Sue: I can't help you on this one because I don't go paperless either for the reasons you state. Especially, what if my computer goes down and I can't get it fixed for a while. Another example is my insurance company who wants me to go entirely online. For about 4 months, no matter what I did, the site wouldn't pull my info up, and they were no help. So they can continue putting my statements in the mail.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

Shirley (cautious and proud to be so)

I recently went with paperless billing for my long distance, and dial up (back-up) internet provider. I chose to do this as the internet is $2 less per month, and the rate per minute on LD is considerably less.

The billing amount is then withdrawn automatically from my checking. Right off the bat, I had trouble looking at my invoice on line, but called and got it straightened out this AM. I can see my account from years back, as I've had their internet service for years with paper billing. I then this AM, once they got my on line account accessible this AM, printed out my recent invoices (since going paperless.

If I wasn't getting a reduced rate, I wouldn't be going paperless, since I, like you, like to keep a paper record of all payments.

With the Discover card the only thing affected is making the payments, but if the statement is not available online, what then?
You could then call and do the automated thing, and find out what was charged to your card and when. I for one, wouldn't do a cr cd that way, as I like to pull all my tickets and then staple them to the actual statement. The minimum amount is automatically withdrawn from my account, so it will never be late, and I then pay the balance usually via their Pay by Phone method which is free.

(the other) Sue

I've gone almost entirely paperless. I've never had a problem other than my own week organization skills. I've lost track a couple of time of what was paid and what wasn't. I'm better now that I'm used to it.

I pay most bills on line but still insist on receiving paper statements. I like having the back-up documentation.

What I won't do is automatic withdrawal from any bank account. I do keep one credit card specifically for online use for purchases,Paypal and debited insurance payments.

I had some of those fears. But then reality set in. First, my Discover checks were found in a neighbor's lawn. And statements misdelivered. Didn't receive statements on time, etc and asked myself how can it be worse than this? I went paperless and won't go back. I can check it daily if I want. I can print it out if I want a paper backup. And if something happens to my computer, I can call them up and have them go back to paper, get info on where I'm at with it or use a different computer. I have two Discover accounts. One regular and one gas card. I'm glad they talked me into doing it that way. By going online I see immediately where I'm at in the bonus. I can sign up for the extra bonuses, such as some months it can be all motel/hotel, or everything from OfficeMax or Target or whatever getting a 5% cashback. I schedule my payments all at once for all my bills, set the date I want it paid, save 50¢ per bill, well actually more than that, and the money stays with me until the due date.

If you try it and don't like it, the world won't implode. It's simple to change it back. You can get the last year or two's worth of statements if you have a question. I log it myself just for a budget thing but don't do much else with it. I always look at the statements to see that it started with a zero balance, credited any bonuses and that the charges are legit.

And the thing I really appreciate about Discover is when you call them, you talk to someone in Arizona or Utah, not India or Pakistan. Gives Americans jobs and they hire people you can understand. What's more everyone I've dealt with seem sincerely interested in taking care of you.

My experience with Discover has been great and won't change that. I pay my bill every month and I've been with them now virtually since they started.

Count me in among those who still like getting the statements in the mail.

I DO pay it off every month online though.... I do a payment at least once a week.

Every account I have is paperless...banks, investment companies and credit cards.
They all have an option to display your statement, and when this is selected, an option to print it out. They all allow you to go back to a number of previous months (how many varies), view and print.

So....paperless means they don't send you paper...but you still can print statements yourself on your own printer.

I'm with Monica_pa - I've gone paperless on every account I have. As Monica says, they save your statements and payment history online. (All of my accounts - mortgage, credit cards, utilities, etc. - save for at least a year, most for longer.)

If I happened to need a statement and my computer was broken, I would use another computer (friend? library? internet cafe?) to go online and retrieve the statement. I can't imagine any scenario where I'd need a statement that's more than a year old. If I were worried about this, though, there are ways to deal with it.

Most of the statements come in PDF format, so if I wanted to, I could download each one as it comes out and back it up to a CD, DVD or flash drive. For those that don't come in PDF format, I could use a free PDF printer like Bullzip (link below). (What this allows you to do is to print the statement, just the way you would if you were going to make a paper copy, but instead printing onto paper, it prints to a PDF file.) That way, I could keep my statements forever - all perfectly organized - and retrieve any statement from my own disc or drive, without having to go online.

I never do any of this, as I don't think it's necessary, but one *could*. Personally, I think that paper statements are dying out. As previous posters have noted, companies are already offering financial incentives to go paperless, and I presume that eventually they'll just stop offering paper statement completely.

Anyway, what are the chances you're going to need your statement while the power's out? You won't be able to see to do whatever you're doing, anyway!:)

Here is a link that might be useful: BullZip

Okay, paperless seems to have won out.

Cynic:
I schedule my payments all at once for all my bills, set the date I want it paid, save 50¢ per bill, well actually more than that, and the money stays with me until the due date. I have thought about changing my monthly bills over to the Discover card, but I didn't know I could do as you do. Is that difficult to make the change?

Joann, you really gave me a chuckle. You won't be able to see to do whatever you're doing, anyway! Duh!

So far I'm pleased with the help I've gotten on the phone in setting up my account. I used the card a couple times last week, and then yesterday I used it at four different stores. I had an email asking me to call them. They were just verifying that I had made those 4 purchases. And the young man I talked to spoke perfect English.

BTW when I used the card at the gas station, I put the card in the slot and then couldn't get it out. My old fingers are very stiff but the Visa card always came right out. I got the clerk to try and she couldn't get it out fast enough either. Had to go inside and use the machine. I thought the card seemed thicker than my Visa card. I guess it will "soften" up after a while.

Thanks for the help in my decision making.

Sue