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Upcoming Changes to our Old Rewards Program

J_PM
Public Mobile
Public Mobile

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

5,593 REPLIES 5,593

JDBlue1966
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

Not being funny, but what are you on about? Most of us are just angry about being shafted. Hope that clears things up. Its jus that simple.

G_Pomzz
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

PM should hire you as a business analyst 🤣🤣

Community_QA_
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

Sorry, Defeat and Truth are both hard to swallow, but be prepared.. 

Community_QA_
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

In this second part of the post, I am going to tell you why the immediate departure would in fact a welcome move to Telus and won’t threaten Telus' strong financial foundation. In fact, it will help to strengthen next year’s Telus' financial statement.

A recap from last post. There are 750,000 Public Mobile subscribers, 300,000 account still on the old rewards system, and 6.6% (20,000) of the accounts will be leaving Public Mobile before or shortly after May.

There was a post mentioned that the $25 is the average plan price for those who are planning to leave. That is a lot of money, 20000 x $25 = $500,000. That is half a million a month!!

But as we all know, most of these people are not paying the full price. There are at least $7 off and some are more with friend referrals to knock the price down further. But let’s forget the friend referral for now. ($25 -7 ) * 20000 = $360,000. That is still over 1/3 of the million per month and $4.3 million annually on the financial statement

Now, let's focus on the “saving” Telus enjoy for those who stay. There are 280,000 will be staying and won’t move away immediately.  As said above, Telus is now saving $7 per month per account. Adding back the anniversary rewards (10 points, around $0.83 per month) and the 5% (average plan price $25 * 0.05 = 1.25 points), that will be around $4.92 saving per month per account. With 280,000 accounts, the total saving would be 1.377 million/month or $16.5 million annually!!!
$16.5 millions saved but subtract back the $4.3 million lost from people leaving, Telus still gain $12.2 million.  And I want to remind you, with the infrastructure already setup, each new subscription and each dollar saved on the current level is basically a profit. So, expect to see a $12.2 million saving from PM alone on the next year’s Telus financial statement

Some might ask where is the $120 fees for each CCTS complaints?  $120 is not for us who to keep our $7 savings forever, but is that sufficient to Telus?  If there are only 20000 immediate accounts going to leave from the anger (irrational move), I don't see the number will be any more than that.  $120 x 20,000 is $2.4 million.  That is a lot to me.  But this is a one time expense to Telus.  Next years profile might be just $14.1 million, but the year after will go back to $16.5 million

So, people asked why Telus decided to axe the old rewards system? Reason is simple, it makes sense financially. You guys can leave but it is certainly that not all 300,000 on the old rewards system will leave from this change. The savings outbalance the lost.

People might ask why not later?  Because it probably reached an optimal point.  People with just $2 loyalty + $2 autopay might still able to find a good deal to go.  Those enjoying $3+$2  and above probably won't move no matter what.   There are not enough account departures to justify a further wait.  And the longer Telus does not make the change, the more accounts will reach the maximum $7 savings and even harder for these accounts to leave on their own.  

And some here were so excited to receive an email from CCTS confirming the complain was accepted. Tell you the truth, as long as you follow the procedure and did everything they asked (try to work with PM for a solution first and fail), they will accept the complaint. Acceptance does not mean you won. In fact, a decision in favour of Telus is coming

Good Luck to you all.

Community_QA_
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

I have waited another week and come back and see any update and any new idea from this thread. Spent another 2 hours reading everything, sadly no great news other than some naïve thinking and suggestions

And I see some people are so excited seeing 3300 replies here, thinking this is the most replied thread ever on this site. Some were pumped thinking their posts here, their threat to leave, their CCTS complains, their email to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, their attempt to get media attention will bring them back the old system. Let me tell you a sad fact, May will come quick and you will have no choice but stuck with Public Points.  Any many of those who said they will leave will quietly stay and enjoy the 5% savings the new system gives you

First, lets look at how powerful the responses here.

Problem with forum and review sites is that people only come here to express their frustration. How often people with compliment or no stance will come and make a post? Maybe 99% are complains and only 1% are complimentary posts, but that does not mean 99% of the customers are overall unsatisfied with the service. On contrary, it is quite the opposite. There can still be 99% satisfied customers out there (or at least no comment) and only 1% have the problem. So, the moment you see 3000+ replies, do not think you are the majority. And in fact, you are still the minority

Let’s check how many subscribers PM has at the moment. The last Telus report shows Telus has more than 10 million mobile phone subscribers, added 400,000 net additions in Q4 alone.
Trouble with Telus financial statement is that it does not break down the numbers, Telus, Koodo and Public Mobile are all blend together. But that does not mean we cannot find it out ourselves from the market trend

Both Rogers and Bell disclose the Prepaid and Postpaid subscription number. Prepaid accounts makes up around 9.2%-10.6% of the total. We will stick with the mean, 10%. So, there should be around 1 million of Postpaid subscribers Telus has. But, Telus and Koodo also have Postpaid subscribers, except the number would not be big. So, Public Mobile should have around 3/4 of the pie, so it is around 750,000
Before Jan 2022, 100% will be on old system. Since then, 100% of the new subscribers will be on Public Points. Don’t underestimate the new subscription number. Public Mobile has been doing extremely well in the past 2 years, especially with last Black Friday and Boxing Day, They certainly bring in lots of new subscribers with its Canada-US plan as well as the $34 Canada only plan.
At the same time, many on the old rewards system left PM because they cannot get those deals (new activation only) So, the inflow to Public Points together with the outflows from old rewards has change the tide successfully. Public Points members is now outnumbered those in the old system. I would take a conservative count of 40-60 split (old-new). In fact, the difference should be bigger. With that, there should only be 300,000 out of 750,000 still on the old rewards

After we confirmed the base number on the old rewards system, we can see how powerful this thread is. 3000 replies is 1% of the base. But we all know some posts multiple times here, pretty much repeated the same post, so, there are no more than 1000 people who replied. That would make it just 0.3% of the base

Yes, one would remind me that many have multiple family accounts as well. Let’s say each respondent have 4 household accounts here, the 1000 people will represent the voice of 4000 accounts.
One will also remind me that many people are “shy” and not bother to reply at all. So, If there are 1000 very frustrated and “non-shy” people here, there might be another 4000 shy and frustrated one out there, and those 4000 “non-shy” could manage another 4 accounts each. So, we have 5000 people (and 20000 account altogether) very frustrated and ready to leave any time. 20,000 out of 300,000 is 6.6% of the base

How about those not very frustrated and don’t bother to answer? The change in rewards really not bother them enough and these are people who won’t leave immediately. So, they are not an immediate thread to Telus. They might leave one day, but in this business, people come and go for different reasons, and these people are simply part of that group, it is part of this business

Now, the picture is clear. Out of this 3000 posts, there are only around 1000 people here, representing roughly 20,000 account, 6.6% of the total. Don’t get too thrived that there are so many replies here and thought you are showing Telus the power of people. There is no power here at all.

Other numbers
Redflagdeals: 867 replies
Reddit: has around 750 replies across couple similar posts
Change.org: 87 signatures (the one about $10 price plan, affected less people and still managed to get 122 signatures)

Tav2
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

PC Mobile looks like it could be good fit for me. 

Screenshot 2024-03-23 9.44.25 PM.png

G_Pomzz
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@Tav2  you and probably 1,000's of others.

The legacy rewards program is near and dear to the hearts of long time subscribers. Taking it away is like losing your best friend! The "bonus gift" of data (with a short expiry date) is a slap in the face. 

Burdwood
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

@Tav2 wrote:

I've used 3.67gb of 20gb with 3 days left to my plan with a change to the 50gb plan pending because it was the same price. Theres absolutely NO WAY I can utilize the 240gb loyalty bonus unless I just leave YouTube streaming all day for the fun of it. Getting boned here losing the old system and this bonus makes no sense. With my $13 in bonus rewards a month now gone its just not worth it anymore. Can't even switch to a 4gb plan because its new activations only. Its been a good run Public but I'm gonna be switching carriers ASAP unless something changes. 


They never intended it to be usable, it's just lipstick on the pig.

That generous data gift is only there so that they can say, "But we DO care, we gave you all that free data! How come you didn't use it in time?"

Burdwood
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

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

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



So, considering that there are still payment glitches, and therefore accounts sometimes are going into suspenssion unintendedly, Public Mobile is taking the bonus data away due to their own incapability to offering proper service??? 

I mean, linking the add-on to the plan is bad enough, putting an arbitrary expiry on it is stupid, but taking it away because PM is incompetent, is crazy messed up.

Really, PM if you don't want us to use "free data", just don't give it to us.

Tav2
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

I've used 3.67gb of 20gb with 3 days left to my plan with a change to the 50gb plan pending because it was the same price. Theres absolutely NO WAY I can utilize the 240gb loyalty bonus unless I just leave YouTube streaming all day for the fun of it. Getting boned here losing the old system and this bonus makes no sense. With my $13 in bonus rewards a month now gone its just not worth it anymore. Can't even switch to a 4gb plan because its new activations only. Its been a good run Public but I'm gonna be switching carriers ASAP unless something changes. 

Burdwood
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

@Tav2 wrote:

Does anyone know if I change my 5G plan to a cheap 3G plan with low data will I lose my 150 day bonus data? They only way for me to actually use the bonus data and save some money is to switch to a lower tier plan until that runs out and then switch back to a more appropriate plan later. 


As of 2024 PM is not interested in allowing you to optimize your plan in your favour. 

As per T&C linked in the original post, you lose the expiring "Loyalty Add-on" if you downgrade your plan. I've seen a few posts in the community that confirm that it's actually happening.

RetiredGuy1
Town Hero / Héro de la Ville

@Tav2 

You will lose the bonus data. The wizards at PM were one step ahead of everyone who might have considered doing that:

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

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

JDBlue1966
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

Not 100% sure, but I think you loose what you have, if you downgrade your plan.

Tav2
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Does anyone know if I change my 5G plan to a cheap 3G plan with low data will I lose my 150 day bonus data? They only way for me to actually use the bonus data and save some money is to switch to a lower tier plan until that runs out and then switch back to a more appropriate plan later. 

hi @Y4J259 they need 15 points for $15 credit, so likely not auto redeem every month, but would be nice to have

However, please note that buying add-on is cheaper using points, so maybe that's why they don't give us auto redeem, give us choice now to use the points 

Public_Cust_17
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@RetiredGuy1   that is a Standing Committee and as such I believe they are on-going thing. I know they held a meeting but there have been no conclusions or actions as a result of the meeting that I'm aware of.  I don't think they're done studying it yet so emails to them may be used as part of their findings... I don't know for sure but it's definitely worth a couple minutes to email them, in my humble opinion.  Cheers

https://www.ourcommons.ca/committees/en/INDU/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=12559591

Y4J259
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

PM ought to have an option for customers to enable auto pay. I.e. every month use points towards plan costs. This would reduce so much frustration with their customers, especially those that have been treated with so much disrespect. 

Chachacha2
Great Neighbour / Super Voisin

I'd consider staying with PM if the rewards/points are at least applied AUTOMATICALLY to my monthly bill.

@J_PM: Can you keep the Legacy Rewards ongoing for me and the others? Fizz is looking attractive at this point.

Also, will look into filing a report with the Bureau as suggested above.

RetiredGuy1
Town Hero / Héro de la Ville

@Public_Cust_17 wrote:

@PMInfo1   I'd like to add my plug here that I'd also encourage everyone to read over the email I drafted up and sent to The Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (E-mail: INDU@parl.gc.ca) and to use it as a starting point (or to create a new one themselves) and include all of their points in an email to the committee. The committee is currently reviewing the pricing policies of the mobile operators and I'd like them to have every complaint and bit of information that they can regarding PM's tactics.. the more they hear from might not help but it won't hurt.   Cheers

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/Upcoming-Changes-to-our-Old-Rewards-Pro...


@Public_Cust_17  As you know, I used your template and sent my own tweaked version to the INDU committee. Just to clarify, that committee has moved on to other business. However, I too would encourage others who are so inclined to send an email as well. Who knows? If they receive an onslaught of like-minded complaints, it might make them consider recalling the 3 CEOs and further hold their feet to the fire. We all know how much politicians like to posture themselves and take credit for someone elses ideas!


@RetiredGuy1 wrote:

@Wolfcore wrote:

This isn't a good compromise in my opinion. If this was all they had to do to save the customers they've been losing, and quell the damage to their reputation, they'd do it in two seconds. 

The reality is, if you no longer have the old rewards system anyway, you can just port out and port back in within a day, get that plan, and everything would be the same. It's not the much of a hassle, and it's only a small fee really. 

The truth is, with how the industry is moving, the $24/4GB plan will become the standard, (and eventually beaten), within the year probably. PM knows this. Wanting this as a compromise is shortsighted, and should not be considered some grand gesture in my opinion.



If you port out and port back in, won’t you be considered a new customer and thus lose any referral rewards you had accumulated?

For those on a plan that are paying more than they want to for more data they need, a move to a better-fit plan to save money for even just upwards to a year is likely still enough motivation for some. 


Valid point until (if/when) those referrals decide to port out themselves (some/all, perhaps) if they're also on the legacy rewards and don't have enough referrals to justify staying with PM any longer.

Public_Cust_17
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

@PMInfo1   I'd like to add my plug here that I'd also encourage everyone to read over the email I drafted up and sent to The Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (E-mail: INDU@parl.gc.ca) and to use it as a starting point (or to create a new one themselves) and include all of their points in an email to the committee. The committee is currently reviewing the pricing policies of the mobile operators and I'd like them to have every complaint and bit of information that they can regarding PM's tactics.. the more they hear from might not help but it won't hurt.   Cheers

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/Upcoming-Changes-to-our-Old-Rewards-Pro...

Wolfcore
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

Yeah, this would be the exception. But I assume the vast majority of people have zero referrals, so it wouldn't make a difference for them.

RetiredGuy1
Town Hero / Héro de la Ville

@Wolfcore wrote:

This isn't a good compromise in my opinion. If this was all they had to do to save the customers they've been losing, and quell the damage to their reputation, they'd do it in two seconds. 

The reality is, if you no longer have the old rewards system anyway, you can just port out and port back in within a day, get that plan, and everything would be the same. It's not the much of a hassle, and it's only a small fee really. 

The truth is, with how the industry is moving, the $24/4GB plan will become the standard, (and eventually beaten), within the year probably. PM knows this. Wanting this as a compromise is shortsighted, and should not be considered some grand gesture in my opinion.



If you port out and port back in, won’t you be considered a new customer and thus lose any referral rewards you had accumulated?

For those on a plan that are paying more than they want to for more data they need, a move to a better-fit plan to save money for even just upwards to a year is likely still enough motivation for some. 

Wolfcore
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

This isn't a good compromise in my opinion. If this was all they had to do to save the customers they've been losing, and quell the damage to their reputation, they'd do it in two seconds. 

The reality is, if you no longer have the old rewards system anyway, you can just port out and port back in within a day, get that plan, and everything would be the same. It's not the much of a hassle, and it's only a small fee really. 

The truth is, with how the industry is moving, the $24/4GB plan will become the standard, (and eventually beaten), within the year probably. PM knows this. Wanting this as a compromise is shortsighted, and should not be considered some grand gesture in my opinion.


JDBlue1966
Model Citizen / Citoyen Modèle

Much better than giving people data they will never probably use.

PC3
Great Neighbour / Super Voisin

If you want to help customer's that are being forced to switched to new reward program...instead of giving "free data" that can only be used within 150 days. PM should open all plans to current customers, not only new customers. Like the one below which is only available for new activations. 

 

1000025361.png

Matty1234
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

What's your definition of better? 

UrGod
Great Neighbour / Super Voisin

Any better carrier recommendations guys?

Wolfcore
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

Exactly. At the end of the day, filing CCTS complaints is really just a form of protest. They almost never work out well for the consumer. PM (Telus) literally pays their bills, so CCTS is always going to protect them as much as possible. Even the $140 fee (or whatever it costs Telus per successful filing), is probably a tax write off of some sort. 

What it's really about, is the sentiment behind it, and exposure. Us filing complaints lets Telus know how many people are actually serious about their disappointment in their action, and also helps to stir up news coverage and puts pressure on them to address it. It's one of the few options we have to voice our frustration (before just flat out leaving).

It's very important. As is voicing your opinions on social media, this forum, sending messages to CS Agents, etc. It's not like we have a phone number to call with PM, so it's all we have 😂

PMInfo1
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

golfball wrote:  "Yes I've seen a few people express surprise and excitement when they get the data text not realizing the full context. PM should have been more upfront with the stipulations and specifics of what's going on."

-----------------------

My family members were some of them not realizing I was filing multiple complaints with CCTS on the other side.  Text is misleading and certainly if one hadn't visited the Community would be completely unaware.  Of course, Public Mobile believes that all policies have been followed and CCTS should/will have no issue.

That said, "legally right" does not mean "ethical marketing behaviour" and CCTS may have a different view following the avalanche of complaints that have been filed.  I would encourage those who have not filed to do so regardless of result.

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