The internet.

[Consumer dude]

So you phone up your local authority for the latest news within your area, to be asked 'oh have you got access to to the internet' which you may or may not have. In the case that you have, the information may not be correct so are in fact none the wiser. In the case of having no access to the internet for what ever reason, is one still not entitled to receive up to date information via an alternative mode eg, (through the post). Not everyone has access to the internet and how much is the one liner, 'do you have access to the internet' being used simply to pass the buck ?

[unclebulgaria67]

So you phone up your local authority for the latest news within your area, to be asked 'oh have you got access to to the internet' which you may or may not have. In the case that you have, the information may not be correct so are in fact none the wiser. In the case of having no access to the internet for what ever reason, is one still not entitled to receive up to date information via an alternative mode eg, (through the post). Not everyone has access to the internet and how much is the one liner, 'do you have access to the internet' being used simply to pass the buck ?

 

Perhaps access to the internet should be free. Most people pay for internet connections.

 

As we are moving close to a position of it being very difficult to do things without an internet connection, there is an argument that internet should be provided free to every household that wants it.

[Consumer dude]

The point is also, not everyone wants to collect information in this way but should be an option so if an individual wants information sent in the post that should be their right. The other thing is when people are directed to the information online, how reliable and up to date is what you might be reading..

[snowdragon]

it is same now with car insurance etc, they send the forms by e-mail and like you say we do not all have internet but when trying to explain this they charge you for sending documents in the post, even if you do have internet not all have a printer! Just about everything seems seems to be inter-net based x

[Consumer dude]

How much would they charge by sending forms in the post. I bet it's more then the price of a stamp..

[silverfox1961]

it is same now with car insurance etc, they send the forms by e-mail and like you say we do not all have internet but when trying to explain this they charge you for sending documents in the post, even if you do have internet not all have a printer! Just about everything seems seems to be inter-net based x

 

RAC insurance did this to me. I have an account now to log in to and view my documents but if I want to print out the policy schedule, this is 46 pages long

 

Co-Op insurance on the other hand does nothing like that. All documents come in the post which is OK but when you need a letter of NCD, this can take up to 10 days and if they fail to supply, you would have the risk of cancelled insurance.

[snowdragon]

I have car insurance with RAC silverfox and just had to change car details as like you I can log into an account, do not fancy printing it out either.guess in one a good thing as you are not kept on the phone for ages but on other hand could be a bad thing! x Sandy

[unclebulgaria67]

There is a big danger that too much is put online, with no contingency in place. If the internet was subjected to a massive Trojan virus attack, which got past most internet security, it could potentially take weeks or months to sort out. If it wiped out records and operating systems, it would take ages for contingency systems to be run. They could not start the contingency system until it was safe to do so.

 

Could you imagine Banks not knowing whether you had money in your account, all Bank cards not working and Banks only providing cash to people who provide some evidence they are likely to have a cash balance. For this reason people should take personal contingency measures, keeping some cash on them, some paper records to rely on, food in cupboards. Etc.

[determindator]

The point is also, not everyone wants to collect information in this way but should be an option so if an individual wants information sent in the post that should be their right. The other thing is when people are directed to the information online, how reliable and up to date is what you might be reading..

 

Yes CD, looks like 1984 is starting to take hold.

[citizenB]

Not everyone has or even wants to be connected to the internet and it is very unfair that those who don't are seriously disadvantaged.

[honeybee13]

I have a mother and an aunt who have never even owned a computer. How do companies and other people think they're supposed to manage?

 

HB

[citizenB]

I suppose with the majority of people being connected, they don't really care about the rest, HB

[honeybee13]

They don't seem to, I agree.

[colin11]

Anyone without an internet connection, can always pay a pound for an hour at an internet cafe, or use it at the library

[honeybee13]

Anyone without an internet connection, can always pay a pound for an hour at an internet cafe, or use it at the library

 

Good point, as long as they aren't housebound like my relatives.

 

HB

[silverfox1961]

Good point, as long as they aren't housebound like my relatives.

 

HB

 

OR a complete technophobe. Some people (both young and old) just can't get on with technology

[honeybee13]

Indeed, SF. Even if my relatives could get to a library, they don't have the first idea of how to use a computer.

 

HB

[think about it]

That's where net-savvy relatives come in to play, HB.

[honeybee13]

I help when I can, TIA.

 

HB