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

[dabr]

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@IanP wrote:

Totally disagree with this change.

Data is a useless bonus for many if not most of us as we have excess already.

Least they should offer is a matching amount of points to what we are receiving now.

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Or, at the very least, kept the conversion points of 1 point/month of service with PM for being on the new point system that was conveniently removed one day before this announcement. 

[IanP]

Totally disagree with this change.

Data is a useless bonus for many if not most of us as we have excess already.

Least they should offer is a matching amount of points to what we are receiving now.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Bottomshelf yes , you are correct

but if you like , keep an eye on My Account or the Common, PM might lift the new activation limits on some plans and open up for existing as well. Just need to be patient 

[Bottomshelf]

I believe the old customers and new subscribers will be paying the same for their base plan.

I'm on the $15 plan and currently paying $7.84.  Under the new system I will be paying $15 and get 1 pt per referral, .75 pt per month and 10 pts on the anniversary date.  As a new subscriber you will also be paying $15.

If you're referring to the "new activations only" plan, I can see what you're saying.  My spouse is on the $25 plan paying $23.52 with unlimited Canada wide calling and 1 gb data.  Even though the new $24 is more expensive, in the long run (taking into consideration $ rewards) but at least you get 4 gb of data which may or may not be useful depending on your usage.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Glemlins the Friend referrals is the same

  The one who joined with the code will get $10 one time , the one ehor referred will get 1 point on the new system every renewal 

[Glemlins]

They should probably be updating their site..   First thing I see when logging into my account:

SHARING ISCARING
Celebrate friendship in a rewarding way. Refer a friend and get $1 off your bill every 30 days they stay. Plus, they get a one-time $10 bill credit. Everyone wins.

[hTideGnow]

hi @JennalynnFlesch I don't think support agent can do much 😞

[JennalynnFlesch]

I have been messaging PM customer service regarding this ridiculous issue they have created for legacy users and this was their reply thus far, along with my answer for everyone to see.. basically just the run around thus far..

No worries, I'm here to help you with understanding how Public Points will work and how will or not affect your account.

Starting May 2024, we’ll be retiring our old Rewards program and moving all subscribers to our Public Points program. 

These changes will impact existing customers that are not currently on the Public Points program. 

To thank you for your continued loyalty, we’re giving you a special bonus.

Bonus data will be added to your account by March 31. 2024, as long as your account is active. 

We’ll also send you a text message confirmation when the bonus data has been successfully added to your account.

The Public Points program is based on points, 1 point earned is valued at 1 dollar when redeemed. 

The ways to earn with Public Points are the following:
 

Welcome Present: As a little welcome present to customers opting-in to the Public Points program, we give them 5 points.

Points-Back: Our customers can earn points just by paying their bill. For every dollar they spend, they’ll make 5% of it back in points.

Happy Anniversary: For every twelve months a customer stays with us, they’ll earn 10 points. 

Refer-A-Friend: If a customer refers a friend to Public Mobile, they’ll receive one point for every month their friend stays with us.

Give Back: Customers can earn up to 20 points per month by helping the Public Mobile community online.

Customers can redeem them on the following way: 

Lower your bill: By spending 15 easily-earned points, customers can save $15 in hard-earned cash off of the price of their phone bill.

Add some Extras: We’ve got plenty of add-ons for varying amounts of points. Roaming, Add-on a little. Long distance minutes, Extra data.

Jackpot: From time to time, we create exciting contests. And if a customer is feeling lucky and wants to participate, they can spend the required number of points to be entered to win

Kind regards,

Danny

Customer Support Agent.

Hi Danny,

I do not agree to lose my rewards as they are on my account now.  I was promised the loyalty rewards upon joining PM as well as the friend rewards and the rewards for autopay.  Due to the fact that I am a legacy user, and my account predates your new points program, you will need to honor my account's current rewards as they stand. I will not accept this switch.  PM asked legacy users in the past if they wanted to switch and I was one of the many who said no.  This made our position clear. I will file a complaint with the CCTS unless PM confirms, in writing that it will honor it's promised rewards for legacy.

Your 'new' points program is not satisfactory and removes guaranteed promised rewards which would affect my account.  Your loyalty 'Points' will NOT equal what I have already.  My position is clear.  I signed up with PM because you promised the rewards I have NOW.  I will not switch to your points program.  I am one of many many legacy users who say NO.  

You can forward my message to a manager and confirm this with them prior to my filing with CCTS.

Thank you

[hTideGnow]

wow @JB21 

I am providing help, so,  I running this place?? lol

[ShawnC13]

@Jp21 you are really overestimating our influence with PM. We test items and give feedback and very little gets taken in and fixed.  We didn't have the leverage you may think we have

[Psygineer]

That is definitely looking tempting honestly. With this change, that is actually cheaper than what I am paying here by far, even with all the referrals and I am not a heavy data user and my mother (whose account I manage) never uses data so that would suit her fine. 

[Chiranjiv]

People who had loyalty to PM need to rethink. PM is on its way to attracting new customers and older customers (like me) are no longer needed. PM comes up with plans that are not available to existing customers and now getting rid of rewards. Smart business decision or not! There are much better choices out there. Some with customer service a phone call away. 

[kylewm]

I think you might be in the wrong thread. Points have absolutely nothing to do with the app update. Same with the data bonus.

[Jp21]

Yes, Oracle's and anyone that provides support to others on this forum basically runs PM. I used to spend hours on here helping people when I first joined PM as well with my old account JP2. If people weren't volunteering their time to run PMs support they would have to hire people which would reduce their profits but mostly their customer retention as people would never be able to get support in a timely manner. 

[eJonavin]

Everyone should just do the math and figure out where you are. In most cases if you’re on a plan that’s less than$40/month you will be worst off with the new points system. You already knew than, that’s why you didn’t convert to the new points system when it was originally offered.

This is the boot for all the rest of you who were unwilling to move. Now you have no choice.

[Yvels]

I tried hard to get you new clients because it was helping me too. no trouble: I get my discount; Im happy with. your points is like points from credit cards; overly complicated and annoying. money back is the only cards I have now. i dont give a flying rat about points. just the fact that I will have to monthly login into my account to use points or whatever annoys me already. old rewards were simple and stupid. why would you complicate things? also your "gift" with expiration date... yeah thats just a slap. I will def look elsewhere if I can have something similar without points system I def dont care about.

[eJonavin]

You want the annual plan $119/year with 15GB. Works out to $10/month and more than 1GB per month usage.

[dariovitale]

You have a good point but forgot one thing............Telus owns PM. Pm is just another brand name under the Telus umbrella. Telus wont come down to its knees. Telus can simply cut out PM's existence by simply only running Telus and Koodo. Telus and Koodo use the same call centers and reps. So sadly they have nothing huge to lose financially except maybe PM clients in a very small way.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Jp21 why you push the Oracles?? First, you think 9 of them quit or strike will really change PM's decision??   And it would make you feel better if  they don't get the $20 or points ??

[Jp21]

As Oracle's you guys basically do PMs job for them helping everyone with the issues so they don't have to have employees do it which gives you guys extreme leverage over PM. If all of you went on strike this company would be brought to its knees with support taking months to get from someone at PM. Customers that have super simple issues would be leaving in truck loads not knowing what to do while waiting not to mention the people that have actual issues but can't wait months for support. So if you are actually unhappy with the change take a stand to stop it. 

[hTideGnow]

hi @eyes 

not sneaky this time, they talked about it in the FAQ. You just need to read it with your correct account 

Will I lose my special bonus data if I switch plans?

The bonus data will remain active u innless your account becomes inactive, you switch to a plan of lower value or to an incompatible plan.

[dariovitale]

With the new points plan I am willing to bet, and you can all check, that when you calculate your final monthly bill after rewards given before taxes, same calling and texting plans even ff gb amount is not exactly the same but very close against plans offered by Bell's Virgin and Lucky Mobile, Rogers Fido and Videotron's Fizz and Freedom Mobile you just might notice only a $1-3 difference. And if so, knowing that Bell, Virgin, Rogers, Fido, Freedom and Koodo ALL HAVE call centers you can CALL to speak with a rep right away might just be worth the switch cause in 2024 this business of almost, if not in some cases, waiting a day for a pm rep to respond to your private messages is just over time consuming for the very little savings we see against plans currently offered by the above mentioned. 

I still a have a single line with PM that highly will be cancelled if they go ahead with the rewards changes. 

In terms of family plans bundled with other home and office services single account services like PM, Lucky Mobile, Virgin, Fido, Fizz and Freedom are usually not worth it. 

I am a old ADT home alarm customer. Telus bought them years ago. With Telus I have another 5 cell phone lines in my family. So for a home alarm and multi cell line bundle I pay $20 a month for home alarm (3 times they replaced my system for free upgrades) and pay $20 a month per cell line. Each cell line has CAN-US Calls and texts with 50gb data to be used in both countries with free roaming. THESE types of bundle deals are only offered under "Telus, Bell and Rogers" brandings. I got that deal in November cause in November and December for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that is when these companies really give good deals. I know this by experience over the years. 

[ShawnC13]

@Jp21 Sticking up for them?  I am just saying that even after this it is still the place that has the best plans that suit my family needs.  I have referred people onto the new points program if it was a better deal than what they are currently on why would stop trying to help my friends out if I find them a better deal.  That is not sticking up for PM that is supporting my friends and family

[dariovitale]

What exactly in detail are you talking about?

[Jp21]

It's funny to me that the Oracle's will keep sticking up for PM for a $20/mo credit. I hope you are a least getting some big kick backs under the table 

[hTideGnow]

hi @Lor2 I have to agree they are not truth. But it is marketing. Marketing just lies..lol

[Lor2]

Definitely a lie to say " to provide our subscribers with more ways to earn and spend rewards, with greater flexibility" so why treat your loyal subscribers like idiots?  No worse feeling than being treated like a fool.  I'm going to earn fewer rewards and have to log back in every month to apply the credits too?  What a huge inconvenience? Why put your customers through that?  Are you expecting people will forget or get too busy to apply their credits? So now I have nothing better to do but log back into my kids' and parents' accounts every month to apply credits????  Also ... I don't even use the 20 GB I already pay for every month?  What the heck am i supposed to do with 240 GB of expiring data?  Thanks for the "non gift" gift and all the hassle you guys created. And thank you for "rewarding" me so well for being a loyal customer for the past 8 years

[dariovitale]

WITH THESE POINT CHANGES AND FOR THOSE WHO ONLY NEED TALK AND TEXT WITH VERY LITTLE DATA.......

FREEDOM MOBILE HAS A $120 A YEAR PLAN WITH 15GB TOTAL FOR THE YEAR. BETTER THAN PM'S $15 PLAN BY A LONG SHOT THAT DOES NOT HAVE UNLIMITED CALLING AND TEXTING AND ZERO DATA. 

GOT TO SHOP ALL THESE COMPANIES OFFERS AND READ THE DETAILS. 

[ShawnC13]

@hTideGnow thanks but this has been very tough for everyone. I understand everyone is upset, but we still need to maintain a civil conversation in here.  A Company we were all happy to be with recommend to our friends has now changed a lot of opions of people.  I am not happy with the changes but it is still the best place for my family to be for what we need.  I still will recommend people to PM if I find a plan  that suits their needs and a better deal than what they are on, but the big thing is everyone needs to do what is financially best for them.  We are the only ones looking out for ourselves.

[hTideGnow]

hi @ShawnC13 I feel bad  for you.  You have been great. Regulars here know you are fair and not really side with PM but those who don't understand keep attacking you.  You really don't need to waste time for them, they won't listen