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

[MajorTalent]

GENIUS IDEA: They should have done something similar to the old Solo under Bell (for those of us who are old enough to have been a customer or knew someone who was)... refuse new PM customers to legacy rewards but also keep it going in a way where it works for both legacy customers and PM. This would mean introduce better plans/ prices OR premium options/ perks to switch to points OR a combination of both. Not to rehash the obvious about why we had rewards for our loyalty and help with their growth (also savings from lack of physical stores, live phone reps and the like being able to be passed down to us for the inconvenience)

Solo is still around for their legacy customers only, so they have surely figured it out. Why has Telus' Public Mobile been screwing these things up so much since taking over?

[ninjastar]

I had Freedom for 3 months before switching to PM. It started off well. Then they made some tower tweaks where I couldn't receive a call inside my own home. They couldn't fix it so I walked away. 

[Dunkman]

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@edeepm wrote:

Are you happy with the new (worse) rewards?

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@edeepm 

Definitely not happy with the forced migration to rewards.  I have four accounts (family members) with Public mobile, so I will paying about $200 per year more than right now. 

From a business perspective, I understand why Public mobile is implementing these changes.  Bottom line is to increase profits.  

As a customer, besides moving to another mobile company, there is really nothing that we can do.  I will wait until May and then decide if that makes the most financial sense.  Hopefully, in the meantime, Public mobile will offer other perks for legacy customers to stay. 

[ShawnC13]

@edeepm I don't see how anyone (customer) can be happy about this change.

[ninjastar]

 Try again

 

[mikasik2]

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@ninjastar wrote:

How do I down vote this one? 🤣

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Hit bravo sarcastically 

[ninjastar]

How do I down vote this one? 🤣

[ninjastar]

I never mentioned anything about current subscribers who grabbed the roaming plan a week ago losing roaming... I said new potential subscribers are under the impression that it's still there and justify they would get a better deal than anywhere else based on roaming that's not available anymore on the $34 package. 

[fixin]

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@ninjastar wrote:

You're not understanding at all. 

Im not stupid. Thanks. They had the roaming promo at $34, word got out, they signed up new customers and  now they removed roaming on the same $34 package. People on Reddit are still under the assumption roaming is still included... 

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Just people who chose the plan now don't get US roaming. If you got the $34 plan before March 5th you will get and keep US roaming. Now the new plan is Canada only. The change on renewal Canada US plan will stay.

[MrToad]

Losing $84/year doesn't enhance anything and provides $0 value.

Why am I being moved to Public Points™?

To enhance our rewards offering and ensure we’re providing the best possible value to our subscribers

[ninjastar]

Take a look at PC Mobile. Same deals and you can collect PC points. They also have a customer service number. They also give you 20000 pc points ($20) after two months and you have the option to pay out of your bank account directly. 

[public_999]

I replied to you earlier and my response was shockingly removed.  I hope you got a chance to review it before it was deleted.  I assume it was censored because I praised a competitor and Public appears to only let posts that trash competitors stay up.

[hTideGnow]

HI @ninjastar 

they didn't remove it.  The Canada-US part is still on the same $34 plan.

[ninjastar]

You're not understanding at all. 

Im not stupid. Thanks. They had the roaming promo at $34, word got out, they signed up new customers and  now they removed roaming on the same $34 package. People on Reddit are still under the assumption roaming is still included... 

[Wolfcore]

I wouldn't say they've acknowledged that at all. Their FAQ (which is linked in their announcement), says this as their second question:

Why am I being moved to Public Points™?

To enhance our rewards offering and ensure we’re providing the best possible value to our subscribers

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All throughout this article, you will find mentions about how this new system is better. Clearly we're not getting the "best possible value" from this change, but it doesn't stop them from saying that.

[ComicCuriosity]

As a long-term Public Mobile user, and echoing the sentiments of many others, I’m extremely disappointed by this decision. This marks my fifth year utilizing your service. Public's primary allure was its credits, but now that they won't be offered anymore, nothing is differentiating Public from other providers with better plans available.

It’s time to start exploring alternatives. I might finally give Freedom a try, as they offer $19 for 1 GB and $24 for 4 GB on 4G.

I've heard their coverage has improved significantly, especially in the GTA. How is their reception in high-rise condos? Has anyone used them recently?

[Grinch]

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@ninjastar wrote:

But many are signing up based on the previously advertised $34 package. It's a bait and switch deal. I don't know anyone who needs 75gb unless you live in your car. 

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Oh. So 75gb is way to charge more for something that won’t be fully used? Geee that’s like buying 1gb speed internet from Telus when 75 speed works just fine. Hmmmmmm similar method of getting less value  by paying more and not be able to use it to its potential. Like buying a 4 litre jug of milk and throwing it out when 1 litre would have done the job. 

[Kevlar44]

Are you people ever going to inform your customers about the scam you're pulling? I only know about this because of reddit and I can only imagine there are thousands of people who will be pissed that dont know yet. I hope you all come to your senses because after May, and maybe June so i can use my now meager amount of points up, i will be gone if this decision stays the same.

I also can't believe despite the punch in the gut they wont even credit loyalty with a bonus of 1 point per month like they were before. What really pisses me off os loyalty is capped at 5 dollars and was a major selling point for signing up. I could deal with it if they got rid of autopay, though it would suck, or capped loyalty to whatever people have now but the loyalty bonus being stolen from us full on is just so unethical. They told us we didnt have to worry when they brought in points but yet here we are. The loyalty pays is a longterm commitment given it takes literally years to accumulate, thats why advertising it as a longterm benefit and taking it away is so scummy. 

Oligopolies are ruining this country and this is just another example of how powerless consumers are because of it. No real competition means we get lied to and gouged. I will unfortunately be forced to exercise the little power i have and boycott Telus.

[kyle12]

Does anyone have the original text of the announcement? I notice they took out the part about this change being beneficial to customers. At least they acknowledge it's detrimental to the loyal customers

[hTideGnow]

yeah @hkjhkj if I predict correctly, you will get $1 or even $2 for your great participation on this thread.  Still in time before Legacy rewards change over to Points.   Enjoy.

[hTideGnow]

hi @ninjastar you might not understand the system well

if they sign up for $34, they will get it and keep it

of existing customers scheduled a plan change , they will get it comes renewal time 

[ninjastar]

But many are signing up based on the previously advertised $34 package. It's a bait and switch deal. I don't know anyone who needs 75gb unless you live in your car. 

[Wolfcore]

Exactly this. I have 15 people in my referral circle, and not a single one of them have received any notification about this rewards program ending. A few of them have received the text about the free data, but that text doesn't mention the rewards program ending. You can definitely tell that they put a lot of thought into planning this, and tried to find a way to quell the outrage that they knew would be coming.

Even the fact that they are making the switch all the way in May (when they could easily do it immediately), is strategic. They hope that by then the outrage will die down, and it'll go smoother. I think it'll have even worse of an effect though. Now, competitors have 3 months or so to try and lure all of their disgruntled customers in. It actually gives PM users a lot of time to search for a new home. I know me personally, I have time now to go and talk to these 15 people, buy new sim cards, work out when I can help them make the switch, etc. 

Guess we'll see how it goes. Fizz looks super attractive to me right now, because it feels like the old PM, where the customer comes first. Just looking at how broad their rewards program is, and how you can completely customize your plan, is very appealing to me.

[Dunkman]

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@ninjastar wrote:

I find it very suspicious that a full email or text notification has not reached many. I had four accounts and did not receive a single notification about the changes. Only way I found out is through Reddit. Is this to prevent a mass exodus? Imagine how many subscribers don't even know... 

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@ninjastar 

Out of my four accounts, only 2 received text message.  No emails so far.  A post was made on the oracle forum for an update of the emails, but no response over the weekend. 

It is unlikely to be deliberate.  Public mobile was planning to send out the emails in batches.  However, like the website, Public mobile often encounters technical glitches.  Supposedly, Public mobile technical team is quite small in number.  

Hopefully, all legacy customers should receive either email or text by early next week.  Things often don't happen over the weekend with Public mobile. 

[hTideGnow]

HI @ninjastar 

yes, that $34 Canada-US plan is gone but they have $39 and $40. 

The $40 is a very good one with 75GB data

many upset about loyalty bonus, but plan wise, those plans around $40 are still cheap plans , especially with the 5% off

[Soon-ex-PM-user]

What is the issue with you?  Calling out newbie accounts ?  Just because many of the long term PM users are now created new accounts to express our dissatisfaction and you don't like it?  

As the paying consumers we have the right to complain whether you like it or not.   Unfortunately there are not many ways we can express except go  the current forum and this thread. 

[ninjastar]

PM does NOT offer roaming anymore on their $34 plan it was deleted. 

[ninjastar]

I find it very suspicious that a full email or text notification has not reached many. I had four accounts and did not receive a single notification about the changes. Only way I found out is through Reddit. Is this to prevent a mass exodus? Imagine how many subscribers don't even know... 

[hTideGnow]

 HI @Insignia 

yes, in your case, it is pretty much unaffected.  The points from friend referral will still cumulate on your rewards account.  You probably get 7 less points per month from autopay and loyalty, but it wouldn't matter to you.  If you can keep those referrals, I see you will have free service forever, or at least 10+ years.  Enjoy 

[Dunkman]

@Insignia 

Your bill payment will take available funds first, then charge your credit card.  With the transition to points, your referral points will accumulate every 30 days in your rewards account.  As mentioned, you will need to transfer every 15 points to $15 bill credit (ie. available funds).  I do not believe that there is a cap on accumulating points.  

@danielj 

Unfortunately, the special bonus of a data add on is not appealing for most legacy customers.  However, according to PM staff, this data add on will still work with customers on unlimited data plans.  Once your regular data runs out, this add on should kick in and you should receive regular speed data (not the very slow throttled data).  The time limit of 150 days and the inability to downgrade plans with the bonus data add on makes it even less appealing. We still have until May for the official change to happen.  Hopefully, PM management will offer something better to legacy customers.