The Cost Of Not Being Online

from the and-it's-probably-rising dept

Most of the time when we see studies about the "cost" related to being online, it's about how much it costs in various places to get connected. However, a study over in the UK is looking at the cost of not being online, noting that not having access to the internet can cost a family an average of £70 per month (about $100) in lost savings on household goods and services. So, while some families may complain about the cost of an internet connection, they may not realize how that cost can quickly be made up elsewhere in savings from being online -- especially during an economic downturn like we're experiencing now.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: broadband access


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    Twinrova, 9 Jan 2009 @ 4:03am

    Isn't this just common sense?

    It took businesses quite some time to adapt to the internet. I find it insulting if a company can't supply my bill via online, where it's never lost and always on time.

    What I used to pay in stamps covers 20% of my broadband fee. 20%. Online shopping saves on gas consumption.

    I find it funny a study like this is just now being done.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Chronno S. Trigger, 9 Jan 2009 @ 5:12am

      Re: Isn't this just common sense?

      "I find it insulting if a company can't supply my bill via online, where it's never lost and always on time."

      I want to know why it costs me an extra dollar to pay my electricity bill online vs. by paper check. With the paper check someone has to physically open the envelope, confirm all the information, and manually type all that in. With an electronic check, I type in all that info directly into the computer.

      It's an extra $5 for debit cards. WTF?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Frosty840, 9 Jan 2009 @ 5:13am

    One thing to watch out for is the UK's bizarre notion that a bill charged to your home address is a valid form of ID; sometimes a *required* form of ID.
    A friend of mine has all of his bills and banking done online, and now cannot sign up for a number of services which require a paper bill to his home address as prrof of ID.

    This is insane, I know.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Lonnie E. Holder, 9 Jan 2009 @ 5:17am

      Re:

      In the state of Indiana, you are required to bring a paper copy of a bill with your name on it to prove residency in order to get a driver's license.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2009 @ 5:59am

      Re:

      With all due respect your friend isn't too bright.

      I too live in the UK and have most of my bills delivered online, this includes all my credit and debit card bills and most of my utilities. They ALL provide the ability to neatly print out a copy of the bill that will look IDENTICAL to the one they used to post.

      I have yet to have one of my home printed bills rejected as proof of residence, and this includes recently using one to acquire a mortgage.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2009 @ 6:30am

        Re: Re:

        I used to live in England about a year ago, and when trying to get a cell (mobile) phone, they required that I bring in my electric and water bills to prove residence. They (Phones4U) told me that computer printed bills are not sufficient, and they have to be the official, original posted bills.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Mike, 9 Jan 2009 @ 6:32am

      Re: Can't sign up for services without paper bill

      Most online services have a printable version of the bill online. And even if they don't, if you can view itin your Web browser you can print it off.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jon, 9 Jan 2009 @ 5:32am

    response and intangibles

    "I want to know why it costs me an extra dollar to pay my electricity bill online vs. by paper check"

    Is that at the power companies site? Mine has the same deal, but I just go to my banks site and use their billpay for free and no charge from the power company.

    "In the state of Indiana, you are required to bring a paper copy of a bill with your name on it to prove residency"

    We do that too. I printed my power and phone bill from the company web site and the DMV took it with no problem.

    Now, lets talk about the less tangible savings of being online (or costs of not being online). Access to research materials for school aged children and college students still living at home. A current example is a job search/application without having to drive around all over the place. Look up medical issues to determine if a doctor visit is required or not (this one applies to both people and pets). The list goes on and on.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2009 @ 5:57am

      Re: response and intangibles

      Also: Reduction in entertainment costs (movies, music. I am even considering getting rid of comcast cable). Working from home.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sean, 9 Jan 2009 @ 6:09am

    Awesome...just wait until the ISPs get a hold of this. I can already see it in their rationale for jacking connection prices higher.

    Sorry, definitely agree with the premise here...just cynical about ISPs, especially comcast.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    chris (profile), 9 Jan 2009 @ 6:43am

    postively gibsonian

    in william gibson's spawl trilogy, offline transactions weren't illegal, they were just not possible. cash was legal, but no one accepted it because no one but criminals had it.

    i find myself having to pause to remember how to do things that are offline, like write a check or address an envelope. i wonder if some day it will be legal but impossible to be offline.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2009 @ 8:12am

    I wonder how they come up with $100 a month? Most normal people don't do all there shopping online or have everything on bill pay.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dan, 9 Jan 2009 @ 10:26am

    I have everything I do on bill pay... I don't know why you would ever do it differently... as a matter of fact as a twenty-three year old man I don't find it weird to say I have written less then 6 checks in my lifetime... SO I don't think it is unreasonable to think that everything will be online eventually.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2009 @ 6:09pm

    start er up

    Ok, so a lot of you have stated that being online is very important and can save $$$.

    So - what happens now that you can be kicked offline without due process or warning ?

    Yer screwed !

    Let the lawsuits commence

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.