Do you receive paper statements? Do you keep them?

[arrfep]

So I'm going through a stack of papers from last year. 50% of this shit is unopened bank/credit-card statements. I stay up-to-date with all my finances online, but haven't opted out of paper statements for most of it. This is due to equal parts laziness and paranoia. But with 2 checking accounts, 3 credit cards, student loans, and cell bill, it's all getting pretty annoying.

I'd be interested to hear everyone's tactics. Completely paperless? Still receive paper but open and shred immediately? Keep for seven years? Opinions based on fact or just OCD are all welcome.

 

[skyking]

Some accts are paperless. The paper gets filed, the file is torn down in January and stored in a bundle for 7 years. Shred and repeat.

 

[a123456]

Moving around a lot means I need to get paper bills from utils and such because lots of things require current proof of address, like old jury duty notices. They usually require max of 2 months old for that kind of stuff so I have to get all of the paper bills. More and more vendors are being annoying and going paperless unless you call in and demand a paper bill.

My bills are generally auto-pay anyway so it's just there mostly unopened. If I didn't need proof of address, I'd probably go paperless.

I have a smaller company that has no online anything so that has to be paid by check with US postal mail.

For tax things and not regular monthly bills, I just keep those "forever."

 

[Powermoloch]

yes

 

[DaWhim]

try to receive my bank statements in paper. if a bank goes under, it can make claiming back my money from FDIC a lot easier.

credit card statements...who cares? e-statement is fine, not like i want to see the bill.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I receive almost nothing in paper. For some reason the bank insists on sending mortgage statements by paper, but other than that nothing. Not even any bills.

 

[paperfist]

I can relate, I just went through a rather large box of un-opened mail, half went to the recycle bin, the other half the shredder. Damn I hate that process of time wasting.

The problem I've noticed with electronic statements especially of the credit card variety is for some asine reason they only keep your statements for less then a year. So while I do most of my payments online and save that transaction I'm missing out on having digital copies of my statements. There's got to be an easier way.

 

[RockinZ28]

All paperless except water bill and FIOS. Water cause they don't do online which pisses me off.

FIOS cause I've tried to select paperless online but it always gives me some error. Half the time the bill doesn't come until after the due date, and I don't get the email. Their service is awesome, but worst billing department and website ive ever seen. Which reminds me I need to check if my bill is due, don't do autopay in case I have a dispute. Easier to fix before you pay.

 

[sao123]

i keep every paper statement for 7 years.

 

[rcpratt]

I get paper statements because they still send them even though I don't really want them. I currently file them in random order in my desk drawer by opening it and throwing them in.