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

[Joe_G]

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@dacdoter1 wrote:

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It takes some guts for some of the newer customers on here to be posting for people to stop complaining, just because they aren't experiencing the loss, and are jealous that we were being rewarded in perpituity for being early adopters, which in fact did earn our business in the first place.

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This argument could be turned around. It is the new people who should be complaining because they never had the opportunity to enjoy all the rewards and savings that the early adopters have enjoyed all those years.

[dacdoter1]

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@HALIMACS wrote:

come on folks – we all know the change sucks for a loyal customers and no real need to debate the point.

Most of us are losing at least $60 per year in rewards earned.

(Annually:  $60 down to $10 loyalty, then about $5-$15 less re auto pay vs 5%)

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Just wanted to quote this because it sums up the cost to the longest, most loyal customers very nicely.  This is absolutely correct, and indeed there is no arguing it. 

It takes some guts for some of the newer customers on here to be posting for people to stop complaining, just because they aren't experiencing the loss, and are jealous that we were being rewarded in perpituity for being early adopters, which in fact did earn our business in the first place.

[hTideGnow]

HI @HALIMACS 

I wouldn't say market is corporate lying

Sometimes, customers themselves have the responsibility too.  They signed up for price, they don't read if any conditions attached    When things not going the way they "think" it should be, they blame corporate greed.   They thought making complaints here and there would help .  Most of them won't admit it was their fault for not read and understand the terms

[dacdoter1]

The kick in the teeth is that PM was a market leader for low-data users, i.e. budget-conscious shoppers who were willing to go with less to save money.  So if you're ok using low amounts of data, then sure, that 5GB "apology bonus" they gave us sounds like a lot, and a nice gesture to ease the pain of taking away the good rewards program that saved us lots of money.

  But it's a real jerk move to put a time limit on it.  I still have a 2GB and 1GB no-expiry bonus lump sum from like 2 Christmases ago - and I just checked, if I use data now it comes out of those first, not the 5GB with expiry date.  So I have zero chance to ever make use of that 5G since they started the clock way back when they made this announcement, and I choose to only use data on wifi except in rare cases, saving it until it is needed.

So, a useless insult instead of a gift.  I will be filing a formal complaint.

[HALIMACS]

Marketing is a smoother way saying corporate lying.

Even company execs didn’t really know that’s what “marketing” meant when they allocated that much funds toward marketing departments.

They were led to believe it was simply a way for company to legitimately make money and entice customers.

In reality, they’re just overpaid hustlers.

[HALIMACS]

Yup, you get the lawyers to take it on, and I’ll look for their PSA to get participants.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Charlies717 if you have the money, fo ahead and seek legal advise 

But this announcement has been out for 2 months, if there is any chance, I would think the lawyers would have jumped on it already 🙂

[Charlies717]

Can we start a class action lawsuit?

[Charlies717]

But all of those years of earning rewards that used to apply as a monthly credit to reduce the monthly bill are no longer given to the customer. How is that fair? PM promised that as long as you stay with them, those rewards would never disappear. Now, that promise is broken!

[marcnoel]

Independent of accuracy, at least it would be a reminder to check points.

So, everyone that joined PM on Points only over the past 28 months has been done dirty, is that correct?

[DownEast]

No, there’s no going back.  Their only commitment was to give you 30 days notice of a change, not to keep the old program forever.

[maurelle]

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@marcnoel wrote:

For those concerned about having to monitor their accounts to see how many Points they have and get, there is no need.  PM sends out e-mails showing Points summary.  I have been getting them for months, even though I was on Rewards until two weeks ago.  I think it will be less arduous to check an e-mail, vs. having to deliberately go into your account, then navigate to the Points page, only to find nothing's changed since the last time you checked.

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Like other types of notifications from Public Mobile (data usage warnings spring to mind), those e-mailed statements are not necessarily accurate.

I know that some people don't like it, but Isay it again: Public Mobile is doing their best to make the user experience with the points system as bad as they possibly can, in the hopes that people don't bother or forget about redeeming points. They will devalue the points soon enough as well. 

[ifeedbirds_ca]

It's okay, thousands of us are filing CCTS complaints as we speak. Lure us in for years with a Loyalty program then when we achieve it they take it away? ]=

[hTideGnow]

hi @BestNickname sorry, you cannot. The old rewards system is now gone and we have to just enjoy what we have.  The points are not earning as fast, but we are still getting some savings while most other carriers don't offer any

[BestNickname]

This new program is much worse than the old program. Can I keep the old rewards program? Wasn't this promised to me when I signed up for this service?

[marcnoel]

For those concerned about having to monitor their accounts to see how many Points they have and get, there is no need.  PM sends out e-mails showing Points summary.  I have been getting them for months, even though I was on Rewards until two weeks ago.  I think it will be less arduous to check an e-mail, vs. having to deliberately go into your account, then navigate to the Points page, only to find nothing's changed since the last time you checked.

[sukha]

I agree, this new system does not seem worth it. Were you able to find an equivalent deal on this new system?

[softech]

hi @HALIMACS 

I like your unbiased summary of the effect of this change.  It is around $60+tax difference rather than a scary screenshot showing a $39 jump per month  🙂

[softech]

@Handy1 

first, all business simply collect the tax and transfer them to the government.  PM is doing the same here

it is undoubtedly that we are paying more tax because of the full amount we need to pay (unless you have enough available funds).  But "yesterday" PM did not collect any tax from your $0 bill s, there was no tax to transfer to the government.  They do not pay the $34 worth of tax of your $0 bill, ie, PM does not save money "today" because of the extra tax you need to pay. 

I have to agree the Government is the winner in the new points system as they will get more tax $ out of it.  But with a nice country like Canada with all the services and benefits we get out of it, it is a citizen's responsibility to pay tax to keep the system running.  If we keep paying $0 on our government bill, one day our government will have no choice but announcing an "exciting news" about changing the "rewards system" as well 😂

BTW, for the tax part, also, keep in mind we are paying extra tax only on the portion of our rewards.  Most subscribers don't have enough rewards to cover the full bill, so, they are paying some GST already on their plan.   For you, the impact was more significant, you are going from paying $0 tax to $4.42 because you have quite a lot of friend referrals ($29) plus the rewards you earned from your great and steady effort you brought into the Community ( a well-deserved $15 rewards)

[HALIMACS]

@softech @Handy1 

come on folks – we all know the change sucks for a loyal customers and no real need to debate the point.

Most of us are losing at least $60 per year in rewards earned.

(Annually:  $60 down to $10 loyalty, then about $5-$15 less re auto pay vs 5%)

[Handy1]

@softech  Will do when I see them . I know it won’t be as impressive as public mobile of “yesterday” but I think also the plan aside from PM making more money . Is to have people paying tax before rewards are added . Because when a active member has nuff rewards we didn’t pay tax on the PM of “yesterday “ so I think they trying to recoup some tax $ too that they have to pay out to MR Trudeau and his friends 

Adding yes first screen shot supposed to be $0 the - - $17 meant that was going to available funds as those old rewards would just add up for future payment . Not sure the new points will allow for that anymore . As I understand it at one time you couldn’t collect more rewards then what your plan value was . Sure hope that won’t be the case going forward . 

[softech]

@Handy1 

as I further examine your screenshots, the first one showing amount due of $0 was in fact because the system took $17 off your available funds, ie, that "estimated payment" was supposed to be $17 and not $0.   So, it was not  jump from $0 to $39.10.   Not sure if your account now have $0 available funds, but should your account have over $39.10 of available funds, it will show amount due of $0 as well.   

So, two screenshots like those was eye catching,  it does magnify the effect of the rewards system change.  But since it is not an apple-to-apple comparison, it is definitely misleading

Have you gone through a renewal on this account yet?  Would be nice if you update your post showing the points you got from a renewal, so people know how the points helped your future savings 

[asiaminor2k]

Another thought with the *FORCED* migration: Instead of being rewarded for simply being LOYAL and nothing else... now users have to "participate" in the community (with vague rules regarding points earned) to get anywhere near the value of the old rewards. In other words, users have to "work".

Only PM and shareholders benefit from the points program.

[Handy1]

@softech  no not misleading at all I no longer get old loyalty rewards from yesterday automatically added to my account  . Now I  have to pay full price for the plan and yes I earn lousy points . After the fact . With added step of having to redeem them if I happen to remember to and the 10 points you speak of is once a year . You’re assuming I’ll stick around that long to enjoy that measly perk . 

what is MISLEADING however is the way Public mobile went about this roll out to trying to convince folks this was some sorta enhancement for the customers . And taking away the 1 point for each month of service . And giving out a data add on as after thought that still had strings attached to it . Now that’s deceitful I’ll agree . You can’t sugar coat it this is bad for loyal customers all the way around 

[marcnoel]

Regardless of when you joined, plans have come and gone over the years.  I was on the $ 15.00/250 MB plan for over two years.  When they introduced unlimited throttled data, I switched to that.  I then found out how much I would actually use in a month, and it was nowhere near as much as I thought it would be.  I have bounced around the plans, and have been checking offerings every day since they introduced unlimited, because I've seen plans pop up, then disappear a few days later, so I check every day to ensure I can snag the best deal.  I have a daily reminder in my phone, and it's just part of my routine now.

If you had joined two years ago, you would have started out on Points, and the switch wouldn't apply to you.  Also, you would have to be with PM a year to start getting a $ 1.00 per month in loyalty, which would be equivalent to 5% back from a $ 20.00 plan.  AutoPay discount would be the larger amount for possibly three years, until loyalty pulled ahead.  In all that time, you never saw plans decrease in price, and data increase?  I know I have since September 2015.

With all the upset about this, so many people have expressed their reasons for leaving PM.  Flip it around - what reason do any of us have to stay?  Discounts have reduced, so it can't be that.  Plans are similar to offerings elsewhere, so it can't be that.  Only thing is if total cost is lower than elsewhere.  Even though it's higher than before, it's still lower than elsewhere, depending on plan price, needs, and Points entitlement.

[marcnoel]

Prices have not been reduced relative to offerings?  Of course they have.  You can now get 1 GB of 4G data for $ 19.00 a month.  A few months ago, it was $ 25.00 for 1 3G GB.  Prices have come down, and data has gone up.  Once again, we refer back to 2018, where you could get 4 GB for $ 40.00/month.  Now, you can get 50 GB Can/US for $ 34.00.  50 is more than 4.  $ 34.00 is less than $ 40.00.

[softech]

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@Handy1 wrote:

It’s official the new rewards system looks worse or as bad as it sounds 

public mobile yesterday 

Public mobile today 

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@Handy1 

the screenshots are misleading!!

your bill jumped from $0 to $39.10, but that are other facts you didn't show and mentioned is that:

• You still get 15 points (=$15) in Community rewards should you participate the same amount as before
  (you have been helping less lately and likely see a drop in Community rewards in the next bill, but that is something you have full control )
• you didn't loss any of your Friend Referral points assuming all your friends stay.  So, the 29 points (=$29) is still there 
• you receive 5% points out of $34  plan, you earned 1.7 points out of it
• you are going to earn 10 points on your anniversary date (=$0.83 /month)

What you have truly lost is the $5 loyalty and $2 autopay rewards.  So, a loss of $7 total but you get 1.7+0.83 =2.53  points back, the net loss is only 4.47 /month

What was deceiving and misleading was that the two screenshots showed a jump of $39.10 in payment, with no follow up screenshots on your rewards transaction showing your rewards earned after the renewal.  The 29 points (=$29) are significant part of your monthly savings and you chose to not mention that at all

[marcnoel]

Good for you.  Unfortunately, in my own case, I'm apprehensive to switch to Bell from Telus, I don't care about US calling, and, even without any referrals, I will still get 20 GB for $ 22.92 per month - $ 3.92 for an extra 17 GB.  To me, that is a better deal.

[Alex111R]

If you don't have a better deal for you and have looked into that already, there you go. Ethics are not terms, not about "how things always had been" or "that's the way it is/ how things work here" talk. The prices have not been reduced relative to offerings; I'm letting you know that I did not just join Public Mobile 2years ago, I know what I just wrote in this sentence.