Millions can’t check statements online, but telecoms giants are now charging up to £36 a year just to put one in the post

• Almost all major telecoms giants charge between £1 and £3 for each paper bill
• The real cost of providing a paper bill is estimated to be no more than 45p
• Around 4.5 million adults did not use the internet in 2018, according to the ONS

Thousands of customers are being penalised by their utility providers for wanting bills sent through the post. Almost all major telecoms giants now charge customers between £1 and £3 for each paper bill that they receive. Telecoms watchdog Ofcom says firms are allowed to bill customers a 'reasonable fee' to cover the extra cost of posting statements. But experts warn firms are using these fees to profiteer from their most vulnerable customers, with the real cost of providing a paper bill estimated to be no more than 45p. Regulator Ofcom told Money Mail it has raised concerns with Britain's biggest provider, BT, over its £3 per statement charge.Some energy firms also charge extra for paper statements, while nine out of ten of the cheapest tariffs are only available online.

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