Is this a scam?

[Drewhoy]

My mother received the following text from a 4 digit number. None of the other members of my family on Public Mobile did, so I believe it to be a scam. Thoughts?

Public Mobile here.

We are making upgrades to our network that may impact your voice connectivity with Public Mobile. After April 15th, your device may lose or experience a degraded voice connection.

To help you stay connected, we're teaming up with TELUS to offer you exclusive access to savings with 5G plans starting at $29/mo. Plus, keep your current device and phone number.

To redeem this offer, simply visit your nearest TELUS store and use promo code 850P2PT4KP. For a list of store locations, visit publicmobile.ca/sl/rFSQMPcsnJ

Need support? Contact us at publicmobile.ca/sl/jpZ3ms5Jd8

Conditions apply. Subject to approved credit. Reply STOP or visit publicmobile.ca/sl/j5N0uPqmnf if you no longer wish to hear about Public Mobile offers.

[Meow]

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@Phil_Adelphus wrote:

@Meow @3speed   Have you tried using data to see if they really have taken it away from the $15 plan or it's just another glitch on the website?

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It still shows I have 250MB to use (plus bonuses) so I would assume it is grandfathered plans with all features but not showing all features to encourage upgrading.

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Meow @3speed   Have you tried using data to see if they really have taken it away from the $15 plan or it's just another glitch on the website?

[Meow]

Telus still has $15 plan identical to what PM used to have.
Koodo has $15 plan but they charge for MMS.

I got an offer from PM for Koodo internet. It is impossible to find (or I am too dumb to do it) conditions as for how long promo price of $44 is. And I am not clicking on any links form SMS no matter who sends them...

[3speed]

Yes, I got the same on my $15 account. It looks like they've taken the monthly data allowance away and are telling us to upgrade to a more expensive plan.  I'll switch providers once my one time data bonus is used up.

[Dunkman]

@Drewhoy 

It is not a scam.  Public mobile has determined via testing that your mom's phone will have network issues going forward due to changes in the 3G network (switching 3G 850 MHz band to LTE). 

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/850-turndown

If your phone is not VoLTE compatible with the PM network and the 850 MHz 3G band is not available in your area, your talk services will be affected. 

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Chalupa_Batman   I guess because she may be on a 3G plan still

The 3G plan is just that the speed is throttled more than the higher plans, the phone can use the other networks on a 3G plan if it's capable.   It's more to do with the capabilities, or not, of the phone being used.

[Meow]

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@Chalupa_Batman wrote:

Hello @Drewhoy 

There is a very good chance that it is legit as Public Mobile is currently in the works on upgrading networks and slowly removing parts of the 3G network. I guess because she may be on a 3G plan still or even uses a phone that uses the 3G network, this is what they do, they message folks to inform them of current events.

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So why I who am on $15 3G plan did not receive such message?

And surprise, surprise it looks like no more 250MB of data??? Not to mention that 'glitch' for 60GB of data! LOL, LOL, LOL. Nice joke it was....

This seems to be some kind of murky telco tactic to force customers to switch to more expensive plan even they do not need nor want it.

[Chalupa_Batman]

Hello @Drewhoy 

There is a very good chance that it is legit as Public Mobile is currently in the works on upgrading networks and slowly removing parts of the 3G network. I guess because she may be on a 3G plan still or even uses a phone that uses the 3G network, this is what they do, they message folks to inform them of current events.

Please let us know what plan and what phone she has and we as a community can help answer this for you.

[funpig1]

@Drewhoy 

What is your mother's current plan ($? ?GB ?G)  ?

If the $29 offer is more expensive than your mother's current plan, I think it is unfair that she is being asked to pay more as a result of PM's network change, especially when there are cheaper alternatives.

On the other hand, if the offer is cheaper and particularly if she is being offered more data than her old plan, it would make sense to switch as long as her phone is compatible with the upgraded Network.

Good luck.

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Drewhoy   What was the four digit number?  These messages have been going out legitimately to people with certain phones that may have problems with the repurposing of one of the 3G  bands.  So she may have got it because her phone is likely affected while the others are not.  Can you tell us the  make and model of her phone?