topic Re: Walmart - terrible service in Get Support

Walmart - terrible service

sprocket — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 07:40:49 GMT

My friend has been trying to get me to switch to Public Mobile for some time and I didn't go for it until Friday when I have been having issues with my other provider and she told me about a great program going on with public right now where refer a friend gives both the referal and the person who referred $25 credit instead of $10 and $10 off for six months on plans $30 or over if you sign up online! It said order online r buy at a retailed and activate online. I thought this is too great to miss! So I looked up plans on public mobile site and where to get a sim. I didn't want to wait to mail one. I found out Walmart carries them and thought great and headed right over. Wrong call.

I got to walmart and asked a sales associate if they had a public mobile sim to buy. He told me they carry them but he wouldn't sell me one unless he activated it there. I didn't know if this was any different than online activation. It looked the same. He then proceeded to try to talk me out of going with Public Mobile and told me about how many people have complained to him and how terrible public mobile is and that you can't get any help when something was wrong. I asked about options and he tried to sell me on lucky or chatr but I had no knowledge about them and their plans weren't good. When I said I'll stick with Public things went downhill. He became decidedly less friendly, wasn't particularly helpful during the activation. Asked me to pick a phone number but wouldn't even let me try to pick the option where you try to find a number you want because he says that never works. I worked for telus years ago, it may rarely work but you give the customer the option to try it once or twice because sometimes it does. I had originally thought of transferring my current number but given his attitude problem I didn't want to speak with him anymore than necessary so I just picked a number and finished things up. I had my plan picked out already so I told him and had to show him on the screen because he was just being generally grumpy. It wasn't until after everything that he showed me the different amounts of cards you can get like 28 and $40 and told me they sell in silly amounts. I just bought $40 to cover my plan because I could set up a credit card at home. Luckily when I got home and set up my self serve account I found out I could transfer my number from my old provider myself and use it.

We didn't set up my phone, or unlock it even or even put the sim card in it so I''m still at a loss as to why I couldn't just buy the sim and go home and activate it online like the public mobile website said. So the great $25 deal plus $10 a month for 6 months that I switched for in the first place, I don't get. All I got was horrible service. I will be complaining to Walmart for sure.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

RobertQc — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:36:41 GMT

@sprocketSorry for your trouble, not everyone has trouble at walmart, but MANY do.

It's all about the money in their pocket (spiffs), plus the limited support and control they have if you come back to complain when there is a problem with public mobile. Public mobile is a love or hate game, for not only the customers but also the resellers. It has also been mentioned the OSL booth inside walmart has limited PM sim card quantity, if they sell you the sim card without activation, they may run out when someone comes in for an activation. At the same time, they get paid very little for the activation, so they are already frustrated and want to do it as quickly as possible.

When they sell you a top tier service, such as Rogers, the reward for them is also top tier (I know, I used to work for Rogers) and Rogers also has 24/7 support so if you come to them with a problem they can take care of you, fast. The more money you spend, the more they get. The better service you get, the easier that store can work with said company, to solve your issues.

It sucks to referr / resell someone to public mobile if there is a problem you come back to them "Why did you sell me this sh*** service, how do I fix my phone? what!? I need to send a message? no one to call? it takes how many days to hear back"? "my phone isin't working" sorry, moderator team sometimes takes a week to respond, the message you got back after 1 week did not solve your issue, and they ask you for more details or don't even read your private message properly..... great.

While I ~~like~~ love public mobile, it has not always been easy. The longest response time with public mobile I encountered was 8 days and I have had my private message from the moderator team not responded to properly, I was sent a "generic" response that did not deal with my issue. In the end everything works out, but you have to be prepared and understand this is a glitchy, bottom barrel kind of service that happens to utilize the best network in Canada.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

ShawnC13 — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:26:05 GMT

@sprocket, sorry to hear this all to common story from Walmart. I am not sure where you are located but there are other retailers and if someone isn't going to sell me what I want I leave. He wouldn't just sell you the sim as he wouldn't get a commission for the activation Not sure what your previous plan was but I am sure that you will cover the lost promo value quickly with a new PM Plan. I know that wasn't the goal and sorry you had that bad experience with Walmart.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

stonechucker — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:28:06 GMT

Too many have problems at Walmart. End this partnership immediately.

Start providing sims at Telus owned properties.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

sprocket — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:35:11 GMT

I have to agree on the suspending Walmart association. I have been on this community site for less than 30 minutes and I've heard nothing but problems with their service. Not only that but why sell your product where the employees are bad mouthing the company. If I had not looked at the Public Mobile site I wouldn't have known it was available at all because their is no public mobile information on display like other providers and the sim was kept in a locked metal cabinet.

Not sure about providing them in telus run locations but there has to be better options than walmart. Someone mentioned a Public Mobile vending machine in the GTA. That would be a great option elsewhere too!

Re: Walmart - terrible service

will13am — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:37:27 GMT

@stonechucker wrote:
Too many have problems at Walmart. End this partnership immediately.

Start providing sims at Telus owned properties.

I don't see this happening any time soon. It would not surprise me if Walmart brought in the most activations of any of the retail partners. I am sure metrics like poor customer service gets lost in translation. In a situation like this, I would take the case to the CCTS after. That is one data point no carrier can esponge from records or ignore. The only way to fix Walmart is for customers to fight back against the poor service.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

sprocket — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:42:37 GMT

That's a good idea. I'm sure they have a website where we can make complaints as well. I intend on contacting Walmart head office as well to make a complaint. I've worked both in mobile phone sales and retail years ago, I've been through many busy seasons like Christmas. It's just no reason to be a tool. Yes it sucks, take it home. A lot of problems happen at Walmart but they do actually care when you bring it to their attention luckily.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

RobertQc — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:47:50 GMT

@sprocket wrote:
why sell your product where the employees are bad mouthing the company.

@sprocketI have gone to multiple stores to get sim cards for referal reasons, I have had good success at walmart most of the time. Bad mouthing public mobile is the common thing not only from walmart but every single other store (wow mobile and the mobile shop) I have gone to purchase a sim card.

They could do it better, but I think its fair for them to "bad mouth" to give the customer a warning, because public mobile does things different. at least you know what you are getting into. I hate it when you go buy something and they tip-toe around, and hide the truth. Not with retailers and PM, they really let you know, you may regret going with PM. They want to not only wipe their hands clean of any responsibility, but also move you up to a higher cost service.

I now order sim cards on the internet, and keep extra on hand.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

NDesai — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:46:56 GMT

@sprocket wrote:
We didn't set up my phone, or unlock it even or even put the sim card in it so I''m still at a loss as to why I couldn't just buy the sim and go home and activate it online like the public mobile website said. So the great $25 deal plus $10 a month for 6 months that I switched for in the first place, I don't get. All I got was horrible service. I will be complaining to Walmart for sure.

He would make $0 for selling you just a sim card and make a tiny amount for forcing you to activate on public mobile. Instead of this tiny amount, he would rather force you to activate else where because it would net him bigger commission. It's just a terrible service they provide.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

sprocket — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:51:25 GMT

@RobertQc " I now order sim cards on the internet, and keep extra on hand."

Keeping them on hand is definitely something I will keep in mind for referring people. The person who referred me offered to send me one she had but it was just faster to buy than wait because I'm sure Canada Post may be backed up after the strike and given the season. Lesson learned.

It's too bad some common community knowledge isn't available without an account. Or I suppose I should have checked, it very well may be. If I'd read other accounts about the best places to buy I probably would have waited. I assumed that it was the same at all retailers.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

RobertQc — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:56:28 GMT

@sprocketYes there is so much knowledge here but most don't even realize it exists.

We are all human, the best way to do it is smile, say please and thank you and to say I just need to get a replacement sim card for my mom, she had her phone stolen and just needs to link a new sim card to the account, is there anyway can you please help my mom. (or some other good story)

Re: Walmart - terrible service

will13am — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 01:12:50 GMT

@sprocket wrote:
That's a good idea. I'm sure they have a website where we can make complaints as well. I intend on contacting Walmart head office as well to make a complaint. I've worked both in mobile phone sales and retail years ago, I've been through many busy seasons like Christmas. It's just no reason to be a tool. Yes it sucks, take it home. A lot of problems happen at Walmart but they do actually care when you bring it to their attention luckily.

The wireless shop at Walmart is not run by Walmart. They are run by OSL.

https://oslrs.com/

Complaints on wireless services is handled by the CCTS.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Knowledge-Base/About-The-CCTS/ta-p/33309

Re: Walmart - terrible service

Psygineer — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:19:51 GMT

I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

RobertQc — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:49:34 GMT

@Psygineer wrote:
I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.

@PsygineerWhy would you let them? I would be more annoyed at myself for handing over my drivers license and allowing them to do this.

~~I have a feeling you answered the phone when the "CRA" called you and you ended up sending them money.~~

This came out different vs what I intended, I was trying to use this example to how serious I think this is. I am very sorry for how it came out.

Everyone and everything is trying to scam you at all times. Be weary of everything and never hand over any personal information like your drivers license.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:27:05 GMT

@RobertQc wrote:
@Psygineer wrote:
I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.
@PsygineerWhy would you let them? I would be more annoyed at myself for handing over my drivers license and allowing them to do this.

I have a feeling you answered the phone when the "CRA" called you and you ended up sending them money.

Everyone and everything is trying to scam you at all times. Be weary of everything and never hand over any personal information like your drivers license.

Depends on options I suppose RobertQc. If they're the only game in town and you want something, they can hang you over the barrel all they want. Oh you want this do ya? Well we're gonna need all this from you. Oh you don't want to do that for us. Well then see ya.

Sometimes what can you do.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

Psygineer — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:30:20 GMT

@RobertQc wrote:
@Psygineer wrote:
I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.
@PsygineerWhy would you let them? I would be more annoyed at myself for allowing them to do this.

I have a feeling you answered the phone when the "CRA" called you and you ended up sending them money.

Harsh at the CRA crack... I've never owned a cell phone nor a SIM before this purchase. Public Mobile was my first ever carrier. I had asked why the driver's license was needed and they stated it was required. Not having any other baseline to compare it to, and having seen Best Buy and the Telus store (doesn't have PM SIMs) ask for those things when people were buying phones (I originally planned on going Telus or Bell on a 2-year contract, but they were always sold out of the Pixel 2 (the phone I wanted "free"). I took it to be normal when Walmart asked for it. I'm not really one to make a fuss, and it is the only place in the entire city that sells the SIMs. I required the phone for work, and had been reminded three times already that I had to get one, so I went with PM and used a borrowed phone as a temporary solution. Now I have no intention of leaving PM and will just buy my own phones with the savings.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

RobertQc — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:30:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@RobertQc wrote:
@Psygineer wrote:
I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.
@PsygineerWhy would you let them? I would be more annoyed at myself for handing over my drivers license and allowing them to do this.

I have a feeling you answered the phone when the "CRA" called you and you ended up sending them money.

Everyone and everything is trying to scam you at all times. Be weary of everything and never hand over any personal information like your drivers license.
Depends on options I suppose RobertQc. If they're the only game in town and you want something, they can hang you over the barrel all they want. Oh you want this do ya? Well we're gonna need all this from you. Oh you don't want to do that for us. Well then see ya.
Sometimes what can you do.

@AnonymousKnowing that information is not needed is a red flag combined with the risk of having that person perform identify theft is more important than getting a sim card, in all cases. You leave, and do what it takes to get a sim card with another method.

They now have his complete address, birth day, license number and credit card and ccv number. This is enough information to do almost anything.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

RobertQc — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:33:12 GMT

@Psygineer wrote:
@RobertQc wrote:
@Psygineer wrote:
I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.
@PsygineerWhy would you let them? I would be more annoyed at myself for allowing them to do this.

I have a feeling you answered the phone when the "CRA" called you and you ended up sending them money.

Harsh at the CRA crack... I've never owned a cell phone nor a SIM before this purchase. Public Mobile was my first ever carrier. I had asked why the driver's license was needed and they stated it was required. Not having any other baseline to compare it to, and having seen Best Buy and the Telus store (doesn't have PM SIMs) ask for those things when people were buying phones (I originally planned on going Telus or Bell on a 2-year contract, but they were always sold out of the Pixel 2 (the phone I wanted "free"). I took it to be normal when Walmart asked for it. I'm not really one to make a fuss, and it is the only place in the entire city that sells the SIMs. I required the phone for work, and had been reminded three times already that I had to get one, so I went with PM and used a borrowed phone as a temporary solution. Now I have no intention of leaving PM and will just buy my own phones with the savings.

@PsygineerSorry I was trying to use it to show how serious this is. They literally took your drivers license number, birth day, address, credit card number/exp/ccv. This is a big deal when it was not something they should have taken. Who knows what kind of accounts and fraud can be done with this information.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:33:32 GMT

@RobertQc wrote:
@AnonymousKnowing that information is not needed is a red flag combined with the risk of having that person perform identify theft is more important than getting a sim card, in all cases. You leave, and do what it takes to get a sim card with another method.

They now have his complete address, birth day, license number and credit card and ccv number. This is enough information to do almost anything.

I know we're all also writing for future readers (readers good one) but yes I know. So yes it depends on how badly you want the thing and what your options are.

Re: Walmart - terrible service

ShawnC13 — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 04:35:18 GMT

@RobertQc wrote:
@Psygineer wrote:
I still am annoyed at the fact they photocopied the front and back of my credit card, driver's license. along with removing my SIM from the package and doing the same with it (same photocopies). I like to open my own things, but forgiving that, I saw no reason why they needed to photocopy my credit card front and back and then made me go through the POS and pay with it then. I also didn't get the point of the driver's license either. I'm pretty sure they ran a credit check on me as I took a hit to my credit rating during that month (and I had had no new credit cards or other credit rating-related transactions that month). The POS billed the card without issue (tap to pay) worked fine for the $11.30 purchase. There was no reason that I could see to need to photocopy my card (especially not front and back). So far there has been no fraudulent charges. My credit rating has recovered from the hit too now, but it was still annoying. The second SIM I bought they didn't do any of that. They treated it like a normal sale as if I was buying a pack of batteries.
@PsygineerWhy would you let them? I would be more annoyed at myself for handing over my drivers license and allowing them to do this.

I have a feeling you answered the phone when the "CRA" called you and you ended up sending them money.

Everyone and everything is trying to scam you at all times. Be weary of everything and never hand over any personal information like your drivers license.

I think the comment in bold was a little un called for. I am thinking the reason they took all this was to later tell PM that they did the activation so the sales person could get the commission.