campaign to give consumers the right to choose, without disadvantage, how they are contacted by banks and financial service companies, utility companies, and other service providers.
Keep Me Posted is a partnership of more than 80 representatives from charities, interest groups and businesses including Age UK, National Consumer Federation, Salvation Army, Esther Rantzen’s Silver Line and the Institute of Consumer Affairs, who are increasingly concerned about the growing trend towards online-only bills and statements and the impact this is having on people’s ability to effectively manage their finances.
The campaign’s research has shown that people understand their finances better and make better financial decisions when they receive information on paper, rather than online
The UK already lags behind other countries such as Spain, France, Germany and Finland, where the right for consumers to receive free paper bills and statements is enshrined in law.
Tom Brake said:
“It is important that my constituents are able to choose how they receive important financial information from service providers including banks and utility companies. The statistics show that so many people – including 102,000 in the south of outer London - cannot use the internet to manage their financial affairs – either because they don’t want to, don’t have the online skills, cannot afford computers or broadband, or find it difficult due to health conditions. These consumers should not then be penalised by having to pay to keep their paper bills and
statements.”
Judith Donovan CBE, who chairs Keep Me Posted, said:
“I am grateful to Tom Brake MP for giving us the time to support the campaign today, and for fighting for the right of his constituents to have the choice of a paper bill or statement.”
You can sign up to the Keep Me Posted campaign yourself by calling 020 7566 9773 or writing to Keep Me Posted, 24a St John’s Street London EC4P 4DZ.