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

[Stelawrat]

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@HALIMACS wrote:

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@JDBlue1966 wrote:

Same with me and the wife. It’s not the money, it’s the principle of being screwed for loyalty. 

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I feel it IS about the money @JDBlue1966.   Just my opinion, for what it's worth.  

Otherwise, not as many would be commenting and outraged.

Some may say it's principle-based, and that's a commendable stance to take.   I, for one, will let the best combination of price and options and service guide my choice.   If that's here, then so be it;  if elsewhere, then that's what it will be.

I'm guessing Public Mobile would love to see a mass exodus of it's die-hard $15 and $13 monthly customer base to other providers as their ARPU is unlikely with that segment.

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For those of us with many years of Legacy Rewards + gifts over the years, I believe it's definitely about the money. I only have to read through the replies to see that it's the loss of the monthly reduction to the cost of their plan, that has angered them the most, which is normal after all. 

The rallying calls to breach of loyalty are valid as well, but I would imagine most people are well aware that brand loyalty ended a long time ago & that's definitely a two way street.

Today's consumer has all the data at their fingertips & aren't as apt to stay with one brand the way their parents did, as evidenced by all of the comments by people who are ready to kick their own loyalty to PM to the curb. 

It's a bygone era that businesses are well aware of & will adjust their practices for accordingly. 

If that offends their customers' principles, such that they abandon the business, in most cases won't have much of an impact, especially so in the case of mobile service providers, as they're pretty much all linked, in one way or another. 

I  wouldn't want to see people hurting themselves financially, in a vain attempt to try to hurt a conglomerate like Telus, the effect like a grain of sand in a desert. 

Personally, I lose ~$120. per year as a result of the change, maybe a drop in the bucket for some & doesn't have a big impact on myself. If I can do better elsewhere, with good reviews, service etc. & recoup that $120. or near it, fine. If all I stand to gain is $10 or $15 per year, then it's not worth the gamble, or the hassle & I certainly won't feel that I've lowered my principles. 

[upandadam]

I have been a subscriber since 2016.  Loyalty was the reason for staying and bringing in other custmers.

This destroys that and now there is absolutely no reason to stay. 

PM just ruined the one thing that made them different and worth being loyal to.

[SeniorCitizen]

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@Palaco wrote:

This is ridiculous. You will be losing many loyal subscribers if this change occurs including myself. Listen to the people and reverse this hypocrisy at once.

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I agree BUT. If you have rewards now from referrals they can accumulate for the odd $15 off. But if no referrals and you find something similar…..go for it. 

[SeniorCitizen]

@computergeek541 

@Skin 

If there is no value (community reward) to get your old name back….don't  bother.  They messed all 3 of mine up. And one doesn’t work. 

[Palaco]

This is ridiculous. You will be losing many loyal subscribers if this change occurs including myself. Listen to the people and reverse this hypocrisy at once.

[computergeek541]

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@Skin wrote:

Same here, put me with status ‘New in town’ 

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Your old Community username is recoverable.  A ticket would need to be opened to make this request.

[SeniorCitizen]

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@hTideGnow wrote:

HI @dariovitale 

once you ported out your number, your account will be closed, there is no way to resume the account

but of course, you can always come back and reactivate as a new account with a new sim card or new esim

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@hTideGnow 

That’s what PM says.  But I doubt it.  When I ported my Telus prepaid number to PM my Telus account remained for 3 months. I contacted them as to why, I  was told they kept it there in case I changed my mind. And I had a balance on my account as well, that I forfeited. 

[SeniorCitizen]

@Christian1981 

 I think you are ineligible for the free data. 

[SeniorCitizen]

@Christian1981 

You can edit your original post. 

[Yanny1]

Yes, I agree. The old reward program is much better.

[dariovitale]

Thats what I meant, you can port out your PM number when signing up Koodo, Telus or any other provider even just for a month and if one decides to come back to PM after a month just to take advantage of a newer plan that was better than they had they can by creating a new account, might have to use a different email address, sign up for a PM plan and port back their number to PM, of course with a new sim or not even, maybe just use your esim in the same cell that was used before. 

[hTideGnow]

HI @SeniorCitizen 

I hope PM understands that and willing to up or change the compensation offer

[SeniorCitizen]

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@hTideGnow wrote:

HI @Christian1981 

yes, no one like the change.  there is no way to get back the $7 with the new plan.

and i have to agree, to many of us, the extra data is really little use, especially it is only 150 days  😞

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And…….and……not everyone gets an “extra”.  Should have been something every one could have used vs selective. An L.D. Add on……or some points. 

[hTideGnow]

HI @Christian1981 

yes, no one like the change.  there is no way to get back the $7 with the new plan.

and i have to agree, to many of us, the extra data is really little use, especially it is only 150 days  😞

[Christian1981]

Sorry, I said Roger, but I meant Telus. It's hard to keep us with who is buying out who these days.

[Christian1981]

This is crap. I have been a loyal customer for several years and now you are telling me that I will be losing my loyalty points. I was saving $7 a month on my bill and with this horrible Points Program, it will take me 3 months to get the same savings. Then, to insult me even more, you are going to give me free data. What a joke! I already get 60 GB (more than I would ever need) and you are putting a time limit on your "free gift." You know you have us and can do whatever you want as phone plans in Canada are expensive and Roger owns pretty much every.

[hTideGnow]

HI @dariovitale 

once you ported out your number, your account will be closed, there is no way to resume the account

but of course, you can always come back and reactivate as a new account with a new sim card or new esim

[dariovitale]

GUYS............if you are a current customer, still stayin after the points plan change and see a new plan that is better than yours only new customers can get and want to keep your number.....there is a easy way. 1) Min a day before a PM billing cycle ends you sign up and port your number over to another branded provider, even telus or Koodo with a cheap plan. 2) Then before that current billing cycle ends you sign back up with PM and port your number back. It should be that easy. Worse case, have to wait 90 days before goin back to PM. 

[mitchnet12]

This response is a bit overdue. It's very unfortunate that customers are being switched over to a rewards program on with sketcky skoke and mirrors tactics. It reflects the tactics of another PM that Canadians are familiar with.

The bonus data is not a genuine goodwill gesture. I will add to the chorus that it is a slap in the face. If there was any sincerity to soften the blow to long time customers, it would be much better to offer an exclusive subscription to switch to, be it 30 day, or 90 day, and better than current offers.

I have a sneaking suspicion when my 90 day unlimited data subscription switches to the Canada-US limited data in May that the "goodwill" data will magically disappear, along with the legacy rewards program.

[SeniorCitizen]

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@PCIrish wrote:

So here’s what I see happening.  Big brother TELUS takes over A great company like Public Mobile because they (Public) showed that a company can make money AND honour their loyal customers.  They  (TELUS) screw over the loyalty based customers, royalty.  The customers all leave.  TELUS says Public is no longer viable and they decide to shutter the company..  Public is neutralized and TELUS once again bullies anyone who dares to cross them.  Sounds reasonable to me.  Let’s see how this unfolds.

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In my opinion Telus is driving  force right now. That is sickening, to say it mildly,  as rates are increasing, customer service is at its lowest ever and they just don’t care. Over the next years when I see I have to pay more for a Telus product than what I can get the same for, from a competitor…..there is nothing holding me back. I rarely say this……but I HATE Telus. And Rogers is working very competitively, to sell service that is all sourced in Canada. I was talking to a rep last week and he had a few Telus customers on our block moving to Rogers. I would have too. 
I think that  PM thinks that most customers think about PM as PM and that we don’t relate PM to Telus. 🤔
So if the change of rewards is eventually to be  one big/same program amongst Telus, Koodo, Public Mobile and (and?), will Public Mobile be absorbed by Koodo or Telus Mobility? Will Public Mobile be more saleable, which I doubt it would be sold off  vs disappear? 
I doubt that anything said in this thread will change the course. But ideas may have been gained for future use. 
I’ve been here for almost 5 years and still find the website and customer to be mediocre. Not an APP girl, so cannot comment. And the obvious errors are brought to their attention and nothing happens. Is very frustrating! But if that’s what you get from a 3rd tier service…ok I buy it. But don’t act that it’s a Cadillac service and become a bully. Are the missed autopay payments still happening? That infection was brought to PM from the Telus prepaid  system. 

What’s next? 3G plans become dinosaurs and are changed to 4G or 5G? And what cost to the consumer?

Today, in my very aged opinion, Loyalty programs are a scam, no matter who is offering it, it’s just a nice shingle to hang on the sign. So many loyalty programs were really good and eventually become so so and lose their ability to attract new customers. And don’t be fooled at better rates if you have Telus Home Services, Koodo or Telus Mobility. You can do better by negotiating your rate for each individual service. 

[Skin]

Same here, put me with status ‘New in town’ 

[Skin]

We loyal PM customers need the equivalent for loyalty reward of $5 per month and $2 Autopay reward. Don’t fool us PM with the new and worst reward points

[ShawnC13]

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@HALIMACS wrote:

@Robbwell 

This place is no contract.  Not a breach of contract.  The only 'contract' here is each 30-day cycle, and even that can be terminated at any time, with no further charges or commitments.

It is a breach of trust, however.   In some ways, that's way worse.

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Very true each 30 days is a new "contract" they are saying that starting in May there will be no Legacy rewards and it is only Points

[mbreakin]

Yea. When I logged in eversafe gave me a new name and no experience even though I have been posting for 8 years 

[mbreakin]

Same price as new customer for some plans but new customer have access to the cheaper plans.  

The other aspect is that PM has for 10 years encouraged customers to stay by giving them a loyalty reward.  This makes sense in that most companies have loyalty departments for customers thinking of leaving for better deals ..  or the expense related to offering new customers a new discount a d the work to get them set up and running 

[HALIMACS]

@Robbwell 

This place is no contract.  Not a breach of contract.  The only 'contract' here is each 30-day cycle, and even that can be terminated at any time, with no further charges or commitments.

It is a breach of trust, however.   In some ways, that's way worse.

[Stelawrat]

I sympathize with you LTD, but with respect, this is just a gentle reminder to please, stay to collect whatever credits are due to you for March & April. Then if you are really determined to move, be sure that you surf the web & read the reviews for any company you're thinking of moving to. 

In the reviews that I posted for Public Mobile's competition, I had to remove the statistics re: complaints to meet Public Mobile's ToS. Honest to God, they were as bad as it gets, pretty much right across the board. 

Public Mobile may have problems, but reliability isn't one of them. You pretty much know what you're getting. 

For the most part, all the companies provide the same products, it's how well they're delivered to you that counts. So for sure, shop around. You might get lucky & find something even better suited to you, but please check them well before hand. 

I know where you're coming from & don't want to see you lose out anymore. 

[Robbwell]

Two issues:

1. $2 for autopay. I say PM can end that with notice because we have the option to remove autopay.

2. $1 to $5 loyalty. If PM devalues past earnings that it is a breach of contract. We stayed 1 to 5 years to earn it and now it is ours. For the future, they can end this feature with appropriate notice. Like, if a client is at the seven month mark of an extra year, they have to let him continue to earn that increment.

[helloyou]

I have made two CCTS complaints, one each for both my accounts.  I contacted public mobile first and got some canned response how rewards are just like points, ya right. lol

In January 2022 public sent an email with the following message :

We want to emphasize that joining Public Points is optional for all existing customers.

If you decide not to join, your current Rewards will remain the same. You’ll continue to earn in the same ways, and save the same amount.

As far as I am concerned they made a commitment not to do this and are now breaking it.  This is the reason for my complaints to CCTS.  I encourage others to do so.

The only thing keeping my accounts and my families accounts at public was the $5 a month loyalty.  Without it I have no loyalty to public and I won't hesitate to switch my accounts and my families accounts elsewhere.   Referrals and auto payment discounts are offered elsewhere as well.  At least when there is a problem all the other places have a phone number i can call for the same price or less a month.

[Gimli007]

Absolutely.  I think you were in my brain and wrote it all out.

I was just going to Bravo your post... you know, so as to not further expand this 2k+ response thread..... BBUUUUUTTT my session expired , and I have to relogin in to Ever-not-so-safe... so i figured i would write this out after all that effort  - on my "trusted device"

**insert evil laugh here"