Fiona is continuing her backing for the consumer rights campaign for people to have the right to choose, without disadvantage, how they are contacted by banks, utility companies and other service providers. Fiona met the campaign’s chair, Judith Donovan CBE, in the Houses of Parliament to discuss the campaign and the importance of consumer choice.
The Keep Me Posted campaign has introduced the Keep Me Posted “Mark of Distinction.” The Mark has been awarded to over thirty service providers such as HSBC and Natwest who offer consumers the ability to choose paper statements and bills without being charged for this.
There are still 4.8m adults in the UK who have never used the internet.
Speaking at a meeting in the House of Commons Fiona said:
“It is really important that we respect that for a variety of reasons, including concerns about confidentiality and cyber theft, many people prefer to receive sensitive personal financial information in paper format, rather than digitally, and we should respect that.”
Fiona said:
“The Keep Me Posted Campaign’s findings demonstrate that many consumers feel they can manage their financial affairs more effectively when they receive bills in paper format, such as those who are vulnerable, for example living with disabilities or those unable to afford a computer.
From Keep Me Posted’s foundation I have said that it is really important that we don’t disenfranchise, from our society or communities, people who aren’t digitally connected, for whatever reason, and this is particularly important in a Constituency like mine with a very high proportion of older people, not all of whom want to be online – we need them to feel just as included as those who are.”
Fiona concluded:
“Many people may not have heard of the Keep Me Posted campaign but they will certainly know of some of the 100 organisations supporting it including the mental health charities Mind and Dementia UK
Judith Donovan CBE, Chair of the Keep Me Posted campaign, said:
“We really appreciate the support of Fiona in ensuring people have the right to choose. Since the launch of Keep Me Posted four years ago, over 100 organisations have pledged their support in ensuring that consumers retain the right to receive paper statements without penalties.”