Upcoming Changes to our Old Rewards Program

[J_PM]

Hey Community,

We have an important announcement to share with our subscribers who are currently enrolled in our old Rewards program.

We’re making changes to our rewards program and are sharing how these changes impact some of our subscribers. Starting in May, we’ll be retiring our old Rewards program and moving all subscribers to our Public Points™ program. 

We launched the Public Points™ program in January 2022 to provide our subscribers with more ways to earn and spend rewards, with greater flexibility. As part of our commitment to continuously evolve our products and services, it's time to retire our old Rewards program and shift our focus on enhancing our Points program.

To show our appreciation for your continued loyalty, subscribers on our old Rewards program will receive a special thank you. We'll send you a text message when it has been added to your account by March 31st. 

We’re excited to continue providing you, our valued subscribers, more opportunities to earn and spend rewards with Public Points™ moving forward.

To learn more about your move to Public Points, check out our FAQ here.

The Public Mobile Team

[d3rdonnergott]

They already censored my original post! The wording was a bit different but I wrote: What a crappy way to treat your customers! 

[Stelawrat]

Thank you @Dunkman! 

I'll definitely stay with my current $35 plan for the next two payments, March & April, to take advantage of the $10.00 monthly reductions, until they're lost in May, at which time, I'll downgrade to PM's $25 plan.

In the meantime, I'm going to continue to shop around, speak with family etc. for something comparable, or better than PM's $25 plan. 

Thanks to you & to everyone who replied to my posts! o/

[DLS_64]

This is just so disappointing. The way they went about this was all wrong too, why try and make it sounds like this is a good change for your long-term customers? I think this pill would have been easier to swallow if they had just owned up to it and said costs are up and instead of changing the price of plans, they're switching their loyal customers to the much less attractive point system.

I think the most insulting thing is that they used to offer points for every month you had been with Public if you voluntarily switched to the point system... this really should have been given to those of us who are being forced on to the new point system as well. Even if the data had no expiry date it would have been better; it just feels like this was poorly executed and I think they underestimate how many people will switch to other carriers, and even possibly pay a bit more, to get some of the premium features Public doesn't have (Wi-Fi Calling, Visual Voicemail, unthrottled data speeds, etc.).

I would love to see them reverse this decision, but I do think that's unlikely. At the very least, I would like to see them offer the customers being forced to switch the points for each month they've been with Public.

[Sasser]

Glad to see I am not the only upset and frustrated customer. I have 2 phones but they put them on seperate accounts saying it had to be this way. Can even access the one account and I need the Account Number Grrrrr

[AnnoyedByPublic]

Kinda sounds like they knows it’s ridiculous and suggesting a switch without outright doing so. Don’t oust their name.

[AlexS888]

I had already been in contact with a moderator for another issues, and after HE brought up the switch to Points I replied that I was not happy about being forced to switch and told him that it removed any incentive to stay with PM, this was his reply:

"Regarding the switch to Points, you are not actually forced to make the change, this doesn't need consent or approval, it will be done and it's unavoidable. No department can't change that, but I will also point out that these are prepaid services with no contract, which means the customer can change to any carrier at any point"

So, I guess they don't care about customers AT ALL and have no problem with us leaving.

[KatMacNeil]

This "new" point base system is a slap.  Wholly supported and promoted PM on their loyalty program to anyone who was interested.  The automatic loyalty program was a HUGE incentive as it was credited to the account every month; bonus for those of us on fixed/limited incomes and very helpful. I get the "redesign" of the program but now it's a "wait and build up"  which is USELESS.  Why not have the "points" automatically credited to the account EACH month and not leave it to the user to manually "apply".  This now has me and my other referred friends now looking at other options/providers. NO THANKS PM!

[pm-smayer97]

YES!

Then you can work at trying to apply any points you earn over time.... lol

[ily]

The fact that they haven't thought of this is mind-boggling. It goes to show that their "thank you" data is nothing but an afterthought.

[Dunkman]

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@Stelawrat wrote:

---

@Dunkman wrote:

---

@Stelawrat wrote:

I've read all of the posts up to page 16... pretty sure no one has asked this so, can anyone please advise if customers located in Quebec will still receive the $5 off per month, or is this lost as well? 

Signed up in July '20 for a $35 plan (- $5 off QC location - $2 Auto pay - $3 Loyalty) = $25 per month currently. 

I've had a quick look at other providers & the choices are limited. When the enforced points system comes into effect, I'm leaning towards downgrading my plan to the one PM provides for $25 per month, meaning I'll lose 1 GB of data per month & forfeit the gift of 240 GB special bonus data. I'll get to keep all of my Add-Ons earned over the years = 6 GB data & 1500 minutes INTL Long Distance incl CA & US.

I really wish I could downgrade to the $24 per month plan, currently available for new activations only. I sincerely believe that if PM made that an option, it would compensate a bit for the loss of our legacy rewards, especially so if Quebec residents lose that $5 per month reduction. 

I can't imagine that the difference in what the two plans provide would have that great an impact on PM's bottom line. Making it available to everyone would restore a fair amount of the good will PM customers normally have for them. Currently it's being drained away by the enforced point system, combined with the restriction to this attractive plan.

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@Stelawrat 

You actually should keep the ongoing $5/month discount as long as you don't change the original plan $35.  Yes, you will lose your loyalty and autopay rewards.  

If you are planning to change as described above, you will need to do it soon.  Some customers have already received the data bonus (ranging from 5GB top 240 GB).  Once you get the data bonus, if you change plan, your data bonus will be removed according to FAQ.  

I agree with you.  Making the $24 and $29 "new activation only" plans available to existing customers would be a positive step in helping with this transition.  Better than the offer of the data bonus for many customers. 

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Aarrggg! 😲

I hope that you're wrong re: the $5 reduction as a Quebec resident.

As per PM's Service Terms, I've never received any notification, or warning, by email, text, or here on my account summary, that I could lose the reduction if I ever changed plans. When I joined PM, I understood that it was a defacto reduction for all Quebec residents, not plan specific.

It's quite possible that I misunderstood, hopefully not though. If I did, then that doubles my total monthly loss to $10.00. 

As described above, when I downgrade, I don't mind losing the 1 GB of data per month & forfeiting the gift of 240 GB special bonus data.

I do get to keep all of my Add-Ons earned over the years = 6 GB data & 1500 minutes INTL Long Distance incl CA & US though right? 

---

@Stelawrat 

If you downgrade your plan, you will likely lose the $5 Quebec discount.  Discount was plan specific.  If you change plans, you will lose that discount most likely. 

[pm-smayer97]

Just keep in mind that if you want to earn community rewards (LOL), you need to use the same email address as your Self-Serve login. You can have CS_Agent fix that if needed.

[edinez1]

Being very simple in reply, hoping simplicity help. I want to KEEP my existing rewards plan and NOT switch to the points program.

Enzo

[EdN]

Offering the data and putting an expiry date on it was a slap in the face to all of the long time public mobile subscribers.

[d3rdonnergott]

Wow! Guess I will be taking my business elsewhere Telus! 

[ily]

Yes, you'll start paying $25/month. Your loyalty (-$5) and auto pay (-$2) discounts are completely discontinued. You'll start banking 1 point for your referral per month. You can only apply points to you bill when you hit 15 points in total.

[marcnoel]

What

A

Nightmare

I had a 40 GB Canada-US plan, and was going to switch to 50 Canada with unlimited throttled data.  Got an e-mail yesterday from PM about Rewards switching to Points, and that I would get 240 GB for loyalty.  Fine print said I would lose the 240 if I downgraded my plan, but it sounded like it would happen after I got the data.  Switched to a $ 15.00 plan immediately.  Little while later, I get the data. So, I have a $ 15.00 plan and 240 GB.

Today, data has been removed.

It appears that, the only people who will be able to use the 240 is if they DON'T have unlimited throttled data, and use lots. I don't know if the 240 would be used before the plan allotment, or after the allotment, but before the throttled. I don't use enough to find out. Unfortunately, next step down from the current 50 for $ 34.00 is 1 for $ 25.00.  

Considering how many people have said they don't use much data, combined with the several unlimited throttled plans, the 240 probably won't get used by many people. One wonders why they offered the 240 at all.

This is very frustrating and disappointing.  

I have nothing else to say.

[AlexS888]

Too bad for them that myself and many others are already in the process of filing complaints with CCTS and CRTC

[dmbcanada1867]

Yeah just crunched the numbers myself, looks like we will be looking elsewhere.   Used to promote PM to everyone but now cannot do so.  Telus messed this up just like Scotiabank messed up Tangerine/ING Direct

[AlexS888]

Even if it was comparable I still wouldn't want to switch. I  have ADHD and it's way to stressful for me to have to either try and remember to apply points every month or get penalized with a higher bill

[Stelawrat]

---

@Dunkman wrote:

---

@Stelawrat wrote:

I've read all of the posts up to page 16... pretty sure no one has asked this so, can anyone please advise if customers located in Quebec will still receive the $5 off per month, or is this lost as well? 

Signed up in July '20 for a $35 plan (- $5 off QC location - $2 Auto pay - $3 Loyalty) = $25 per month currently. 

I've had a quick look at other providers & the choices are limited. When the enforced points system comes into effect, I'm leaning towards downgrading my plan to the one PM provides for $25 per month, meaning I'll lose 1 GB of data per month & forfeit the gift of 240 GB special bonus data. I'll get to keep all of my Add-Ons earned over the years = 6 GB data & 1500 minutes INTL Long Distance incl CA & US.

I really wish I could downgrade to the $24 per month plan, currently available for new activations only. I sincerely believe that if PM made that an option, it would compensate a bit for the loss of our legacy rewards, especially so if Quebec residents lose that $5 per month reduction. 

I can't imagine that the difference in what the two plans provide would have that great an impact on PM's bottom line. Making it available to everyone would restore a fair amount of the good will PM customers normally have for them. Currently it's being drained away by the enforced point system, combined with the restriction to this attractive plan.

---

@Stelawrat 

You actually should keep the ongoing $5/month discount as long as you don't change the original plan $35.  Yes, you will lose your loyalty and autopay rewards.  

If you are planning to change as described above, you will need to do it soon.  Some customers have already received the data bonus (ranging from 5GB top 240 GB).  Once you get the data bonus, if you change plan, your data bonus will be removed according to FAQ.  

I agree with you.  Making the $24 and $29 "new activation only" plans available to existing customers would be a positive step in helping with this transition.  Better than the offer of the data bonus for many customers. 

---

Aarrggg! 😲

I hope that you're wrong re: the $5 reduction as a Quebec resident.

As per PM's Service Terms, I've never received any notification, or warning, by email, text, or here on my account summary, that I could lose the reduction if I ever changed plans. When I joined PM, I understood that it was a defacto reduction for all Quebec residents, not plan specific.

It's quite possible that I misunderstood, hopefully not though. If I did, then that doubles my total monthly loss to $10.00. 

As described above, when I downgrade, I don't mind losing the 1 GB of data per month & forfeiting the gift of 240 GB special bonus data.

I do get to keep all of my Add-Ons earned over the years = 6 GB data & 1500 minutes INTL Long Distance incl CA & US though right? 

[EdN]

You wrote

So I need some help understanding how things are changing and if it is worth staying. Been a member since 2018 and have the $25 1GB plan so have the following discounts

Loyalty (-$5)

Auto Pay (-$2)

Referrals ($1)

=$17 Pre Tax

Will I being paying full price now each month?

....................

Right now you are receiving $60 per year loyalty, $24 per year autopay and $12 per year for referrals for a total of $96 per year. You are paying $17 per month for your plan.

Under the points program you will receive $10 per year loyalty, $15 per year autopay and $12 per year referral for a total of $37 per year.  You will be paying $22 per month for your plan.

You are losing $59 per year or almost $5 per month when you are forced to move to the point system at the end of April.

[dicecube]

Even better, leave by porting out and give them none of your business.

[Dunkman]

---

@dmbcanada1867 wrote:

So I need some help understanding how things are changing and if it is worth staying.   Been a member since 2018 and have the $25 1GB plan so have the following discounts

Loyalty (-$5)
Auto Pay (-$2)

Referrals ($1)

=$17 Pre Tax
Will I being paying full price now each month?

---

You will be paying $25 + taxes per month.  

You will earn 1 point/month for your friend referral.  5% back on $25 will earn 1.25 point/month.  On each anniversary date on when you first signed up, you will get 10 loyalty points.  You will have to manually switch minimum 15 points for $15 credit to your account.  

[Luschka]

7 years I've been here ..... which now will only be 7 more days. I'm leaving.

Thanks for the kick in the pants to your loyal customer PM. Well done.

[RAZOR_MARK]

have been using PM for years but have to find another cheap provider now,

freedom prepaid seems a choice

[AnnoyedByPublic]

Yes, you might still get the $1 referral tho

[dmbcanada1867]

So I need some help understanding how things are changing and if it is worth staying.   Been a member since 2018 and have the $25 1GB plan so have the following discounts

Loyalty (-$5)
Auto Pay (-$2)

Referrals ($1)

=$17 Pre Tax
Will I being paying full price now each month?

[Pelbaxdar]

I’ve been a customer for 10 years and I commented on the forum for the first time yesterday because of this issue.  What’s your point?

I’m signed up for cell service not a social club. It’s an indication of how strongly customers feel about this that so many are coming on to the forum for the first time to express their dismay. 

[MandyJS]

Please explain to me how I'm supposed to enjoy that expiring "240 GB bonus data" that's offered to "thank me for my continued loyalty" when I'm on a 50 GB plan with unlimited slow speed data, making data add-ons incompatible with my plan?

Signed, your loyal customer.

[pm-smayer97]

YES...censorship is DEFINITELY happening in this forum. I have proof. Especially anything about contacting the head of PM or info supporting claims to the CRTC or CCTS.