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

[colleeno]

Just be aware that your recent Bonus data gift will be removed if you downgrade your plan.

[unloyalpmuser]

These changes suck. you just lost my loyalty of several years. Ironic, cuz what pissed me off the most about all of this is how PM wants to spin this in a positive light as if my bill isn't going to increase by several dollars. Well, they are right, it's actually gonna decrease because I just downgraded my plan to the lowest possible ($15) to partner with the free data... fair to say, I will spend the next 5 months looking for a new provider.

[computergeek541]

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@eyes wrote:

Maybe a positive to the point system is that reward points are accumulated giving us the option to cash them as we see fit at a later date.

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I don't see that as a benefit. There is no interest given on points balance, nor has Public Mobilie ever had any type of bonus points upon redemption events that the points would need to be saved up for. I know that that are add-ons that could purchased using points (at a discount), but if generally if a customer is on a plan that fits usage patterns, add-ons are often of very little use.

[RetiredGuy1]

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@Korth_ wrote:

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@ShawnC13 wrote:

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You better take a lap and start treating people with some respect.

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I do agree.

But I'm sure you recognize that people are going to naturally view "Public Mobile Community Oracles" with some suspicion when Public Mobile is unpopular. Everything you say (or don't say) will be carefully scrutinized for vulnerabilities.

Especially when emotions are running high. There is a lot of anger directed against Public Mobile (and Telus) right now.

(And especially when there is also a lack of intelligence, restraint, or respect.)

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Hi @Korth_  - it was this post I assumed triggered him and, just to be clear, I’m not defending his posts whatsoever

* edited post to also make clear this was not directed at @ShawnC13 as he was responding to the poster in question and Korth was responding to Shawn

[RetiredGuy1]

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@Yatti4201 wrote:

• PAP $6 (Im currently on quarterly) 
• $9.00 Loyalty 
  No referral. 
• I thought my loyalty was due to increase or was a little higher. 

102 cost. 

87 was indicated amount. 

Moving to the same data/speed now $29 per month from the $34 on my may renewal date. 

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It appears you are a 3+ year subscriber with PM to be receiving $6 auto-pay and $9 loyalty rewards on a quarterly plan. So, a total discount of $60 per year. As @Wolfcore pointed out, the $29 plan will provide $27.40 each and every year as there is no longer any incremental increase for remaining loyal. Your idea that “your loyalty was due to increase or was a little higher” was true under the old program (ie annual discount increased to $72 on your 4th anniversary and then $84 on your fifth). But now, they’re moving us to the new program “in order to offer us greater value” That’s PM’s logic at work.

[Korth_]

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@RetiredGuy1 wrote:

I believe he is referring to @Korth_ who, of course, is not a mod (or a mood either😂 - sorry @ShawnC13 I couldn’t resist poking fun at your typo). Just to be clear, I’m not wading into the debate but just pointing out where it likely originated

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lol, I'm not sure how my name got dropped into the conversation.

But tracing back through the path of replies shows me an angry, ranting customer lashing out at anyone who bothers to get close.

I do indeed have opinions about how that kind of behaviour reflects on intelligence. But I haven't stated them here.

[Wolfcore]

It's exactly what it is, yeah. That's why there are so many disgruntled customers. What's even worse, is that PM is telling us that they're moving us to this new system in order to offer us greater value. They're blatantly lying to us over and over again, they're shameless.

[Yatti4201]

Its' even worse then I thought if that is truly what the reward threshold is. I'll be gone by June.

[Yatti4201]

They are likely extremely oversuscribed and this spreads out people to Koodo and Telus which I am sure are about to launch the best deals around. Then people who truly leave will lessen the network load etc.

[ashishg1]

This decision by PM has been an amazing marketing for all providers other than PM. Way to go from one of the best providers to the worst. Almost seems like its done on purpose to get rid of subscribers and then close off PM

[Public_Cust_17]

@Grinch   here's an independent review I found regarding them. It's comparing 5G but should give you an idea about the company.. https://mobilesyrup.com/2023/10/26/testing-freedom-mobile-5g-network-canada/

[JDBlue1966]

Haven't seen anything bad  about them. Plus, you can always move to another provider, if needed. The saving is well worth it. 

[Grinch]

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@JDBlue1966 wrote:

That is better. 

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Wow. The $149 plan is $12.43 a month. And based on my current use for the past decade ….. is perfect. 
But can Freedom be trusted? 

[Wolfcore]

Oh yeah, Bell sent me one of these too, pretty great deal if you need a lot of data, but really just that. The plan is very basic outside of that. No US roaming for the data, no US calling, only text is international, etc. So it's really only a good plan if you never leave Canada, and you need 100GB for some odd reason. If you don't need 100GB, you're better off just paying less money, for less data. 

[on2wheels]

Just got an offer from my internet provider for 100GB a month for $40, shareable data too, whatever that means.

J_PM are you still getting notifications about this thread?

[RetiredGuy1]

Yep, wasn’t disputing the savings but just wanting to clarify the timing of the application of the anniversary points

[Wolfcore]

Yeah, give or take. But if you're starting fresh, my math would be correct. Regardless, still $27.40 year (except for the first year I guess, depending how PM handles the anniversary date)

[Wolfcore]

Depends how much data they need, really. Whether they want 5G speed too, whether they want US calling, etc. I offered up PC mobile because it's an equivalent price ($29), to the plan they were picking.

[JDBlue1966]

That is better. 

[RetiredGuy1]

But if you’ve been a PM subscriber for at least 12 consecutive months, you get the 10 points ($10) on your anniversary date. So, I interpret that as getting those 10 points as early as the day after migration if that happens to be your anniversary date? The FAQ doesn’t specify a PM points subscriber, just a PM subscriber. Some clarity on that from an Oracle would be appreciated.

[Wolfcore]

Pc Mobile is currently far superior to this PM plan. Their $29 plan includes:

- 25gb data with autopay (PM is only 20gb)
- 5G speed (PM is only 4G)
- includes US calling (PM's doesn't)
- get 5% back in pc optimum points, or 10% if you use one of their credit cards (PM is only 5% back, period)
- 20k free optimum points after 2 months ($20)

So objectively, you'd be getting far more value with PC Mobile

[hTideGnow]

HI @Yatti4201 

for a $29 plan , you will get 1.45 point only , but 10 point on the anniversary. Not as good as before.  but other place's $29 plan won't give you this saving.  

[Wolfcore]

Little confused by what you're telling me, but regardless, with the new system (and the $29 plan), you'll only be getting 27.4 points per year ($27.40). You'll need to collect points for 11 months before you'll even be able to take a single cent off of your bill (we need to hit 15 points before being able to use any). At 11 months, you'll have 15.95 points ($15.95). After the 12th month, you'll get a 10-point anniversary bonus ($10).

So just compare the $27.40 from the new system, with the amount you're saving with the old system.

[RetiredGuy1]

@kb_mv and @Michael6666 

Thanks for the heads up! I had stopped looking at the plans currently available as I didn’t expect any changes until after May (if then even). Great timing as my cycle date is tomorrow. I moved off the $34 5G plan which is an over-subscription for my needs and just now moved to the $29 plan. Of course, I’d prefer the $24 plan which is still not available to me. I guess opening up the $29 plan could be viewed as “one small step for PM subscribers, one giant leap for PM bean-counters”. However, another view could be this is PM’s equivalent of dipping their toes in the water to check the temperature. Namely, if there is a big shift away from 5G plans to the $29 plan, then existing customers can kiss the chance of snagging the $24 plan goodbye. I hope I’m wrong and will post here admitting it if PM does allow the $24 plan.

[Yatti4201]

• PAP $6 (Im currently on quarterly) 
• $9.00 Loyalty 
  No referral. 
• I thought my loyalty was due to increase or was a little higher. 

102 cost. 

87 was indicated amount. 

Moving to the same data/speed now $29 per month from the $34 on my may renewal date. 

[Public_Cust_17]

@SeniorCitizen   They also have postpaid plans on their 4G LTE network that could save you even more money.  I'd suggest you look at their coverage map and see if you'd even have 5G available as well as consider the actual amount of data that you would typically use.  Do you stream movies or game on your phone, listen to music or are you just using it to check the weather, text/email and maybe connect to your car for driving directions?  Just some thoughts for you to consider as their $29 plan with 20GB/month of data might work for you or maybe even the $24 plan with 4GB/month would suffice.   Cheers  🙂

[Wolfcore]

If you can tell me exactly how many referrals you have, and what number your loyalty reward is currently at ($5 off per month?), I can tell you exactly how much you'll be paying compared to the old system.

[Wolfcore]

If you don't mind paying in lump-sums, the Freedom yearly plans are much better and cheaper than that $15 plan. 

[Yatti4201]

I migrated to the $29/20GB per month. I was getting $34/20GB per month on that quarterly cycle. So they are letting people take that base rate it looks like. I am going to laugh if my bill without cash rebate is more then before. I suspect It will be very close lol. Exodus incoming. April May June is going to be a blood bath. I suspect they will have Koodo and Telus dominant offers.. 

[Michael6666]

Thanks, I know. I don't care, I use 2-3 Gb per month but like the security of extra and was willing to pay 34$ for the 50gb US that I go once a year on vacation. But now, I'm gone. fizz is cheaper and better for me than the points system. The only reason I'm holding on is a decision reversal in may, we'll see. 

Otherwise, as I've stated, 2/3 of my plans are leaving, only the 15$ is staying until something better comes along.