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

[funpig1]

@Bottomshelf  I downgraded to $15 plan and submitted a ticket and private message asking if I could switch to the $21 4G 3GB plan. It has been 17 days, no response. Some people have received a text offer inviting them to switch.  Good luck.

[marcnoel]

It may be that the 90-day 3 GB plan will be made available to existing customers in a while, as has happened in the past.

[marcnoel]

Good for you.

Yeah, my wife and I were both on the $ 34.00/50 GB plus unlimited throttled plans, but weren't using much data.  The $ 29.00/20 GB plan came along, with a 90-day option for $ 25.00 a month.  $ 9.00 less, and 20 times the data of the previous $ 25.00/1 GB plan.  Add into this 5% back, 10 points each year, and any referrals that I may still have after the switch, and it's a dealy-wealy.  Only other carrier offering 20 GB for $ 25.00 (no $ discounts until $ 900.00 spent) is Fizz, and my phone is too old to work on its network.

[Bottomshelf]

Hi, Hope everyone is doing well.

My spouse's plan was 1 gb with unlimited Canada wide minutes and texts

I just looked at my spouse's account and she will now be paying $28 ($25 plus 12%).  The last bill was $22.40.  As it stands, will be paying $67.20 per year before considering 5% and 10 anniversary points or net $42.20 increase.

I was looking to change the subscription to the $19 per month plan - 90 day subscription with increased 3 gb data and on second look the plan is for only new activations.  Has anyone tried to get the 90 day $19 plan via a customer request even though it says only for new activations?  It's not fair for the old customers who were on the old plan; but then again who said life was fair.

I don't understand why PM is making these marketing blunders.

[jhhead]

I decided to say YES because for $2 more on top of the $19 plan I'll get 3x the data. With 1GB data I find myself not using my phone when off wifi because I'm concerned I'll run out of data. For peace of mind I'm gonna go forward with this one and then once it renews hopefully the option to choose the 90 day option is available 🤞

(Either way I must say all these current options are much better then the $25 for 1GB data at 3G speeds I had a couple months ago. Now we have plans that are 4G speeds and more data for a less cost. So for that I'm grateful 😊)

[marcnoel]

You're welcome.

If that's the case, you SHOULD be able to cancel the subscription change before it occurs, if you don't like the offering.  It would be different if it said it would be effective immediately.

In my case, if I see a better deal, I select change on re-newal, then, if an even better deal comes along before the switch, I select that one.  Kind of like two steps forward, one step back.

[Jenvin1]

@saturna and @marccnoel, 

Thank you both for comments.  The text does say if I say YES now, it will be effective at next renewal which is 25 days from now.  I would probably say yes if I could have the option to choose $19/month on 90 days subscription.  Otherwise no.  There is no way of knowing such an option will be available at renewal date.  Right now this plan is offered for new activations only.

[danielj]

Hi @hTideGnow,

I for one do not think a using my "reward dollars" on purchasing a Public Mobile raffle ticket for a refubished phone is an enhancement at all. 

If Telus or Koodo gift card might have some transfer to one of the sister companies if I think they will have any better overall service there.

In the current global systems at play people are faily dependent on having a cell phone. So cash saving on a reduce bill, might have some people some more cash flow to utilize else where like there mortgage unlike a gift card.

I do not consider gift cards or contests/raffles that utilize our rewards points/dollars as enhancements.

Hopefully they bring some actual enhancements and start announcing them soon.

[danielj]

The "Welcome Present" or conversion points use to be reflective of how long we have been with Public Mobile. When being forced to switch the did not leave that in. Would of been significantly more the $5 they gave. The extra points were taken away with bonus data that will expire well  before I can use it was provided. Did not even get to choose when the 150 day would start.

And no back dating of the happy annaversity points or clarifcation from Public Mobile for when they consider that to be.

From $10 of rewards back each month to $4.70 with assumption that around Feb will be $10 additionally. With rewards not being applied to account automatically giving them the time value of money. All clearly a cash grab.

And so for no clear official updates or news from Public Mobile of the planed ehancements to the program appear to have been announced.

It is clear that the vast majority of customer are upset with these changes. This loyalty conversion process is very disappointing. Hopefully Public Mobile listens to use and use the enhancement option to bring some of the features of the previous program.

[Yesmil8]

Now that you mention it, I realized I used to complaint about that business practice from financial institutions. They never give bonuses to existing loyal clients but offer "rebates" and electronics to new clients

[Yesmil8]

I had same issue and I did not know why, until I read your post now.

[marcnoel]

I see.  That's why I said "if allowed", as I didn't know if it would apply.  I don't think I have used that option before, so I don't have a basis for comparison.  Thank you.

[saturna]

---

@marcnoel wrote:

You could grab it now to change on your re-newal date (if allowed), then cancel the change if the deal you want doesn't come up by your re-newal date.

---

Since the accepted text promo is not showing up in "my account" there's not only no way to know if the plan change will actually happen on your renewal (plus you don't have prove that you actually accepted the offer), you can also not change your mind and cancel it like you can with a plan change at next renewal that you pick in your account.

[marcnoel]

You could grab it now to change on your re-newal date (if allowed), then cancel the change if the deal you want doesn't come up by your re-newal date.

[Jenvin1]

I got a similar offer from PM.  Apart from $21 for 3GB data, there are no other details of the plan including details about talk and text.  Not sure if I say YES now there is any way to revert back to my current plan if there is no option of $19 for 90 days subscription to choose.

[Jenvin1]

There was a typo in my previous post that suggested I will still be staying with PM after losing all the current discounts.  My post should have actually read "I am NOW looking to switch to another provider".   Any suggestions from other community members?  Thank you.

[marcnoel]

If I recall correctly, several years ago, some people were complaining that the discounts were the same whether you were on a $ 15.00 or $ 60.00 plan.  $ 15.00 off $ 15.00 is a 100% discount, but only 25% off a $ 60.00 plan.  That would be like paying more per unit for a value-size item, instead of less.  If that were the case, there'd be no incentive to buy the larger size.  PM was actually promoting their cheapest plans, instead of more-expensive ones.  I used it to my own advantage, hoping that I could manage on the $ 15.00 plan, so I could get maximum percentage discount.  This may be part of the reasoning for eliminating Rewards.  Aside from 5% back now, subscribers on lower-priced plans will still get a higher-percentage discount, as everything else is still dollar-based.

Separately, I don't know of any instance where a company asks customers if they will accept a price increase before raising them.  Gas prices bounce around like ping-pong balls in a running dryer, and it's take it or leave it.  Banks raise interest rates, regardless of whether we can still afford our mortgage payment.

Regarding rewarding long-term customers for their loyalty, I think they already did, by allowing us to stay on Rewards for an additional 28 months.  They could have forced us over at the start.  Keep in mind if a bunch of subscribers are paying little to nothing, what's PM getting out of it?  If a person is on a $ 15.00 plan, and gets $ 15.00 in Rewards (including $ 8.00 in referrals), PM gets nothing.  If the customer leaves, PM loses nothing, and a new customer will not be given those identical Rewards instead, so it may actually be their reasoning to drive away low-end users.

[marcnoel]

 

 

 Examples of what some other carriers' Terms say.

[hTideGnow]

thanks @jhhead 

thanks for your sharing

[jhhead]

Looks like I just got a similar message others had got...

Dear <my name> and Public Mobile,

On May 2, 2024,  Public Mobile objected to <my name> complaint because Public Mobile believes that we did not have the authority to accept the complaint under our Procedural Code. After reviewing the complaint and objection, 
The Objection 

Public Mobile has objected to the customer's complaint further to section 4.3 of the CCTS Procedural Code on the basis that the customer's complaint relates to an upcoming change to their existing rewards program. Public Mobile's objection states that the upcoming change was announced to their customers with a notice sent 30 days before the upcoming change. To demonstrate their position, Public Mobile provided the CCTS with screen captures of the notice sent to their customers.

Our Assessment 
We examined the customer's complaint and Public Mobile's objection to the complaint.
 
Section 4.3 of the CCTS Procedural Code states that The Commissioner may not direct or require a Participating Service Provider to change any of their policies or practices. Additionally, pricing of products or services fall outside the Commissioner's scope. As your complaint pertains to an increase to your monthly bills charged, the CCTS confirms that your complaint falls within the scope of the CCTS.
 
The CCTS cannot accept objections that are based on the merits of the complaint, and such objections will be rejected. A "merit-based objection" is an objection in which the PSP asserts that the complaint should not be accepted by the CCTS because the PSP is allowed to do the action that the customer complained about.
 
Additionally, The CCTS does not consider the following matters as "pricing of products and service": billing disputes, contract disputes or changes, price changes, additional charges, and removal of promotional discounts.  For this reason, we are rejecting the objection as your complaint meets the requirement set out by the procedural code.
 
Sincerely,

CCTS Assessment Team

[hTideGnow]

HI @mikasik2 

PM can likely say the option is there as long as the legacy rewards is stil lthere, but this moment, the legacy rewards is "dead"

and true, they removed the 1 point 1 month the week before the announcement, that is poor marketing.  at least remove it a lot earlier so people don't awere

[jhhead]

---

@SeniorCitizen wrote:

@jhhead 

Nice deal. Is that the plan that is also 19/month if pay 3 months in advance?

---

Yes it appears to be - however the text doesn't give you the option to choose the 3 month option 🙄

[mikasik2]

Hey @hTideGnow 

You're probably right about the newer image saying that migration is optional.  I'm slightly more hopeful for the older image that said we'll get the discounts for as long as the account remains active.  I guess it depends on what the TOS said at that point in time.  Its a long shot for sure.  

I also said I would have settled for the 1-point per month since account activation but they got rid of it a week before announcing everyone would be forced over.  Maybe there is something for the CRTC to work with there.

[LizzieDee]

Been with Public Mobile for at least 8 years, was a great reward system, now my bill at $10 higher a month, time to start looking for another provider.  

[RobinL]

I'm very interested in the result of this - I have been with Public for several years, I had some great loyalty perks and referral rewards and only had a monthly bill of $9 because of it. I was a little upset to see my bill go back up to $17.25 after purposely opting out of the points program to keep my rewards. I guess we have no choice but to log in and apply them now? That really sucks. 

[SeniorCitizen]

@jhhead 

Nice deal. Is that the plan that is also 19/month if pay 3 months in advance?

[hTideGnow]

HI @mikasik2 

personally, i don't see it as a false advertisement.  The message basically said you have a choice at that time.  There was no hint there that the legacy program will be here forever or they ever promise that we will stick to this forever.  

So, don't have high hope on it

[jhhead]

Public Mobile just texted me:

Public Mobile here. Get 3GB of data at 4G speeds of up to 100mbps for only $21/month.

Reply YES to get this limited time offer added to your account and will take effect on your next renewal date.

Hurry, offer ends May 28, 2024.

Reply STOP if you no longer wish to hear about Public Mobile offers.

[mikasik2]

Had a chat with someone from the CCTS.  The complaint is outside their perview as we are on a prepaid plan where terms of service can change.  They said they would be sending their investigation to the CRTC however for them to consider their business practices and possible false advertising.  I sent them these images:

Public points is optional

[DY604]

i remember switching rewards program will give you an instant boost of new reward points. I am seeing a very sad amount of points in my rewards account after being a customer for a LONG time.