Upcoming Changes to our Old Rewards Program

[J_PM]

Hey Community,

We have an important announcement to share with our subscribers who are currently enrolled in our old Rewards program.

We’re making changes to our rewards program and are sharing how these changes impact some of our subscribers. Starting in May, we’ll be retiring our old Rewards program and moving all subscribers to our Public Points™ program. 

We launched the Public Points™ program in January 2022 to provide our subscribers with more ways to earn and spend rewards, with greater flexibility. As part of our commitment to continuously evolve our products and services, it's time to retire our old Rewards program and shift our focus on enhancing our Points program.

To show our appreciation for your continued loyalty, subscribers on our old Rewards program will receive a special thank you. We'll send you a text message when it has been added to your account by March 31st. 

We’re excited to continue providing you, our valued subscribers, more opportunities to earn and spend rewards with Public Points™ moving forward.

To learn more about your move to Public Points, check out our FAQ here.

The Public Mobile Team

[Antonio_Almeida]

Some good news, for now anyways… CRTC/CCTS is objecting Public Mobile’s Objection to the complaint a lot of people have filed.  
File your complaint with CCTS if you are not happy with this change.

[icee]

Changes are expected over time, but to advertise the new rewards system as an enhancement and a way to ensure "the best possible value to our subscribers" is completely false.  The value of being a loyal customer is inherently lost with the new rewards system.  What once once an automatic credit is now a reward system with friction.

[RetiredGuy1]

I’ll even go this far:

In the interest of recognizing PM’s point-of-view, and in case a Telus Suit is reading these posts, I offer the following as a counterpoint to my Paul MacCartney parody “Loyalty” should that Suit be so inclined to do a karaoke set of their own. Naturally, its based on a John Lennon song.

Ev'rybody's posting about

Criticism, Cynicism, Capitalism, Activism, Ethicalism,

This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m

All we are saying……is give Points a chance

All we are saying……is give Points a chance

C'mon

Ev'rybody's talking about Oracles

Telecoms, Data Plans and the Posters

Telus and Public and all the other guys

And bye bye, bye byes

All we are saying……is give Points a chance

All we are saying……is give Points a chance

[Hollister]

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@ShawnC13 wrote:

@HALIMACS and @Wolfcore on your original anniversary date (if there has been not break in service) you get the 10 points.  It is the same for everyone 12 consecutive months or 84 consecutive months you get 10 points on your anniversary date.

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There can be a break in service….your account does not have to be active in those 12 months. I am on the points system and only activate my account every 2-3 months and still got the 10 points on my anniversary date.

“Stay a Public Mobile subscriber for 12 consecutive months (including time spent with service on hold)”

[fixin]

@RetiredGuy1 - Yeah... I see where you are going.

[RetiredGuy1]

I agree. The vast majority of posts have either directly or indirectly addressed an aspect or individual reaction to the thread’s announcement. Discussions about what other options are available with competitor telecoms is certainly on topic given the circumstances. I think the Oracles have recognized all of this as well. Its generally beneficial to entertain other points of view or perspectives as it helps broaden the discussion as a whole.

[fixin]

@Wolfcore - Just saying that you could just make a post... oracles are moving some posts about other carriers to the Lounge from this thread.

But I do see where you are going.

[Wolfcore]

I don't think talking about US roaming is off topic, because just like any discussion, branches will form. At the end of the day, everything that I've seen is in relation to us losing our rewards and our disappointment in that. Whether that's talking about alternate phone plans, competitors, PM's intentions with this company, where to file complaints, the future of telecom, doesn't really matter, it all stems from the original topic.

If we were to start talking about our favourite movies, or space exploration, then i'd say that people are going off topic, but I haven't seen any of that whatsoever.

[ShawnC13]

@HALIMACS and @Wolfcore on your original anniversary date (if there has been not break in service) you get the 10 points.  It is the same for everyone 12 consecutive months or 84 consecutive months you get 10 points on your anniversary date.

[fixin]

@computergeek541 @ShawnC13 - Yeah I agree with you both about the off-topic situation.

First it went on topic with the backlash

Then it went to who are we going to for a new carrier

Then it went really off topic with US roaming 🤔

But if you want to talk about anything @eyes you could honestly just use The Lounge as a single thread or if you have questions use the Get Support.

[ShawnC13]

@RetiredGuy1, yes I know who it was directed at, but I wanted the poster of that comment to realize if they are going to make accusations they should pay more attention and make sure they are giving out the right information.

[computergeek541]

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@ShawnC13 wrote:

@eyes no that isn't how threads work here.  We still want it to stay on the topic, but even though many think that this thread has been heavily edited.  I see it as a thread that has been given more leeway in the discussion.

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This thread has been given much more leeway than would normally be permited.  A great amount of the thread is either repetitive or entirely off topic.

[ShawnC13]

@eyes no that isn't how threads work here.  We still want it to stay on the topic, but even though many think that this thread has been heavily edited.  I see it as a thread that has been given more leeway in the discussion.

[Isthatok74]

Yea screw yall im leaving too. The "appreciation" 240 gb is completely useless to everyone. What a way to lose customers

[computergeek541]

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@G_Pomzz wrote:

Joe77  said:  Just noticed that we now have access to the 20 GB, $29 plan.

That's great, and 20 GB is more than enough data for the majority of users. But for $5 more you can get the 50 GB Canada - USA plan. If you make a couple of trips to the USA per year, than this is a really great plan. 

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The $34 Canada-US plan is no longer available.

[joe77]

Absolutely agree with you.

I'm strictly downgrading for now up until May.  Freedom is definitely my plan as they offer WiFi calling as well... and that definitely will be a better option when traveling abroad.

[RetiredGuy1]

I think its a strategic move alright but not necessarily tied to the bonus points. Many have stated they have more data than they use so the bonus points aren’t that valuable. I think, ideally, PM wants all customers on the 5G plans given the investments made in infrastructure along with the corresponding higher-priced plans. This may be a strategy to get a sense of what the retention rates on the 5G plans will be once the loyalty discounts disappear by seeing how high the uptake is on the $29 plan over the next 5 weeks or so.

[G_Pomzz]

Joe77  said:  Just noticed that we now have access to the 20 GB, $29 plan.

That's great, and 20 GB is more than enough data for the majority of users. But for $5 more you can get the 50 GB Canada - USA plan. If you make a couple of trips to the USA per year, than this is a really great plan. 

[HALIMACS]

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@Wolfcore wrote:

Yeah, give or take. But if you're starting fresh, my math would be correct. Regardless, still $27.40 year (except for the first year I guess, depending how PM handles the anniversary date)

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I may be wrong @Wolfcore , however I gather they will give the full 10 points on the legacy customer's next anniversary, even should that date fall one day after the account's change to Public Points.   

I suppose one might wonder if they'll nickel and dime us further and prorate the 10 points somehow based on the number of days between the change and the subsequent anniversary date. (i.e. if it's 6 months later, only give 5 points...), or worse yet, await the NEXT full 12-month period before deciding to award the 10 points.

I'd submit they should be giving the full 10 points, and not prorate NOR await a subsequent full 12 months of service.

[HALIMACS]

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@joe77 wrote:

Just noticed that we now have access to the 20GB, $29 plan.

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This is seemingly a strategic move on PM's part to which the benefit may be questionable.

I may be incorrect, however, if legacy folks on higher priced plans choose this plan after having had their 'bonus' data applied to their accounts, I'm guessing they'll LOSE their data bonus.

Anyone suppose this offering is yet another way to essentially giveth and taketh away the data bonus? 

[Wolfcore]

It's actually a pretty terrible plan when you compare it to what PC Mobile has to offer for the same price:

- 25gb data with autopay (PM is only 20gb)
- 5G speed (PM is only 4G)
- includes US calling (PM's doesn't)
- get 5% back in pc optimum points, or 10% if you use one of their credit cards (PM is only 5% back, period)
- 20k free optimum points after 2 months ($20)

So objectively, you'd be getting far more value with PC Mobile. 

Freedom Mobile also has their $29/20GB plan, except theirs includes US roaming for Data and talk. So even Freedom would be better for a lot of people (those who travel once or twice a year).

Even Lucky is technically better (at least for the first year). If you have referrals, it wouldn't even be a question. Lucky is $29/25GB, but they give you 1 month free, which is more rewarding than PM's 5% + $10 anniversary bonus. If you even have a single referral, Lucky pays you $50 (and your referral). With PM, a single referral would take over 4 years to give you that $50

Needless to say, opening up this plan to all customers isn't some generous act in my opinion. They're just finally starting to realize that they aren't all that competitive anymore, without the old rewards program.

[RetiredGuy1]

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@Alveeto wrote:

I received an e-mail from Michael (Escalations Public Mobile) but he addressed the e-mail to CCTS. And says at the end, "Public Mobile awaits the CCTS’ decision in regards to the objection of this matter."
Does he think I'm CCTS? Can I tell him to reverse their decision or I will hand down heavy penalties and fines? haha.

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Tell him a mob of upset PM legacy reward customers will soon descend upon his office and give him purple herbies and a pink belly until he cries “Uncle”

[RetiredGuy1]

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@mikasik2 wrote:

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@joe77 wrote:

Just noticed that we now have access to the 20GB, $29 plan.

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Winback?

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Or a litmus test to gauge 5G plans popularity without loyalty discounts?

[ily]

You mind sharing which provider that is?

[joe77]

No, just an available option for all of us. I was actually about to downgrade to the $25 plan when I saw it listed as well.

[mikasik2]

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@joe77 wrote:

Just noticed that we now have access to the 20GB, $29 plan.

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Winback?

[ily]

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@unloyalpmuser wrote:

These changes suck. you just lost my loyalty of several years. Ironic, cuz what pissed me off the most about all of this is how PM wants to spin this in a positive light as if my bill isn't going to increase by several dollars. Well, they are right, it's actually gonna decrease because I just downgraded my plan to the lowest possible ($15) to partner with the free data... fair to say, I will spend the next 5 months looking for a new provider.

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I got bad news for you 😞 If by free data you mean the expiring gift, you lose it when you downgrade your plan unfortunately. On the bright side, you won't have to wait 5 months to switch to a better provider after all.

[fixin]

@joe77 - I just looked on iPhone in Canada and it shows that... they didn't announce the $34 50GB Canada - US plan being available to all also. Even hiding the expiry dates & new plans with no announcement.

[joe77]

Yes, so strange that they didn't even announce it.

[fixin]

@joe77 - WHAT???? That may save 100X of peoples lives with THIS announcement!