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

[Y4J259]

It is evident from the many, many questions posted here that legacy customers are unaware of the switch from rewards to points. Clearly, PM has failed to communicate properly for such a significant change. 

I'd suggest that most (all?) people who subscribe to a bottom-tier cell service do so entirely because of the total $$$ spent each month. Do you think they care how the bill is calculated by plan, rewards, loyalty, referrals, etc? No, they care only about the total money coming out of their account every month. So... to force this change to points, and by doing so, force thousands of customers into paying significantly higher bills is unethical. Why? You'll notice I didn't say illegal because they have fine print, but to convince thousands that they will stay on the rewards plan "as long as they remain with PM", and then changing just that is unethical. 

To make it worse, they have forced people into paying more (a "legal" loophole by changing the rewards program in a "legal" bait and switch strategy, and then removed the option for those customers to switch to a new plan as those plans are for new activations only. Disgusting practices. CCTS must look into this "legal" bait and switch loophole. Customers only care about the total $$$. 

If so many people didn't realize their plan is changing, how many will realistically log in every month or so to use points to buy bill credit? PM has intentionally not allowed auto crediting because they know most won't log in regularly. Again, very cynical. 

So, I want PM to allow auto bill credits when people "earn" points each month. So that using rewards is not an intentionally frustrating experience. 

[HALIMACS]

It makes them money, that's all that matters.    Not what's 'right'.    Sadly.

[HenF]

With the Points program, it should remain my credit.  Now I have to pay more, it is now right.

[vbs-b]

It is peanuts really because it is temporary - no carry over.

Unless you use data heavily - it is of no use.

[Tav2]

Looks like they are burning up my "loyalty" data over my regular plan data... Anyone else?

[Bunnyhop]

As a customer of 3+ years I switched over to freedom as a response to this.

[hTideGnow]

hi @LitlLdy yes, that $19 plan for everyone. But the most win are those on $25 plan as they pretty much pay the same without the old rewards 

[EdN]

Who did you move to, what was the plan you got and what is the cost and what are the referral perks?  TIA

[Leavin]

Has anyone heard back with a resolution from CCTS? This is typical anti-trust behaviour from our telecoms.

In the event anyone isn't already aware, here is the link to file a complaint to CCTS: https://www.ccts-cprst.ca/for-consumers/complaints/complaint-form/

[fixin1]

@am72 - I agree with you, although if you joined Public Mobile after January 25th 2022 you are automatically put in points so it may not apply for you.

But if it does, nothin we can do. Public Mobile has the right to change their TOS at any time but they have to give a 30 days notice of the change.

[am72]

This feels like a big betrayal to the old loyal costumers!

I used to have respect and loyalty to Public Mobile because of their old loyalty rewards that was an innovation and beneficial to it's costumers.

Koodo did the same thing to me previously and I was expecting better from Public Mobile!

Public Mobile lost My respect and Loyalty!

[fixin1]

@LitlLdy - Yes, it is for all accounts that are existing.

[yvandas]

Thank you for letting me know.  I switched to the new $19 / 4G / 1GB plan.  My monthly bill went from $25 - $2 (for auto pay) - $3 (for loyalty) - $7 (for referrals) = $13 + $1.69 (HST) ie a monthly bill of $14.69 to $19 + $2.47 (HST) - $0.95 (autopay points) - $0.83 (loyalty points) - $7 (referrals points) = $12.69 (monthly equivalent cost).  So my bill has now gone down by $2 ($14.69 - $12.69) which is a 13.6% reduction.  I will still be paying $21.47 a month instead of $14.69 but the difference will be more than recuped over 12 month.  So, to be fair to PM, the switch to points was not that bad given the new $19 / 4G / 1 GB offering.  We should all move from the $25 / 3G / 1 GB to this new offering.  If only we could apply earned points to reduce our monthly bill withouth the $15 limit that would, I think, make most PM custommers happy.  It would not be as good as the old rewards system but would get pretty close to it.

[PrettyFly]

As promised, I ported out the other day leaving behind all the data and minutes I had saved.

All of a sudden, I have VoLTE, something PM refused to give me because I wasn't "whitelisted" even though it was whitelisted on both Koodo and Telus. I also have wifi calling too which is also nice.

More data too, unlimited minutes. Paying less than I was paying at Public. The big-head executives who made this decision lost a long-time customer who spent years under the Telus umbrella (all 3 brands, Telus, Koodo and PM).

Penny-wise, pound-foolish. Should have left the old subscribers alone, now there is ongoing churn.

[LitlLdy]

---

@hTideGnow wrote:

Good news for anyone with $25 plan.

Existing customers should see a $19 plan for 1GB in 4G speed

so, the plan is now an upgrade from 3G, and you saved $6 and earn 0.95/month in points

so even without the legacy rewards, you are not losing money!!! 

(sorry, at this time, the good news is for $25 plan owners only)

---

@hTideGnow , I am still on the $15 Plan with 250mb of data at 3g speed & I see that plan available to switch to on my account.

[Lucster]

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@jhhead wrote:

Well looks like I've been forced changed today. Still have not heard anything from Public Mobile or the CCTS regarding my complaint... (Which was accepted but no communication in 20+ days and this week emailed CCTS advising so)

Not a fan of the lack of updates and response from Public Mobile 😠

 

---

Did you reach out to CCTS?  They are expected to get involved after 20 days.

[marcnoel]

Right.  Over the course of a year, the difference for loyalty is $ 50.00 ($ 60.00 max five years on Rewards, vs. 10 on Points), which, divided by 12, is $ 4.17 a month.  Add 75¢ back per month ($ 1.25 increase), and it equates to $ 5.42 per month increased expense, maximum.  When 15 points have accumulated (not 14), they can be applied to a payment.  The payments throughout the year will fluctuate, but the monthly average increase is a maximum of $ 5.42.  They may have gone from $ 8.00 to $ 15.00, but will still get something back along the way, so the average will be less.  Also, technically speaking, 15 is not twice 8.

[jhhead]

Thanks for sharing. It appears $15 plan users can also make this change!

[jhhead]

Well looks like I've been forced changed today. Still have not heard anything from Public Mobile or the CCTS regarding my complaint... (Which was accepted but no communication in 20+ days and this week emailed CCTS advising so)

Not a fan of the lack of updates and response from Public Mobile 😠

 

[FY]

Thank you so much! This is a great news for $25 plan  subscribers!

[sunshine7]

wrong first of all 5 years loyalty would be 5$ a month plus 2$ autopay with no referrals that would make 7$ a month automatically redeemed every month so on a 15$ plan he would have paid 8$ a month now he's paying the full 15 $ plus taxes so that's pretty much almost double what he was paying( taxes on 15$ is more than taxes on 8$ depending where you live) . Also with new plan points he gets only 0.75c a month in points (not 2$) that he cannot spend / use until he gets to 14points dollars that's about a little less than 19 months sure you get the 10$ points each anniversary year but that means you're locked in and can't spend/redeem those points money on your bill anytime soon and guess what you lose it all if you leave plus even if you stay and leave after the anniversary bonus you still lose a couple dollars on the autopay. Simple math cheers 

[hTideGnow]

hi @FY 

thanks @fixin1 for finding out from his account.  Then I confirmed I got it on my own My Account too

You can check yours.  Make sure you use Incognito/private/secret mode to check 

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/New-19-1GB-and-29-10GB-in-my-account/m-p/...

[FY]

Where do you got this info?

[marcnoel]

Would you please explain how your plan cost doubled?  At maximum five years' loyalty, you would lose $ 4.17 a month, and a maximum of $ 1.25,  if you're on a $ 15.00 plan, vs. $ 2.00 AutoPay.  That's a total of $ 5.42.  Was your plan only $ 5.42 a month before the switch?

Also, if you encouraged anyone to join PM after January 2022, they started out on Points, so nothing's different for them or new people.

[hTideGnow]

Good news for anyone with $25 plan.

Existing customers should see a $19 plan for 1GB in 4G speed

so, the plan is now an upgrade from 3G, and you saved $6 and earn 0.95/month in points

so even without the legacy rewards, you are not losing money!!! 

(sorry, at this time, the good news is for $25 plan owners only)

[hTideGnow]

HI @Langui 

not trying to discourage you, but it is legal for them to change the rewards.  There is really no contract here as it is prepaid, the contract you have is pretty much just 30 days and a new one is "renewed" when you renew the service

also, many has submitted and none of them got what they want.  The change still went ahead and the old rewards system is dead by now

[Langui]

I am extremely unhappy with the changes that Public Mobile is making to their rewards and Loyalty program. I believe it amounts to breach of contract. It has doubled the cost of my plan..  So many broken promises, we put our trust in companies and encourage our friends to join their plan only to have everything taken away. 

At the least, submit a complaint to the CCTS.  I have. Here is the link https://www.ccts-cprst.ca/for-consumers/complaints/complaint-form/

[guddoge]

I agree with others. The pubic points program is much worse than the old one way of getting discounts for loyalty and autopay. I'll be losing at least $53 per year in savings compared to the old way, which worked great and was automatic. There's really little to practically no advantage with public points.

[Tk10]

I have been a loyal customer for years and gotten money taken off my bill every single month. This change in "rewards" has now taken away most of my rewards and my monthly bill has increased by $8 a month. That is almost $100 a year more on my phone bill. Now I need to "earn" points and then go into my account to maybe get some money off my next bill at some point. Very dissatisfied.

[jhhead]

Thanks for the advice. 

Emailed CCTS back and hopefully something comes out of this. 

That sucks they still completed the conversation for you with the complaint still open.