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

[gilnockie1957]

I have been with PM since 2015. They obviously do not understand the basics of finance. Right now I likely pay less per month than they would like and consider that a loss whereas my money “contributes “ to their fixed costs. When I leave, they will be in a worse position than if I stayed. It’s a lot more expensive to get a customer than it is to keep a customer. I I think they would have been better off limiting the discount as opposed to eliminating it. I brought a number of people to PM and expect they will switch to another carrier when I do (in May). Going to start my research today!! 

[Wolfcore]

Exactly this.

I personally don't care about the autopay, because they did not make a promise when it comes to autopay (as far as I've been able to find). But with the loyalty rewards, and the referral rewards, we have written evidence of them promising that these would stick around as long as you remained a customer with PM, so it's a clear example of bait and switch.

As you've said, referrals are basically the same, so that's fine. But the new $10/year "loyalty reward" is nowhere near similar to the old one. 

[RetiredGuy1]

The switch from $2 autopay to 5% of the plan cost is more fair in my opinion. The referral reward is pretty much the same although not automatically applied each month is a step back in terms of customer service. The real impact is losing the loyalty reward of up to $5 a month for long-term customers ($60 a year) to only $10 a year. My question to PM is why the all-or-nothing approach with this forced rewards program change? A compromise would have seen old rewards program customers grandfathered protected for loyalty rewards while the autopay and referrals rewards switched to the newer program.

[Wolfcore]

Well, we know that it's not affecting them very much, considering they just posted one of their highest yearly earnings on record.

[Rikusk]

As soon as they make the change i will be moving away. The sad Bonus data offer that expires is also really hurtful for me in a way I cant even explain. 

[Patrick_PM]

With the point system, Public Mobile is hoping people will forget to redeem the points they have earned.

With the old credit system, this is automatically done for the clients. So all credits earned are actually used.

Mind you, the point system is also less generous with rewards too.

[Canadian_Man]

WOW I am disappointed this feels like a bad move

I will be shopping elsewhere  

[Frank_M]

So many posts being removed, gives me no option but to open more similar topics on social media and possibly even launch a website. This is laughable, how can so many posts be deleted, how can public even know the outcry when everything gets removed.

The only choice we have is to start somewhere else and talk about this uncensored.

[Kydd]

I hope not! There's a saying all good things must come to an end 

[Kydd]

Well said . That's the bigger picture. I have family in Russia when they told me what they paying and what they are getting in comparison to what we pay in Canada you will consider Canada a 3rd world country interms of telecommunications 

[Kydd]

If you find any better deal please let us know . We are consumer we shouldn't be loyal to any Company!!

[Bastian_Vaughan]

Little bit out of context and also not. I brought 6 years ago a prepaid card from Germany to Canada. In those 6 years I needed to top up the card once to not loose the number. If you don't top up you're still reachable. Since day one when I brought this card to Canada I have Wifi calling on this card. For 6 years on a prepaid card. No monthly subscription. You top it up with like 15 euros and you use it when you need it. No monthly charges, no deactivation. 

Plans like what we can get here now, was already standard years ago elsewhere.

Comparing now, to the Canadian market, Canada is at least 10 years behind in terms of service and charging money, compared to the European market.

And to top that, there is now blacklist/whitelist. No matter if your phone is worth $50 or $2000, no matter if Samsung or DingDong LTD from main China,... Volte and VoWifi will always work, same for 5G. 

There's a lot to do here in Canada to keep up with the rest of the world. 

[steve443]

What a stupid move.  My wife and I will be shopping around for new plans.

[Kydd]

Oh wow I didn't know they censored us here if we mention other carriers, that's a shame 

[public_999]

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/telus-reports-operational-and-financial-results-for-fourth-qua...

[ninjastar]

Free int'l wifi calling? Whatsapp and anything similar does that. You don't need a phone plan.

[eJonavin]

What I've noticed during the past year's Black Friday and Boxing Day deals is that there were some more appealing options out there but with our old rewards program, the extra $7 discount may it unattractive to go elsewhere.  If I look back in the context without the old rewards, for sure I would've been better off at any of the other brands including Freedom, Fido, Virgin, etc...

[public_999]

I should clarify...you can use wifi calling while traveling internationally to call and text back to Canada free of charge.  I think you know who....can't say because posts are being censored

[Kydd]

Who has free WiFi international calling I'm intrigued

[public_999]

Let's not kid ourselves.  Without the disruptor competitor, these Public Mobile plans would not even exist. Too bad Public hasn't copied their free international wifi calling, amazing international roaming addons, live customer service....I could go on

[Kydd]

 By chance is that competitor plan Freedom mobile? In terms of pm price and plans I think freedom comes the closest.. with the other companies there is always a catch . I've been with pm from boxing day 2023 my plan went from 34$ 20gig to 34$ 40gig now it's 34$ 50gig . The reception is great I mainly use my phone for streaming Spotify / YouTube etc if calling I use WhatsApp call so far the 5g speed haven't disappoint.. I had Bell Fido Rogers. None came close to this price tag none had even a chance of the rewards that can accumulate to help you pay your bill,none had perfect service that justify the price tag . I'm assuming legacy members in the beginning pm reception wasn't as great as it is now so the company had  those great  rewards to keep you, if I was a Legacy customer I'll be pissed also . But currently atleast for me in the GTA the only company that comes close to what pm offer is Freedom for price but no great rewards. 1 point a month for every referral if you know alot of people or have a big family get them to switch that's a win for you plus the small points back when you pay your bill that's still better than nothing..

[eJonavin]

I think we now know that not enough of us switched so some MBA did teh math and figured it was worth it to force everyone over.

I'm voting with my dollar and going elsewhere. 

[publicsteve1]

I'll reserve judgement on this until I see the actual impact on my bill. What it will absolutely do is cause me to look around at other options for the four lines I pay for, which I haven't felt the need to do for years. So PM, if you still compare well, no problem. Otherwise, big problem.

[Dmoney1111]

What exactly is the point of my loyalty if you are just going to screw your loyal customers anyways? I guess PM isn't safe from en**bleep**tification.

Been a huge advocate of PM for a long time but I guess it's time to go back to the grind of churning all the crappy mobile carriers we have in Canada.

[fixin]

---

@ShawnC13 wrote:

@sa7375 , David and J_PM are different people.  In 2018 I was still paying $120/12GB over 90 days.  Now I am on a $34/50GB Can US Plan.  Plans and pricing have changed in 6 years.  Unfortunately this change is not good for the customers, and in the end we will see how bad it does affect the mount of subscribers

---

Yes, lets see what Telus says in their Q1 / Q2 revenue and subscribers on PM!

[ShawnC13]

@sa7375 , David and J_PM are different people.  In 2018 I was still paying $120/12GB over 90 days.  Now I am on a $34/50GB Can US Plan.  Plans and pricing have changed in 6 years.  Unfortunately this change is not good for the customers, and in the end we will see how bad it does affect the mount of subscribers

[fixin]

---

@Frank_M wrote:

Quite honestly the reception on Telus has always sucked for me, my friend would be on Bell and we would drive a but north and I'd have nothing and he was on Bell with full service.

PC Mobile is on Bell and they now have better priced plans. I had them on one of my accounts and their web portal is 10 times better than eversafe as well

I already downgraded all 4 of my public accounts from $40 to $34 and with PC I get 5 extra gigs for auto pay.

Now that Loyalty is pretty much gone there really is no reason to stay.

---

Bell uses Telus towers & vice versa. Is there something wrong with your phone? 

[Frank_M]

Quite honestly the reception on Telus has always sucked for me, my friend would be on Bell and we would drive a but north and I'd have nothing and he was on Bell with full service.

PC Mobile is on Bell and they now have better priced plans. I had them on one of my accounts and their web portal is 10 times better than eversafe as well

I already downgraded all 4 of my public accounts from $40 to $34 and with PC I get 5 extra gigs for auto pay.

Now that Loyalty is pretty much gone there really is no reason to stay.

[sa7375]

[Michael6666]

Even with my 5 referrals, moving to fizz is a simple proposition. With some loyalty, I will get up to 6$ off per month and data rollover, even if I switch plans.

Take note public mobile, as the budget conscious customers you accrued over the years will jump ship!

The only customers that will be left, at least in Quebec, will be the 15$ plans