Picture yourself travelling through India, the Middle East, Brazil, and Italy — amazing. Now, picture those journeys without use of a mobile phone, the internet, or email.
That's how Jenny Hare did it back in the day and she had a blast. Fast forward a few decades and she's still doing it her way — living with just a landline and letters.
But while the 75-year-old Ōtaki community volunteer said her life has "run quite well without it", it's put her on a bit of a collision course with her phone company Slingshot.
It's said no more paper bills, she'll have to get herself online.
The change came abruptly before Christmas when Slingshot sent a letter advising that her next bill would not be mailed out to her — nor would any others.
"I can download it via my mobile app or online or email and things," said Hare, a little taken aback by Slingshot's options.
"There was no sort of thought or suggestion that people perhaps might not do that."
And there's no other option offered, such as increasing the $2.50 Hare was already paying for her paper invoice.
Slingshot owner 2degrees said the move is part of its carbon-reduction strategy and that stopping paper invoices will prevent tonnes of CO2 emissions.
But Hare is certainly not alone, according to Grey Power president Jan Pentecost.
"Fifty per cent of people over 85 cannot use digital devices," she said.
"You're asking too much to expect everyone to move with the times, especially given that up-skilling is necessary, very frequently."
Pentecost said it's also yet another example of digital exclusion which affects many people who are not online due to disability, poverty, or age.
There are no requirements to provide non-digital options to customers, but Grey Power has lobbied the government to consider changing that.
"I don't think it's enough for businesses to just actually make those decisions and just leave people behind," she said.
Hare reckoned her latest bill provided a perfect example of why she wants a paper invoice.
Slingshot overcharged her three times the usual cost; something she spotted on her bank records after it had been debited. Luckily, that didn't leave her overdrawn with other payments bouncing until Slingshot worked it out.
2degrees confirmed with Fair Go that Slingshot has reversed those charges and added a $200 goodwill credit to Hare's account.
It's also promising to print off and mail out invoices to her free of charge for the next six months, before calling her to discuss options.
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