I think I speak for us all when I say one of the most dreaded tasks is contacting customer service. Whether you’ve heard the horror stories or lived through one yourself, there’s just something about those two words that get my skin crawling.
Finding the right way to contact the company is the initial issue. Then we get into the response times, miscommunication, hours on hold... Okay, I'm sorry, I’ll stop.
The good news is, we already did the first step for you with Public.
Public offers a variety of ways to find solutions to whatever your issue may be. Their three options are their FAQ Page, Support Chat, and Email.
We could not find any kind of phone number to contact them through on their website or other sources. This is not uncommon for an app-based brokerage, especially in this day and age.
If you think you aren’t the only one who has had your question, or if you want to do some research before getting on the phone or sending an email, this is the place to start.
This ‘Frequently Asked Question’ page is an updated list of questions customers have had over time that already have answers. You can find these answers on Public’s FAQ.
If you still haven’t found a solution, try reaching out to a customer service representative via their chat feature.
Most companies are taking advantage of online chatting versus phone calls, and Public is no different. Under Settings on their mobile app, you will find “Support Chat” to talk with a human in real-time.
This is a feature not offered by many of the other investing apps out there. Having a life support option serves to set Public's customer service apart from many of the other free investing apps out there.
The hours for this feature are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
If you are okay with a longer response time to any questions or issues you are having, email is another option.
When writing this email make sure you do the following.
The email for Public customer service is hello@public.com
Offer valid for U.S. residents 18+ and subject to account approval. See Public.com/disclosures/.
Public is another app-based brokerage with no charges for commission and trading, making it appealing to investors just starting out. They also use a system called stock slicing which is dollar-based investing instead of stock-based buying.
What sets the Public app apart from other brokerage applications is its focus on creating a sense of community. Besides having the capability to buy and trade fractional ETFs and stocks, users also have the opportunity to follow accounts and share their ideas. Their investors have some big names such as Will Smith, Scott Belsky, and Tony Hawk.
The intention of this is to support easy access to sources meant to educate. Public saw the opportunity to give access to the stock market to a wider audience if they just helped them understand it more to begin with.
If you are looking for a unique investing experience, Public is guaranteed to give you one.