Banks that are pushing customers into paperless statements shouldn't charge higher fees to customers that don't want to or can't do business electronically, says Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
“Thousands of seniors and families in this area do not have adequate access to the Internet or thousands more are simply not comfortable reviewing their finances electronically,” Sen. Gillibrand said in a statement.
“These New Yorkers shouldn’t be punished for wanting to receive their bank statements in the mail. My legislation will make sure that financial institutions cannot take advantage of seniors or struggling families by imposing more fees.”
Gillibrand has introduced an amendment to a banking bill that would ban fees for paper statements.
Out of the 22,700 households in Genesee County, 7,203 don't have internet access, according to Gillibrand.
In her press release, Gillibrand also cites national survey figures that say two-thirds of Americans prefer paper bank statements and writing checks for bills.
Here we go again with the
Here we go again with the legislation train. Woo Woo. Something is bad and we MUST make it better by making more laws. Hey, Kirstie, maybe if you stayed out of it, some savvy, enterprising bank would see the situation and advertise "No fees for paper statements", those customers who feel wronged will change banks, the ones that do charge for paper statements will not like that and will offer incentives to get the customers back, and it all goes back to the way it was, WITHOUT government involvement. It's called a free market. Look it up. Say Hi to Barack for me tomorrow in Buffalo. Ugh
Doesn't seem like very green
Doesn't seem like very green legislation to me.
It's usually the people who
It's usually the people who can least afford it who get stuck with excess charges, but as my son (poor) will tell you, they will make adjustments for those people who show up in their own defense. His mother taught him that. I never liked conflict myself but she used to make me do it too. I hated it, because I'm a damn wimpy, liberal, left wing, socialist, communist, marxist, piece of driftwood with a heart of butter on a hot day. "Onward, thru the Fog" -Oat Willie
From the reading assignment
From the reading assignment you gave us, Howard: "The Collapse of Complex Societies" by Joseph Tainter: "Societies invest in complexity to solve their problems and typically need to expend ever more organizational and physical energy to maintain that level of complexity" I of course did not read the book (ADD), but have been reading a paper on it: http://www.sublimeoblivion.com/2009/04/09/notes-tainter/
I usually need to read something like that 2 or 3 times. It's a concept that applies to our society so much. This idea of Gillibrand's is very indicative.
Howard, green, schmeen. In
Howard, green, schmeen. In these days and times I don't want my senator (if you will) spending time and tons of money promoting some new law that, as Dave so eloquently pointed out, will be corrected in the private sector.
We have met the enemy and he is she. (And more so Chuckie)
This is such a waste of time.
This is such a waste of time. I agree Dave with you. My bank will not be charging for paper statements, so that is a benefit.
Here's what cracks me up:
Out of the 22,700 households in Genesee County, 7,203 don't have internet access, according to Gillibrand.
They choose to not have internet, they have access. It's not about affordability, because you can still get dial up for $9 per month. It may be about lack of knowledge, but that can be taught. No it's about choice. My Grandparents don't want to leran how to work the computer. That's fair.
Let's not make it out though "we poor folk can't get that new fangled internet here in Podunkville!"
Phil, computers still cost
Phil, computers still cost money.
And the knowledge factor required is a bit higher and frustration higher level for an inexperienced user with dial up and an old computer (the cheapest way to go).
Does anyone really believe
Does anyone really believe that the cost of sending out a bill in the mail won't just be rolled in the cost of the services,and that just because they don't create a line on the bill to tell you how much it cost to send you the bill that they aren't charging you for it one way or another...Instead of worrying about trivial things like this why doesn't Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand find ways to remove all the taxes on our untility bills..They are loaded with a ton of taxes.Just look at your cell phone bill...That would help the public,not some nickel and dime item....
No doubt, Howard. I'm not
No doubt, Howard.
I'm not saying that I agree with the fee, but that's the beauty of choice, I can leave. It should be a personal choice, not a law.
Mark; apparently Kirsten
Mark; apparently Kirsten Gillibrand believes that.