Paperless bank accounts?

In what ways is PDF easier to download and archive than HTML?

The problem with PDF is that it's meant to look like paper, so if you don't want paper, I suggest you don't want PDF.

PDF is also awkward to view and takes up an unnecessarily large amount of storage space, which is why I don't like it.

HTML would be fine, provided it's not cluttered up with pointless images and logos. It would be fine if it were in "plain" HTML.

I would rather have the information in plain text (for just looking at and filing away) or (for spreadsheet aficionados) in a nice simple format such as CSV.

Yes CSV or PT would be fine.

My only issue with html is that it is usually filled with images etc. as you say - and so saving it without them ends up looking rather messy - rather than anything inherently wrong with that format.

I just chose PDF as an example since it seems to be the most common online doc format chosen by orgs who predominantly work with the printed form. For example I don't think my local council produces online docs in anything other than PDF - ever tried reading tri-fold leaflets online? :-(

Once you move away from paper records, why bother with local copies of files? Things would be so much easier if banks allowed access to transactions more than a month or so old. Barclays allows download of CSV files covering the last six weeks or so of transactions, unfortunately if you forget to download one month and want records going back a while - hard luck!

print the html page as a pdf file. You just need some freebie printer driver thing to do it

cheers adrian

Nationwide are encouraging their customers not to take paper statements.

Their accounts have a download csv facility - very easy to import into Excel and build an unlimited account. 350 lines is about 25kB.

But - if you every need proof of identity, sooner or later you will have no paper copies of any bills or accounts and be stuck trying to establish your own existence.

Flop

Bitstring , from the wonderful person Mr B said

If you can live with HTML (I can) try Smile (Co-op bank). They don't even have an OPTION for sending out paper.

suggest one of these and that also makes statements into

HSBC internet banking allows you to access the last 6 years of statements for any current/savings account that is currently active.

Ian

Not necessarily. The Nationwide statements printed off onto similar weight paper are convincing enough. Ditto Powergen. Used as ID proof they just end up as photocopies anyway.

Jim A

I can't find any way of printing off a Nationwide statement that automatically contains my name and address.

However I can download a statement, add my name and address, even change the numbers and print it out. And Yes, people do accept it.

Powergen bills print out perfectly as a more genuine identity proof.

Mark BR

But bills which you can print for yourself don't really *prove* anything - it's too easy to fake them!

Manage Statements, View Statement, Print works for me, though I've just realised that unlike Powergen the Nationwide download doesn't include the reverse side. Off to scan a reverse side.

Jim A

That's true but what is your point.? Organisations list statements as an acceptable proof of address item and sent statements are well just that, printed statements produced from exactly the same data. Nationwide and Powergen downloaded statements are, paper quality excepted, visually indistinguishable from original statements. I find that slight distressing adds to the realism.

Jim A

I suppost my point is that if home printed bills and statements cannot be distinguished from 'originals' supplied by the relevant organisations, it can't be long before this type of proof of identity is no longer accepted, because it cannot be relied upon.

Thanks, I'd missed that part.

Mark BR