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

[PC3]

Is this new? as far as I know PM will switch all customers to the new "reward system" which sucks. 

[Public_Cust_17]

@wetcoaster   to add to your post, from Freedom's website regarding their bands which can be cross-referenced with https://www.gsmarena.com and looking up your phone then under the network information...

3G, LTE (4G), and 5G are different generations of wireless cellular technology.  Each advancement brings significant improvements in speed, latency, and capacity.

Our new 5G network works seamlessly with our existing LTE technology to enhance your mobile experience and enable innovative new products, services, and technologies. 5G on Freedom Mobile is deployed on our n71 (600 MHz) band to ensure we’re bringing 5G to as many Canadians as possible, as quickly as possible.

Our LTE network primarily supports Band 66, Band 13, Band 4, Band 71 and Band 7 in select locations. Band 66 provides access to our fastest LTE speeds, while Band 13 is our Extended Range LTE that may be able to reach farther and penetrate walls for better coverage in buildings, basements, and elevators.

Our 3G network provides connectivity to customers with legacy devices.

You'll connect to our 5G, LTE, Extended Range LTE, or 3G networks depending on your location and your device compatibility.

 To confirm if your device is compatible with 5G, check our Device Compatibility Tool.

[RetiredGuy1]

Well, I believe Telus’ profits is germane to the subject matter. I believe most of those who are “riled up” is due to the fact that they are now faced with paying more for the exact same service (especially after being promised before that this would effectively not happen by staying on the legacy rewards program). It doesn’t help soften this impact when it happens to come at a time of record profits by Telus. I do agree that one should consider different aspects while still maintaining the right to respectfully discount those views one doesn’t necessarliy agree with. I can’t speak for others but, for myself, I don’t care about bravos whatsoever. My posting history bears this out. I’ve been active lately because this forced migration is impacting me in a way I don’t agree with nor appreciate. In a sense, the accumulation of posts in this thread is no different than signing a petition. 

[wetcoaster]

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@hTideGnow wrote:

hi @wetcoaster 

I tested and compared both and I have to say, that is not a reliable network 

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... This might be true for you and where you live/work/play. I have put in the disclaimer that it isn't for everybody.

With your repeated blanket statements without qualifier, you are essentially saying that my friends, and all the other happy Freedom customers across the country, are idiots, liars etc because they found a provider that has proven reliable for them, has solid coverage where they need it, and allows them to save money on a plan that, when put side-by-side, is way better value than what they had with PM (a plan that saw a 30% increase two years ago with zero additional benefit, and now doubles in effective price, again with zero additional benefit). This is money that directly helps keeping their roof over their head in these difficult times.

I acknowledge that for the people on $29+ plans, and specially those with more recent referrals, Public Mobile can still be the best option - good for them. But this is hitting $15/$13 the worst, and I'd guess a good percentage of people on those plans can only dream of being able to afford a plan where an effective $7 price hike/month is just peanuts. Dismissing their struggles and trying to scare them with blanket statements about a provider that might be a great alternate choice for them, is not cool, bro.

[ComicCuriosity]

I recommend people check out Freedom Mobile’s yearly plans. They offer a $119 yearly plan that includes 15GB on 4G and a $149 30GB plan on 4G. Either option is fantastic if you don’t need too much data.

The $119 yearly plan works out to basically $10 a month, which is easily better than the $25/monthly plan on Public Mobile which is still on slow 3G.

[public_999]

And when did you test them?  LOL, I am a subscriber of both Public and the competitor and have both phones sitting on the table by me as I type this....there definately is a clear winner as far as reliability is concerned and it's not Public.  That's my results and the results of my entire family as they travel throughout the GTA.  Your personal results might be different but making blanket statements about any company are disengenuous.  By the way, if this competitor is so unreliable why are all of the others trying desperately to match their offerings? 

[HALIMACS]

That’s accurate @ily 

Not really a loyalty program that recognizes longevity so much as one that increases with years of service.

[ily]

I think what it means is that you always get 10 points at the end of every 12 months. Then the counter resets. Basically, in any given year you get 10 points regardless of how long you've been with them.

[IanP]

10 points every 12 months

So does this mean

12 months 10 pts 

24 (12 + 12 )months 20 pts

36 (12+12+12) months 30 pts

So on and so on?

With no upper limit, if and this is a big if, with tongue in cheek it would be easy to address loyalty with accumulated credit and no end to upper limit 😉

[Public_Cust_17]

@hTideGnow  when did you test/compare them, in what area and using criteria did you use for your testing? What are you using as a basis for saying they are not reliable?  Please elaborate? How about post some data regarding your testing criteria.. just saying something isn't reliable and continually siding with PM only makes you sound like a Public Mobile paid asset in this community.  Seriously, if I change for a month to another plan of any other provider and don't like it I'm sure PM will be happy for me to rejoin and take my money with the same crappy new rewards system.. which to be honest I don't even know if I now trust them to not pull out from under me in a year or two anyway. 

[bcsuazon]

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@ATHENS wrote:

Be careful before jumping to another provider.  Their incentives may be short lived and may also have inferior service. For example Fizz mobile offers a $14.95 monthly plan but only for 6 months. and in addition their network may NOT be suitable for older phones.

List of phones certified VoLTE with Fizz 

Apple

• iPhone 8 and 8 plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS and XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
• iPhone 12 mini, 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro et 15 Pro Max

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Yeah I'm finding it slim pickings for what I need.  I recently switched to the $34 50GB plan (mainly on the assumption that I'd have my credits) but there doesn't seem to be many options that have roaming add-ons and have at least 20 GB of data.  I've tried Freedom in the past but had some coverage issues which leaves me with Fido or Virgin (it's too bad Lucky doesn't have roaming or I would have probably switched by now).  The last time I signed with Virgin they increased the monthly within 6 months and both seem to like to use the "after monthly credits for 24 months" tactic which I hate.  I just want a price that I can stick with and not have to worry about doing the "dance" to negotiate a better deal after 24 months...sigh...

[Public_Cust_17]

@RetiredGuy1  I'd be careful rubbing that PM ball.. you might catch something contagious that you can't get rid of like a new rewards STD.  lol

[HALIMACS]

Can somebody please demonstrate (show the comments) how the Oracles are guilting people into feeling sorry for Telus?

One might arbitrarily discern that, however I do not feel that is the scope/intent of their feedback on the thread.

I believe they are bringing balance to a discussion and every healthy discussion ought to have balanced viewpoints.

I wonder if the users that are asserting this may be looking to rile up the masses and gain bravos.

How about we not delve this thread into a social media type of atmosphere.

[will13am]

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@IanP wrote:

TELUS' CEO is Darren Entwistle, appointed in Jan 2000, has a tenure of 24.08 years. total yearly compensation is CA$17.49M, comprised of 9.2% salary and 90.8% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.054% of the company's shares, worth CA$19.04M.

The average Telus executive compensation is $236,603 a year. The median estimated compensation for executives at Telus including base salary and bonus is $237,477, or $114 per hour. At Telus, the most compensated executive makes $700,000, annually, 

Guess they need to get inflation pay rise.

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Comparison is the thief of joy.  I am not the least bit offended by Darren's stipend and that mine was never even close.  I don't think I could have done his job and so I don't earn his pay.  All things considered, I am at peace.  

[hTideGnow]

hi @wetcoaster 

I tested and compared both and I have to say, that is not a reliable network 

[Wolfcore]

Yeah, some people seem to think that Freedom is the same as when it was Wind, but there's a reason why Freedom is Public Mobiles main competition right now, and why PM is always price matching them. Their service is pretty incredible for most of the population.

[wetcoaster]

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@hTideGnow wrote:

hi @joe77 the $10 plan, now $13 is still a better plan for low income people although the price is not the same.  Some people will also you to go to another carrier with an annual plan. The price is attractive but the network is not reliable.  Think twice 

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 Have you been a Freedom customer in the past two years? Did you use a completely compatible device?

While their network isn't perfect, they have come a long way. Whereas there are areas where PM/Telus' network has disintegrated to near unusable over the same timeframe. 80% of my referrals who have moved to Freedom (native network covering their residence) have considerably better network connection and reliability now than they had at Public Mobile before switching. Having said that, a device with all the Freedom bands is crucial for optimal service.

As I mentioned above... Freedom is not for everybody, and, unfortunately, in some regions they aren't a viable alternative to the big 3 (yet). But an unqualified blanket statement about their network reliability is not a constructive reply to those here that have been hit the hardest by the removal of rewards.

[RetiredGuy1]

I know at least one Oracle who thinks so

[IanP]

Sorry, should of said this was directly from internet

[IanP]

TELUS' CEO is Darren Entwistle, appointed in Jan 2000, has a tenure of 24.08 years. total yearly compensation is CA$17.49M, comprised of 9.2% salary and 90.8% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.054% of the company's shares, worth CA$19.04M.

The average Telus executive compensation is $236,603 a year. The median estimated compensation for executives at Telus including base salary and bonus is $237,477, or $114 per hour. At Telus, the most compensated executive makes $700,000, annually, 

Guess they need to get inflation pay rise.

[Lolo_1234]

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@hTideGnow wrote:

hi @G_Pomzz PM has legal right to make change has the rewards system is optional, it is not really a price change althoght it affects the paymemt in the end.  Key to that PM already given advance notice and didn't take away any rewards already earned

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They have given advanced notice about changing everyone to the new program, that's right (even though it's less than 60 days notice for most clients).

However they changed the "rules" (ie, not giving 1 point per month with Public Mobile if you decide to switch program) without advance notice...

[RetiredGuy1]

False. The forced migration to the new points program is taking away loyalty rewards of up to $60 per year for 5+ year subscribers and replacing that with only $10 in anniversary points per year. With all due respect, you know that already. You might want to clarify your post.

[computergeek541]

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@Kel1 wrote:

How to access my account because of the pop up about retiring the old loyal program

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Select/tap/click on teh X to close the popup.

[n0mad]

I created an account to express my dismay regarding this mandatory change that does not add any value to loyal customers. I will now look into switching to another service provider.

[mikasik2]

[hTideGnow]

hi @G_Pomzz PM has legal right to make change has the rewards system is optional, it is not really a price change althoght it affects the paymemt in the end.  Key to that PM already given advance notice and didn't take away any rewards already earned

[G_Pomzz]

That makes sense, are there any lawyers out there who can offer a legal opinion on whether PM can arbitrarily take away our existing rewards program?.

Years back, Shaw tried this with TV programming and the CRTC forced them to backtrack on it. 

[hTideGnow]

hi @joe77 the $10 plan, now $13 is still a better plan for low income people although the price is not the same.  Some people will also you to go to another carrier with an annual plan. The price is attractive but the network is not reliable.  Think twice 

[joe77]

This is exactly the issue I'm currently trying to figure out for my in-laws.  I convinced them a few years back to go on the $10 plan. They're on fixed incomes and this was considered a "luxury" that they could afford. They strictly use it for safety reasons as they are still independent and it gives my wife some piece of mind.

PM was a leader back then with plans like that to service people in these situations... but now they are like all the rest... nothing special here any longer.

[byildir]

Hi Public Mobile,

These changes reduce what I am getting from PM for the same prices I am paying now. You are violating the contract based on a clause you point to. The same clause makes this contract totally one-sided, so much so that it is an "unconscionable"  agreement which is invalid.  You can bring out a new program but you cannot weasel out of the contract which you are bound to. In addition to making many customers upset, you are inviting a class action law suit against the company. I strongly suggest that you grandfather the existing contract obligations while introducing this new program. Bulent, yildir@enginia.com.