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

[Alveeto]

Look at the plans available from Bell, Rogers and Telus. You'll see that they offer the exact same thing for the exact same price. That's not a ton of choices. That's three companies agreeing not to undersell each other to keep profits high for everyone.

[HALIMACS]

For sure, @mc931, great points.

I just can't get past the whole fact that .... we're all writing about a mobile service provider.   

It's not a life-saving drug or a life necessity.  There's TONS of choices out there and none of us are beholden to any of them.  Such is why so many people switch from carrier to carrier on the flip of a dime for something as simple as waiting on the line too long to reach a customer support person.

Mobile service providers will all (and most have already) done something which 'troubles us' and makes us doubt our 'loyalty' to them.   

While I would strongly prefer they would not remove the legacy rewards, I'm not a bit surprised they have.  It was pretty clear to most of us it was just a matter of time when Public Points was released in January 2022.

[mc931]

I think the number of people in this situation who will do this is small, but it’s the kind of thing I would do as well.

Any time we base decisions solely on whether or not it directly affects us, we run the risk of accepting further mistreatment when it does affect us.

I see a company flagrantly devalue loyalty from customers, and I wonder what will be next. What new promise (implied or overt) will they backtrack on next time?

This is just a phone plan, it’s not life or death or anything - but when it happens with bigger things (like protected rights) it can be a very big deal. In my opinion people should be mindful of the underlying message that comes from a move like this.

[HALIMACS]

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@egdsdfh wrote:

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@HALIMACS wrote:

Curious, you WERE on Public Points (not the Legacy Rewards) and you decided to leave because Public Mobile is moving its Legacy Reward customers to Public Points?

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Yep, Trying to help you guys out, get change with numbers right? Plus, I hate Telus anyway. I was on the $24 plan with 4GB or something. I have the same with Fizz for $13.50 (6 months) then it's $26.00. It's not so much about the money for me, I just don't use data and work from home. I might look after 6 months but I dont really care either.

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Sounds good @egdsdfh .   I was curious if perhaps you may have been leaving with established referral rewards.   The Fizz sounds interesting, if within their established activation areas. 

Does the plan/service have full nationwide coverage?

[Wolfcore]

I'm pretty sure you're being purposely misleading, but just in case you aren't, I'll provide you with some details.

Yes, the price of the Fizz promotional plans nearly double after 6 months, but after 6 months, the price that the plans increase to, is nearly identical to PM's, and in many cases, far cheaper, so why is that a big deal? In fact, it's actually amazing, because you're saving for 6 months. Once you factor in the rewards they have, the prices drop far below the price of PM's plans.

For example, fizz currently has a $34/50GB plan (we'll compare this to PM's $34/50GB plan). Currently, this plan costs $17/month, but after 6 months, it goes back to $34 (same price as PM). But during these 6 months, you will have saved $102. If you calculate the 5% earned from PM, along with the 10-point anniversary bonus, it would take you over 3 years of PM's service, just to save this $102.

Now, once we factor in the rewards that Fizz offers, and the ability to lower your monthly bill in numerous ways, including loyalty rewards just like PM's old system, where they automatically take money off your bill each month, Fizz will actually become far cheaper than PM. Then they have awesome perks, upgrades, bonuses, etc. Data sharing, rollover data, all plans available to all customers, live chat support (phone calls and messaging), and so on, many people would see Fizz as being a far better option than PM. I don't see why somebody would feel forced to come back here, that's for sure. Even places like PC Mobile and Lucky can be more rewarding than PM, as well as have nearly identical pricing.

[eyes]

Of course - at one time we had 4 lines but eventually all went to Bell because of bundle offers that were the same price but with more data and speed than our PM lines. Now I  also have a Bell line and also have reduced my PM plan down to the $15 plan and probably will let it lapse once it’s switched to the point system. 

[egdsdfh]

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@HALIMACS wrote:

Curious, you WERE on Public Points (not the Legacy Rewards) and you decided to leave because Public Mobile is moving its Legacy Reward customers to Public Points?

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Yep, Trying to help you guys out, get change with numbers right? Plus, I hate Telus anyway. I was on the $24 plan with 4GB or something. I have the same with Fizz for $13.50 (6 months) then it's $26.00. It's not so much about the money for me, I just don't use data and work from home. I might look after 6 months but I dont really care either.

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@eyeswrote

Fizz good deals are only for new accounts for 6 month duration. After the 6 months their plan costs more than doubles. Did you not read the fine print? Are you coming back to PM in 6 months?

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I read the fine print, I know it'll double and I'll never come back to PM or any Telus owned service. the Fizz perks are actually pretty neat.

I have Bell fibre, I kind of want to sign up for Bell Cell for a month then cancel and see what kind of winback deals they offer. I saw on RFDs people have $15 plan with more data then I'll ever use in my life.

[Camera4617]

Your money, your choice. I'm just speaking for myself and want to express my 'thank you' to PM. 

[fixin]

@Camera4617 - Ohhh. I use just different Gmail Accounts for my 2 accounts not Aliases.

Yeah, I am not moving to any other carrier because I am on the pants system & it is cheap to pay. Virgin scammed me with a $10 discount for 15 months and the plan is $50 with 12GB.

[RNk6xib2]

on the Canadian govt website it has "Low-cost and occasional-use wireless service plans" which has a plan that's "Maximum $15/month" and lists what PM Offers for $15/30 days. I'd argue that 30 days is SOME months but not all... So I wonder if there's someone we can complain to about that. Think it'd work?

crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/mobile/occa.htm

[Camera4617]

It is one email with aliases, and it's not that hard as not much to manage (of course it would be easier to have one account for all). You set autopay and that works. Having said that, PM doing this move is not what I signed up. They can do whatever they want with their business, but they will not have me as a customer, especially since they 'promised' it multiple times.. 

[Camera4617]

Whole family. 

[fixin]

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@eyes wrote:

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@Camera4617 wrote:

Scheduled to move the first out of 5 lines to Lucky Mobile, as 'thanks' to this upcoming change. Rest will be moved soon after. Thank you PM

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Why do you have 5 lines?

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@eyes - @Camera4617 Has 5 emails for 5 accounts. Must get hard to manage 5 accounts at once!

[eyes]

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@viral911 wrote:

no. The changed the system. Cheating of the highest order.

You get a prize of 5 points to switch. 

I hope some lawyer reads it and files a class action.

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If we accept  the 5 points it's then a done deal for them - so how can we reject this contract revision acceptance payment?

[Camera4617]

Scheduled to move the first out of 5 lines to Lucky Mobile, as 'thanks' to this upcoming change. Rest will be moved soon after. Thank you PM

[viral911]

nope. they just high balled your monthly price.

[viral911]

Yes. Leaves nothing after this. No prize for staying with them.

[viral911]

no. The changed the system. Cheating of the highest order.

You get a prize of 5 points to switch. 

I hope some lawyer reads it and files a class action.

[DownEast]

Yes, it would appear that the CCTS has accepted your complaint.  While PM's claim your complaint has no merit is not a basis for an objection, the CCTS will have to consider PM's claim when they actually assess your complaint.

If your complaint was about Telus home security, then an objection (not covered by CCTS mandate) would likely have seen it thrown out.

That's not the case here, but when the CCTS actually addresses your complaint, then PM will likely put the terms and conditions of the rewards program before them and the CCTS will then decide the merit of your complaint.

[HALIMACS]

I guess time will tell @eyes 

Echoing what many others have written, some are in it for the simplicity of total cost for services received, others for other reasons.

To each their own.

[eyes]

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@fixin wrote:

@ALISA_R - By the looks of what you are receiving now, you will now get on May 1st with the points system:

6 points for your referrals

No more Autopay (Pre-authorized bonus) savings.

No more Loyalty Pays rewards.

You will now get:

• 6 points per month on refer-a-friend
• Your plan price = 5% back in points.
• 10 points annually added
• 5 welcome points on May 1st

For example, your plan is $34/month and you just got switched to the points system, this is what your first year with points will look like

20.4 + 10 + 5 + 72 = 107.4 points in the first year

Next year, minus 5 points and you will receive 102.4 points annually.

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Soooo $102 annually /12=$8.50 per month --$34-$8.50=-$25,50 /month ----------still not so bad.

[fixin]

@eyes - Anybody who joins Public Points gets 5 points extra. They removed the 1 point every month you have been on the Legacy Rewards system for when you join Public Points.

[JohnB1970]

I’m also on the new points system as both phones are new September 2024 never heard of the old points rewards

[eyes]

Welcome points-why?

[JohnB1970]

exactly I was going to say I’m only with PM as they had a good price for both of my phones 

[fixin]

@ALISA_R - By the looks of what you are receiving now, you will now get on May 1st with the points system:

6 points for your referrals

No more Autopay (Pre-authorized bonus) savings.

No more Loyalty Pays rewards.

You will now get:

• 6 points per month on refer-a-friend
• Your plan price = 5% back in points.
• 10 points annually added
• 5 welcome points on May 1st

For example, imagine that your plan is $34/month and you just got switched to the points system, this is what your first year with points will look like

20.4 + 10 + 5 + 72 = 107.4 points in the first year

Next year, minus 5 points and you will receive 102.4 points annually.

[eyes]

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@HALIMACS wrote:

Hope the change works out for you @egdsdfh 

Curious, you WERE on Public Points (not the Legacy Rewards) and you decided to leave because Public Mobile is moving its Legacy Reward customers to Public Points?

Interesting.

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He's smart.... by taking the great fizz promotional deal even though it's only for 6 months. After the deal ends , it's no big deal he can easily port his number to another carrier - hey maybe even back to PM. 

[ALISA_R]

 what would it mean for the rewards?

I like that my rewards automatically applied to my balance every month. How will it look like with new program?

[eyes]

Fizz good deals are only for new accounts for 6 month duration. After the 6 months their plan costs more than doubles. Did you not read the fine print? Are you coming back to PM in 6 months? 

[kb_mv]

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@eyes wrote:

Loyalty? Do any of us have loyalty to PM, or is it only one sided? 
Perhaps we were sticking with PM because we couldn’t find a better deal elsewhere and some of us are  confusing this as loyalty?

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@eyes A lot of people are pulling their hair out over this betrayal of their loyalty and claim that they are leaving. This is the exact opposite of loyalty. They (including me) were here for the cash rewards paid monthly. That is loyalty to my wallet not PM. Now that they are stopping the legacy rewards, by all means people should look around to see if a better deal exists elsewhere.