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

[Chalupa_Batman]

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@Chalupa_Batman wrote:

I encourage EVERYONE to follow my lead and file a secondary complaint with the CCTS as I have.

Hello Public Mobile.

As per the rules of the CCTS, I must reach out to you and inform you that I fully disagree with your rules over the 240GB "Loyalty" data that was given to us for being loyal customers. As you can see by the first screenshot in the second paragraph you state, "To thank you for your continued loyalty, we're giving you a special bonus. Enjoy 240GB bonus data for 150 days on us. Bonus data will be added to your account by March 30th 2024, as long as your account is active." There are no other text messages after that.

Today, I lowered my my plan from the $35 a month to the $15 a month plan. My account is still active and it has not been 150 days. 

As I have done some research on your forum, I direct you to your link here.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/move-to-public-points

This was under the heading, Bonus Data Details.

Will I lose my special bonus data if I switch plans?

The bonus data will remain active unless your account becomes inactive, you switch to a plan of lower value or to an incompatible plan.

As I mentioned before. I switched to a lower value plan. It is in my opinion that by the wording used in your forum about changing the plan to a lower valued plan was nothing more than extortion.

Extortion: The practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats. 

Here is the proof it was here then removed.

Please accept this as my official complaint.

To remedy this complaint, I request you place the unused 240GB of loyalty data back on my account on the next billing cycle with a refreshed 150 days. <--- Resolution Accepted. 

@CS_Agent @Chalupa_Batman 

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Hello Public Mobile,

This matter has now been resolved. My complaint will be withdrawn. Thank you.

Chalupa Batman

[RetiredGuy1]

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@El_Gato wrote:

If one parallel switches to same price plans would they lose their gift data?

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Will I lose my special bonus data if I switch plans?

The bonus data will remain active unless your account becomes inactive, you switch to a plan of lower value or to an incompatible plan.

What constitutes an incompatible plan?

At Public Mobile, you have the option between fixed data plans and unlimited data plans. Switching from one type of data plan to the other will cause your special bonus data to be incompatible and removed from your account.

——————————-

If you’re referring to the $15 plans, since the switch is not of “lower value” price-wise, then normally, you shouldn’t lose the bonus data. However, the example used for an “incompatible” plan switch uses fixed vs. unlimited data as the example. Now, with the new $15 plan a comparison can be made between fixed vs. no data. If PM considers this to be an “incompatible” switch as well then PM should update the FAQ regarding bonus data. In fact, if this is the case, it should have been done at the same time the new $15 plan was posted to help prevent even more contact with CS agents who are, apparently, already swamped dealing with technical issues.

[wetcoaster]

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@RNk6xib2 wrote:

jfc, I knew this day was coming because of https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/Picture-and-Group-Messaging-End-Date-Fe...

but it continued to work so I just decided to run out the clock... so as of this morning my MMSes no longer work on my Nexus5 phone.... So I'm losing my $6 plan and I NEED a new phone to use MMSes.

While I'm here let me just echo other people here and point out this https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/mobile/occa.htm and say that the new PM Plan does not offer data on their $15 plan which is required as per the gc.ca websites.

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Their argument re CRTC mandate will be that those guidelines only apply to postpaid providers. Public Mobile is fully prepaid.

Don't get me wrong, like many, I'd have preferred the opposite direction, ie upping the data on the $15 plan instead of taking it away altogether, and find it incomprehensible that, for 30day plans (not everybocy can afford paying for 90days upfront these days), to get more plan data existing customers would need to essentially double their payment now... (Yes, I have tried asking CSA politely for an upgrade from $15 to $21 - I was outright refused.)

[RNk6xib2]

jfc, I knew this day was coming because of https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/Picture-and-Group-Messaging-End-Date-Fe...

but it continued to work so I just decided to run out the clock... so as of this morning my MMSes no longer work on my Nexus5 phone.... So I'm losing my $6 plan and I NEED a new phone to use MMSes.

While I'm here let me just echo other people here and point out this https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/mobile/occa.htm and say that the new PM Plan does not offer data on their $15 plan which is required as per the gc.ca websites.

[El_Gato]

If one parallel switches to same price plans would they lose their gift data?

[computergeek541]

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@eyes wrote:

I’m making the assumption that the old $15 will be automatically updated to the new $15 plan. 

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This assumption isn't correct.  The two $15 plans are different plans.  For the $15 price point, customers need to choose one plan or the other.

[becks]

I'm dissapppointed in the direction public mobile is headed. As someone who was so grateful to find this company and get away from the explotation of the large companies. The price increases and now Changing the reward plan to one that cuts costs when profits have only been up is insane. Telus finally decided it wants this company to be more like all the other phone companies they already own.

and an apology gift of data that expires in less than half a year is a insulting attempt to show compassion during these times. I doubt I'll have any luck, but i officially have started hunting for a new company and if i find one I'll be sharing with everyone I know as i originally did when i found public mobile and its was operated for the people who were sick of paying an arm and a leg for basic telephone services. 

[RetiredGuy1]

Hi @wetcoaster . Yes, all those listed have the condition of auto-pay attached. I should note I believe the Telus plan data may be at 3G speed. As telecoms are apt to do, they advertise making extensive use of footnotes. Of the 5 monthly prepaid plans listed on the Telus website, the $15 plan is the only one that does not contain the footnote (#3) referring to 4G speed. So, by that absence it likely is 3G but I really don’t know for sure. What I do believe is if a telecom is going to advertise a service they expect someone to pay for, they should be upfront and clear within the advertisement what the data speed is in the first place.

[Bunnyhop]

I suggest you switch to a non-telus provider and file a complaint to ccts about this.

[wetcoaster]

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@RetiredGuy1 wrote:

For potential new subscribers on a tight budget looking for a $15 prepaid plan with 250MB of data, it looks like there is currently only 5 choices now (since the new PM $15 plan has no data anymore):

Lucky - 100 minutes/unlimited text and 250 MB data (with auto pay) at 4G speed                                                                
Virgin - 100 minutes/unlimited text and promo offer of 250 MB (with auto pay) at 4G speed                                                                                                                     
Chatr - 100 minutes/unlimited text and 250 MB data (with auto pay) at 3G speed                            
                       
Koodo - 100 minutes/unlimited text and 250 MB data (with auto pay) at 3G speed

Telus - limited time offer - 100 minutes/unlimited text and 250 MB bonus data (with auto pay) at 4G speed

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Thanks for the compilation. Was about to go scrape together that information myself.

This means that the grandfathered PM $15/100 outgoing minutes/250MB is the only one that doesn't require autopay? Also, autopay being a requirement with the other providers means that those plans continue to be not as straightforward to suspend and reactivate as the ones here...

Hm, might need to rethink strategy on one account, then... We have one old $15 plan that we intended to abandon after this billing cycle, we don't need to keep the number. It was worth maintaining it for family from overseas for $7 or $8 ($28 - $48/year beating the SpeakOut cost and features (cheapest data plan $25 and no MMS on basic plans)), at $15 (min $60) with expiring data, and their home provider's roaming options being sooo much cheaper now, I don't see the point of keeping it alive anymore. While all data add-ons are all used up, free non-expiring minutes (1500 CW + 1000 international LD, incl. CW = more than 40 hours) remain intact. Just because it's no use to us anymore, it can be a good plan for someone on low usage that needs a bit of data, say for RCS/iMessage/WhatsApp on the road, and isn't in Freedom native coverage...

[RetiredGuy1]

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@EdN wrote:

We made it 👍🏻

More than 5000 responses before May 1st 

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While there is a core group of regular posters who contribute to the counts for this thread, the fact that there are now over ONE-QUARTER MILLION views with only 28 bravos speaks volumes towards what has to be one of (if not) the most unpopular announcement any telecom has ever made (certainly for PM anyway)

[fixin1]

@eyes - There may be a chance of the old customers of the $15 plan with 250MB getting offers or transferred over to the unlimited talk text $15 plan.

[eyes]

Yes all true - but us that used to be on the reward system - now we should factor in the points we will now be getting. For example- on the $15 plan —  first of all we will be getting points each month. Also in addition to the now unlimited voice and texting we will —- at least for the next 6 months, have the 5 gb gift bonus . ——- I’m making the assumption that the old $15 will be automatically updated to the new $15 plan. 

[fixin1]

@Bester30 - At least people who are on the $15 250MB plan with 100min outgoing calls keep it unless they switch to another plan including the $15 unlimited talk & text.

Also the competition has $15 100min calling but with 250MB when on autopay.

[Bester30]

Removing the 250 mb of data from the $15 plan is absolutely ridiculous PM. You need to do better.

[PrizmalEDM]

Yeah I can't wait to try and use up all my 19472147 gb of bonus data!! wooooo I'll definitely chug away at it

[PrizmalEDM]

I remember seeing this too! Can someone follow up on this information?

[SandyC]

How do we second your complaint or add on to your complaint with the CCTS? 

[PrizmalEDM]

Please let us keep old rewards system, you guys promised to let us keep the old system yet now change is imminent. 😞

[PrizmalEDM]

Yo you got screenshots lined up that's sick. But yeah same where is my "240 GB of bonus data" that they texted they were gonna gift us?? So misleading and full of lies

[ShawnC13]

@Dunkman , the accounts I manage that were on the $29/20 plan I have made the switch as well.  Luckily I have 2 that are on the $29/30.  I agree PM isn't doing anything for the lower cost plans $15-20 and I get the feeling that there is no intention to drive/improve this area for the consumers.

[SailorJay]

Very sad to see you scrapping your loyalty rewards and cutting the auto-pay reward. You're adding more than $60 a year to my bill with this horrible change. I have been a very long-time, loyal customer, but this change will have me switching to another company in the coming months. Shame on you, Public Mobile. Bought out by another greedy big telecom company so bye bye go the rewards for supporting a company with a different way of thinking. Very sad.

[LitlLdy]

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@ZeroFear3k wrote:

"Here's what to expect on your first day with Public Points.Your existing bill credits will be lost, but we promise to make it up to you."

I have a lot of credit in $$$. You're telling me that's gonna be wiped out?

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@ZeroFear3k , No, you won’t lose any leftover rewards from the old program. Any credits earned up to May 2024 will remain on your account and be applied to your future bills.

You will no longer earn $1 every 30 days for every year (up to $5 every 30 days) you’ve been with Public Mobile.

You will no longer earn $2 every 30 days when you subscribe and enable pre-authorized charges on your payment method.

You can read about it there ->  “Moving to Public Points” 

[fillione]

@ZeroFear3k that's pretty much it. But you'll be getting a little bit of points instead...

[ZeroFear3k]

"Here's what to expect on your first day with Public Points.Your existing bill credits will be lost, but we promise to make it up to you."

I have a lot of credit in $$$. You're telling me that's gonna be wiped out?

[Dunkman]

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@fillione wrote:

Sorry if this question has already been asked, but does anyone know what it means to "opt out" when opening a ticket in regards to the transition towards the points program?

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@fillione 

Customers can send a ticket to Customer service agent to discuss the transition from legacy rewards to the points system in May. 

However, legacy customer can't opt out of the forced migration from legacy to points reward program in May.  

After the migration to points system, customers can opt out of the points system, but then the customer will not get any rewards going forward.  

[fillione]

Sorry if this question has already been asked, but does anyone know what it means to "opt out" when opening a ticket in regards to the transition towards the points program?

[RetiredGuy1]

Nope, didn’t miss that, I specifically said for those looking for 250 MB of data. The new PM plan has removed the data. You can add on 200MB of data for $5 but then it becomes a $20 plan in effect

[eyes]

One doesn’t need to be on a tight budget to make good cost saving choices. 

[eyes]

My screen shot was taken today April 27-  My plan had already renewed with all rewards applied on the 25 so I’m assuming in may I will also get the shown rewards applied and after that of course switched to points.