topic Re: downgrading subscription in Get Support

downgrading subscription

JenniS — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:20:19 GMT

Hi, I would like to downgrade my subscription to a very basic plan advertised on "shop" for plans page. I don't use even 1GB and I'm currently paying for 20GB. When I go to my account and click on "change my subscription" it only offers me a few plans that are similar. It doesn't show me the lesser plans that are available from PM.

Re: downgrading subscription

EB0 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:23:35 GMT

@JenniS

You can only change subscription to whatever available on your account

most customers can’t downgrade their plans

Re: downgrading subscription

eddieO — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:23:45 GMT

@JenniS unfortunately PM has made it so that those lower priced plans are only for new customers to get them in the door. When you go into your PM app and go into Manage Subscriptions that's where you will see what plans are available to you. It seems to be specially tailored from customer to customer based on what their current plan is. So, if you want one of the cheapest priced plans the only way is to create a new account, new number new email or port out to another company and then come back which seems like a lot of work

Re: downgrading subscription

JenniS — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:25:38 GMT

so it seems I need to cancel my subscription and then subscribe again to the new low plan?

Re: downgrading subscription

JenniS — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:27:16 GMT

Thank you EBO for your reply.

Re: downgrading subscription

Phil_Adelphus — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:39:33 GMT

@JenniS so it seems I need to cancel my subscription and then subscribe again to the new low plan?

You could do that if you don't care about keeping your current phone number. You would likely be safest to use a different email address when setting up the new account with the new phone number.

Re: downgrading subscription

DennyCrane — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:58:13 GMT

Port your number our to Lucky mobile on their cheapest plan. Then port back to Public Mobile as a new customer.

Re: downgrading subscription

BKNS27 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:59:21 GMT

@JenniS

I downgraded to the $23 plan with 6gb but I missed the $19 plan with 1gb.

Login on the PM app then under Subscription tab>Manage Subscription>Change Subscription and it would list plans you are eligible for. It seems that plans are different for each members.

Re: downgrading subscription

will13am — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:36:05 GMT

@DennyCrane wrote:
Port your number our to Lucky mobile on their cheapest plan. Then port back to Public Mobile as a new customer.

Dumb question, if you are able to get a suitable and cheaper plan from a competing brand, what is the impetus to come back?

Re: downgrading subscription

DennyCrane — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:40:32 GMT

Fair point. If there are better options out there, go and don't come back.

On that note I just looked up Lucky's current offerings, and it seems they've improved significantly. There was a time not so long ago that their offers paled in comparison (if you wanted any meaningful amount of data).

Re: downgrading subscription

slusagm — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:47:10 GMT

if you need to do that, port to a postpaid and not prepaid service provider.

Prepaid won't refund. Postpaid will refund you the days left for the month, so you only pay for 1 or 2 days in this case

Re: downgrading subscription

DennyCrane — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:49:23 GMT

Good point. However, most postpaid providers im aware of will charge activation fees which can reach upwards of $50, which would be far more than just eating the cost of a basic $15 prepaid plan.

Re: downgrading subscription

computergeek541 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:05:22 GMT

@will13am wrote:
@DennyCrane wrote:
Port your number our to Lucky mobile on their cheapest plan. Then port back to Public Mobile as a new customer.
Dumb question, if you are able to get a suitable and cheaper plan from a competing brand, what is the impetus to come back?

I beleive that the amount of existing customers that Public Mobile has lost since converting old rewards customers to be hovering at approximately 20% of those customers. These aren't official numbers, but it's about that for accounts that I have looked in. As for referring new customers, there's no longer any reason for customers to remain customers for longer periods of time. In many ways, this makes referrals worth much less. Many customers don't participate in Community and when it comes to anniversary rewards and 5% points back, those points amount are so small that it will take most customers a considerable amount of time to accumulate any points amount that can be redeemed. Unfortunately, I feel that Public Mobile has lost its competive advantage. The old rewards program was THE reason to be a Public Mobile customer. It's not that I believe that the offerings are all that bad at Public Mobile, but what I'm saying is this: What reason is there now to choose Public Mobile over the others?

Re: downgrading subscription

slusagm — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:08:17 GMT

but other still charge activation fees?? I thought most store agents out there would waive it for you. If it is such case, PM still has an edge over those postpaid

Re: downgrading subscription

will13am — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:09:20 GMT

@DennyCrane wrote:
Good point. However, most postpaid providers im aware of will charge activation fees which can reach upwards of $50, which would be far more than just eating the cost of a basic $15 prepaid plan.

Thus I have always advocated to others in the community to be an astute shopper and do what is best for themselves. Shopping is the one time where being greedy is never a bad thing. I came to this service looking for better value and have stayed because they continue to satisfy this thesis. No brand is everything to everyone. When you are with the wrong service provider, it is like wearing a size 6 shoe on a size 8 foot. There is nothing wrong with the shoe, it is just the wrong size.

Re: downgrading subscription

DennyCrane — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:13:03 GMT

@slusagm They don't typically waive activation fees, no.

Re: downgrading subscription

will13am — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:20:56 GMT

@computergeek541 wrote:
@will13am wrote:
@DennyCrane wrote:
Port your number our to Lucky mobile on their cheapest plan. Then port back to Public Mobile as a new customer.
Dumb question, if you are able to get a suitable and cheaper plan from a competing brand, what is the impetus to come back?
I beleive that the amount of existing customers that Public Mobile has lost since converting old rewards customers to be hovering at approximately 20% of those customers. These aren't official numbers, but it's about that for accounts that I have looked in. As for referring new customers, there's no longer any reason for customers to remain customers for longer periods of time. In many ways, this makes referrals worth much less. Many customers don't participate in Community and when it comes to anniversary rewards and 5% points back, those points amount are so small that it will take most customers a considerable amount of time to accumulate any points amount that can be redeemed. Unfortunately, I feel that Public Mobile has lost its competive advantage. The old rewards program was THE reason to be a Public Mobile customer. It's not that I believe that the offerings are all that bad at Public Mobile, but what I'm saying is this: What reason is there now to choose Public Mobile over the others?

I have mentioned this before, the new approach at Public Mobile is to put the effort into competing on plan price alone without the aid of rewards. So, you have to ask yourself, is price alone still a good value proposition. If not, move on. With respect to the 20% that you think left due to lost rewards, I would say for the most part the move amounted to cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Sure the $15 customers saw a massive net cost increase. However, what competing brand offers a basic plan at $8/month? As for the rest of us on more costly plans, it is pretty much a draw. The $25/1GB customer could easily have slotted into a $19/1GB or $57/9GB/90 day plan. You know why a lot of customer are whining in the community? They are the ones that have stayed because they know the brand still offers value but are unhappy because of the rug pull.

Re: downgrading subscription

computergeek541 — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:28:30 GMT

@will13am wrote:
I have mentioned this before, the new approach at Public Mobile is to put the effort into competing on plan price alone without the aid of rewards. So, you have to ask yourself, is price alone still a good value proposition. If not, move on. With respect to the 20% that you think left due to lost rewards, I would say for the most part the move amounted to cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Sure the $15 customers saw a massive net cost increase. However, what competing brand offers a basic plan at $8/month? As for the rest of us on more costly plans, it is pretty much a draw. The $25/1GB customer could easily have slotted into a $19/1GB or $57/9GB/90 day plan. You know why a lot of customer are whining in the community? They are the ones that have stayed because they know the brand still offers value but are unhappy because of the rug pull.

Ironically, I believe that Public Mobile plan's have become astronomically better over the years. It's at the lower price points that Public Mobile is likely struggling to keep customers happy. Unfortunately, if we examine the old $10 plan, someone automatically being able to get that plan for $3 (or less) after 5 years was just bad for businesss.

Re: downgrading subscription

DennyCrane — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:29:12 GMT

💯

The lower spend plans got hurt the most with the recent changes. Those willing to spend a bit more get far more for far less than they did a year ago. And with the new price strategy where the low end is only available to new customers, it's clear Public Mobile is okay losing some lower ARPU clients while gaining higher ones.

The US roaming plan are great value, even with the recent changes to the lineup.

Re: downgrading subscription

DennyCrane — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:30:34 GMT

@computergeek541 Yup. And it makes sense. If I was running Public Mobile I'd rather have 2x $35 customers than 3x $15 customers.