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

[LTD2023]

Not going to that provider. $119 Yearly plan that partners with the big 3 'nationwide' when you're not on their network. My son has had them for years in mississauga with no problems.

[hTideGnow]

hi @ATHENS there is no more 2G system.  Rogers might still have it but you don't got stuck on a 2G plan. LoL

[Michael6666]

Seriously?

They are videotron and now own freedom mobile. They work great in Quebec, but public mobile rewards always held me back being just slightly cheaper. 

They have loyalty rewards that reach 6$ per line, rollover data, cheap US plans, guaranteed prices if you don't change plan and even sharing data between accounts even to people you don't know through the community. It's clearly better if these changes go through.. And maybe even if they don't. TBD

[LTD2023]

Thank you. Signed and forwarded.

[ShawnC13]

@RetiredGuy1, that is an interesting idea.  The only thing is that I am not sure (can never say never) that PM would want to get rid of the referral credit at this time.  Word of mouth is really their main driver for new customers.  They have recently had TV ads but it is still based on referrals for growth.  I know many will say that it will be hard to refer people here now with the Lgacy points gone but they have been gone for 2 years now and we are still seeing people sign up, so for some PM is still a better option.

I know it still sucks that the Legacy rewards are gone but if they still did the 1 point per every 30 day cycle you were with PM would have soften the blow and maybe retained some customers.  What costs them more using myself as an example giving me 87 points for my time here or paying $120 for a CCTS complaint?

[RevCo17]

https://www.change.org/p/preserve-legacy-rewards-for-public-mobile-subscribers

Please sign this petition and forward as much as possible. Thank you for your support. 

[RetiredGuy1]

I think a fairer approach would have been to keep the old rewards accumulated by legacy program clients but “freeze” their rewards status as of May. That way their bills would not increase while no further discounts would be applied going forward either. For those already receiving the max $5 loyalty the only impact would be no further referral rewards. PM could also  stipulate the client must stay on their current plan or upgrade to keep their rewards status. A change to a cheaper plan would result in a switch to the new rewards program.

[LTD2023]

I'm on the same plan as you. Already lost my referrals too. There are cheaper plans. One provider has a yearly 119 plan unlimited T&T and yearly 15g data. I posted this before but it was removed. 

[ShawnC13]

@JennalynnFlesch, you are correct.  Each customer must contact PM customer service directly through the trouble ticket system to follow the proper procedures for a CCTS complaint.  I don't think just making a post with a statement in here would be accepted as contacting customer service to find a solution to the issue.  So you are on the right way forward

[JennalynnFlesch]

I have begun a conversation with PM customer service manager Alexander, regarding this apparent change being forced on legacy users.  Here is my message to PM, (maybe everyone needs to begin with letting PM know we will not accept this change directly to Customer service); 

Good morning Alexander, 

I need to ask you to please clarify for me how this 'New Rewards Points' program will or will not affect my account.  I have the following agreement with PM, I get 1$ off my bill monthly for each year I have been with PM (Loyalty reward).  To this date that is $3, this June will be $4.  That means I should then have $4 off my bill monthly, as of June, 2024, for loyalty.  I get $3 off my bill for the 3 friends I signed up to PM monthly. I also get $2 off my bill monthly for autopay, as per PM.  So, for my regular bill of $25 per month, I get $8 dollars off per month= $17/month currently.  As of June, the bill should be $16/month.  

Please note that I do not agree to lose these rewards. They were promised by PM and I expect them to be honored moving forward.  Please advise, in detail that this will remain the case.

Should this become as issue for me as for many, many PM users, I will not likely be the only one filing a new complaint with the CCTS.

Thank you for getting back to me,

[666Deicide]

The friend savings are negated by the better price. Most of my rewards will disappear as most of my referrals are still on the old Rewards and will be leaving as well.

[RevCo17]

Please forward and add that you do not agree to these forced changes if you are impacted. The more exposure, allows more chance for CHANGE! Petition signed. 

Resources for help:

https://www.ccts-cprst.ca/for-consumers/complaints/complaint-form/

https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/contact/

[Pierre]

Sad news for legacy customers like me... talk about a retention plan !!! 

[dariovitale]

It is not beneficial to the customers. Only beneficial to the company which they will regret as customers will be leaving. 

[TECHRANG3R]

Can someone explain to me this statement:

How is the change to the new reward system providing "the best possible value to our subscribers"?  Previously, the old system would apply rewards automatically to the cost of my base service, providing me those extra dollars to purchase any services/add-ons I wanted.  Are there any services/add-ons that I can only purchase with points?  How is this adding extra flexibility? Also, as we discussed - the old reward system provided us more rewards(autopay, loyalty).  How does reducing/removing those rewards provide the subscribers "the best possible value"?  Isn't this an outright incorrect statement and a fraudulent claim?

These are the points I am making in my complaint and what I will raise with CCTS.

[Thatsnasty]

Pretty disgusting masking a price increase as "new rewards", then force everyone who has been here and brought new customers in, onto it.
Who actually wants to login in here and spend their worse rewards, do you not value client's time at all?
With crappy business decisions like this, no wonder Telus' stock has dropped 30% in the last few years.

[micagagne]

Fizz is not available in the maritimes, but PC mobile looks interesting....

[dariovitale]

What **bleep**ing bull**bleep** customer treatment right down to the dollar / month when comparing the old legacy plan to the new points system that came out 2+ yrs ago. WE THE OLD CUSTOMERS were given the choice by TELUS to choose whether to switch to the new points program of not. WE SELECTED NOT TOO. Now TELUS, who made the agreement with us not too so long as we remain customers is now breaking that agreement which WILL result in switching to another provider. CANCEL THE OLD REWARDS PLAN = CUSTOMERS LEAVING PM = PM LESS REVENUE = RETARDED MANAGEMENT. 

[Nikita4ever]

I have been with public since 2013!  We love the old reward system.  Changing now would mean I lose the reward system. We are 6 people with public.   Giving us a reward that expire in 150 days to replace this reward system is ridiculous.   So if public mobile wants to charge super expensive and take away reward system that made it better the. Competition, I will move to fizz. At least it's cheaper and data rolls over to another month.   

 Good bye public. I really vouched for you over the years. 

[Public_Cust_17]

To that point... PM is rewarding it's customers that can afford an expensive plan and shafting anyone on the lower cost plans with this % of bill rewards. So basically anyone who would be on a fixed budget like seniors or someone who barely gets by on what they make every month.. so disgusting!! I for one plan on complaining to the ccts and the crtc  https://www.ccts-cprst.ca/for-consumers/complaints/complaint-form/ and hope everyone else upset by this forced increase in cost does the same. 

[JimRockford_PI]

$161! I am missing something. I am only paying $15 a month. What kind of plan are you on for such an exorbitant monthly fee? 

[hTideGnow]

hi @666Deicide , but check if you have any friend referrals saving monthly and do the math before you go.  You will still get the friend saving 

[hTideGnow]

hi @Beacher_Mich 

so, you have some friend referrals saving as well?? the friend referrals is staying , at least

[hTideGnow]

hi @DrPublic , yes, many unhappy legacy subscribers here 😞

[DrPublic]

Terrible. Very disappointed long time customers here. We will not forget and we will not forgive. We’ll search for alternatives unless this new direction is changed. 
This is insulting, trying to sell us an inferior subscription as an improvement. 

[Matty1234]

I've already purchased a sim for Fizz, their deals here in BC are pretty good right now - they're liable to change but they're upfront with that as it's in beta testing

[just_retired]

The old Rewards were what attracted me to PM in the first place, as it differentiated them from the other providers. I wasn’t looking for the best or fastest, I just wanted a fair, reliable service at a decent cost as I too was moving to a fixed income. I was pleased with the Rewards so I signed up for 3 accounts for myself and family. I would have liked to see wifi calling availability as cell reception in my home is poor, however I figured we could live without it considering the money we were saving with the old Rewards.

Now that these Rewards are going to be replaced with much inferior Points, it’s going to cost us more so when May comes I’ll be looking at moving our accounts to other providers. Like others have said, it’s been a good run with PM. 

[onk]

This is the most out of touch worst decision I’ve seen Public Mobile make. I’m actually going to swap providers and take all my family with me if this goes through. 

oh and thanks for the 30GB of bonus data THAT EXPIRES. I use less than 1.5GB a month. Am I going to use the rest of the 28.5 spamming these forums over trash points? Guess so. 

[Emjhay]

https://www.pcmobile.ca/en/plans/

[666Deicide]

As a customer since 2016, I actively bragged about how good the plans were when the Rewards program is taken into account, and I've had a few referrals over the years.  I was very dissapointed when it was discontinued for new users, but like many, it didn't affect me, so I didn't feel the need to comment.  When that change happened, I essentially stopped telling people about Public. I no longer saw the benefit in choosing Public over other carriers.

Unfortunately, it seems, I've put too much trust in Public Mobile. While I intended to remain with Public Mobile due to the great experience I've had with the Rewards program, I have zero interest in continuing to be a customer under the new Points program. I don't want flexibility or contests or any other junk. A short term boost in data, isn't of benefit, and is nothing but a hollow jesture, as myself, like most people, already subscribe to a data plan that meets their needs.

This feels like a slap in the face to someone that has been around for just shy of 8 years. What hits harder than anything, is my latest phone purchase this year was centered around compatibility with Public, and affordability due to needing to buy it outright without contract. I could have come very close to my current phone bill without needing to pay several hundred dollars up front. I now heavily regret my decision to continue with Public Mobile, and had I seen this betrayal coming, I wouldn't have.

Unless this decision is reversed, I will be leaving and taking my family to another carrier.