Released: December 03, 2018

Paper or digital? Consumer Action joins new campaign to protect consumers’ right to choose

Keep Me Posted North America launches today

Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 202-544-3088

Consumer Action has joined a new campaign, Keep Me Posted North America, which launches today. The global advocacy campaign is working for the right of every consumer to choose, free of charge, how they receive important information from their service providers—on paper or electronically. (This short video explains its mission.)

Keep Me Posted North America will focus on educating and challenging corporations that are removing consumer choice and charging fees for paper. The campaign will coordinate with Keep Me Posted global campaigns already launched in several European countries and Australia.

In addition to Consumer Action, the Coalition for Paper Options, Haven Neighborhood Services, Montana Organizing Project, National Consumers League and The National Grange are part of the campaign’s founding coalition.

Millions of North American consumers are being disenfranchised by increased digitization, and need to receive bills and statements on paper for reasons such as: lack of internet access, limited digital abilities, and growing security concerns with online fraud. Others prefer paper for convenience and recordkeeping reasons.

Results of a 2017 Toluna U.S. consumer survey indicated that 90 percent agree that they should have the right to choose how they receive communications (printed or electronic) from financial organizations and service providers. Eighty-three percent agree they should not be charged more for choosing a paper bill or statement.

According to a study by the Pew Research Center in 2018, 50 percent of American senior citizens, 76 percent of those who have not completed high school and 55 percent of those living in households with an annual income under $30,000 did not have broadband internet at home. These numbers have increased since 2013 because of the cost of internet access.

“The majority of adult Americans prefer to receive at least some of their bills and statements in paper format and believe that paper format should continue to be provided to those who want it, at no extra cost,” states Linda Sherry, director of national priorities for Consumer Action. “The Keep Me Posted campaign is a much-needed effort to educate consumers and generate support for giving consumers the right to choose the way they want to communicate with service providers.”

“Keep Me Posted will be building a coalition of supporters (consumer groups, physical and mental health charities, trade unions and industry) to promote the adoption of the Keep Me Posted pledge by service providers,” states Phil Riebel, director of Keep Me Posted North America. “By presenting the facts about consumer needs and preferences related to paper-based communications, our coalition will work with service providers to ensure consumers are not forced to go digital.”

For more information, visit the Keep Me Posted NA website, and follow Keep Me Posted on Facebook and Twitter @KeepMePostedNA.

About Consumer Action

Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change. By providing consumer education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, a comprehensive website (www.consumer-action.org) and annual surveys of financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. Nearly 7,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support.

About Keep Me Posted

Keep Me Posted North America (KMP) is an advocacy campaign run by Two Sides North America, Inc. Keep Me Posted believes every consumer should be able to choose, free of charge and without penalty, how they receive important information—on paper or electronically—from their corporate service providers (ex: banks, telecoms, insurance and utility companies). The campaign gathers support from a coalition of consumer groups, physical and mental health charities, trade unions and industry. Keep Me Posted seeks to champion the cause of the millions who prefer paper-based communications or are disenfranchised by increased digitization and lack of choice, including many key sectors of society such as seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and those without the internet or computer skills. For more information about Keep Me Posted North America, contact Phil Riebel at 855-896-7433 or [email protected].

About Two Sides

Two Sides is an independent, non-profit organization created to promote the sustainability of print and paper. Two Sides is active globally in North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa and South America. Our members span the entire print and paper value chain, including forestry, pulp, paper, inks and chemicals, pre-press, press, finishing, publishing, printing, envelopes and postal operators. For more information, contact Two Sides North America at 855-896-7433 or [email protected]. Visit the Two Sides website and follow Two Sides on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.