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

[kb_mv]

@mikasik2 You are purposefully ignoring the line about posting the change here. This announcement was posted March 6th. Whether or not the screenshot info was there in 2018 is a red herring in my opinion. When you renew your monthly service you accept any changes made to the ToS regardless of whether or not you choose to read them.

[kb_mv]

@eyes You may want to edit out your referral code before the post is deleted. Posting referral codes is not allowed.

[mikasik2]

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@kb_mv wrote:

@mikasik2 What about people who also don't check email? I think PM is covered by the line that says posting the change on their site will suffice. More interesting than that to me is the line that says if you purchase service after the change has been made you accept the change.

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They said an email would go out, apart from that they could send a text message. We are 3 weeks till May which is less than the 30 days notice your screenshot assures customers would get if they faced any changes.

My point about that screenshot is that if it is new then we need to be sure they aren't making new rules years after the original rewards program was in place.

[HALIMACS]

Posting referral codes is against the Community's terms of service @eyes 

You know ... that small print which everyone surely reads.   🙄

Just lettin ya know.

[NoseyNick1]

Not had an email. I HAVE noticed the pop-up when i happpenned to log in to check my remaining data (not previously something i would do very often)

Also just notice i have PM text messages "Congrats! Rewards have been applied to your account: $1 friend referrals, $2 AutoPay, $0 Community, $2 Loyalty. More info at https://selfserve.publicmobile.ca" for Nov, Dec, Jan, but NOT Feb or Mar. Then i have "Public Mobile here. Thank you for your payment. Your plan has been successfully renewed! Let's keep the conversation going" for Feb, Mar, Apr. Then "Public Mobile here, delivering on our promise. We've successfully added the 5GB of bonus data to your account as a thank you for your continued loyalty. This bonus data will expire in 150 days. Enjoy the extra data and thank you for choosing Public Mobile" which would have come as a complete surprise to me if i hadn't happenned to log in and seen the popup. THEN i found this post on these forums.

[kb_mv]

@mikasik2 What about people who also don't check email? I think PM is covered by the line that says posting the change on their site will suffice. More interesting than that to me is the line that says if you purchase service after the change has been made you accept the change.

[mikasik2]

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@kb_mv wrote:

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@mikasik2 wrote:

Has anyone received an email or official notification apart from this post of the upcoming changes?  I haven't..

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@mikasik2 At the risk of being called a shill or raining on someones parade, see attached.

Edit: I can't imagine anyone who has posted here or filed a complaint with CCTS can then turn around and claim they didn't know about it. Having said that, when you sign into your account either on computer or through app a pop up notifying of the changes comes up.

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 Is that screenshot from before 2018?  I don't doubt they had something like that in the fine print.  But is it grounds for false advertising?

What about the people who are on autopay and have no reason to sign into their accounts?  We were told an email would go out, and May is in 3 weeks.

[kb_mv]

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@eyes wrote:

I can go on about this and other of your postings but this thread is not meant for this. 

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@eyes Why do you keep engaging then?

[kb_mv]

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@mikasik2 wrote:

Has anyone received an email or official notification apart from this post of the upcoming changes?  I haven't..

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@mikasik2 At the risk of being called a shill or raining on someones parade, see attached.

Edit: I can't imagine anyone who has posted here or filed a complaint with CCTS can then turn around and claim they didn't know about it. Having said that, when you sign into your account either on computer or through app a pop up notifying of the changes comes up.

 

[mikasik2]

Has anyone received an email or official notification apart from this post of the upcoming changes?  I haven't..

[Patrick_PM]

If you open a ticket with Public Mobile, a customer agent will respond trying to push the benefits of the Points Program. If you don’t respond in a few hours, they’ll close your ticket since  it has been over 24 hours. The issue is it hasn’t even been 12 hours.

[Bunnyhop]

-First contact Public Mobile about this then file your complaints with CCTS,
New customers say that you have felt cheated by the 2-tier system and demand to have the old rewards system returned.
Old customers say that Public Mobile has broken their customer support promise to keep the old rewards system.
-Contact CRTC and to any more regulators that are available.
-Question the new changes under the announcement.
-Make a new post calling out Public Mobile in the forums.
-Write to your MP/MPP/MLA that you were taken advantage of in the Public Mobile false advertising situation and say that you want more competitive phone plans to match the Quebec and Saskatchewan markets.
-If someone has the means or is a lawyer please start a class action lawsuit against Telus.
-Contact the Press.
-Tell your friends and family about how Public Mobile betrayed the old rewards customers.
-Threaten to switch carriers that are not Public Mobile, Koodo or Telus.
-Use every tool in the box to fight against this unacceptable situation.

[Bunnyhop]

You're valid in being angry. This is completely unjust.

[Bunnyhop]

You're so right!

[Bunnyhop]

Thank you for your service. We need to Fine Public Mobile with each complaint made to CCTS.

[Bunnyhop]

Yes PM needs to do that!

[Bunnyhop]

I would wait as CCTS has denied PM's explanation for cancelling the old rewards program. I would also suggest you to file complaint as it will fine PM for screwing us over.

[pm_user4]

One of the reasons I am on public mobile is that they have an awesome rewards platform. The new point system by comparison is quite terrible and definitely is worse than the rewards system.

Public mobile should reverse it's decision to move everyone to the points system.

[dudesbot]

Hi All,

Unfortunately, it seems Public Mobile has yet to alter their change. Currently, I'm scheduled to renew on the last day of April. Does anyone know what the chances are that I'll renew again on the old system? I know it says "starting in May" but they also said "joining public points is optional". I really don't like the new system.

Thanks

[Bunnyhop]

Thank you. They gotta be fined for this horrible betrayal.

[Bunnyhop]

If you people are pissed about this change. Here is a list of actions you can take against Telus.

https://old.reddit.com/r/PublicMobile/comments/1bwawjr/protest_against_public_mobile/

[Matty1234]

I submitted a complaint and it's been  accepted, I'm switching anyway but the idea of costing Public $140 plus them losing my revenue feels alright, a bit vindictive but I'm ok with that.

[Hat]

 submitted first line complain to CCTS and stop automatic payment for it.

[mikasik2]

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@Wolfcore wrote:

People keep comparing what PM is doing, to what these other companies have done, but just ignore the fact that PM literally told people that they'd be able to keep something forever (which these other companies usually don't do). There's a big difference there. One is expected, because everybody knows how fine-print works, while the other is a completely unethical move, and misleads a consumer. One is false advertising, the other isn't.

When I see Rogers promoting an internet plan for $50, I don't expect to keep that price forever, but if they literally told me that I would, then I'd expect that to be honored. I just find it funny how people are defending this action. It's one thing to argue whether they have the legal right to do something, but to try and convince people that they've done nothing "wrong" (Includes morally, yes), is just ridiculous. And saying that there shouldn't be backlash? That's even more hilarious.

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Completely agree.  IMO if a company outright says you can keep something forever it should override any fine print and count as false advertising should the company take it away.  

[NurseKaren]

Hey there PM. I'm not cool with this forced change to your new points system. This literally isnt what I signed up for. I signed up for a loyalty rewards program, not this, and I do not accept your position that you can just force it onto me, especiallyl since initially you said it was optional. I reject these changes to our contract.

[Oakestester]

If you had filed a CCTS complaint they likely would've kept your old price. False advertising / unfair business practices is exactly what the CCTS is for. Companies are bound by their employees' actions, that's the entire concept of vicarious liability.

Just because legally the company is entitled to make price changes per the TOS doesn't mean that it's not an unfair business practice. That's why the CCTS is rejecting PM's objections to complaints; even if it's allowed to do it, the CCTS will determine if their decision was unfair.

I'm not your lawyer and this post is not intended to provide you with legal advice for your specific situation. I recommend you retain a lawyer if you wish to obtain legal advice for your specific situation.

[fixin1]

@ThunderingEarl - Yes, it is a super slap in the face for the people who are on the Legacy Rewards system. But most are fighting back with a "$140 CCTS complaint" - about 2 years worth of getting the Legacy rewards back for most customers.

[ThunderingEarl]

So I guess this is the part in the fine print where "terms and conditions can be changed at any time" comes into play? So the contract I entered into with Public Mobile can change, but only PM can change it? If this is meant to be a mutually beneficial arrangement maybe I should change things in the contract as well. Maybe I only want to pay $1 a month, does that work for you? I doubt it. This new Points program, which was originally optional, and is now being forced on customers is a real slap in the face. I signed up for the original rewards program you offered and now you pull the rug out from under everyone. Not cool. I would prefer to stay with the original program please and thank you. Rant over.

[hTideGnow]

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@Wolfcore wrote:

but just ignore the fact that PM literally told people that they'd be able to keep something forever (which these other companies usually don't do). 

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HI @Wolfcore 

everything has to go back to fine print and the terms they posted.  Community replies are dangerous, as dangerous as the reply you got when you call helpdesk on the phone. 

I called Bell, the agent knows nothing said yes the price will be forever.  

Couple months later, Bell raised the price.   I called back and talked to the supervisor.  He said according to the fine print , which he sent me, that I will get the plan forever, which there is a plan code there they use internally.  But Bell reserves the right to adjust the price to the plan.  I said but your agent promised me.  He told me the agent was not Bell CEO , all they can do is follow the written terms which he can provide

So, you learned something here?

[ashishg1]

Got a reply for CCTS that they did not accept public mobile's argument and they have till April 23rd to respond. I believe if public mobile wanted to cancel the old reward and move people to new one they could have simply lowered the grandfathered plan price by an ongoing discount of however many $s they currently give and move people over to new points. Instead they chose the absolute scummy path. Lets see ill wait till April 23rd and if nothing is done (which is what i expect... because this is canada) then ill just switch providers.