Brits Delay Essential Life Admin for Over Three Months on Average

Brits have put off essential life admin for more than three months before finally getting around to sorting it, according to a new study.

Procrastination Nation

A study of 2,000 adults revealed 18 per cent even wait to do urgent tasks, such as booking MOTs. Paying credit card bills (14 per cent), filling out tax returns (18 per cent) and even doctor's appointments (50 per cent) are also among the most commonly delayed jobs.

Nearly half (46 per cent) admitted they simply prioritise other tasks, but others blame it on not having enough time (28 per cent) or due to a belief it's not serious enough an issue (27 per cent).

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Consequences of Delay

However, 30 per cent have put important life admin off for so long that they ended up missing a deadline, resorting in late fees (35 per cent) or access to a vital service being cut off (15 per cent). The study was commissioned by BT's Digital Voice service to raise awareness of the swap from analogue landlines to digital, which could see a customer's service disrupted if they don't act when contacted about it.

Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings, who has teamed up with the brand, said: "Often, people procrastinate over life admin because the tasks feel overwhelming or tedious, and our brains are wired to seek out activities that are more immediately rewarding."

"There's also a sense of avoidance at play, we tend to underestimate the consequences of delay and overestimate the effort required to get started. Ultimately, we can all be guilty of putting things off, but when there's a deadline looming, as in the case of the nationwide switchover to digital landlines, it's time to take action."

Impact on Essential Services

The study also found that despite 81 per cent being aware of the serious issues putting off important admin can cause, including disruption to landline services, 24 per cent have missed paying an electricity or water bill, while 21 per cent had failed to renew a direct debit. As a result, 13 per cent lost access to essential services like water and electric, and one in 10 (nine per cent) were unable to drive their cars.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) wished they had more of a 'take action' attitude to avoid missing important deadline dates for life admin. As 29 per cent have ignored or delayed responding to messages from a provider about an essential service like the digital landline switch, and only 18 per cent said they immediately take action when they are reminded of tasks.

More than one in five have set a reminder to do it, and simply 13 per cent putting it aside for later.

Household Admin Burden

But 50 per cent revealed they do most of the admin in their household, compared to 20 per cent who split it equally with their partner. Meanwhile 21 per cent also manage the life admin for people outside the household, on top of the average of five tasks most people complete each and every month.

Of those who support others completing their household management, 72 per cent said this impacts their ability to manage their own life admin.

Yet 75 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, felt confident about managing important life admin tasks which involve changing technology, like making the swap to digital landlines.

Expert Advice

Clare Balding, who is working with the provider to encourage customers to act promptly when contacted, said: "When your provider gets in touch, it's vitally important you act to ensure your landline services keep running smoothly. If you don't respond, the services you rely on could be disrupted."

BT Digital Voice spokesperson, Lucy Baker, said: "As our research shows, it's easy to overlook messages from service providers, but doing so could disrupt essential connections when it comes to the digital landline switch. It's important to take action when contacted, so everyone can benefit from more reliable, secure technology and stay connected to the services they rely on."