As pressure to go paperless from banks,
utilities, telecommunications companies and other service providers grows, a
majority of U.S. consumers wants to keep the option to receive paper bills and
statements, according to survey results published today by Two Sides. More than
six in 10 consumers say they would not choose a provider that does not offer
paper bills and statements, and 88 percent want to be able to switch between
electronic and paper bills without difficulty or cost. The survey of 2,000 U.S.
consumers was conducted for Two Sides in June by research firm Toluna.
72 percent agree that print and paper can be an environmentally sustainable way to communicate if responsibly produced, used and recycled.
50 percent of consumers either do not believe, feel misled by or question the validity of claims like “Save Trees, Go Paperless” and “Go Green, Go Digital.”
Over 84 percent of people agree that e-billing and e-statements are being promoted to save costs.
91 percent of consumers say they are unwilling to pay for paper bills.
44 percent prefer to receive bills by postal mail only.
59 percent of consumers would refuse to switch to electronic bills and statements or would not take action when asked to do so.
50 percent of consumers read their bills and statements received both electronically and by postal mail; only 15 percent read bills which they receive by e-mail only.
34 percent of consumers are clearly ‘home printers’ with 20 percent printing up to 20 percent of their bills and 8 percent printing between 80 percent and 100 percent of their bills. 66 percent don’t print out any bills at home.
