Complaint Review: Primerica

I just love the way David of Maitland Florida stated that "pass or fail you fax that notice to the company and your exam fee is refunded 100%." When I was with Primerica approx 2 years ago, I paid the $199 fee, took the pre-licensing courses, then paid another $65(I think it was) to take the life test.

After I successfully passed the test, I was refunded the $65 exam fee I paid (nothing from the original $199). Luckily, I passed the exam on the first try, but do remember others that would take the exam 2, 3, 4 or even more times before they passed it. When were they refunded the exam fee???? Only AFTER they passed the exam---they were NOT refunded the fee the other 2, 3, 4 times they took it. These people were just out that money. One person in another office in the area actually took the test 10 times before he passed it. Not only was he out the $199, but was also out another $585 after being reimbursed the $65 when he finally passed the exam! Think he's still out there making money with PFS or dreaming about what he SHOULD have done with that money (such as invest it???). Glad I got out when I did.

C told you that you pay $199 to primerica which is true. He then says you pay for the licensing which is false. The $199 will pay for your licensing. In some states the state will charge you to take the exam. They will issue you a pass/fail notice upon completion. Pass or fail you fax that notice to the company and your exam fee is refunded 100%. This has nothing to do with the $199. Be careful of the advice you get from some of these people.

>Well, as for the $199 price tag. None of that goes to Primrearica. That goes to the licencing bureau for a LICENCE.

It goes directly to Primerica. You then pay for your licensing. Then, your upline expects you to give him/her your "warm market" list so he/she can harvest your potential sales for him/ herself. It varies from office to office, but sometimes the uplines require, say, six SALES to be made to your list. Then, the refund of the $200 comes out of the upline's pocket, in return for taking your first three, six, whatever sales.

>I do a different kind of work and paid $3000 for my licence issued by the FAA.

So?


>As for MLM. If you mean a pyramid, then you are correct. Primrearica is a pyramid like most companies in the world. Many people at the bottom and a few at the top (how many CEO's do you have at YOUR company???).

Only from an MLM could come such a ridiculous line. We're not talking "multi-level company". We're talking "multi-level marketing", like Amway. The kind where new recruits are the gas behind the growth (or, in Primerica's case, lack thereof). Just look at your flopportunity meetings, at the whiteboard in your office, at the plaques, at your promotion guidelines and you see the driving force behind your company - get as many people in (and in most cases, out) the door as possible.


>The difference is that ANYONE if they work hard can become one of the people at the top. When are YOU going to become CEO of your company?

When do you plan on becoming CEO of yourse? Is this what your recruiter told you?

>Commission? Yes, we are commission. So are Real Estate Agents, car salesmen, people who sell ads for your newspaper and yes, your local insurance angent. There is nothing wrong with being on commission - it is a different type of job.

You're right. It's fine to be commissioned. But if that is your only means of income (i.e. no salary), then wouldn't it be nice to NOT make the lowest commissions in the industry?

>I think that many people get discouraged with the opportunity at Primerica because they are just looking for that paycheck whether they work hard or not.

Or, they were deceptively sold a dream, and told everybody would want what they sell. All lies.

> We are a company that rewards hard work

Let us know how you're doing in a year.

Well, as for the $199 price tag. None of that goes to Primrearica. That goes to the licencing bureau for a LICENCE. I do a different kind of work and paid $3000 for my licence issued by the FAA. Lawyers and accountants pay for licences too. This is not a new concept.

As for MLM. If you mean a pyramid, then you are correct. Primrearica is a pyramid like most companies in the world. Many people at the bottom and a few at the top (how many CEO's do you have at YOUR company???). The difference is that ANYONE if they work hard can become one of the people at the top. When are YOU going to become CEO of your company?

Commission? Yes, we are commission. So are Real Estate Agents, car salesmen, people who sell ads for your newspaper and yes, your local insurance angent. There is nothing wrong with being on commission - it is a different type of job.

I think that many people get discouraged with the opportunity at Primerica because they are just looking for that paycheck whether they work hard or not. We are a company that rewards hard work. I am a hard worker and would RATHER get paid for how hard I work. This opportunity was just not for you.

As for "us in Phoenix Az do it different", what a joke! I too was recruited through the Internet.

Once i showed up there was a full "class" of job hunters. Most of which now I think were plants. After sitting there listening to one blowhard after the other talk about how great the company was, the final guy went up and hit us with the $199 price tag. Immediatly after he went on to say they were looking for leaders and not anyone else.

I think they are all trained the same way. I've read other reports on here where the "office" next door people were cheering about the great success they've had with the program. That happened in my interview too. And this was in Phoenix AZ.

Finally after all the long winded liars were done spewing their manipulative lies, they handed out a survey. I looked at it, and it was nothing but more solicitaion, "let us fill out a financial analysis for you, and put down the names of people we can also con!"

The closer was a humpty dumpty type who said he drives a "vette" and kept going on about how the company had given him the sports coat he had on, I assume the other speakers probably gave him guff about the jacket because it was quite the site...bright green!

The meeting was over, I was the first one up and out and almost all of the actual job seekers soon followed. On my way out, people were lined in the halls waiting to take our "surveys". I passed the recruiter (Paul Sheridan) who called me originally and he gave me a quizzical look.

Just because the group is affiliated with Citigroup, does not make it a legitimate job. If they can collect $200+ for every sucker that buys in to their scam, you think they will turn it away? It might be legal, but it's still a scam. Like others have said, if the program is so successful, what are u doing on ripoffreport.com?

My highest level of education is high school, and a GED at that! I was considered perfect for the job. More like an obvious target. Little do they know it doesn't take education to spot an mlm scam! Mom always said, if it walks like one and talks like one then it usually is!

Primerica uses the method of pulling resumes in order to be able to offer people looking for work another way to make an income.

It's like using a shotgun to kill a deer...call everyone and everything in sight. Just don't mention what you do or they'll never come to your...ahem..."interview".

My "recruiter" was extremely honest with me telling me that this was network marketing in financial products, many are not that forthright however, but since I lost a job in securities, I WAS interested.

You have a one-in-a-million recruiter. The standard Primerica line, before coming to the 'interview', is something like "we are opening several new offices and are looking for people to head the offices, and you are perfect for it." Once you're in the door, it's more like "we are giving you the opportunity to help people you love, by giving them what they want, and getting paid to do it." Hardly an accurate description for "a salesperson selling insurance for a multi-level marketing organization".

We do not call ourselves insurance salespeople because most people hold a very negative view of insurance even though it is a necessity for most individuals.

Right. You call yourselves something that sounds vaguely impressive to make you sound like you know things that you don't.

:Besides insurance is only a small but important part of what we do which includes securities and mortgages.

How about a "financial products peddler"?

: This is NOT a job. It is working for yourself in affiliation with Primerica which is part of CitiGroup.

Right on the first count. It's not a job. Wrong on the second point. You do not work for yourself. You work as a commissioned salesperson for a multi-level marketing outfit.

:I am truly sorry that you feel that you wasted your time. It should have been explained to you what you were going to be shown.

That was the complaint, after all. But it's the M.O. for PFS.

: If you were not interested then you could have chosen not to come.

It's hard to choose not to come when you've been lied to about what it was.

:Only people that truly want to be self-employed should even look into this because it takes that entrepeneural spirit and the desire to help others to be successful and happy in this career.

What a ridiculous fallacy! First, again, you are not self-employed, and you probably never will be with Primerica. You are selling products as a commissioned salesperson in a multi-level marketing organization. And to imply that PFS is some sort of entrepreneurship! Give me a break! I help far more people on my J-O-B than you could ever dream of. And that's not even defining your twisted version of "help" when you try to sell products. The extent of your "help" will always be "buy this product from me".

:There are always going to be people so anxious to "make it" that they act like this is just some scheme to recruit alot of people. While it probably does take alot of interviewing to find the right people for your team, not just anyone with the money to pay for training should be hired in.

If it was any business other than MLM, that's probably what would happen. But by now you know that it's an MLM, and that's WHAT THEY DO.

:Here in AZ when you complete your training, and get your life and health license, most of the initial fee is refunded to the applicant. No other business that I have ever tried offered to help me learn the ropes or to refund my original fee.

So you've paid other companies to hire you, too?

: I have been part of many things and this speaks to me of a more reputable nature than anything I was ever part of.

Let us know how you're doing in a year.

:Again, I am sorry your experience was negative. I asked what it was and I was told. We are not trying to fool people here

Then DON'T TRY TO FOOL PEOPLE.

: The choice is yours. Afterall, life is all about choices.

And that's why there are sites that give the "other half" of the story - the half not told at MLM rah-rah meetings.

I been to there meetings and you not going to say that what they said at the meeting wasn't true. The $199.00 goes to the state (not to primerica)to get your licence and primerica pays you back $200.00, you do remember that, do you? How will you loose? When you get you licence you can work for anybody else if you wanted too. Also, read or buy "Money" magazine June 2002 and you will read that primerica that is under Citicorp and is the leader of the pack no other company come close. This is the compnay that will make you money and be financially independent. If this company is a scam then Citigroup will be a scam also. Read the magazine and you will be surprise whos works for Citigroup. By the way I invest with this company and I'm 30 years old, Thanks!!!!! to primerica I'm retired and financially independent and you're looking for a job.

Primerica uses the method of pulling resumes in order to be able to offer people looking for work another way to make an income.

Usually, our people have fulltime other employment and begin on a part time basis until they are doing well enough to work only for Primerica or perhaps choose not to.

My "recruiter" was extremely honest with me telling me that this was network marketing in financial products, many are not that forthright however, but since I lost a job in securities, I WAS interested.

We do not call ourselves insurance salespeople because most people hold a very negative view of insurance even though it is a necessity for most individuals. Besides insurance is only a small but important part of what we do which includes securities and mortgages.

This is NOT a job. It is working for yourself in affiliation with Primerica which is part of CitiGroup.

I am truly sorry that you feel that you wasted your time. It should have been explained to you what you were going to be shown. If you were not interested then you could have chosen not to come.

Only people that truly want to be self-employed should even look into this because it takes that entrepeneural spirit and the desire to help others to be successful and happy in this career.

There are always going to be people so anxious to "make it" that they act like this is just some scheme to recruit alot of people. While it probably does take alot of interviewing to find the right people for your team, not just anyone with the money to pay for training should be hired in.

Here in AZ when you complete your training, and get your life and health license, most of the initial fee is refunded to the applicant. No other business that I have ever tried offered to help me learn the ropes or to refund my original fee. I have been part of many things and this speaks to me of a more reputable nature than anything I was ever part of.

Again, I am sorry your experience was negative. I asked what it was and I was told. We are not trying to fool people here, only to offer an opportunity. The choice is yours. Afterall, life is all about choices.

Much success to you in your business endeavors. I sincerely hope you find your permanent employment opportunity that you seek very soon.