Moving from PM to Koodo

[Feedo90]

Hello everyone,

Today, after being with PM for 8 years, I decided to move to Koodo as the plan downgrade is no more available. In a Koodo store, they are asking 20$ for a SIM card and 60$ for activation!!

They told me it is cheaper to buy the SIM from a corporate store (10$ only) and I don't want to order the SIM online with the post strike.

Anybody here have experience with moving to Koodo? Will the SIM from a corporate store work just as any SIM?

Is it free to activate the new SIM online?

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Luddite  Yes, I think it probably is in some areas but the announcement from T-Mobile was rather ambiguous "Capacity and coverage of T-Mobile's 2G (GSM) network is expected to change starting as early as September 1, 2024".  I know some have interpreted that as a total shutdown as of September 1st but from posts here it doesn't sound like that's what happened.  So it seems more like YMMV until it's all gone at some undetermined date.

[Luddite]

@Phil_Adelphus  I believe T Mobile's 2G network is still operating for calling. 

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Feedo90  We both have Samsung mobiles that support voLTE (S10 and S10+)

As @golfball noted, those phones are older and not enabled for VoLTE on Public Mobile and also on at least one other Canadian carrier I checked.  So if you're porting out and visit the USA often, make sure to check first whether the new carrier supports those models for VoLTE or they will continue not to work in the USA. It doesn't matter whether the phone is VoLTE capable or not if the carrier doesn't approve it, I know from my own experience with another carrier where I had a VoLTE capable phone that was not allowed VoLTE on that provider's network.  There is no more 3G network in the USA therefore a VoLTE capable and approved phone is a necessity for voice calls although texting and data will still work without it.

[golfball]

That would make sense, your S10 phones are too old. You need at least S21 FE for Public Mobile VoLTE.

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

[Feedo90]

Currently, I have two lines with PM:

The 1st plan 30$ CANADA+USA (20GB). Koodo has 25 GB plan for 27$ so 3$ cheaper.

The 2nd plan 19$ (1GB) for my mom who travelled recently to USA (Florida). I upgraded this plan to 30$ Canada+USA so she can use it there but it never worked, we tried all settings! the only thing working is SMS. Now, I'm stuck with this plan since I can't go back to 1 GB plan and I have to pay for the 2nd month in order to keep line active before porting to Koodo which has an annual prepaid plan (30GB for 149$) even cheaper than the 19$ plan here.

We both have Samsung mobiles that support voLTE (S10 and S10+) but I still don't see this option available in my mobile networks settings!

I ended up paying 60$ + taxes for no service 😞

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Feedo90   Have you checked what is available in change subscription in your PM account?  I saw an unadvertised plan there that was cheaper than my current one, not that I'm personally switching as I like what I have.

Have you checked that your phone is VoLTE approved with Koodo?   Like Telus, they are putting a surcharge on accounts where the phone is not VoLTE, see

https://www.koodomobile.com/help/explaining-koodos-3g-usage-price-increase 

If your phone worked fine for voice calls in the USA then you should be good as it implies you have VoLTE on PM which is more restrictive.

[golfball]

Heads up, Koodo doesn't let you freely downgrade your plan either. And they are much more likely to raise your plan price than Public Mobile. As you are already seeing, it's not as frugal-friendly as PM.

Public Mobile is using alternative carriers to deliver SIMs during the strike so I'd assume Koodo is as well since they're both owned by Telus. Though it may be easier to save the hassle and get one from a physical store or Amazon if they deliver to your area.

[Feedo90]

I'm not sure what's the difference between the two stores but the one I visited is a franchise in a mall. All I need is a SIM card to activate online with a post paid plan. 

[Phil_Adelphus]

@Feedo90   If you visit the Koodo website it says shopping on line saves the $70 activation fee.  Any sim for Koodo has to be a Koodo sim, so no reason why one from a corporate Telus/Koodo store wouldn't work.  It sounds like the one you visited is a franchise store rather than corporate?

[ORNGNBLK]

Good afternoon, I certainly hope that those fees were presented in advance and not some fine print, "wool over the eyes" after shock. I switched FROM Koodo because I found their bills went up and down more frequently than gas prices. Either way, I would hope that an instore rep at Koodo would be able to waive certain fees for you in order to secure your business and hard earned money. Its always worth asking because I'm sure activating is not worth $60 and although not all SIS are created equal, they should be equally priced. 🙂 Good luck wherever you end up.