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

[marcnoel]

In the movie Three Men and a Baby, Tom Selleck is about to walk out the door when one of the other guys says it's Tom's turn to change the baby.  He says he'll give him a $ 1,000.00 to do it.  That is the same feeling generated when facing aggravation like loss of signal or coverage, which could be encountered by switching carriers.  It is not worth $ 4.92 a month to me to test it.

[marcnoel]

Of course, the app and website are currently in maintenance mode, but, if... IF the offerings are the same now as this morning, then there is a $ 19.00 4G plan with 1 GB available to me, and, let us hope, other current subscribers.  If so, could those on the $ 25.00 3G 1 GB plan not switch to it to save $ 6.00?  Is it that they can see how much they are paying, but don't know how to get a better deal?

I think the whole idea behind switching us to Points is to increase revenue.  If they threw us a bone, that would negate the increase somewhat, possibly completely.  If PM takes away $ 5.00 in Rewards, then allows a switch to a $ 5.00 cheaper plan, they got nothing.

I limped along on the $ 15.00 250 MB plan for over two years by turning my data on when necessary.  My plan was free for over two years.  I then switched to the $ 34.00/50 GB plan, then to the $ 25.00/20.  I am losing $ 4.92 a month in discounts, but saving $ 9.00 on the plan.  Granted, if the Rewards were still in effect, I'd be saving even more, but my current plan may not have been offered.  It may be that the reduced price in offerings is meant to off-set the Rewards losses, but we'll never know what might have been.  Perhaps plan prices may not have come down so much if Rewards remained in effect.  Reception, coverage, total expense after 5% back, 10 loyalty points, and any referral points, plus past free service all combine to make it worthwhile to me to stay.

So many people here talk about loyalty to customers who've been with PM all these years, people who must have gotten significant rewards, or there would be no reason to be upset.  Does not the reverse apply?  What about our loyalty to PM, to stay after this switch resulting in an increase, after all the discounts we got?  I have never received a notification from PM saying my plan price was increasing.  My payment increased only if I changed to a more-expensive plan.  When available, I have been able/allowed to switch to a cheaper plan.  If everyone continued to stay on whatever current plan, at the same price, the only increased revenue would be if more customers subscribed.  How many businesses don't raise their prices, expecting to only sell more of something at the same price?  My facility rent has increased from $ 196.00 in 1999 to $ 1,656.00 now - an ~ 746% increase in 25+ years, but the unit size is about 500% bigger, a lot more than I need.  That's a separate issue, but it was all I could find at the time.  My rates have gone up only 460% in all that time.

I saved $ 403.20 (including taxes), minimum, just from the free two years.  I have also saved significantly over the rest of the almost nine years.  I am okay with giving something back.  Who knows what the offerings will be in future?

[nomadthinker]

Ha! You are a real "half glass full guy". In the end all I am saying is that for the lower tier people, whose plan is not loaded with data, they will be seeing a significant increase in the monthly cost of their plan. Data is really expensive as an add-on to the lower tier plans, in spite of the fact that the amount of data included in the mid range plans has risen significantly. Under normal circumstances Public Mobile is not going to allow everyone access to the "new customer" promotional plans that cell companies use to attract new business, but in this circumstance where the discontinuation of the rewards program is resulting in a significant percentage increase in the monthly charges of the lower tier plans, Public Mobile should have thrown them a bone and allowed those affected access to the "new activation plans" now. There are people on Public Mobile who are not techy at all, and are paying $25 for 1GB of Data on 3G.

[marcnoel]

There is a remote possibility that PM may have been offering too good a deal with Rewards, and revenue was too low.  I remember one customer commenting years ago about getting a surplus $ 25.00 into his account every month from referrals.  I don't know if PM makes anything on Community contributions from members, but, if not, they are directly losing money by paying Community Rewards.  AutoPay and max. Loyalty Rewards at $ 7.00 on a $ 15.00 plan leaves $ 8.00 to PM.  Granted, $ 1.00 for a referral still nets PM whatever from the referral, minus the buck.  If you have a whole bunch of customers paying little to nothing, how long can you last?

The Quadra Nautilus Club in Victoria underwent an ownership change about 29 years ago.  The new owners started offering one free year's membership for a referral.  One guy had 15 years.  One day, I drove into the parking lot.  It was nearly empty, which was odd.  I got to the front door.  It was locked, and a notice was posted, saying the club was in receivership.  Whoops!  So many people were paying nothing that they couldn't stay open.

When I opened my personal training business in 1999, I started out at $ 10.00 a workout.  I later found out the average in town was $ 50.00, and almost had a heart attack.  It never occurred to me to check around for pricing before I opened up.  Now, 25+ years later, I'm at $ 56.00 (before GST), whereas, the average in town now is $ 65.00, with at least one facility charging $ 75.00.  I started out too low, and can't catch up without exorbitant increases, which I refuse to do.

[marcnoel]

It could also be said that we already got extra value by staying on Rewards for the 28 months, and are now just coming in line with new subscribers.  We are not having to pay MORE than new customers, unless we are trying to switch plans (in some cases).  PM was doing the "new activations only" thing before the switch announcement, so that aspect applied before the switch.  Not everyone is looking to change their plan because of the switch.  If the $ 25.00/20 GB plan hadn't come along, I probably would have stayed on the $ 34.00/50 GB one, independent of the switch.  It is frustrating that all the plans are not offered to everyone, but, it is better that they offer them later to everyone, vs. not at all.  That happened to me last year with the $ 34.00.  It finally came available a while later, so I snapped it up.

If you think about it, we all have the time between the present and our re-newal date to switch plans.  Most likely, if you find a better plan the day after re-newal, you probably won't switch until re-newal, so that you don't waste the money just paid.  It may be that, by the time some people's plans are about to re-new, the desired plans become available, and they can switch.

[nomadthinker]

Lol! No, they are not getting the 5GB bonus data, but with the plan I am referencing that I am not allowed to subscribe to, because I am an existing customer, they would be getting 10GB more data than me over that same 150 days.

[DownEast]

So what?  New customers don't get the bonus data, so come back and think about it sometime over the next 150 days before your bonus runs out.  There have been lots of plans changes over the past several months, so if you see something better take it.

[nomadthinker]

Your situation is a perfect example of my point. You are on a better plan now data wise and pleased by the final outcome, in spite of the fact that you are losing your rewards discounts. As a service provider, if you take something away from your subscribers, it is always a good practice to provide something in return that would be regarded as equal or better overall value. Gifting 5 Public Points and data that has an expiry date, to those whose bill is increasing for the same plan, has only angered those affected. Public Mobile should have made a special "we value your loyalty plan", that had a similar or slightly higher price, but offered more than the affected subscribers current plan. All that I want is the same choice that someone walking through the door today is being offered.

I'm glad everything worked out well for you. Cheers!

[marcnoel]

Granted, the lowest-price plans will be hit hardest, and PM could have done things better, but there's nothing we can do about it now, and it's still a better deal than elsewhere, price-wise.

It may be that even better deals are coming to PM, like the $ 25.00/20 GB plan I got, but, if people jump ship because they're mad, they might lose out on the deals, because they lost any referral discounts.  The other discounts would be resumed if they left and came back.

I don't like it any more than anybody else.  I would have preferred to keep that extra $ 4.92 discount per month, but if I had left because I was mad, I wouldn't have gotten the deal I have now, which, independent of discounts, is $ 9.00 less than what I had before.  It could be said that I'm actually $ 4.08 ahead of the game.

[nomadthinker]

My whole point was, and still is, that those with longest tenure here will have, through the loss of the old rewards plan, have a price increase on their monthly amount owing, regardless of which plan they subscribe to. The customers in the lower tier plans will see the most dramatic percentage price increase. You tell me that "new activations only" plans will probably (not guaranteed) be offered later to existing subscribers, is hardly any compensation for a price increase that will actually be happening with certainty. Don't you get it, that the people here who are the most enraged, are the one's who are on the lower tier plans, and are most affected? Public Mobile should have, at least, allowed them access now to all the plans that someone who just walked through the door is being offered, as compensation for the monthly price increase that is about to happen.

[Sub-1515]

What good is bonus data if you already have more data than you can use per/month anyways.
Some people also have unlimited data after their 5G data allotment is used up.

USELESS!

[Sub-1515]

Very disappointing!
People should complain to the CRTC and the Ombudsman.
This is truly a corrupt Corporate move.
I have no problem with their right to change things, but the government should force them

to honor their contract with the people who stuck with them and made them grow.
It's only a matter of time till someone else steals their loyalty plan and they will be a mass exit from Public.

[marcnoel]

Sorry, I didn't know.  Can't tell sarcasm in print.  Thanks for clarifying.

[marcnoel]

All you said about current cell phone offerings also applies to some of PM's plans.  If that's the case, then why are you complaining?  The offerings are cheaper now.  You've had a 28-month grace period where you got extra discounts, in comparison to Points.  The terms have said they can change things whenever they like every time your plan re-newed.  The Points were introduced to eventually replace Rewards, though it wasn't said at the time, but it was a hint.

Also, please see my later post about the current offerings from other carriers.  PM is still a better deal than the others, at least for me.

Once again, as has been said multiple times in the past, the "new activations only" plans will probably (not guaranteed) be offered later to existing subscribers.

[marcnoel]

Here you go.  These are the current offerings in BC.  They are the cheapest plans (with data) from Bell, Rogers, Telus, Fido, and Koodo.  I can't access Virgin's site.  The rest are either what is available for $ 25.00, or the closest price over that.  There are some cheaper plans, but they are significantly lower in data.

Bell - $ 30.00/5 or 10 GB (I can't tell if the 5 GB bonus to which they refer is in addition to the 5 GB listed.)

Virgin - inaccessible 

Lucky - $ 25.00/1.5 GB

Rogers - $ 65.00/75 GB

Fido - $ 37.50/2 GB

Chatr - $ 25.00/1 GB

Telus - $ 60.00/75 GB

Koodo - $ 35.00/3 GB

PM - < $ 25.00/20 GB, with discounts (for me)

Fizz - $ 25.00/20 GB

Freedom - $ 29.00/20 GB

PC Mobile - $ 29.00/25 GB

No Name - $ 29.00/30 GB

Separate from these prices are any perks like extra or rollover data, or $ discounts.  In my case, I don't need more data, or US calling/data, and, if all eight of my referrals have stayed (currently unknown), then, with 5% back and 10 anniversary points, my average monthly cost will be $ 14.92 for 20 GB.  $ 4.92 more than with Rewards, but, as you can see, still cheaper than the other offerings.

Fizz won't work for my current phone, and I am not being forced to use my new phone, so Fizz is out.  Freedom may have coverage/reception issues, same with Bell/Virgin/Lucky, so those are out, as I'm unwilling to risk it.  I don't need the hassle of having to switch AGAIN; meanwhile, I'm out of commission until further notice.  Everything else is more expensive, or offers less for $ 25.00.

[nomadthinker]

You ask "How many goods and services have NOT increased in price over time" is not a valid statement in regards to cell phone plans. Cell phone plans offered now by all carriers are faster, less expensive, and include far larger amounts of data than anything offered in the past. The loss of rewards discounts stinks, and the management of it has been incompetent. These clowns who manage Public Mobile should have allowed the longest loyal customers the opportunity , to at least, choose as compensation, ANY phone plan CURRENTLY available from PUBLIC MOBILE that would best suit their needs.

[Joe_G]

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@marcnoel wrote:

What does it accomplish to complain about lower past pricing?  Grandfathering in occurs in many instances.  We all have to start somewhere.  You can't be an early-adopter in everything.  If people are unable to get a previously offered better deal, are they supposed to not get anything?  We can only take advantage of what's currently available, not what used to be.  This is like saying a company should never raise its prices, so that future customers can still get the old rates.  What business has the same prices now as 20 years ago?

---

I was being sarcastic. I don't really think the new people should be complaining. But I think the rest of your post is making the same point I was trying to make.

[marcnoel]

The new activations will probably be offered to existing customers at a later date, as past experience has shown.  Also, if they allowed us to get equivalent discounts with the switch, what would be the point in switching us?  They would go to all that trouble for 0 increase in revenue.  We got a 28-month grace period, and saved money during that time.  They were intending to switch everyone over eventually, by the fact they introduced Points in the first place.  They probably didn't say anything at that time because they figured they would drive some people away.

How many goods and services have NOT increased in price over time?

[nomadthinker]

Re you kidding? The new customers are being lured to Public Mobile with a $19 3GB 4G plan that the long time loyal customers, are not allowed access to.

[marcnoel]

What does it accomplish to complain about lower past pricing?  Grandfathering in occurs in many instances.  We all have to start somewhere.  You can't be an early-adopter in everything.  If people are unable to get a previously offered better deal, are they supposed to not get anything?  We can only take advantage of what's currently available, not what used to be.  This is like saying a company should never raise its prices, so that future customers can still get the old rates.  What business has the same prices now as 20 years ago?

[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%)

---

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?