- Report: #155518
Complaint Review: Primerica - California
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Primerica
303 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Suite M195 92694 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
949-455-7637
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Primerica - A Member Of Citigroup dishonest, ripoff, possible fraud Burbank, California*UPDATE: Primerica gets a POSITIVE rating from Rip-off Report in customer support & satisfaction. Primerica pledges to resolve complaints from the past, present and in the future, and give 100% commitment to customer service-say Company Executives!
Never do business with Primemerica if you want to have decent cumstomer service. I regrettably have an account with Primerica, specifically a Mutual Fund through Smith Barney. My husband passed away and as requested by my tax advisor, I contacted Primerica to have my late husbands name taken off the account. The account should have been made in both our names as primary holders but I found out too late that wasn't the case.
I was told I needed to provide them with a certified copy of the death certificate ($15.00 each) and a letter stating my request with a signature guarantee from my bank. I deligently followed the instructions, and mind you folks, this was not the first institution I had to do this with but, the only one that is giving me problems. After some time elapsed and not hearing from anyone, I called to find out what the deal was. Well you can probably guess, they had no record!!
I contacted the dealer who originated my investment and he seemed accomodating, apologizing and promising to get right on it, of course, after mentioning to me that I should rethink my investment and that we should meet. He was prompt on sending me the paperwork but again when I returned the aboved mentioned (and another death certificate at $15.00), I did not get a response. When I called again to inquire, he told me he forgot that I needed an 'original' signature guarantee, not the copy. This time I sent the letter certified mail as the letter was an original. Again, I waited. I just recieved back from the post office, after a month in a half, the certified letter as undeliverable. Now I ask you folks, is this the way you want to have someone handle your money and accounts???
I cannot get a hold of my dealer or his local supervisor. When I called the corporate office of Primerica the only sympathy I got was send the info again. My husband died in 2001, you do the math. I now am out two death certificates (at $30.00), two original signature guarantee letters, and most important, my valuable time!!!! All they can say is send it again, it has been almost (5) five years!!! This really should not be a big deal, it hasn't been with any other campany I have requested changes to. With what I have been reading about Citibank, and some of the unscrupulous dealings they are being investigated for, I am worried that this is par for the course. All I can say to all of you reading this is, do your investments locally with a reputable company. If they come to your house and say they work out of thier home...RUN!!! I can't wait to solve this and get my money as far away from PRIMERICA AS I CAN.
Sue
Valencia, California
U.S.A.
I was told I needed to provide them with a certified copy of the death certificate ($15.00 each) and a letter stating my request with a signature guarantee from my bank. I deligently followed the instructions, and mind you folks, this was not the first institution I had to do this with but, the only one that is giving me problems. After some time elapsed and not hearing from anyone, I called to find out what the deal was. Well you can probably guess, they had no record!!
I contacted the dealer who originated my investment and he seemed accomodating, apologizing and promising to get right on it, of course, after mentioning to me that I should rethink my investment and that we should meet. He was prompt on sending me the paperwork but again when I returned the aboved mentioned (and another death certificate at $15.00), I did not get a response. When I called again to inquire, he told me he forgot that I needed an 'original' signature guarantee, not the copy. This time I sent the letter certified mail as the letter was an original. Again, I waited. I just recieved back from the post office, after a month in a half, the certified letter as undeliverable. Now I ask you folks, is this the way you want to have someone handle your money and accounts???
I cannot get a hold of my dealer or his local supervisor. When I called the corporate office of Primerica the only sympathy I got was send the info again. My husband died in 2001, you do the math. I now am out two death certificates (at $30.00), two original signature guarantee letters, and most important, my valuable time!!!! All they can say is send it again, it has been almost (5) five years!!! This really should not be a big deal, it hasn't been with any other campany I have requested changes to. With what I have been reading about Citibank, and some of the unscrupulous dealings they are being investigated for, I am worried that this is par for the course. All I can say to all of you reading this is, do your investments locally with a reputable company. If they come to your house and say they work out of thier home...RUN!!! I can't wait to solve this and get my money as far away from PRIMERICA AS I CAN.
Sue
Valencia, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Primerica
Indianapolis,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Sorry for your loss; but identity theft is a serious concern
#2UPDATE Employee
Fri, September 02, 2005
Sue, I am sad to hear of you predicament. I also, offer my condolences on your loss. You situation is not the norm. It, unfortunately, also sounds like it may be the results of your own inaction. First, you said you just received back a letter which was returned undeliverable. It is your responsibility to ensure the address was correct prior to mailing. You should have called the Primerica office to make sure the address was correct before it was placed in the mail. Next, many agents do work out of their office. This is typical of many insurance companies, not just Primerica. Even if your agent works out of his home, he is still associated with a regional office. It is to that office that all written correspondence should be delivered. Once a letter is sent, you should be following up with a telephone call. If the letter did not arrive after a few days, you know immediately. You wrote of only three, possibly four, contacts with the company over a five year period. This is not a sincere effort of a diligent person. If you call up with a question, never to be heard of again, people cannot be expected to remember your situation after nine months. You could have easily taken your documents into the office to initiate the process in person, which is the normal response. A rather lackadaisical approach on your part, even in a grieving situation, is not a negative reflection on Primerica. A single letter, inappropriately prepared, without any personal follow up cannot be known to be authentic or fraud intended to swindle someone out of their wealth. You had the responsibility to promptly follow up your requests. With the return of your last letter, it is becomes doubtful whether any of your letters reached the appropriate person. As far as the big deal goes: It is a big deal when someone tries to lay claim of someone else's assets without proper documentation. Identity theft is a reality that we must live with today. Be thankful Citi overprotects your assets than not providing those assets with adequate protection.
