Fee shock for several thousand power customers - Northern Lights

from 1 January this year introduced both Troms Kraft and Ymber – power company in North Troms – fee for customers who receive paper invoice in the mail.

Previously, it was your choice if you want a bill in the mail, e-mail or online banking. But in Ymber must now pay 35 dollars extra if you decide to get physical copy of the invoice.

company sent in December the following message to subscribers:

“As an environmental measure will Ymber from 01/01/2014 impose an administration charge for receiving paper invoices. Select invoicing or email invoice already so you do not have an administration charge. “

message was signed “Environmentally friendly greeting from Ymber AS”.

– Can help

Many of Ymbers customers are older people, who may not have computer or Internet access.

company has 8,600 customers including two of the three still receive paper invoices.

– We have received some feedback on this, but not that many. Today, it is the most payments in banking. We actually waited the longest before we introduced the fee, says marketing in Ymber, Jim Bratland.

He believes there need not be a problem for customers to opt out of paper billing even if they are not used to e-mail or web access.

– Most’ve ever they can get help. The debit will also be deducted automatically.

Bratland mean fee of 35 kroner nor is among the highest.

– It’s like that in the middle of the tree.

Many require fee

Ymber and Troms Kraft is not alone in taking charge for paper invoices. Most power companies, banks, insurance companies, telephone companies and other regular suppliers have introduced additional payment for paper bill.

It created a storm of protest, however, both the elderly and the visually impaired when Telenor introduced such a fee in 2009. A complaints actually got under the Consumer Complaints Board for electronic communications as the Tribunal said Telenor could not prove that this particular customer had been warned in advance about the fee.

Elklagenemnda, consisting of representatives of both energy companies and the Consumer Council, however, has rejected several complaints about billing fee.