Epitome of Frustration...

As I write this blog I am on hold waiting for a Telus customer service agent to answer the phone so I can disconnect service I never even received.

It all started about three weeks ago when I called Telus for internet service.  They said they'd mail me out a modem and the installation instructions would be inside.  When the modem arrived I could not get service.  I called the help desk, went through 20 minutes of troubleshooting only to be told that all the "profiles" in their system may not be set up yet as they had until midnight that night to set it all up. Fail #1 - could have saved me 20 minutes by telling me this before troubleshooting.

Next day I call back because I still don't have service.  What was worse, the customer service agent had severe issues with his headset so I was only getting every other word or absolute silence before being told he'd call back in 30 mins.  Fail #2 - if agents don't have good equipment how can I trust their internet service?

Customer service agent called back in 10 when I was trying to get some dinner together for my kid.  I asked him to call back when he said he would - in another 20 mins; he agreed.  No call. Fail #3 - call when you say you're going to call.

I again call back to sort out the issue.  Again I am put through the troubleshooting only this time at the end I'm told they need to have a tech come out and the earliest is Sunday (this call was made on a Thursday) with a time frame of 8 am to 5 pm or Thanksgiving Monday between 1 pm and 5 pm.  Opted for Sunday. Fail #4 - if you don't regularly have techs go out to set up service ensure you can have techs come out quicker than 72 hours after service was supposed to be started.

Lucky for me the tech came early on Sunday and my day wasn't completely ruined.  The house had to be re-wired, not surprising as it is over 100 years old.  The tech left with all four sacred lights lit up on the modem and said if I can't get online the help desk can take it from there. Fail #5 - why can't the tech sent to my house ensure that the internet is working properly?

Sure enough, no access to the internet.  Yet another call to tech support.  More troubleshooting.  This time network support needs to look into things and get back to me within 24 hours.  Seriously? Yes, and by the way, you will need to call customer service once your service if fixed to get the proper credits.  You're kidding right? No. Let me talk to a manager...Fail #6 - have a system where the customer doesn't have to be on hold JUST to tell them that they FINALLY are getting the services they ordered.  Suggestion - tech support call customer service for them or better yet, be able to access the same system and doc the account themselves!

OK, we should be in the final stretch here.  Should be.  Network support calls and says that due to system upgrades not all troubleshooting tools are available but they suspect my modem may be faulty.  Oddly, this is when the modem crapped out completely and none of the sacred four green lights were lit up.  Even the power indicator light went to red.  I was then told to call back tomorrow if the modem is still not working and have a new one mailed out.  I give up on counting the fails...

I call back the next day and cut to the chase - I want a new modem.  Took 10 minutes to convince the help desk dude to send out another modem but after talking to network support he all of the sudden believed that all my problems would be fixed.

A few days respite from the annoyance of Telus.  Then the new modem arrived.  Plugged it in.  All four sacred lights.  No internet access.  Reboot computer.  No internet access.  Reboot modem.  No internet access. Sigh.  Reluctantly call help desk.

I explain everything I've checked now that I'm down with the whole troubleshooting routine.  Funny thing - I could hear the agent going over his list to see if I missed anything, then she says she's going to contact network support to check things on their end.  But wait, network support are not taking calls right now and will have to call me back in the next 24 hours.  SERIOUSLY???

This is where I lost it.  I said have them call me but in the meantime I am calling Shaw and whomever gets my internet access up and running first gets my business.  I was told I'd get a call back within 24 hours.  That was Thursday night.  Today is Monday and I still have not received a call back but I did receive a third modem.

I wish it ended here but I have been on hold with Telus for the second time today to cancel my service.  The first time I waited 35 minutes before giving up.  I have now been on hold for over an hour and Telus Customer Care has closed.

Living on the cheap.

So I make approximately $2,000 per month. I work part-time. Originally it was by choice however now it's more due to lack of better employment in my field in my town.

My reality is that 40% of my monthly income goes to rent; 30% to minimum payments towards debt; and then I still have car insurance, gas, health insurance, phone, food, clothing and recreation to pay for.  The amount left for food, clothing and recreation is a whopping 12%.

So how do I do it?  I have a few tricks.  First one being "Bread Days" many of the bakeries around town donate their day old bread to the community centres.  I know of a few places (almost one for each day of the week) where I can get a free loaf of bread and sometimes buns.  Second big one is the Good Food Box - produce on the cheap.  I've learned that this program is also in other places in BC and beyond.  That means I still need to fill my meat & protein as well as my dairy categories to obtain food from the four food groups (as well as supplement the other groups).

But that still leaves clothing and recreation.  Well, lets tackle recreation first.  I have a toddler, he likes the park, I like the beach, sometimes we go to the park and sometimes we go to the beach and sometimes we just stay home and play.  On rainy days I first check VictoriaStroller.ca to see if there are any free or cheap activities going on and other times we go to the mall and B runs around.  

I also am lucky enough to live in Victoria which offers the Regional Rec Pass (get it while you can it may only be a 2010 offer).  For about $40/month I have drop in access to all the rec centres in the Greater Victoria area.  B and I often going swimming.  I will soon brave the ice for some skating (it's been at least 10 years since the last time I went skating).

As for clothing, well much of B's clothing has come from Victoria Freecycle which is a Yahoo! Group.  I watch it like a hawk to try and get clothes for B.  So far we've been well taken care of.  We also use cloth diapers which is cheaper than disposables.  However we are venturing into potty training.  Training pants are not cheap but the closest dollar store has underwear in his little bum size two pairs for $1.25!  Now if only he'd sit on the potty....

As for myself, so far I've not needed any clothes since hitting these super tight times about 8 months ago.  However I have always been a thrifty shopper.  I also am able to sew, knit & crochet which comes in handy.  My friend Katy has also got me back into recycling clothes into new things - pants to skirts, t-shirts to skirts.  I've even turned some of B's onesies into t-shirts because he's tall and skinny making a 18 month old onesie too short to be done up but a great t-shirt!

The hard part though is the unexpected expenses which ALWAYS seem to come up.  To survive those it becomes a challenge of taking in returnables for deposits, selling off stuff no longer needed or heading to the food bank to free up grocery money.

So that's my start on shedding my financial fumblings with the world in hopes that my tricks may help others find more money in their pocket.