Activating PM service/account without a credit or debit card

[Mana]

Hello,

I am trying to help a senior couple activating their service.  They don't use a credit card and wondering if they can use a voucher or something else to activate the service.

Is that possible?  What are some of the options?

Also, what information is needed to open the account?

Thanks

[darlicious]

Well at least there's an option for customers who get sold a SIM card and a voucher without being informed that credit cards are required to activate an account. It's also workaround for not having to register a credit card. But that's only if you're in the know which is unlikely for a new customer.

[computergeek541]

---

@hTideGnow wrote:

Thanks @computergeek541   that is interesting.

So, basically CS agent will take the info (email address etc) and pick a temp. number as well?

---

Whether they pick a number for the customer is up to the CSA, although in theory, it's possible for a the CSA to ask the customer to pick form a choice of numbers.  Also, the CSA could even add the voucher for the customer (althoguh the custoemr could do it from Self Serve after the account has been opened).  My main point was that the processes allow the CSA to open the account in suspended state.

[dust2dust]

@hTideGnow- There you go. Straight from the....

Although I think it was NDesai that said it.

[hTideGnow]

Thanks @computergeek541   that is interesting.

So, basically CS agent will take the info (email address etc) and pick a temp. number as well?

[hTideGnow]

Thanks @dust2dust for confirming.

not good way, but still glad the option is there.. hidden but not gone. .. 

[computergeek541]

---

@hTideGnow wrote:

hi @darlicious   so, is that confirmed that CS agent can help to activate with voucher?

or you are just asking OP to try asking?

would be great if they can do it that way

---

Yes, it is confirmed that CSA can open an account without a payment being made. The account doesn't actually get activated with the voucher. The account gets opened but is left in suspended service status.  The plan will start working after the customer adds the voucher payment to the account.

[dust2dust]

@hTideGnow- Sometime not long after the new system, an oracle piped in saying that support can do the activation with a voucher. I always think it's dumb to have to resort to needing support. But a lot of system things around here are dumb too. 🙂

[hTideGnow]

hi @darlicious   so, is that confirmed that CS agent can help to activate with voucher?

or you are just asking OP to try asking?

would be great if they can do it that way

[darlicious]

@donovancasas03 

Send a private message to customer support with "activate with voucher"in the subject line. You will likely get the option of live chat through text message to help you through your activation. Use the second option below to contact customer support and use the link contained in that post to contact them. Read the spoiler contained within but ignore the verification info as you are not a customer yet.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/Get-Support-Contact-Customer-Support/td-p...

[computergeek541]

@donovancasas03 

The information in this thread is out of date. There is no option to use a voucher during actkvation. You will need to ask a customer support agent to open your account for you.

[dust2dust]

@donovancasas03- It's because activating by voucher is no longer an option. You need a credit card or Visa Debit. You can use those visa gift cards too. And apparently some Mastercard Debit cards.

[donovancasas03]

i have tried to many times to activate my sim but the voucher payment option does not show.

[darlicious]

@Mana 

If the couple you are helping have a visa/debit or a mastercard/debit card issued from their bank they can use it to activate their service and/or register for autopay. Otherwise other than a prepaid credit card which have rather onerous fees vouchers are the only other option. Pm vouchers are readily available at many small businesses and larger retailers.

The following retailers offer pm vouchers that are immediately valid upon purchase.

1. London Drugs
2. Shell Stations
3. SDM
4. 7/11
5. Circle K
6. Wal-Mart
7. RCSS
8. TMS

You can add a voucher for the activation plan payment on the payment page of the activation portal. If sim cards have not been purchased yet you may want to consider the activation bundles from Canadian Cell Supplies. They come with a free sim card and 20% off the first 2 months of service. Sim cards usually take 5 business days to arrive via Canada Post and ship for free. Once they arrive you contact CCS to activate the SIM cards for you. If you are lucky they may have a flash sale promotion when you are ready to activate your friends sim cards. The owner is extremely helpful and kind.

https://canadiancellsupplies.com/pages/savings-with-public-mobile-plans

The main requirements for activating an account are separate email addresses for each account (if more than one), password(s), a 4 digit account pin #, choosing a security question and answer. Be sure to write these down and ensure they get put in a safe and secure location but are accessible if needed. If you are going to help manage their account(s) take a photo of the this info for your recordkeeping.

Activate with a temporary number if you want to ensure all of the pm services are working first before porting in their number(s) especially if it's a landline to be ported as they can take 2 business days to complete sometimes up to 7+days. When porting in whether thru self serve or at activation use the following info on the number transfer page:

1. Full name on the account.
2. Phone # to be ported.
3. Account #.
4. Alternate phone # (optional but just use yours).

Make sure you check the authorized to port box first. Keep the old sim card in the phone to reply YES to the PAT (porting authorization text) within 90 minutes of receiving it. Once you (or they) reply YES you can put the pm sim card in the phone and the port will complete in a few minutes to a maximum of 2 hours.

Check your email to see if pm sent you an email yesterday offering you a bonus referral credit of $5×6 months=$30 total for your first referral of a friend by February 28th. Your friend still recieves the $10 bonus referral credit and you will still earn the $1 reward per month. The referral code box is on the 4th page of the activation portal.

To contact customer support click below:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

To pre-verify your account include your full name, address, email, phone # and 4 digit acct pin #.

[VIP_Tech]

@Mana 

yes you can use for vanilla prepaid visa card..

Edit: see the photo for Vanilla Prepaid  and also Where To Buy..

[softech]

@Mana   Yes prepaid credit card or vanilla card will work too

[Anonymous]

Yes. Many times over. But not MyVanilla brand. Just Vanilla. There are a few others that work as well.

[Mana]

Thanks again everyone.

Has it been confirmed and verified that a pre-paid credit card such as vanilla card can be used for service/account activation?

Thanks again

[Yummy]

Vouchers are the only other 'no card' option. But they (or you) have to remember to apply new voucher every time before renewal or their service will be suspended (temporary until bill is paid).

If they do not use CC ever nor have one, they could buy voucher of higher value (do not know what max is) and pay for few months in advance and not to worry until next payment is due.

[VIP_Tech]

@BKNS27 

New points system is no more rewards $2 off for AutoPay, now it's 5% back for every dollar spent,   Public Points Rewards (publicmobile.ca)

[BKNS27]

@Mana 

Yes, the only other option is vouchers but you need to remember to load the vouchers into their account to keep up with the payment every 30 days. Or risk losing the ported number if you miss payment for 90 days.

As @VIP_Tech suggested to get a pre-paid Visa card and go on AutoPay would be the best option and get a free bonus 250gb data.

I am not sure you still get $2 off your monthly bill if you go on AutoPay with the new Points system.

[softech · Accepted solution]

---

@Mana wrote:

is there an option where you can select voucher instead of a credit or debit card or does it still require you to enter a credit or debit card even if you pay using a voucher?

---

@Mana   You can use payment voucher.  Buy your payment voucher from SDM/7-11/Shell/Loblaws, their vouchers can be used immediately while others might have a 24 hours wait time.

Then when you activate, Step 4 is the payment screen and you choose "Pay with  Voucher"

If you decide to keep using voucher to pay, just make sure you keep track of the payment date and load the voucher to your account ahead of time to avoid service interruption.

[Mana]

@pkaraa , yes its porting in an existing number from another provider to PM.

[VIP_Tech]

Hi @Mana 

review,

Accepted payments for activation (publicmobile.ca)

Pay for your services in retail (publicmobile.ca)

Pay for your services online (publicmobile.ca)

[VIP_Tech]

Hi @Mana 

you can purchase a vanilla prepaid visa card, from any store or gas station,

[Mana]

Thanks for your reply.

Never used a voucher before, so when you are activating a new service, is there an option where you can select voucher instead of a credit or debit card or does it still require you to enter a credit or debit card even if you pay using a voucher?

[pkaraa]

Yes, voucher is one of the approved payment method.

Is it a porting in their existing number or brand new?

You need a Public mobile SIM to start with. Create the account register SIM and choose the plan and pay to activate services.