Complaint Review: Primerica/Altig/AIL/Whatever - Ottawa Ontario

I would'nt be the first guy to type irritated ripoff reports on Primerica/AIL/Altig. Anyways, here goes..

A couple of weeks ago, I found out that I may be laid off from my current place of employment. I responded to a Primerica ad in the local employment news. I talked to a "Tim Chang", a Chinese/Oriental. I was asked to come for a session. I don't have a car and it was -20 C or approx -5 F (without windchill). I took the bus, took quite a walk and finally managed to reach their 'office'.

I read a brochure that said I'd be spending $199 first. At that moment, I decided I was not gonna have nothing to do with them. I am not rude enough to walk away, so I sat thru the 'PP presentation'. First, the 'high skool grad' told us about how Primerica changed his life, starting with the NYSE listing, Fortune 1000, assets more than Microsoft..

The second guy worked 4 months in the Government, realized finances was the way to go. He told us why going into finance is the next happening thing. Numbers like 130 Billion were frequently mentioned. (A job in the Canadian government is extremely comfortable, I should say). I was now yawning.

The 3rd guy, has a degree in finance. He first screwed up, felt his way around and realized Primerica is paradise. He showed lots of charts and graphs, how banks fool u and Primerica is the goodguy that saves the World from the Evil Banks. Around this time, "Tim Chang" comes into the room with "I just made $200,000", pumping his fists. It looked like a pathetic skit. I was hungry now. So I make my cellphone ring, excuse myself, make a call to my roomie, talk some crap, get back into the room, cook some emergency excuse crap and leave.

The words billion, Does that make sense, Is that fair, Agreed, opportunity were still haunting me. I am a recent immigrant working in the hi-hi-tech industry. In 3 years, I have learned that not a dollar comes easy, even in the New World, more so anywhere else.

I just dismissed it like I dismiss the CNN/CBS lefty propaganda everyday. In about a coupla days, I forget my cellphone @ home and I see "Tim Chang's" number in the missed calls. I ignore it.

Hardly 3 days after, which is yesterday, I am going back home, taking the bus. "Sonia" is calling from Altig HR department. (I donno nothing about altig and I snap to attention) She says my profile is very interesting and she got my resume from a consultant who fwded it to her. Which sounds kinda legit. Her managers wants to talk with me, they think I can be a good asset. By now, I think Altig- Alt- Altitude- satellite comm, which is my area of specialization. I curse myself for being so ignorant and tell myself I am never gonna land another job if I did not know a local company that specialized in my uncommon area.

I am asked to call her @ 7.30 AM (a HR that starts work that early is not a HR) the next morning. But I can't stop thinking about it coz I need a job so badly. A company called Altiga which made IP, VPN, network products was acquired by Cisco 5 years back and I confuse this with that. I am excited about a consultancy job and all! I get up early today and call her @ 599-5000. She asks 3 questions for the heck of it. I am gushing out my top 3 skills, my unique skill set etc etc. I even try to impress her with my knowledge Altiga was bought by the mighty Cisco, to which she says 'Hmm'. I repeatedly ask what position is the hiring for and she says "multiple positions including managers, sales etc etc". I have an interview 11.30 AM tomorrow.

I check the website- its all about finance and insurance and all that. Then I google for it, hit upon a page. An angry guy is responding to "leslie" who put up a 'now hiring' ad. And I see the 599-5000 number. The more I google, the more dirt I dig up.

I don't think its a co-incidence that Altig called me just after Primerica. Mabbe they are in cahoots or something. So no interview with "melanie" tomorrow. I first wanted to blast Sonia for giving me that spark of false hope. Then I realize "poor girl, she was suckered" and I let go.

I am gonna complain to someone of authority.

S

Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

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