Today I enquired about my insurance. I was sent a pdf format which was not alterable. On asking for an alternative version I could type into, I was told they didn't have one.

The suggestion was to reference a typed document (that I was to type) to part of the form, print, sign and send both. This made it quite difficult so I had to resort to cutting and pasting each paragraph from the pdf into a word type document.

All the formatting was lost and I spent a long time making it look readable and then printing out two lots of a rather long document and wasting yet more paper and ink.

Why people need electronic formats (just a few examples):

1) You can change the font size and type e.g. in Word if you need larger or smaller print.
2) You can change the colour and background to make reading easier.
3) You can have a text to speech program read out your document or use speech to text to write on a form.
4) It is ideal for someone who can't write and needs to type out information for a form.
5) It is ideal for someone who can't use their arms / fingers or look downwards to read a document on their screen.

I personally find looking down at paper, holding it and writing with a pen difficult to impossible.

Electronic formats should be common practise and especially in large businesses like a major insurance company.

Tags:business | alternative formats