Turning off 611 texts from Public Mobile

[kevinbe]

Hi, new customer here. I got a text or two from PM when I signed up. Now, I got two texts this morning saying rewards had been applied and then a few minutes later that my payment was applied. All correct info, but highly annoying. Is there a way to turn off texts from 611 for these events and other non-critical events? I'm on auto-pay so expect things to work of course, as it does with any other vendor on auto-pay.

Short of blocking 611 (did that right now), is there another option?

Cheers, Kevin

[pmmobile]

@kevinbe 

If you've already blocked 611, you'll likely need to block other numbers as texts are also sent from other (?shortcode) numbers by public mobile. I haven't gone to the trouble of finding or listing them here, but I don't mind the messages/reminders, as they are sometimes useful (eg. free one-time 5GB and 1k min offer).  

[Anonymous]

 @kevinbe : We all came here for the rates. We then learn it has some foibles. Some do fine year in year out. Others seem to struggle with things. The payment system is probably the number one complaint. It's ridiculous that a company would have so much trouble taking money. But then too many people do just fine. Maybe you'll be fine.

[LurganIeUk]

 I repeat.............

Auto-Pay has issues that are inherent from the Telus prepaid system. 

There is theory and reality. 

[kevinbe]

Oh it's not a "prima donna" thing. When a company provides auto-pay it should work. Putting the customer in the mix to "avoid things going wrong" is just plain silly. If anything that 20 years in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) as a solution designer has taught me is that if you provide a system it should work. I'd love to have the conversation with a client where I present a solution where you make the customer part of the solution when your systems fails to collect payment 🙂

[LurganIeUk]

@kevinbe 

Welcome to Public Mobile. Things are better here, but a bit different in the way to keep you up to date and informed of your account status. PM is proactive to avoid being the cause of service failure due to non payment. Your complaint baffles me. I have seen the same complaint here from a few other Prima Donna types. 

Sit back, watch, learn and get over it!

If you do block 611, I suggest you use and self manage the hybrid auto-pay method. 

[Anonymous]

 @kevinbe : No need for sorry. The payment system here has been problematic for many people. It's probably the number one complaint of people coming in here. But then so too has it been flawless for many others.

The topic emails can be curtailed by either the Topic Options button near the top or in your community settings. It's called being subscribed. I turned them off long ago. I get emails to let me know if and when someone has sent me a pm. That's it for what I can control.

[kevinbe]

Good idea. Done.

[kevinbe]

These texts are painful because text and phone usually means you need to pay attention to something right away. Getting two texts on Jan 1 about something that should work automatically is just silly. Ok, then provide an option to get an email instead. But no, that option does not exist.

Then, I get emails about this whole topic I just posted. Ok, I'll just change my email address to something else that does not trigger a ping. Oh wait ... you have to contact a moderator to do that. Really? PM is "self-serve" but you need to email someone to change your email address? That's so 1990 ...

You say auto-pay sometimes fails? Really ... so now it's the customer's issue to do something about that? I was with Primus for 10 years before and I never had auto-pay fail, nor for any other service frankly. If auto-pay fails it's the vendor's issue, not the client, sorry.

[benfatto · Accepted solution]

You could add 611 to your contacts and then edit it to be silent notification of receipt. 

[Anonymous]

I'm always astonished at people not liking these things. Really. We get a text saying that the plan is about to renew. The "heads up" text. Ok. Nice reminder. Do I have a balance? Yup. Ok then. No? Well I'll be on the lookout for my services to keep working on that overnight and that the autopay works. Fingers crossed.

My services keep working. All good. We get a text saying any rewards have been deposited. And a text saying we've been renewed. The "thank you" text.

My services have stopped working! Ah! The autopay failed. Quick, make a payment somehow. Alrighty then. Services working, carry on.

Or you're on a limited minutes plan and you have 10 minutes left or the data consumption warning texts. Heck...free gifts even. All from 611.

Why are these texts so painful to people?

[Dunkman]

@kevinbe 

No way to unsubscribe from 611.  Just block it.  However, occasional there might be an useful text or promo text from 611, and the texts are usually just once-twice per month.  For example, autopay sometimes fails and you will get a text when that happens.