http://boharald.blogspot.com/2009/12/sonera-showing-way-in-finland.html
Charging for paper invoices has been a touchy subject in Finland even if:
- all experience shows that transparent pricing (producing "negative carrots..") is the only efficient way to make mass markets move fast
- consumers say that they will not change behaviour just for the convenience produced by semiautomatic payments ("if I would have to pay even ten cents I would not ask for paper")
- the national e-program has set and the Minister in charge of it (Minister for Communications - Mrs Suvi Linden) has been very outspoken: 2011 should be the "last" year for paper based consumer invoicing of any significance
- consumers start to understand that they pay all costs - it would be better if they were visible and entice them to save
- some consumer already choose service providers with this open and just pricing ("Why should I pay for expensive practises of others?"
- the often referred to succes story in e-banking would not have happened as fast without charging more for bill payments in branches
- paper invoicing is openly charged for in other Nordic countries
Fortunately there are some progressive companies that show the way. Sonera was first and the leading one. The 1 € is working wonders - as can be seen:
http://boharald.blogspot.com/2009/12/sonera-showing-way-in-finland.html
The same is happening in b2b invoicing - there the charge is 5€ per paper invoice.