Activate new sim without Canadian bank cards or using friend's card

[tharun]

Hello,

I am moving to Canada in two weeks from the UK. I am in need of mobile service on day1 of arrival and I would like to opt for publicmobile.

I am planning to order (via amazon) the sim card to my friend's Canadian address where I will be staying temporarily. My question is on the activation part. I went through the website and the community and I understand that to activate the sim online, one needs a Canadian credit/debit card.

My question is if I can use my friend's bank card for activation? or does the card have to be registered under my name explicitly?

I also read here that one could use payment vouchers. Can anyone confirm you can use vouchers (either physical ones or digital codes from recharge.com) for 'activation' (I am aware vouchers can be used for further tops or recharges)?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Tharun

[tharun]

Thank you, all! Help is greatly appreciated.

From your replies, it makes sense for me to use my friend's card for activation and change the card to mine once I get my bank accounts sorted.

[CountyDownIeUk]

@tharun 

1. Get a referral code. Gets you $10 off on your second billing. 

2. See if there are any 99 cent or free offers of Sim cards on Craigslist or Ebay...Ebay is best. Your friend can do that. 

3. See if there are any Promos

4. If you go with the $15 plan, once you have activated you do NOT need a CC on file as you will still get the 250mb of data only. 

5. Then buy vouchers on your UK credit card if you like. Assuming you are returning or until you get a Canadian CC. 

** Your friend can remove CC a few days after and buy you a voucher in advance. Then pay back. 

[darlicious]

@dust2dust 

Lol...so I did err on the side of caution. But saying that @J_PM what is the point of that? So now you have to have some kind of payment card to activate? The CRTC has a mandate to make mobile service accessible to everyone. If you have greatly reduced the accessibility of sim cards and the ability for the more vulnerable members of society to activate with "cash" via pm voucher public mobile is restricting access to their service to the very people who's only choice is a supposed low cost prepaid provider?!!

Maybe its time to revamp your mission statement.....?!!

Mobility on
your terms.

At Public Mobile, we put the power in your hands, not ours. Public Mobile has no long-term contracts, rewards that lower your bill, and affordable plans, because you should be free to use your phone how you want. That’s mobility on your terms.

But only if you agree to our terms however we choose to enforce those terms if you have the power of a payment card in your hands and can pay what we deem as affordable plans, because you are free to use your phone how you want as long you can meet our terms of mobility.

[dust2dust]

@darlicious, @tharun - nvm. I'm all wrong. It has been updated. No vouchers on activation.

[darlicious]

@dust2dust 

Thanks for that....I was playing safe because of all of the illogical changes outweighing the logical changes the FAQ made it sound like pm had changed accepting vouchers as well at activation.

Lol....thanks for that other bit too....the phone company you can't phone with the terms of service without service terms.

[BKNS27]

@tharun 

I think it would be better for your to purchase vouchers from various locations in Canada. Gas (Petro) stations are the easiest way.

[dust2dust]

Adding - Ah crap. I had those images from a somewhat recent run-through of the activation screens. For curiosity, I decided to have another look.

Vouchers are gone.

Yes. When you get to the payment screen notice up top right...

If you mean bank card as what we call debit card then it has to be visa debit (or some mastercard debit) branded.

Which goes to...

Notice the agreement checkbox down below when you're there. You have to agree but the company doesn't have to live up to their end of their own agreement. Ask me how I know...and others here.

[Yummy · Accepted solution]

Simplest way to get PM service is to use friend's CC for the time being. Then, as soon as you get Canadian CC or Visa debit you can update charge info.

It can be any CC, name/address does not have to be yours. But details have to be entered correctly or card will be rejected.

[darlicious]

@tharun 

Public Mobile accepts visa, mastercard, amex, visa/debit cards and  visa and mastercard gift cards except "My Vanilla" mastercards.  It is not 100% clear if public mobile still accepts vouchers at activation but perhaps @J_PM  can clarify this statement from the FAQ :

Q: I usually add funds to my account using a Payment Voucher, can I still do that?Yes, you can still purchase Payment Vouchers at a participating retail location and add funds to your account online through My Account. Customers subscribing after July 13th, 2022 will need to activate and set up My Account before adding funds with a purchased Payment Voucher.

If you do use your friends payment card to activate do not use it to sign up for autopay as currently you must contact customer support to have it removed.

[computergeek541]

The name on the Public Mobile account and the name on the credit card don't need to be the same.  Also, a  credit card isn't required to open an account. One of those vouchers can be used instead.