@kateyyj
Of course rewards are preferable but the points program can be worked to be nearly as good they just are not passive rewards and favour the higher data plan users over lower data plan users like us but maybe you want to consider activating a "data account" if you think your data needs may be variable per month but predictable. Your relative can consider these same principles but on an ongoing basis.
To begin with this promotion is still accessible on the website so it is still active....
https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/pd1-9671281201?cmp=SOC_Public-PM-PF-Conversion-Always-On-BH-2022-F...
The two major changes from rewards to points affect the following rewards :
- $2 autopay are now "get back" points of 5% back in points. The break even point being the $40 plan=2pts (=$2). The current promotion of 3×points for 12 months means the point rewards on the $15 plan=2.25pts (=$2.25) or on the $40 plan=6pts (=$6). Significant points accumulation can be made during the first year of service.
- Loyalty rewards=$1 per month after the first year rising $1 per year thereafter to a maximum of $5 per month after the 5th year=$60/year. This is significant over that time period compared to anniversary points of 10pts per year immediately and the welcome bonus of 5pts. But in the short term anniversary points have a slight advantage but if used for a "data account" that may be suspended for periods of up to 90 days there are no delayed loyalty increases when suspended like the rewards program and anniversary points (and allegedly community and referral rewards)🤔 are still earned as well?)
- Community and referral points are earned exactly as rewards are just in points instead of direct $$ off your plan amount each month. ( And when suspended?)
The biggest advantage of the points program is the discounted add on redemptions than can save 25% to 50% off the price of add ons. This gives you the opportunity to have a $15 plan with a 1gb data add on (10pts=$10 cost vs $15/1gb when purchased). $15plan+1gb add on redemption (10pts=$10)=$25 plan with 250mb of plan data and 1gb of roll over data. Unused data doesn't get wasted and will give you a build your own plan price of $17.50/500mb, $20/750mb, $22.50/1gb and $25/1.25gb. Minutes of course can be added at $5/500min ( Purchase don't redeem for this non discounted add on so you always maximize your points value with discounted add on redemptions.)
Start your data plan with the $35/3gb+2gb bonus plan data to earn those extra 3×points and suspend if not needed. Don't downgrade to the $15 plan until you know you don't need any extra data beyond 1gb per month because once downgraded ghat 2gb of bonus recurring plan data is lost forever.
Maybe if you are really lucky pm will throw in a bonus referral credit promotion that can double earn you a referral bonus credit of $25 or $30/($5×6months) ×2 accounts=$50/$60 in credits when you refer yourself and then you refer your relative from your new data account earning it a $10×6 months. You can set about referring from the new data account to get it closer to a $0 bill eventually.
You also get "more is merrier" holiday gifts on it too.....if pm continues this tradition. Yes there is some ifs and buts involved but since you seem already good at referrals you can get this account lowered in price quite quickly and more if you hang out in the community and contribute....$1 or $2 in rewards or points are pretty easy to earn in the commmunity rewards.
Lots to consider but make points work for you and they can be more lucrative than pc mobile's pc optimum points incentives. PC optimum points can be worked as well but pc mobile does not offer anything more than activation bonus points with their service. Too bad it's a missed marketing opportunity for them? I will link a couple of my other posts on this subject when I run into them.
