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abighamb | on: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem
Is it such a burden to write them a letter stating, "Because you have decided to disable my electronic access, I am notifying you that I withdraw my consent to e-delivery. Please provide me statements and directions to mail you a check for payment." Maybe spend 20-30 min to find the specific laws that give you the right to do that and remind them of their timelines to comply.

Send a letter like that certified. It gets attention, and the time to write and mail a check really isn't, if you batch your bills, more than using an app.

We do have ways to push their inconvenience back on them.

safety1st | parent | next
It is great that you have the right in your jurisdiction to do that. Where I am, they just shut off your power if you don't pay.

It's a big and hairy world out there. Having lived on three continents and traveled to some pretty wild places, I always get a kick out of seeing which rights people have and assume that the rest of the world also has.

abustamam | parent | next
This only works if the company cares though.
abighamb | root | parent
This a pretty general recipe to make a company care.

A Professional letter letting them know that you know your rights, and that they know your rights (Them getting your letter is your proof of that) is what the beginning of someone losing his bonus for a compliance incident looks like.

Companies don't care about you, or even shareholders, they care about the incentives of leadership.

Forgeties79 | parent
Not everyone has the time and resources to battle their utilities and bank(s). I know it’s important and sustained effort is necessary even if it’s hard, but we are talking about massive populations here and most people simply can’t or won’t fight that battle on their own. Organizing a large pushback is also a huge effort. And at the end of the day, there is an easy solution for folks: buy a “proper” smart phone that “just works” because it solves the problem now.

We’ve gotten to the point where unfortunately it is a luxury to fight for your privacy and consumer rights.

bornfreddy | root | parent
Fighting for your rights is usually not the easy path, yes. It's been like that since forever.
abustamam | root | parent | next
Well, we gotta choose our battles, right? It's easy to get collective support for visible oppression and fascism. Everyone sees it on the news. It's hard to get support for "lemme use a smartphone that isn't apple or android." the average person doesn't care.

Not saying that we should just give up. But as the above poster said, it's a luxury that takes a lot of time and resources.

Forgeties79 | root | parent
Yes that is correct. So what do you suggest people do? What is a realistic way to move the needle? Because I can tell you now that (as I detailed in another comment) asking someone to change their banks, utilities, etc. to accommodate their smartphone choice is not a serious suggestion, nor is asking everyone to wage war with all the services they engage with. They’re simply not going to do it no matter how many passionate speeches or flippant comments you throw out there. They’re going to buy the thing that solves the immediate problem of not having access to critical services in their lives. If their amazing open source phone can’t pay their bills, it’s going in the bin.

To be clear I want the same thing you do. But just going “do it it’s important” is not going to make it happen.