Yet another awful phone company experience

I can't say I recommend Koodo to anyone based on my experience. I signed up for an account for my wife, since we were with Public and they texted us an offer. We went to a Koodo kiosk in Hamilton and asked for the Essential phone. The process took 3 hours (not fun when you have a preteen tagging along) but we got it set up (or so we thought). I gave them my VISA information for the payment and for future billing, and we left to enjoy (what was left of) our day.

The phone is great, and the coverage is good (same as Public or Telus). My trouble started when nearly three months later (2 weeks ago) we noticed the bill wasn't being paid. I went on line and paid the balance in full. By the time I got home from work, my wife's phone had been cut off. So then started the saga. I called, and was told the information I provided didn't match what was on the file (birthdate etc). 

After almost 3 weeks of back and forth between the forum and a rep on facebook messenger, I discover that in fact Koodo have NO personal information on file about us, and so they have no way to recover my account. They have asked me to fill out an on-line form 4 times now (I have tried all the likely PIN numbers already). Nothing matches, and since they don't actually have birthdates, drivers license or SIN number we have no means of recovery. 

SO - what started out as a simple new phone account is now a pretty expensive mini-tablet with no phone service, and no way to cancel it or reconnect it. Two thumbs down to Koodo, and as yet not even a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hyper miling once again

We got our Chevy Volt back after a terrible 6 month saga waiting on an insurance repair after Steph crashed it. The good news is it runs fine (after an initial problem with a stuck thermostat that was fixed over one more weekend). The even better news is my EBusBar charger works for 110v (as well as the expected 220v), and that means I can plug it in at work. My 116 km commute is suddenly way more affordable. On full charge, the gauge shows 70 km. I go about 50 km on electric and then kick into "Mountain mode" whenever I am steady over 80 km/h, until I hit the edge of the Niagara escarpment. Then it's back to electric as I float down gently touching the brake pedal as I add 2-3 km to my range (while travelling 3 km). Hitting the QEW I go back to mountain mode, dropping into electric whenever I hit stop and go as I crest the Burlington skyway, and chug through the QEW/403 merge. Into the HOV I go back to mountain mode until I exit onto the 403, by which time I check my electric range. I switch to electric when my range matches the distance left to travel, and I cruise into the office with nothing to spare.

Plugging in at work on the 110 I rarely stay long enough to get a full charge, but usually I get about 55 km worth in about 9 hours. Using a similar strategy to my morning commute, I use Mountain mode once I am at less than 25 km electric range anywhere I can make a steady speed over 80 km/h. Below that I reserve for all electric.

Following these strategies I have seen my consumption over the last 7,000 km drop below 3.3 l/100 km. Not bad for a 116 km one way commute. To make fuller use of this cars capabilities, I made my own 110 / 220 adapter so I can plug it into whichever outlet is available. That way on the weekends I can make multiple trips, re-charging quickly in between on the 220 and have all the convenience without touching the gas. My target is for a full tank of gas to last the whole week - regardless of how many side trips I end up making. This is a far cry from my woes while the Volt was in the shop - driving my Ram Ecodiesel at 9.6 l/100 km was costing me about $180 in diesel weekly, what with the commute plus weekend shopping and Maddy's activities.

The savings are so good I may even let my wife drive it to the barn on Saturday as they have a plug there and she can make pretty much the whole drive on electric. It will depend on whether I have trips I need to make myself - and whether she can agree to leave the car clean!