I have just had a tussle with BT over their switching, without giving me any choice or warning, of my paper phone bill to one which has no details of the calls made from my Devon home.

They offered me the option of viewing my detailed bill online but when I tried the system, it did not work and the information proved inaccessible. This is an example of increasing efforts by utility companies and some banks to lower their costs and stealthily increase profits by forcing customers to accept digital information instead of the traditional paper format. Ofcom has said that service providers are entitled to make a commercial decision on the methods they use to communicate with customers – as long as they don’t charge; but BT are levying £6 on customers requiring printed paper bills and paying by cheque. My persistence paid off and my detailed printed invoices have been reinstated.

My dissatisfaction over the loss of a paper billing statement in favour of electronic communications is one that is shared by a large percentage of the population.

The Keep Me Posted campaign has been launched demanding choice, without penalty charges, for the method by which utility companies, banks and financial service providers communicate with customers.

Readers can sign up by letter addressed to Keep Me Posted, PO Box 72064, London EC4P 4DZ. They will send you an information pack and a draft letter seeking your MP’s support. Or you can do it online!

Giles Chichester MEP, Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar.