Text regarding $5/mo 3G usage price increase

[Sham_Madani]

Hello, I just received a message that I’m going to charge 5$ more because of my device that uses 3G, I’m not sure why because I’m using 5G data on my phone & I don’t really understand the extra charge!

[ammarcoux]

I got the same message yesterday about being charge $5 more since my device is using 3G and doesn't support VOLTE. I got a OnePlus 8 and using LTE for data and voice as shown in the screenshot:


Looks like others are in the same boat.

[ammarcoux]

Got the same message as well even though my phone is a OnePlus 8 which supports 4G LTE and 5G. My voice and data is using LTE as shown by the phone info screenshot:

Using LTE...


If you want to check the same thing on your Android phone type this in your phone dialer:

*#*#4636#*#*

If the $5 increase is true this is completely unacceptable and will be filling a complaint to the CRTC.

[Alveeto]

Thanks for the lead.

[waytay]

There are options here: ie,  "no name mobile" (from PC Mobile on Bell network) has a good basic plan for same price as PM.  And their 'whitelist' is way more comprehensive and inclusive.  For instance, my wife's awesome little S10e is fully 4g voLTE compatible there, while not here on PM.   She'll probably switch over. 

Heck, I may also switch over with my S23

[Alveeto]

According to the IMEI checker on here, it is compatible. I just don't have esim support.

[NT31]

Hi umnikke8, I can't thank you enough - if you know anything about Nokia or Sony Ericsson let me know. I am not sure I appreciate the fact that PM wants to push customers towards specific phones. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

[hTideGnow]

hi @NT31 

make sure you buy a phone that is designed for Canada.  I am not Nokia and Sony still have phones really sold in Canada.

if you can get a hand to the IMEI when you buy, I would check using the IMEI checker to confirm first

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HI @NT31 

you still should check with PM support agent. 

if you have trouble with Chatbot, you can still submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage            

[NT31]

Hi Sansan, PM website is so very messy it keeps adding tabs & asking for sign-in while I am signed in... so I will not chance their AI chatbot. thank you and have a wonderful day.

[NT31]

Hi slusagm, thank you for the headsup. I need to check about phones any idea about Nokia or Sonny Ericsson? have a wonderful day.

[hTideGnow]

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@NT31 wrote:

Hi slusagam, thank you for the update. the volte list requires info about a specific phone which I still need to buy. I think giving me only 2 weeks notice is not enough. I am looking to buy either Nokia or Sonny Ericsson but it will take time. I think I will need to connect to customer service to  extend notice and get phone names specific to Public before I make a purchase. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

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hi @NT31 

make sure you buy a phone that is designed for Canada.  I am not Nokia and Sony still have phones really sold in Canada.

if you can get a hand to the IMEI when you buy, I would check using the IMEI checker to confirm first

[NT31]

Thank you Sansan, I am glad you mentioned March 27 deadline I thought the change needs to happen by June 2026, so I only got 2 weeks notice not enough to buy a new phone. I appreciate your comment so now I can breath easily. Have a wonderful day.

[NT31]

Hi slusagam, thank you for the update. the volte list requires info about a specific phone which I still need to buy. I think giving me only 2 weeks notice is not enough. I am looking to buy either Nokia or Sonny Ericsson but it will take time. I think I will need to connect to customer service to  extend notice and get phone names specific to Public before I make a purchase. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

[hTideGnow]

hi @Chris1985   S21U will work.  You don't have to move

@Chris1985  @Stephy3  since your phone should work here, you shouldn't need to pay the $5 surcharge.  Just open a ticket with PM support agent and confirm

submit a ticket with CS Agent using Chatbot here:       
            https://widget.telus.tiia.ai/publicmobile/publicmobile.html 
             Type the question "Submit ticket", Then click the following in order: "Contact Us" ,  "Other",  "Log In".  
             (If unable to receive 2FA SMS, click "Didn't Receive Code" or "Resend Code" and Select "Send Email")         
If any issue with ticket submission, you can submit  ticket by direct message:  
          https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

Remember CS_agent will reply to your Community inbox within 2 to 4 hours, please check your inbox here:
           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/privatenotespage            

[Chris1985]

Same here. I have a s21 ultra. There's no chance I'm buying another phone just to save $5/month, I'll just switch carriers. Sad though, I've been with pm since 2017. 

[Tamarra]

Phone manufacturers have to pay Telus for access and which includes some software testing - so a Google search told me.

[Tamarra]

Yes, I see that phone manufacturers have to pay Telus for access and smaller manufacturers can't or won't do that. I'll see if any other carriers will. I like this phone.

[Sansan]

I believe that this phone will use 3G for calls. The Samsung that they supported in the past started with the s21 FE 5G and above. One way to test is to make an outgoing call and see what the indicator shows top right corner. 

You can submit a ticket through the chatbot and have them confirm for sure.

[Stephy3]

I just received the text about the 3G network change but when I input my IMEI number it says it is compatible with the VoLTE network and 5G.

How do I decifer if PM made a mistake or its not good when their checker says it is?

 

[slusagm]

@Tony67 do you aware this is not  a fees that only PM collects? Other providers have this fees too.  So, suggesting a complain would not get you anywhere 

[Tony67]

I got older phone...its LTE capable, but its not on their "approved" list, hence, "verboten".  Its a Mafia.  I suggest to make complaint with CCTS because it becomes an unfair billing issue, the CRTC because it is unfair tobe locking you out of LTE when you have a phone capable of it.  I am taking those actions as we speak....am fed up.

[slusagm]

@Tamarra Balckview phone is not really a Canadian phone.  It is not on PM's whitelist 

[Tony67]

You should complain to PM of course. Then file a complaint with CCTS for unfair collecting $5 when your phone is clearly LTE capable and they are locking you out. Then make general complaint to CRTC for locking people out with LTE capable phones which amounts to unfair treatment. I am doing all THREE....

[Tamarra]

Black view Wave 8 with North American settings

[hTideGnow]

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@Tamarra wrote:

My subscription says I'm on 4G now, yet I'm getting the same message. My IMEI says not compatible with Telus VoLTE. Why?

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hi @Tamarra 

You might have a 4G/5G phone, and a 4G/5G plan and using 4G/LTE/5G for data,  and your phone might support VoLTE,  But PM has a VoLTE whitelist and only phones on the list can use VoLTE.   

Since you got that text, your phone likely is not on the VoLTE whitelist.  If that is the case,   while you are using 4G or LTE or 5G for data, when you are making calls, the system will ball back to 3G for voice calls. 

When the 3G network ends, you won't be able to use any network for calls with your current phone

So, what phone do you have?

[Tamarra]

My subscription says I'm on 4G now, yet I'm getting the same message. My IMEI says not compatible with Telus VoLTE. Why?

[Tony67]

you seem knowledgeable....if a phone is VoLTE capable, then how can they just decide whose in and who is out !!  This is bull**bleep** likely to sell phones, or sell particular manufacturers.

[Tony67]

You see these carriers seem to be a Mafia it seems.  Apparently you can have VoLTE capable phone, but if it happens to be older or perhaps foreign....its "verboten". I got a problem with this kind of arbitrariness....my phone is LTE capable, but PM decides it on a blacklist (whitelist who cares), and I gotta pay extra becuase it connects at 3G. But it only does so because THEY wont let it register on the system as an LTE capable phone !

[hTideGnow]

hi @Anna_Yeonjun 

You might have a 4G/5G phone, and a 4G/5G plan and using 4G/LTE/5G for data,  and your phone might support VoLTE,  But PM has a VoLTE whitelist and only phones on the list can use VoLTE.   

Since you got that text, your phone likely is not on the VoLTE whitelist.  If that is the case,   while you are using 4G or LTE or 5G for data, when you are making calls, the system will ball back to 3G for voice calls. 

When the 3G network ends, you won't be able to use any network for calls with your current phone

So, what phone do you have? and which province?

check if your phone can use VoLTE using the IMEI checker here:
https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte

[Anna_Yeonjun]

Hello,

I received txt message saying that because I'm on 3g network, there will be additional $5 charge. My phone is for 5g phone (samsung) so I'm not sure why Public says that I'm on 3g network.

Can Public mobile check and correct this? I check imei on Public mobile website and it says that my phone is 5g.

Thank you.

[hTideGnow]

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@packnetwork wrote:

Thanks, I was unaware of that. As well, I agree that in order to run a business they need revenue, BUT a 26% hit is over the top. 

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hi @packnetwork 

it is $5 for anyone's phone not compatible.  For $35 or $50 plans, the % is less.  Yes, for $18 or so, that is a steep increase.  I think their idea is to encourage people to upgrade their phones to compatible ones