cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Plan updates + new $10 limited talk and text plan!

Brooke_C
Retraité / Retired
Retraité / Retired

Update as of June 19, 2018: This post has been updated to provide additional clarity that leaving a voicemail message uses minutes. 

 

Update as of June 11, 2018: This post has been updated to rectify that call forwarding counts toward your plan’s minutes.

 

Update as of May 4, 2018: This is no longer a limited time offer. 

 

Hey Community,

We recently completed a pricing review and wanted to let you know that you will be seeing some changes to our 3G pricing, effective today.

 

Our goal is to provide our customers with simple plans that provide great value. You can check out all the new pricing on our website, but at a high level, the big thing to note is that our Canada-wide talk, text, and 3G-speed data plans are now more competitive. Great news for anyone traveling within Canada this summer!

 

Additionally, we are introducing a new limited time $10 30-day limited talk and text plan.This plan is available for new and existing customers and includes:

  • 50 minutes of Canada-wide Talk
  • 50 International Outgoing Texts and Unlimited Incoming Texts and Picture Messages
  • Voicemail and Call Display

Note, checking your voicemail will use your minutes. Since this is the first time we have offered a ‘limited’ plan since we re-launched the brand, we’ve included FAQs on how this will work  in the spoiler below.

 

-Public Mobile Community Team

 

Spoiler

FAQs

Question

Answer

How long will this plan be in market?

This is a limited time offer and is subject to change without notice. Please refer to Public Mobile’s Service Terms.  Please note that the promotion will not be honoured after it has ended. This includes SIM cards that have been purchased online, are in-transit and not yet activated.

What does and does not use my minutes?


Uses Minutes

Doesn’t Use Minutes

  • Making a call
  • Answering a call
  • Retrieving or leaving voicemail messages
  • Using call forwarding
  • Calling *611 (the IVR)
  • Making or receiving calls from 911
  • Using calling apps when connected to Wifi


What is the maximum length of one text message?

A text message contains 160 characters; longer texts are broken down into 160 character segments. Each segment is counted as one text message.

Will you notify me when I’m almost out of text messages or minutes?

Yes, you will get an SMS message from Public Mobile when you have 10 outgoing texts left or 10 minutes left in your plan.

If I don’t have any minutes left, but I have a voicemail message, how do I check my voicemail?

There are two ways you can check your voicemail.

  1. From a landline or another mobile phone, dial your 10-digit phone number and press the * key to interrupt the system greeting. From here, you may need enter your voicemail password.
  2. You can purchase a long distance Add-On such as the 200 minutes Add-On that allows you to call to Canada and the US for $8. Note, the minutes in the Add-On will rollover to your next billing cycle.

Do I have to purchase a Long Distance Add-On to get more than 50 minutes?

Yes, you need a Long Distance Add-On to get more minutes added to your plan. If you often use more than 50 minutes per 30 days, we recommend one of our plans with unlimited talk.

I’ve run out of outgoing text messages included in my plan. What are my options to keep sending text messages?

We do not offer an Add-On for text messaging. We suggest you try one of our plans with unlimited text messages included. You can select any of our other Ready-Made Plans or build your own plan using our calculator.

If you like your limited talk and text plan, you can wait until your next billing cycle or you can renew your plan early.

Why is a text Add-On not being offered?

This is the first time we have introduced a plan with limited Talk and Text, so, to-date, there hasn’t been a need for a Text Add-On. Depending on demand and market changes, we may introduce a Text Add-On in the future; however this is not available at this time.

If I purchase a Long Distance Add-On, will my calls use up my Add-On minutes or my in-plan minutes?


 

Making a Call to someone in Canada

Making a Call to someone outside of Canada

Answering a Call from Anywhere in the World

In Canada

Will use plan minutes, before Long Distance Add-On minutes.

Requires Long Distance Add-On. The Long Distance countries we support can be found here.   

Will use plan minutes, before Long Distance Add-On minutes

In U.S.

Requires a U.S. Roaming Add-On with talk included.

Requires a U.S. Roaming Add-On with talk included. Aside from calls to Canada, you will only be able to make calls to people in the U.S. and its territories.

Requires a U.S. Roaming Add-On with talk included. You will only be able to receive calls from people in Canada or the US and its territories.  


If you purchase a Long Distance Add-On and you’re calling in Canada, your call will use your in-plan minutes first.

If you purchase a Long Distance Add-On and you’re calling outside of Canada, your call will use your Long Distance Add-On minutes (as long as the location you’re calling is accessible through your Long Distance Add-On).

Will I keep the same plan forever? Will my plan change?

Please refer to our Terms of Service for more information about our plans. 

 

 

302 REPLIES 302


@Anonymous wrote:

@AsianStew8,I'm pretty sure you can't do it.  You can either ceep your plan or the phone number, but not both.  If you move out the phone number, the plan is immediately closed.  If you port in a new number (to the old plan), the old phone number is lost.

 


Correct. No transfer of numbers between PM accounts.


>>> ALERT: I am not a CSA. Je ne suis pas un Agent du soutien à la clientèle.

Anonymous
Not applicable

@AsianStew8,I'm pretty sure you can't do it.  You can either ceep your plan or the phone number, but not both.  If you move out the phone number, the plan is immediately closed.  If you port in a new number (to the old plan), the old phone number is lost.

 

AsianStew8
Great Neighbour / Super Voisin

Hi All, I was wondering if this can be done - I am currently on the $40/4GB plan

Basically, I want to add an additional plan, I want this $10/50min talk+50 text plan

 

However, I want to swap the numbers.  I want my current number swapped with the $10 plan

And then port a number from another phone provider to my first line that's using the $40 plan

 

Thank you for reading.  I've private messaged the Moderator Team, but wondering if anyone has done something similar before...

 

Angela81
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Remember it's unlimited incoming texts... only 50 outgoing.

Angela81
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Only good thing I see is one month you might use more and the next less but you're more likely to use it faster and have nothing for your last month. 

mimmo
Retired Oracle / Oracle Retraité

@Tim_Ea@The portal can be buggy at times.

 

To get help you need to contact the mods. See bottom.of this post.

 

I would message the mods with you sim card number and get them to look into it.

 

I would also contact your cc company and make sure no charges were added or pending. Occasionally the portal says you cc has not been charged but in fact it has.

 

How can you get help with your account, activation, or service?

In your message please include:

  • PM Phone Number, 4 digit PIN, Account email address, Detailed explanation of your issue

Don't know your pin?--provide any 3 of the following:

  • Complete mailing address, Email address, Alternate phone number, Date of birth, Last top up date & amount

How long until they reply?:

  • Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 9pm, and Sat-Sun 9am to 7:30pm [Totonto Time].
  • Messages are replied to during business hours and in the order they are received
  • Typical response time is between 1-3 hours, depending on message queue, but can be up to 48 hours.
  • There is no need to send multiple messages.

Additional Useful Information:

  • Search PM-GUIDE (remove "-" during the search) to find some informative posts and answers to many common questions about Public Mobile

 

Tim_Ea
Great Neighbour / Super Voisin

I tied to activate a SIM card online using my credit card for Autopay and the website was not working. I have nobody to contact about this.

I cannot create an account for help as I am not a customer yet. I try to become a customer but I cannot as the systems do not work. There is no phone to call. There is no email to send. There is no support ....

I tried 3 different credit cards

Then I tried with another browser ...it says the SIM card is under activation under another browser and to wait 50 minutes.

I waited ... now when I try to put the card again, it said the SIM card in invalid!!!!!!!

What the hell is wrong with this company!!!!!!

It is a new SIM card I purchased today!!!!

srlawren
Retired Oracle / Oracle Retraité

@NKSandy that's a pretty sweet plan for casual use, especially with the unlimited texting. 


>>> ALERT: I am not a moderator. For account or activation assistance, please click here.

NKSandy
Great Neighbour / Super Voisin

Currently have $100 annual prepaid plan from Fido with unlimited text, 100 minutes Canada-wide talk time (for the whole year), for a teenager. Need to add talk time a couple of times a year, at a rate of $0.40 per minute: for example, $40 for another 100 minutes (with expiry tied to the annual plan, i.e. annual, and rollover if you renew). Let's call it $180 for the year with 300 minutes talk time total.

I'd switch to a competitively priced PM plan that offered more texts monthly than 50, and fewer minutes. Say, 25 minutes per month and unlimited texts, with a limited rollover for unused minutes. Perfect for a teenager.

luckee7
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

So is everyone changing there province wide to canada wide? If not...why not. (please exclude if on plans no longer offered)

Jonavin
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@jp2 wrote:

I agree, PM should offer a better rate for 90 day plans than 30 day plans 


Many of them do have better proces except thye advertise the 30 day plans with autopay discount already include but the 90 day plans without. They could be at least a bit more consistent so that it’s more obvious that 90 days is cheaper.

Great to see new prices and changes!

 

I agree too, 90 days plans should have an incentive like they had... 

 

And province-wide calling should still be available at a cheaper price for those who don't need Canada-wide. 

 

This is what PM is (or maybe was i guess) about, building you own plan with only what you need...

jp2
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

I agree, PM should offer a better rate for 90 day plans than 30 day plans 

jp2
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

@luckee7 before porting I would recommend clearing cashe/history or using chrome incognito mode to make it go smoother 

brent_liza
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@luckee7 You can port at anytime. Just go to change number and enter your account info from speakout. I haven’t heard of any problems but I’m new. Just make sure to get the account number from them. My port from virgin took 30 min to complete. Sorry if double posts I lost my wifi while posting. 

brent_liza
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

You can port your number at any time. Just go to change number then you will see option to port. Just make sure to contact speakout and get your account number. I haven’t heard of any problems but I’m new to pm. I just ported this way and took me only 30 min to be fully ported from virgin 

Jorno
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@computergeek541 wrote:

@canucks4life wrote:

9 Calls to voicemail will deduct from in-plan minutes?

 

This is either a typo or terms of service point?


https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/plans/10for50talk50text

 


Why would that be a typo? 

 

...


I believe @canucks4life initially read that line as "Nine calls to voicemail will deduct from in-plan minutes."  Less than nine calls to voicemail, no deduction from in-plan minutes 🙂

luckee7
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Can I port my number at a later date and are there any problems porting from Speakout? 


@canucks4life wrote:

9 Calls to voicemail will deduct from in-plan minutes?

 

This is either a typo or terms of service point?


https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/plans/10for50talk50text

 


Why would that be a typo? 

 

Every carrier that I can ever think of has always counted checking your voicemail by using your cell phone as regular airtime.  You can get around that by checking your messages by using another phone.

 

Although this isn't the norm, Fido used to (and I believe still do) charge prepaid customer for airtime whenever someone would leave you a voice message!   I hope that Public Mobile won't be doing that.  I never considered that practice at Fido to be fair.

brent_liza
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

I agree even I'd pay $8.00

smp99
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

I think most would pay $5 more if they threw in unlimited text

brent_liza
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

This is great for casual users. If i had this option for adding unlimited text I would switch to it in a heartbeat. 

srlawren
Retired Oracle / Oracle Retraité

@smp99 wrote:

For anyone on a 3G plan. In your account details, does it say 3G 


@smp99 it says "at 3G speed", as per: https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Plans-Add-Ons/How-to-tell-data-plan-speed/m-p/173079/...


>>> ALERT: I am not a moderator. For account or activation assistance, please click here.

smp99
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

For anyone on a 3G plan. In your account details, does it say 3G 

canucks4life
Town Hero / Héro de la Ville

I see the very tiny bullet point now...seniors are not going to see that Cat LOL

Jonavin
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@canucks4life wrote:

9 Calls to voicemail will deduct from in-plan minutes.?

 

This is either a typo or terms of service point?


https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/plans/10for50talk50text

 


If means if you call using your phone to retrieve the VM it will deduct minutes. If you do it from another phone you won’t get any minutes deducted.

canucks4life
Town Hero / Héro de la Ville

9 Calls to voicemail will deduct from in-plan minutes?

 

This is either a typo or terms of service point?


https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/plans/10for50talk50text

 

srlawren
Retired Oracle / Oracle Retraité

@Luddite wrote:


Correct. This plan is targeted to the segment that wants a cell phone for "emergencies" and rarely turn it on unless they need it. 


@Luddite the really unfortunate part about this aspect is that this demographic are generally the ones least equipped to deal with the online-only support model should issues arise.  😞


>>> ALERT: I am not a moderator. For account or activation assistance, please click here.


@Jonavin wrote:

@fathom wrote:

How about a similar cheap plan for high school student?

-unlimited txt (because, well, teens txt...a lot)

-a few minutes of calls (they don't talk those teens do they?)

-no data (they have wifi everywhere they go)

Currently mine are with Fido and Rogers yearly plans, because nothing else is cheaper, but would love to move them to PM.

 


If they do a lot of texting Koodo has a good $15 plan that also has non-expiring talk and data add-ons. I think that's the best plan if want unlimited texting.

 


Correct. This plan is targeted to the segment that wants a cell phone for "emergencies" and rarely turn it on unless they need it. As always, analyse your wants/needs and follow your wallet. 


>>> ALERT: I am not a CSA. Je ne suis pas un Agent du soutien à la clientèle.

Jonavin
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@fathom wrote:

How about a similar cheap plan for high school student?

-unlimited txt (because, well, teens txt...a lot)

-a few minutes of calls (they don't talk those teens do they?)

-no data (they have wifi everywhere they go)

Currently mine are with Fido and Rogers yearly plans, because nothing else is cheaper, but would love to move them to PM.

 


If they do a lot of texting Koodo has a good $15 plan that also has non-expiring talk and data add-ons. I think that's the best plan if want unlimited texting.

 

Need Help? Let's chat.