topic Re: Need help for activation in Get Support

Need help for activation

Findus18 — Sun, 25 May 2025 20:18:03 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm from Germany and traveling through Canada and the USA. I'd like to activate my account, but unfortunately I don't have a Canadian credit card. I don't think anyone will give me their credit card, even if it's just for activation. My German MasterCard didn't work. Can someone help me?

Thank you very much!

Re: Need help for activation

funpig1 — Sat, 24 May 2025 17:52:18 GMT

@Findus18

Buy a voucher after you land.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/purchase-a-voucher

Re: Need help for activation

Findus18 — Sat, 24 May 2025 17:54:02 GMT

Thanks for your answer! It's not possible anymore to do it with a voucher. I need a Canadian creditcard 😞

Re: Need help for activation

Chalupa_Batman — Sat, 24 May 2025 17:56:58 GMT

@Findus18 wrote:
Hello everyone,
I'm from Germany and traveling through Canada and the USA. I'd like to activate my account, but unfortunately I don't have a Canadian credit card. I don't think anyone will give me their credit card, even if it's just for activation. My German MasterCard didn't work. Can someone help me?
Thank you very much!

Hello @Findus18

As per @funpig1 , you can purchase a voucher and add it to your account. However, because you don't have a Canadian credit card, you will have to reach out to a CS Agent to create an account for you. Have the voucher information ready. They can be purchased at stores like Shoppers Drug Mart.

The Public Mobile chatbot is currently unable to create trackable tickets for members who are unable to log in. So for this reason, please use the following link to contact them. Advise them you are not Canadian and you don't have a Canadian credit card and that you need them to start and open an account on your behalf and then when they've completed that, you'll be able to log into your account and add the voucher.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

A Customer Service Agent will reply to your community inbox here:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage

During business hours (9 AM-10 PM EST) you can expect a response within 30 minutes, but it may be longer depending on current volumes.

Re: Need help for activation

slusagm — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:09:48 GMT

PM no longer activate new account with voucher

But a prepaid credit card from store and use it to activate instead

Re: Need help for activation

Chalupa_Batman — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:16:06 GMT

@slusagm wrote:
PM no longer activate new account with voucher
But a prepaid credit card from store and use it to activate instead

That is actually incorrect. They have the ability to start an account and the person can load a voucher to the account then pick a plan. This is done for Canadians who don't have access to a credit card.

Re: Need help for activation

Findus18 — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:23:25 GMT

Thanks! I just tried with an American vanilla card but was not working. Canadian vanilla works or what should I use? So which prepaid card

Re: Need help for activation

slusagm — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:24:14 GMT

@Chalupa_Batman they have the ability, but I asked and confirmed they don't activate by voucher anymore

Prepaid credit card is the only way to go. I don't want OP wastes money for nothing, especially he might only need the service for one month

Re: Need help for activation

Chalupa_Batman — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:27:14 GMT

@slusagm wrote:
@Chalupa_Batman they have the ability, but I asked and confirmed they don't activate by voucher anymore
Prepaid credit card is the only way to go. I don't want OP wastes money for nothing, especially he might only need the service for one month

Well, @computergeek541 can confirm what I say is true as he has said it many times in other posts. Plus, you can't start an account with a prepaid credit card, that we all know already. We've asked multiple times if prepaid cards work, nobody from PM or Oracles have a specific card that will work or approved. If you feel you've received that answer from a CS Agent, than that agent is incorrect.

Re: Need help for activation

TERRY54 — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:30:10 GMT

try a walmart, I think they have them

Re: Need help for activation

slusagm — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:31:10 GMT

Prepaid credit card has a service charges, but better safe than sorry

And I asked PM just couple weeks ago and got that confirmation

Re: Need help for activation

hairbag1 — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:33:26 GMT

@Findus18

find the nearest Canada Post and they sell prepaid debit cards that will work for you. Then you can use vouchers to re-up every 30 days...if you plan to stay that long.

Re: Need help for activation

Findus18 — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:59:48 GMT

Thanks for all your answers! In the moment I'm in the us for the next 2 weeks before I come to Canada for 2 month. I'm running out of internet now so I need a solution right now😬 sadly, in the us is no Canada post😄

Re: Need help for activation

slusagm — Sat, 24 May 2025 19:07:07 GMT

Why not buy travel esim?

Re: Need help for activation

Findus18 — Sat, 24 May 2025 19:37:49 GMT

Public mobile offers att network for us and telus in Canada. That's great for me when I'm in the national parks. And it's much cheaper compared to a travel e sim

Re: Need help for activation

slusagm — Sat, 24 May 2025 19:53:42 GMT

@Findus18 US carriers usually offer cheaper plans than Canadian, I suggest you check

Re: Need help for activation

computergeek541 — Sun, 25 May 2025 20:15:19 GMT

@Chalupa_Batman wrote:
@slusagm wrote:
PM no longer activate new account with voucher
But a prepaid credit card from store and use it to activate instead
That is actually incorrect. They have the ability to start an account and the person can load a voucher to the account then pick a plan.

I've never actually received an answer either way about whether the policy was ever changed. Some of the oracles have been told by a CSA that they won't do it any more. However, I do see an issue with that. I can't think of any logical reason to deny such a request. In my opinion, this specific issue isn't a matter of policy, but is rather a customer service issue. For a customer support agent to refuse such a simple request when there is is/was already procedure in place for this situation is baffling to me.