Big News: We just launched even better rate plans!

[Brooke_C]

Hey Community,

We’ve got great news!  We listened to your feedback on our pricing and plan options and are excited to announce that we are launching new plan options today!

We encourage you to check out the new plan options here or at publicmobile.ca/selfserve to understand which plan best meets your needs and so you receive the biggest bang for your buck. Below is a summary of some of the major changes.

We are saying hello to:

• 2GB on a 30 day plan - We know this has been something all of you have been pushing for!
• 3GB on a 90 day plan - We wanted to simplify the data options so we have removed the 1 GB and 4GB options and added a 3GB option for 90 days.

We are saying goodbye to:

• Canada Wide Text - Global text will be the only text option going forward.
• 1GB and 4GB on a 90 day plan
• 6GB on a 30 day plan - Very few customers were taking advantage of this plan.

With this pricing change, we want to leverage the new pricing of the 6GB, unlimited province-wide talk and unlimited global text (now $120), to showcase this awesome plan:

We think that this plan will be a home-run, worthy of a Bautista bat flip!

Most plans are either cheaper or have more for the same price, but a few plans will be more expensive. If you like what you see, you can go ahead and make changes to your current plan.  But don’t worry – if you want to keep your current plan as-is, you will be able to do so.  No problem.

Below we have a list of FAQs. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

A huge thanks to all of you who took the time to give us your feedback. We are constantly incorporating your ideas to make Public Mobile better for everyone.

Public Mobile Community team 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens if I sign up for a more expensive plan right before the rate plan options change? Am I able to change my plan without a penalty?

Customers who are on a 90 day plan and have used less than 45 days of service will be able to have their plan changed or credited. The chart below outlines a couple of scenarios and how Public Mobile will assist you so that you receive the best value for your money.

Scenario	Action
You are on a 90-day plan and would like to change your plan or receive a credit for the difference	If you have used less than 45 days of service, we can either: (1) credit you the difference between your existing rate and the new rate for a plan with the same options or (2) update your existing plan to the new suite of plans. If you take advantage of the credit, it will be one time only. After then, you are expected to update your plan options to the one that best meets your needs. Be sure to take action quickly if you want to take advantage of the new plan options.
	If you have used more than 45 days of service, we won’t be able to credit or change the rate plan for you since you have used more than half of your existing plan. That being said, you are able to future date your plan for the next billing cycle.
You are on a 30 day plan and would like to change your plan or receive a credit for the difference	Sorry, since you are on a short term plan we won’t be able to credit or change your rate plan. You are able to future date your plan for the next billing cycle.
You are on a 10 day plan and would like to change your plan or receive a credit for the difference	As with the 30 day plan, we won’t be able to credit or change the rate plan for you since you are on a short term plan. You can future date your plan for the next billing cycle.
You update your plan options, but then realize you would like to go back to your old plan	You won’t be able to switch back to your old plan after moving to the new suite of plan options. Be sure that you want to switch before you do!

2. Am I able to keep my current plan if I am happy with it?

Yes! You will be able to keep your existing plan. If you later decide you would like to take advantage of the new rate plan options, then just log in to publicmobile.ca/selfserve. However, you won’t be able to switch back to your old plan after renewing with the new rate plan options.

3. Why has the Canada-wide text option been removed?

The option has been removed in order to simplify the plan experience for customers. We also want to provide customers with the peace of mind that, while you are in Canada, you will be able to receive and send text messages from all over the world. @srlawren recently shared an improvement idea on our Public Lab saying that we should allow iMessaging confirmation texts to go through regardless of your text plan. This idea stemmed from the fact that some Canada-wide text plan customers weren’t receiving text messages from companies like Apple, who send messages from various locations around the world, notifying you to turn on your iMessage. With a global text option, you will no longer have to worry about this problem!

4. Why isn’t there a plan for heavy data users?

We think our sweet spot is medium data users, which is why the largest data plan is 12GB for 90 day customers and 4GB for 30 day customers. This is something that we will continue to re-evaluate based on your feedback.

Feel free to post any of your questions here, and we will be sure to get back to you. 

[Shazia_K]

Hello @b_ramkumar2001, 

I'm sorry about this, 

I have made the changes for you, please reboot your phone. 

Thanks.

Shazia

[b_ramkumar2001]

I had previously submited my request change to the new 90 day, unlimited canadian/US calling, 6GB data and global text plan on my auto renewal date (21st August 2016). I had submitted te request in my account few days prior to the auto renewal date. But on the date of renewal, my plan did not change to the new plan and my old plan got renewed.

[JEM]

Hi, when I came on less than a month ago, I wanted to change over my plan to the 6 gb plan on the 90 days so I went in and tried to change over myself too.. but had to pay the fees all over again but I messaged Mary, I think it was.. and I was credited back right away.  She told me same thing, you need to contact them to request the change over so you don't have to pay over again.  I guess I got so excited about "doing it all myself" that I jumped in to quick... but, no fear, they're great about rebating your account without any problems.

[Shazia_K]

Hey @1TrueDave, 

We will be glad to look into this for you, 

Can you send me or @Mary_M a private message with your Public Mobile phone number? 

Thanks,

Shazia

[imm1304]

Hi @1TrueDave!

Lets get one of our moderators @Shazia_K to look into this for you.  

For this special circumstance of migrating to one of the new plans mid-cycle, PM instructed us to send a plan change request to the moderators here in the community.  

[1TrueDave]

The 45 day grace period sounds great but it does not appear to be working that way. When I go to update my plan it is asking for a full payment for 90 days.

I'm pretty frustrated by this situation since I had set my plan to change up to the 4 GB data on my billing date. The system charged me for it but failed to implement it because the plans changed between the time I inputed the change and my billing date.

I think 6GB data is great ,but I don't think it's fair for me to have to pay for it TWICE when the fault is not mine. I already paid for the upgrade to my account there shoudl be a way to apply it to my account.

[srlawren]

@kav2001c yes, although the Public Mobile plans may initially look a bit confusing, they are actually relatively simple and straightforward, other than perhaps the 10/30/90 day options that are a bit unique.  But when you look at other carrier plan pages, they can be quite overwhelming.  You have to choose basic plans, promo plans, smartphone plans, BYOB plans, tab plans, premium tab plans, etc.  I think PM has a great balanced approach to their plans that, although it obviously doesn't meet everyone's needs (nobody possibly could!), offers up a good balance.

[kav2001c]

Seems to be mixed, some include international, some do not

Public's biggest advantage is EVERYTHING is included so we don't need to worry about odd examples (eg on other carrier incoming MMS is free but outgoing MMS costs extra... unless you carry rate card with you how can you possibly remember lol)

[srlawren]

@kav2001c while it might save people a few dollars if PM re-introduced a Canada-only plan, do you remember how many issues this created in the past?  (Primarily with iMessage users, but occasionally in general).  Also, I'm not sure that MOST people only text Canadian numbers.  Canada is very much an international melting pot, and many people here have friends and family that live internationally.  

To the best of my knowledge--and I know you are very familiar with the other competitor plan offerings--I believe most or all Canadian carriers don't offer a Canada-wide-only texting option.  I believe most are all or nothing, with in fact most plans just including texting these days (though sometimes in limited outbound quantities on the less expensive plans).  

[kav2001c]

@srlawren it is just kind of funny though; back when offered everyone complained they thought the 90 day 1GB plan was 1GB per month. Now Public went and upped the data and everyone wants old way back. Grass is always greener (or oranger?) on the other side eh

Personally I would rather see Canadian (or even Canada/US) txt make a comeback since I feel most users never txt an international number

[srlawren]

Great rundown of the various options, @kav2001c!  Thanks for that.  

Regarding return of the 1GB plan, I believe even at an increased price point it's sadly unlikely.

[kav2001c]

My personal guess is they removed both the 1GB & Canada TXT options because the base price was too low after pick3 discounts.

The other option would be bring back those options BUT make them only qualify for a lower discount 

So instead of $90 maybe start them at $100?

[kav2001c]

@srlawren carriers who offer prepaid LTE service:

Bell / Solo / Virgin

Telus / Koodo / PUBLIC / PC Mobile

Rogers / Fido

SaskTel

MTS

TBayTel

Videotron

a whole bunch of MVNOs, such as ICE, BMO, 7-11 etc

Prepaid carriers who restrict LTE:

Chatr (since Mobilicity is now dead as of yesterday)

Prepaid carriers who will never get LTE in next year:

Wind

@DISQUISITION PC Mobile in particular has some super low data options if you are interested, and they are also owned by Telus. Cost for starter plan is cheaper than cost for starter plan here.

I personally think the Public offerings are better though.

[Ichong88]

It's really easy to change your data amount for the same amount.  Just go to "My Account" and you should see your current plan at 4gb.  Beside that, there should be an icon that says "change plan", and from there you can select the new plan at 4gb at the same price!  I just did that  last week. 

This change will likely take effect on your next billing cycle, which is how it worked for me.  Hope it's as easy for you, as it was for me. 

[srlawren]

Hi @DISQUISITION, welcome to the Public Mobile community, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback. 

One point:  I don't believe PM is the only prepaid LTE option in canada.  I believe the big 3 carriers offer pre-paid options in their flagship brands (Telus, Bell, Rogers) that include LTE to the best of my knowledge.  I believe you can also get prepaid LTE plans through Koodo, Fido, and possibly others.  This is a distinguishing feature vs. Wind, Chatr, and [the now defunct] Mobilicity, and possibly some others.  But not the only option.

[DISQUISITION]

Although I use very little data, cellular data that is (use WIFI), I have 940MB left to use within 8 days, I find your justification for removing the 4, 6, and 12 gig data options from your plans short sighted, as is your justification for removal of said options.

Many people DO NOT know that you're offering LTE; I've not seen any advertisements of any kind from Public Mobile. They also DO NOT know what it is, those that do, are tied to contracts.  They also DO NOT know the difference between LTE and 3G.

It's great that you post changes here, but it's limited to your customers; you need to advertise that you are the ONLY PREPAID CARRIER THAT OFFERS LTE!

I stumpled upon this because periodically I checked your website for your rates, before this, and shortly thereafter the TELUS take over, you only offered Talk and Text plans.  Word of mouth, and those that take the initiative to research can only get you so far.  

[kav2001c]

@fmpsportsguy thats awesome 

[fmpsportsguy]

Just wanted to post that Public Mobile did send me 2 Movie Tickets, as they promised for helping them out earlier in this post , and in the spirit of helping out, re gifted them to my neice and nephew working hard at summers jobs, and who deserve a well earned night out at the movies. 

Thanks Public Mobile, enjoying your service, with plans on earning referall rewards 🙂

[Bigmac]

Really great plan. Thank PM. 

[Scaredy]

That's what I assumed it was. The main site just doesn't say that (it only says U.S., no mention of Canada), so it should probably be corrected or clarified.

[srlawren]

@Cookin please send @Mary_M a private message, she can help with your plan change questions and request.

---

@Scaredy wrote:

I noticed on the Plans page for add-ons, it says "200 mins U.S. long distance for $8", but in Self-Serve, it's listed as Canada and U.S. long distance. I assume the latter is correct?

---

@Scaredy if your plan already includes canada-wide calling, then the 200min add on will only be used while dialing numbers in the USA.  If your plan includes only province-wide calling, then the 200 min add on will be used while dialing numbers in the USA, dialing numbers that are outside of the province in which you are physically located when you make the call, and for any incoming calls you take while outside of your own home province.  Hopefully that clears it up, but please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns!

[Korth]

@Scaredy

I'm guessing the long distance add-on will not apply to Canada long distance if your plan includes Unlimited Canada-Wide talk.  And that the PM staff probably have more solid info, lol.

[Scaredy]

I noticed on the Plans page for add-ons, it says "200 mins U.S. long distance for $8", but in Self-Serve, it's listed as Canada and U.S. long distance. I assume the latter is correct?

[Cookin]

My plan auto-renewed about 30 days ago (90 Days + Canada Wide Calling + Canada Wide Texting + 1 GB). I would like to change to one of the new plans (90 Days + Canada Wide Calling + Global Texting + 3 GB).

If I want to change immediately do I lose the remaining 60 days I already pre-paid for on the old plan?

In the first post there's talk of refunding the difference between the old and the new plan if you want to change but I want to change from a less expensive old plan ($105) to a more expensive new plan ($126) because it provides better overall value for my usage needs.

Thanks!.

[srlawren]

Hi @sl149q,

Are you currently on one of the previous plans, and only had Canada-wide texting?  If so, then yes the message will stop, but only if you get your plan changed to one of the newer plans, all of which include global messaging.  @Shazia_K can help you with that--just pick the new plan that you want from the plans page (https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/plans), and private message Shazia to request the plan change.  

[Shazia_K]

Hello @endodyne, @sl149q, 

I'm sorry to hear about this, 

Can you both send me your Public Mobile phone numbers? I will look into this right away. 

Thanks,

Shazia

[sl149q]

Does this mean the "Public Mobile here. Sorry we do not offer text messaging outside of Canada" texts will stop?

I still get one every time I restart my iPhone. Other posts suggest that it is iMessage attempting to message to a non-Canadian number.

I have upgraded my plan, but presumably the changes to global text won't take effect until my next billing period?

[endodyne]

I have the same problem as the user named rrusu where I have switched to a new (less expensive) plan but my account was not credited and I have been overcharged. 

Is there any way to resolve this quickly or a way it could have been avoided?

Thanks

[Shazia_K]

@jaspreetkaurt, 

I've answered to your private message earlier, please view it to get the answer to your inquiry 😉

Thanks,

Shazia

[jaspreetkaurt]

I am on 90days plan for $120 and getting 4GB Data.

As the plan has changed now, how can i take 6GB Data in same amount?