Damn the need for communication!

I am being taken advantage of. By Northwestel.

Northwestel is our necessary evil, the sneaking underbelly of communicating in Whitehorse. They provide us with phone, cable and internet services. Everything you desire, although they take their own pound of flesh from you.

Basic internet costs ...ooh, $59.99 for shitty service that frequently cuts out, particularly during our many power outages. For the priviledge of paying, we also get capped at 10 gig. If you go over, and if you dare download anything, you will, you will get, as I mentioned before so colourfully, "fucked in half." To make matters worse, they have an ass-stupid way of billing. They bill anticipatory, which means they bill you a month ahead of time. This makes it WAY harder to figure out when you're getting screwed in the dark. Oh, but they calculate going over your measly 10gig. limit a month later. Are we having fun yet?

So, we went over our pinchingly small limit of internet in December mysteriously, even though I was away on holidays, the roommates were away for a month, and only one person remained. HOW? may I ask? We haven't downloaded anything, not so much as a bought-song off iTunes.

Doesn't matter. We had to pay $137.00 that month extra. Oh, and in January we went over also, so, hands come out for another $95.00. Ever notice how, when you go over the internet, it's never a small amount? Oh no, while they're screwing you they've got their hands in your back pockets.

We've been seeing bills of $300-400. Every.Month.

Also, word to the wise: our dear neighbours must have been stealing our signal, as we *had* an unsecured wireless network to handle our laptops. Note the word, *had*. Take that, you fuckers!

By the way, we don't even have cable. That is just inviting them to walk into your house and stomp on your wallet. And when I call them to get all righteous and raging, they are just too nice to get mad at. Can't win!

The HIGH cost of low living

Here's a rant post, because I have noticed them getting cheery as of late.

(Actually, it would be wonderful if they were all happy, bunnies and sunshine, but life isn't like that and neither am I)

Here are the facts:

Electricity for a 1600sq. ft. place for two people in the winter living extremely frugally for a month is $130. Add two people who waste electricity, plug 3 cars in and leave TV's, heaters, computers, lights on and that amount goes to $240 per month.

Even the 2 people have a high electricity bill. Keep in mind this doesn't include heat. Heat is gas, bought by the tank around $800-1,000 per fill up.

Internet is offered by Northwestel, your best bet. It is obscenely expensive, cuts out often and if you want to pay $60/month for this luxury, you get capped at 10gb.
If you dare exceed that bandwith/dwnld limit, you get fucked in half.
Exceeding the limit by a bit caused an extra $137 ontop of the already insane $60/month.
Remember folks, this doesn't include cable TV, phone...nothing. Just 'net. If you do want a higher limit, you pay over $100/month for internet.

Gas for your car is more expensive, although it compares favourably with BC right now after BC's lovely carbon tax. Currently gas is 89.9, up from yesterday's 84.9. Bummer.
Watch out for the Petro Canada, Race Trac Gas and pretty much every gas station that isn't Superstore's. Prices are always higher, unless they absolutely can't get away with a higher price, then it is the same, grudgingly.
If you move here from the South, you will have to outfit your car. Winter tires? $800. Block heater and battery pad? $300. Oil and fluids check? $300. Please don't get me started on the necessities of warm winter clothes. It started off -27 today, almost the middle of Feb.

Having fun yet?

Don't think that because you are paying out the ass for everything that you will automatically land the job of the century. You might, and rock on! But you are just as likely to be downsized.