Loaned Toons boosts from Pass plus.

I see YouTube creators on day one with level 17 to 19. I bought the pass day 1 and later, separately the pass plus. Mine are still at level 12 after the pass plus. 
  What gives?
  I spend $40 but because I buy them separately I am punished?  CG fix this or I am out. This is the second month this has occurred. I buy them as two separate purchases so why the difference?

  I see these creators ( Scrybe and Vexitron ) telling me they received the extra levels from the pass plus. Am I wrong?