Complaint Review: Primerica

There's a lot of truth here as well as some speculation I'm guessing.

Primerica is an MLM. If you think you can make money being on your own with Primerica, you're wrong. You *have* to bring in people below you to make money. I've seen the interest rates and they're very high.

The thing you don't realize (until you're very deep into the company) is that once you get to a certain level they take away your biggest downline and give it to your upline. I've heard of Reps that have lost so much income they had to quit and get another job...and of course, their upline got all of the rest of their downline.

I went to the seminar, paid the $199, sat in the classes and the more I got into it I realized that it wasn't even a part-time opportunity. That it wasn't 'work your own hours'. I was going to meeting after meeting, class after class, continuing education, I couldn't go somewhere and have my own business cards or letter heads printed THEY had to do it, etc.

It got to be a non-stop hassle, not a job. You didn't 'work for yourself' 'cause I never seemed to have time to do any work toward making money. My father got into it the same time I did to see if it was worthwhile. Our upline went with him to do a life insurance policy and my Father sealed the deal. Since he wasn't licensed yet, the upline had to fill out the paperwork and then when the policy was done ($600,000 policy) our upline gave my Father a check for like $68 and said "Here's your commission. Great job!"

Well, the upline is doing great today with Primerica (or so he says), but if he's doing the same thing to all his downline, then I guess he could be!

Be careful with this company. The insurance industry is heavily policed, so there are policies and procedures that you have to follow for all services, but the MLM aspect tends to throw things out of whack.

Imagine my surprise when I came across this report on the internet. I have been a regular reader of Rip-off for about 2 years now and am very familiar with this site, so When I came across this report after typing in a search engine "primerica" I immediately became very apprehensive. I am hoping that I can get some current info on this company. Here is my story.

My boyfriend, was laid off almost a year ago now when his company relocated from St. Paul, MN to Marion Cty, South Carolina. His unemployment ran out is Febuary (Thanks George) so needless to say he is contantly sending out his resume to companies.

The internet and Fax have allowed him to constantly pursue jobs posted, although we have found it more difficult to talk to someone, either on the phone or in person with potential employers when resumes are submitted this way, but it has allowed him to save us $ by not burning up gas, sharing a car, etc. and still take side jobs to suppliment our income.

Anyway, he recieved a letter today From Kim H @ Prmerica to contact him about part or full time openings. He has assumed that he must have applied with this company, however he has posted his resume on monster and careerbuilders, also.

He is certified to perform industrial maintence on commercial buildings, and industrial machinery anf tools, so he has applied for jobs at colleges, hospitals and a host of private companies, and lately he has even applied for apartment building maintence jobs recently, even though the pay is less, he wants to get back to work and we need him to work, so it is hard to blow off any offer to at least check the job out.

he has no interest in business/finacial occupations and has spent many years learning his trade, amd all companies who own buildings need a maintence department to take care of them but I am suspicious now of this company.

Should he waste his time on this? Does this company hire people who would fit the above job discription, or is this just some kind of form letter to get a sucker in to a crappy marketing type of job

Monster, careerbuilder, hotjobs are all trying to ban these guys. Email reportfraud@monster.com to complain.

Most PFS reps make no money with the company. Plain and simple. If it was so wonderful to work for they wouldn't be on a non stop 5 year recruiting binge. It is NOT because they are growing, it's because they have a 95% turnover rate.

Monster, careerbuilder, hotjobs are all trying to ban these guys. Email reportfraud@monster.com to complain.

Most PFS reps make no money with the company. Plain and simple. If it was so wonderful to work for they wouldn't be on a non stop 5 year recruiting binge. It is NOT because they are growing, it's because they have a 95% turnover rate.

Monster, careerbuilder, hotjobs are all trying to ban these guys. Email reportfraud@monster.com to complain.

Most PFS reps make no money with the company. Plain and simple. If it was so wonderful to work for they wouldn't be on a non stop 5 year recruiting binge. It is NOT because they are growing, it's because they have a 95% turnover rate.

Monster, careerbuilder, hotjobs are all trying to ban these guys. Email reportfraud@monster.com to complain.

Most PFS reps make no money with the company. Plain and simple. If it was so wonderful to work for they wouldn't be on a non stop 5 year recruiting binge. It is NOT because they are growing, it's because they have a 95% turnover rate.

These people contact me at least once a week trying to recruit me and I keep telling them I'm not interested. In an economy where jobs are hard to come by that is a dead giveawy to bogus *****
P.S not only is it a different person everytime they are often not even in my state.

if you do a search on the web for the company you will find a lot of negative responses. i have yet to find or hear anything good about this company. Besides that i have had at least 8 people from the twin cities branch call me. and i refused to meet them all. i get the same email and same phone call script. it's almost funny and verging abuse at the same time.

by the way, this is a business opportunity and not a job. i don't know why they say otherwise. i dealt with another company that did the same thing and they were shut down. i feel primerica's days are numbered. they are expanding because everyone is dropping. and in those companies International Regional Director or what ever title they use is a joke, i met a guy who got the top title in 30 days. but for the next year he never made more than 2000 a month.

Dear Readers:



Let me begin this commentary by saying that I am currently a Person Financial Analyst affiliated with Primerica. Having said that, I will try to present a balanced view of my experiences with Primerica.



I am currently working full-time as an instructor teaching English and business-related subjects at a small, nonprofit junior college in Manhattan. I have a B.A. in Language and Education from the State University of New York. I come from a middle-class family. My parents are both professionals, and most of my family are professionals making good incomes. I consider myself an intelligent person, as well as an educated person.



I have worked as an actor, waiter, and salesperson, so my work background is diverse.



People seem to complain that Primerica is a scam, they have been ripped-off, Primerica reps are brainwashed, Primerica is not interested in your skills, etc., etc. Let me tell you a bit about my current job and the events that prompted me to become a Primerica representative.



I graduated from college in the top third of my class. I scored in the 99th percentile on my NTE's (National Teacher's Exams) which were, at the time, a requirement for teaching in a New York State public school. I worked my way through college ( waiting tables, cooking at restaurants, sales) so I know what it is to be a working class stiff.



When I finally graduated and began to look for work, I found that none of those things counted for much in the academic world. Time and time again, I would go on an interview for a teaching position, present my impressive credentials, do a smashing job at the interview, only to be told that there were no open positions, but that they would keep my resume on file and contact me for a follow-up interview if any openings were available. Meanwhile, I would find out a few weeks or months later that some less qualified applicant was now working at the school I applied to.



It got to the point where I had to take a job in sales just to have work to do. I got a job at a well-known electronics retailer and quickly moved up the ladder, going from salesperson to Department Manager in about a year.



After about two years with the company, I was finally, with a bit of luck and some hard work and networking, able to obtain a position at the business school I now work at.



When I got the job I was told about all the wonderful people I would be working with, the high quality of the programs offered, how I had a future with this organization, etc., etc. I would be eligible for full medical and dental benefits after 6 months (! most companies offer those benefits immediately or after a short probationary period), a matching 401k plan, profit sharing, 3 weeks paid vacation every year, ongoing professional development paid for by the school, and on and on.



Naturally, I wanted to show myself worthy of all this, so I busted my butt to do a great job as an educator, teaching 7 classes a day, tutoring students on the weekend (no overtime or other differential for that), doing curricular development, spending a good 4 hours a day marking papers, planning lessons, etc.



Turns out that the 401k was not matching, it was employee contribution only, the 3 weeks paid vacation was reduced to 2 weeks, I had to pay for the professional development seminars.



I am expected to pay for my own materials, except for textbooks (very nice of my employer to provide me with a free copy of the textbook I'll be using in my classes).



To add insult to injury, I was passed over for a promotion to Department Chairperson. After 5 years with this organization, they hired someone with no teaching experience to head the department. Well, my boss must have liked her for some reason.



The majority of my colleagues are a bunch of lazy, ignorant jerks who wouldn't lift a finger to help each other out, much less their students. Management have accused me of breaking company policies unfairly, have written reports on me that were completely untrue and forced me to sign them or lose my job, etc., etc. I have been repeatedly asked to inflate or change students' grades so that they may remain in school and have been threatened with termination if I didn't.



A few months ago a colleague of mine invited me to attend a Primerica business opportunity meeting. Having been involved with other Network Marketing companies in the past, let me just say that I was highly sceptical.



At no time during the presentation was I pressured to join. I was told that I would be presented with the facts, and I was. I was told to make my own intelligent decision, and I did.



I have been afiliated with Primerica for a few months now, and I have nothing but good things to say. I am impressed with the professionalism and dedication of the people I work with. I have been encouraged to succeed by everyone I have met. When I do something right, I am recognized and rewarded for my success. When I do something wrong (hard to do, since I am working and being trained by highly dedicated, knowledgeable people), I am shown, gently and respectfully, how to correct the situation and improve my skills.



It is gratifying to me how the people at Primerica, many of whom have no education beyond high school, many from underprivileged backgrounds, are far more honest, professional, and hardworking than most of my highly educated colleagues at school. And they make good money. And so will I.



If you want to talk about scams and ripoffs, check out the state of education in this country. I have friends working at public schools and universities who say the situation there is no better.



I went into teaching because I wanted to work hard at helping people. It is a shame that the current state of American education doesn't allow me to do that. Mostly it's because educators, for the most part, are more interested in their paid summer vacations, a gazillion days off and holidays, their 12 sick and personal days a year, and their 75% pension after 30 years.



Ask them what they, as teachers, can do to improve the state of education in their schools, in their own classrooms, and you'll get a blank stare. Because they don't know. And don't care.



The opportunity to own my own business, to be paid on the basis of my hard work, rather than my position or title, to work with honest, hardworking, dedicated people with good, solid values, and the opportunity to teach others how to do the same, to have the potential to make an unlimited income, to grow and learn and improve myself both personally and professionally-these are the reasons I joined Primerica. The only regret I have is that, after 8 years of teaching, I have not been able to do the same in the profession I originally chose.



To all those people out there who think Primerica is bunk, that it is a ripoff, that it doesn't work, that Primerica reps are unqualified, I invite you to attend a business opportunity in your area. Listen to the presentation carefully. Check out the facts. Do some research on what has been presented to you-I did.



If you can find any fault with Primerica, it's people or policies, please report it to your state Better Business Bureau, post your complaints on chat boards, tell your friends to stay away. But before you do, make sure you are in possession of the facts, not just angry or upset that it was not what you thought it was-or should be.



There are deceptive and dishonest people in every walk of life. Some are even doctors, lawyers, Presidents of the U.S.-and, unfortunately, Primerica representatives. Very few, though.



Primerica is an opportunity for hard working, honest, regular folks to make something of themselves. So far, corporate America has not presented me with a similar opportunity. Think I'll stick with Primerica.



See you at the top!

The part I thought was funny is that during their "presentation" there were mane simple spelling errors on their Powerpoint slides as well as a pie graph that did not add up to 100%. What a joke.

Where is your Email?

Where is your phone number?

I checked 10 different responses that you typed in. No contact info about you.



Just C-Midwest.



When listing your physical address, be shure to list your Space number where your trailer is at.

Thank You,



Curtis Valencia California

>What a couple of whiny sissies, obviously you two are either looking for jobs because you were fired, downsized, or don't make enough.



This is a typical Primerica line. They can spew their venom at anybody, at the corporate world, and at anybody who understands that Primerica is a sleazy MLM.



>Pay a little more attention the next time you're presented with something before jumping to conclusions and responding like a baby. So far this year, (As of 4-6-02) I've been paid more than $58,000 with Primerica.



It's amazing that, even though published numbers from Primerica show that only a very low percentage of their sales force make a livable income, that almost ALL of them seem to hang out here!



>Take the negative, phony editorials that you'll read on this site with a TABLE SPOON of salt. It's hysterical reading all the goofy, negative responses about Primerica. I've offered more than once, to get them accurate information and or proof,



Hey Curtis, how about the SCANNED IN PROOF of Primerica deception that was posted? I haven't heard a reply to that. The problem is, you don't have "accurate information and or proof". You have rah-rah materials and the same misleading garbage you try to give to consumers.



>This includes all the kooks like Lonnie the Okie, The Fraud Chick, C Midwest, and other Primerica haters. They are phony, planted response writers to this site who won't provide real proof of who they are



I always put in my e-mail address, "Curtis". Go ahead and contact me.



>You can expect lots off venom spewing after this response. I guarantee half of them don't make $30,000 a year and they're on some type of medication for kooks.



Talk about venom and hate! Just what to expect from MLMers like Primericans.

Bill & David



What a couple of whiny sissies, obviously you two are either looking for jobs because you were fired, downsized, or don't make enough. Pay a little more attention the next time you're presented with something before jumping to conclusions and responding like a baby. So far this year, (As of 4-6-02) I've been paid more than $58,000 with Primerica.



Not bad for a former Teamster/Warehouseman. My email is goldenec@aol, I will fax you my pay check stubs or I'll even talk to you over the phone to help you understand the truth about Primerica.



Take the negative, phony editorials that you'll read on this site with a TABLE SPOON of salt. It's hysterical reading all the goofy, negative responses about Primerica. I've offered more than once, to get them accurate information and or proof, along with my email address and they either cut it out of my response and they NEVER have responded to my email address offers. This includes all the kooks like Lonnie the Okie, The Fraud Chick, C Midwest, and other Primerica haters. They are phony, planted response writers to this site who won't provide real proof of who they are. You can expect lots off venom spewing after this response. I guarantee half of them don't make $30,000 a year and they're on some type of medication for kooks.

Here is a note I received from this Scam Organization... What a load of Crap..



>>>>>>>

I have received your resume from CareerBuilder.com and would like to speak to you concerning opportunities with our company. We are Primerica Financial Services, a division of Citigroup, the largest financial services company in the world.



We are aggressively expanding offices in the Northern Virginia area. As a result, we are holding 3 corporate overviews at our office location on the dates listed below:



Wednesday March 27th starting promptly at 12:00pm



Thursday EVENING March 28th starting promptly at 7:30pm



Thursday EVENING April 4th starting promptly at 7:30pm



Our office is located at 8700 Centreville Rd, Suite 8696, Manassas, Va. 20110 (Ground level, in the Synergy building)



We have seen information in your resume that leads us to conclude that you have skills and experience, which we are looking for, and I would like to invite you to attend one of these briefings. This informational overview will give you details about our company, concepts, and compensation.



Please give me a call if you would like more information or if you would like to attend one of the briefings.



Regards,

Scott Warren, Regional Manager (703) 393-7683

For more information about our company please visit our web sites at www.citigroup.com or www.primerica.com.





CareerBuilder.com is not responsible for the contents of this e-mail. Please reply directly to the sender if you have any questions or concerns regarding the content.



If you do not wish to receive any future e-mails from employers, please deactivate your resume at CareerBuilder.com

>>>>>>>

How About you Scam companies deactivate your resume pilfering activities at Careerbuilder instead....