Primerica

I reviewed my checking account where Primerica has been taking $25.00 every month. For providing me any service at all. When I called them, the answer was non-refundable. Since mid-2010, now I want them to put all my money back to my account.

Our bank account was having some problems so we contacted Primerica Life Insurance to inform them not to try to automatically withdraw the funds for our premium out of the bank. They told us not to worry. I went in to check my bank account this morning and sure enough twice they tried to take the money out. We were faced with two $35 overdraft fees because they tried to automatically withdraw the money.

I joined Primerica in July of 2011, as a way to make some extra money while going to college. I was recruited by my friend who lived in Idaho. At the time, I was visiting up there for the Fourth of July. After saying our farewells, I met with the regional vice president (RVP) where I lived and signed the deal to become a representative. Let me just get this out of the way, I can make over $100,000 a year by the time I graduate from college (I already got a free ride to college, so ***, right?).

For most people, they don't understand why they have to "pay" to get in. It's simple. The $99 covers all of the legal costs and classes required to take your state license exam (repeatedly, if necessary), to license you to sell life insurance and other products, including securities licensing. This is a ** sweet deal, as it points out in the presentation. You would spend well over a few hundred dollars (of your own money) if you do it on your own. Why do Primerica? It is because there is no other business in the world, that I can think of that respects and treats you the way you want to be treated as a human being. Not only are you paying $99 for a licensing fee (which should cost more, but that's Primerica's way), you are also joining a family of people who only want you to grow your own business, and will help in any way they can (including sitting down with you at home) to get you prepared and started.

Most people are so lazy, that they will not even try to start their own business, and expect everyone and everything to come to them and do it for them. This is a very goal-driven business. You have to set a goal, a financial one, so that you are driven to do what you need to do to get to where you want to be. Everyone's goal is different, but everyone's destination is the same (grow a business, help families out by helping them save money, and make money for retirement and move on.)

The only way you don't make money in this business is either you don't work, or you don't take the time to get good at what you do. There is a host of people here who are willing to help you out (millionaires including) and grow your business. You have to do it. You have to open your mouth. Even if, you are shy, you can do this business. I was shy my whole life, and I have talked to people with more confidence than I've ever felt in my entire life. Why? It is because I know where I'm going, and I've set a goal. That's it. If you wanted to stay where you're at (accept mediocrity) then this business, is not for you. These people have felt success, and nobody, not even you, are going to stop them. That's why they are so excited for you to join, because they feel that everyone has a deep secret of goals hiding away, that truthfully, only money can bring. Rich people do not get there over night. This is not a get rich quick scheme. The system works! It's you who is the problem if you don't find time to get good at what you do, or set an appointment to meet people. That's it. You meet and talk to people every day. That is your "warm market". Those are people you can sit down with and either recruit, or get them to save money by switching to Term Life Insurance.

When the twin towers hit, Primerica was the only company to pay out on the families of the victims; they do not have a clause that states an "act of war" is voided in a policy. They cover suicides. Most policies (the corrupt ones) do not show you the fine print. Primerica helps families, and when you do the right thing, you will always succeed against anyone competing with you. There really is no better company out there that I can think of that is structured and provides for families and individuals out there than Primerica. Life insurance is a necessary evil. Money is a necessary evil. Unless you're satisfied with mediocrity, or are selfish, you will want to do this business. Why? You want to help yourself, and you want to help your family by saving money for retirement, and growing a business. That's it. If you have questions and comments, please contact me at **@yahoo.com.

There is nothing wrong with Primerica, and to all who feel as if they've been "screwed" well, move on! What good is it going to do you by bashing a company you know nothing of? Your cashier at McDonalds gives you attitude, so what? You get a bad customer service tip at your bank, so what? You deal with ONE Primerica genius who's a little pushy, or shady...that means the whole company is bad? There are pushy, rude, and shady people all over the world, working in a variety of different businesses, so obviously you WILL run into a few in your work place, your financial institution, your doctor's office, etc...GET REAL...and truly get over yourselves. All you people are crying because you did not read the fine print, or take your time to do your own researching.

First, to pay only $99 to cover my background check, and licensing tests and fees...that is a freaking DEAL! Second, the only way YOU fail is if YOU don't do the work. Obviously you have to sell things and get people excited about something, and if YOU can't do it, Primerica isn't for you. To top it off, paying $25 a month to keep your business running is just a hassling expense that needs to be done. Woe is me! I'm a single mom and that $25 could have bought my son new shoes! Yes, but that $25 is keeping mommy employed and keeping our butts off the street in a cute little rental property!

FYI--If you work at a car dealership, they usually have you sign a clause that states you cannot work for another car dealership within 200miles for a period of 2 years after your quitting or release date. Did any of you know that? Same with fast food, rickshaw companies, and virtually anyone with competition. EVERY JOB HAS A CATCH, Primerica's catch is probably having to actually use your brain to make things work. Duh!

I was contacted at work by someone claiming to be interested in giving me a job. He said he was a customer and was impressed by my professionalism. After somewhat shadily asking me to talk privately and that he didn't want to discuss anything over the phone, I greed. After a little skepticism, I agreed to try working part-time. I paid $50 for a licensing fee and was told if I didn't pass the background check or changed my mind, I could get it back.

Ive been with the company for a couple of months now and if theres one thing I learned is that if your not willing to do the work your not going to succeed. The $99 "fee" is to cover your own background check, because your working for an insurance agency there are certain laws that must be followed(if you get a job as a handy man dont you have to buy your own tools? or a waiter, dont you have to buy your own uniform?). Also this goes towards you licensing. Usually the state test is around $60 to $75. If you follow all the guidelines (such as passing their free pre-licensing exam) They will pay for your test with nothing out of pocket for that. The money for the exam doesn't even go to Primerica, it goes to the federal Government.

Like any company there is bound to be a few bad eggs, people who are not honest upfront and only want to make a sale. Truth be told I believe Primerica to be one of the best companies Ive ever researched and worked for. If you notice all the people who had a bad employment experience resulted from the inability or reluctance to do the job. Why should you be paid if you dont work? If you applied to be a handyman, spent hundreds of dollars on your own tools and never did the work should the company reimburse you for those tools? This is a career and all careers require some sort of expense whether it be clothes, textbooks, tools, or something else.

If you had a bad experience with a certain office or rep don't blame the company, thats like a waiter being rude to you and instead of directing the manager to the problem waiter you just stop going to the place and tell others not to go there either, despite other people saying they've never had a bad experience. With that all I have to say is do your research, do the work, and dont blame others when you fail. This job is for the business driven, and the motivated...not the lazy or people just trying to get rich quick...it doesnt work like that outside of the Lottery.

If a person has started with the company and does not succeed, there is no one to blame but themselves because if you do actually work, there is no way you can fail and I am a proof of that.

Nothing. I love Primerica, and you guys here are freaking out over it, but Primerica is good. You guys are just **, and just because I'm 10, doesn't mean I don't have a say, because the adults who are not thinking, set a bad example for kids, and they'll grow up to be haters.

On 4-01-2003, an agent sold me a policy. I wanted $50,000 whole life, but I received a $20,000 term life. This is not what I signed up for. This was 2 months after my husband passed away. My sister was with me, she also thought that was what I was getting. Wrong, he lied. Lost of $50.53 every month for 7 years for something I did not want. Very upsetting. I had already planned my end of life thinking I had a $50,000 whole life.

My daughter was invited to what she believed was an office party with a boy that she liked. It turned out to be a recruitment session for this Primerica Company. She was singled out and taken to a room where she was intimidated into giving information for an application. They took her social security number, her credit card number and asked her to sign the document. When she asked if she could bring the application home before giving them any information, they intimidated her by telling her other young adults don't need to ask their mommy's and daddy's permission. This man named Ron told her he would bring it to her house the next night to talk with her parents.

I had to cancel her credit card and call bogus numbers given to her by this Jason **l (the boy who asked her to come). If a company is on the up and up then why the bogus numbers and when I called the regional Vice President named Buzz Walters have they not returned my calls for the application back?

My daughter didn't sleep all night worrying and being upset about being used by someone representing this company; i.e the boy Jason **. His number is 1-757-899-0983. Thank you for your help.

To sum up all of the story, I had a really bad time at Primerica "where you earn a lot of money." But they don't tell you that you earn money by bothering your friends and family members, that in the first session, you have to put all you relatives' phone numbers for you to make money, and if you don't want to stay there, you paid the $99 dollar fee.

They tell you like a 100 times that all your money is going again in your pocket. But then, when you get out, because you saw that Primerica is garbage, they tell you that now you are not getting your $99.00 dollars back, but now you are getting $69.00 because of some other fees. What a great company that "helps people".

Although many people complain about Primerica in regards to employment, I want to express that they are a good company to obtain services from, in my case, life insurance. I had my two loved ones who passed away in 2009. Our life insurance agent responded quickly, and within a few days we had all of the funeral arrangements paid for and covered. Even though our family experienced a tragedy, it was nice to know that we had someone we can to count on.

I had Term Life Insurance with Primerica for the last 10 years. I called the producer for a review then reviewed my policy, added my new wife and then Bob offered the business opportunity. I paid $99.00 for a background check, passed the background check and I took the pre-license course. I took the Michigan Life test today and I passed. The only fee is $25.00 a month for online website. I was never promised something for nothing. It is a career choice and not a get rich scheme. The only complaint I have is, why Bob didn't offer this 10 years ago.

Primerica has you in for a 3 to 4-hour spiel on how working for them is the way to financial independence. But when you decide it is not for you, they become unreachable and uncontactable and rude. Then they continue to steal your money for working for them so they say. I am out 100.00 dollars for a bunch of ** crap and now I can not get them out of my bank account. The bank is trying to get my money back from them.

In 1987, I met with a Senior Vice President in VA. I decided to join the company. I found out that they were saving people's financial future and a burning desire to help people hit me. I had $50,000 of life insurance with another company spending $50/mo and Primerica gave me $250,000 for $38. That was a no brainer. I spent over $500 of my own money and got licensed. I was coachable. I did my three Field Training Sales, learned the business, got six promotions in 12 months, made more money part time than my full time job (Newport News Shipyard).

I got promoted to RVP, made the Financial Independence Council (earning $100,000 in a 12 month period). I am working on my next promotion to Senior Vice President by helping others get promoted to Regional Vice President. In 23 years in Primerica, I have never had a complaint from one of my recruits or clients. If you work this business right and do unto others as you want to be done unto you, you will succeed. I'm a living proof. Let my record stand for itself!

Premium was paid in 6-1997. My wife died on 6-1997. I inquired about the policy and got no response. Distraught and confused for many years and left with 5 young children, finally I was able to think straight. I inquired about the policy. The bank says it can't go back far enough to show the check was paid. I know that Prime America should have records. I also know that it is the practice of insurance companies to do everything in their power not to pay even just claims. I am still pursuing. I will continue to try legal and media ways to try and get this situation resolved. As a result, there has been a long, hard struggle to maintain. If it had not been for the goodness of the Lord, I would not have made it this far as a single father of five. 3 girls, 2 boys.

Primerica should not prey on the unemployed by deceptive job interviewing promises. A San Diego office called me seeming to want my services for a training position. They used the DBA acronym of their business name (not the word "Primerica") with a trailer "a part of Citicorp." I went in for a 30-minute interview and it sounded great. The second interview was scheduled for the next day to explain in detail about their company, Primerica. After researching online, I cancelled the second interview, as I do not want to have anything to do with their company.

I feel obtaining reference information while waiting, and deception of innocent job seekers is a very bad business practice especially in these hard times. It is a waste of everyone's time and effort. I would never want anyone to support this company, let alone my friends! It's a waste of time for job seekers.

One correction to my article: It was NOT $99 per month, as previously stated, but instead was a one-time fee of $99, as well as a $25 per month obligation. Despite these seemingly small commitment fees, they are still profoundly much for my circumstances; and obviously for others who are affected by an ongoing bad economy.

I will say that there's much to be desired in a corporation that contains plenty of hardened business people who are obviously accustomed to stomping all over the newcomers. I wish I could convey, directly verbalized to Mr. ** himself, what my personal experiences have been. Two of my good friends have already entered into this company--one of which mastered getting certified with a topnotch grade (from the state exam) on her very first attempt (which is a highly uncommon feat), but is currently barely holding on with Primerica because she now has no direction with what to do from there; and the other friend, also very intelligent, resigned in disgust.

Like many of the others, my indoctrination fee was also $99 per month and $25 per month from there--still a challenge for someone living in Michigan's economy. I'm currently not in a position to divulge my own experiences online, but I would give anything--even considerably more challenging payments than those mentioned above--to have a face-to-face discussion with Mr. Tom **.

If this can't be achieved, then I'll settle for a telephone discussion. Somebody needs to wake him up, and I would love to be the one to do just that; and if nothing else, I do hope that Mr. ** finds this website to become informative about the fact that my experiences are not isolated. Anyone in Primerica's hierarchy listening out there? Would you care to give me a call? I think it's very sad that Mr. **'s contact information remains unknown to the newcomers.

I, too, fell victim to this scam known as Primerica. It all started one day when I was soundly sleeping in my bed when an unknown number called my cell phone and left me a voice mail. I listened to the voice mail and could even hardly make out the name of the company from which the guy said he was calling. In the voice mail, he asked if I was still looking for employment.

As a recent college graduate desperate to find a job in this sluggish economy, I gladly called back and set up an interview. So I met with the guy who was to become my "field trainer" or whatever and he explained to me what I would be doing. As a journalism major in college, I hadn't the slightest clue or interest in selling insurance, which is what I got out of the interview. But being desperate to work, I agreed to a second interview, and the really weird part is that he asked me if I wanted to meet at the local office or if I wanted him to come to my house (strange).

I always felt really pressured when I met with him, and I found it strange the way he always had me write down names of people who I knew. He told me that there was a $99 fee but that if I didn't have it, I could do a "scholarship" program to where I go with my field trainer on three "successful" interviews with prospective buyers/victims in my "warm market" (people close to me - friends and family) to waive the $99 fee, which is what I chose to do.

So we went on several interviews to houses of people I knew and the whole process just seemed a little strange to me. I found it weird how I wasn't participating (I would just sit at the kitchen table watching him explain all this information to my friends who were just as confused as me) and how he always left papers with everyone and asked them to fill out names of people they knew. Even to customers who didn't or wasn't interested in the whole process, he would constantly call me and ask if I had gotten the list of names. Finally after the third client, my field trainer just stopped calling me and that's when I knew that I had been scammed. I could tell from the beginning that it was a little strange and didn't seem like a real job, but being the desperate unemployed college graduate that I am, I accepted.

I feel absolutely embarrassed to have to tell my friends that it was a scam and I am constantly apologizing to them for putting them through this and for giving out their personal financial information to these crooks at Primerica. These cronies are a weird bunch as well. My field trainer told me that I needed to go to the weekly meetings which were every Tuesday night and this was during the summer and Tuesday nights were volleyball nights for me so I rarely showed up and just made excuses as to why I wasn't there.

The few meetings that I went to were absolute repeats of one another. The same people got up in the same order and talked about the same old stuff - about how great Primerica was and how it's changed their lives, etc. I spent the entire time asking myself, "What am I doing here with these scammers?" To top it off, my field trainer told me that I needed to go to a regional meeting in St. Louis, which was the biggest joke and waste of time of my entire life. All of these Primerica people are the most brainwashed and ridiculous-acting people I've ever met. I thought to myself that it was just a big cult. To anyone who comes into contact with these people, I would say hang up the phone or slam the door immediately before they lure you in before it's too late. I made no money but lost no money either. The only thing I lost was some respect among my friends and a great deal of time that I could have spent looking for other jobs.

I am a Primerica rep and have been since November of 2009. I have found my co-workers to be helpful, motivated and polite. The company has helped me in every aspect of beginning to work with them. I have already received more than I have put into the company and no client I have yet been with has had any complaints as to our products and services.

Many potential clients and recruits seem to have issues not because of how the company operates but how the representatives treat them. We are all sorry for the actions of these few individuals. However, I ask that you do not write complaints without looking up the facts.

We are a major company with a 30 year good standing with the BBB. We currently have an A+ standing with the BBB and an A+ rating from AM Best. Our company stock is even hitting the market soon. Some recruits have complained that their rep wanted to go on client appointments to make themselves money. This is for training and not mandatory. You could very well choose to do no training appointments until you have received your license and can receive a commission of your own. The company even refunds you for the cost of your life license (gained through the state) and will pay for your securities license once you have reached a certain level with the company. Understand that an individual rep does not gain money by recruiting. They can only succeed by helping the people they have recruited to succeed.

This is a good company that does right by its clients and employees. I have seen so many people that would have lost their homes, paid extravagant prices for other companies' services or simply had no help at all with their finances if not for Primerica. I am sorry for the individually bad experiences some have had, just please don't apply that to the entire company. Thank you.

I received a phone call from Chad offering me a job and said he found me from my previous job at a salon (that went out of business). He stated that I had a good personality to work with his business. I agreed to meet with his friend Irene to discuss the business a little further. I got there and we discussed tanning salons and why I liked the business and so fourth for a half hour. The last minute before we left she decided to tell me it was some financial planning business and you work from home. A scam! It was a waste of time and really crummy to go after a young mother on a 6 month old.

I provide the pros and cons of Primerica, after joining my self and working in the business full-time for almost six months. In my comments, I have tried to be as unbiased as possible, giving the good with the bad. Here is my experience:

After being laid off in December 2008, I really didn't think I would have trouble finding a job. I have a graduate degree and ten years of corporate experience. However, I was wrong. I had applied to over 40 places in one month and couldn't even land an interview, as most companies at that time were either laying people off or were in the beginning of a long hiring freeze.

Needless to say, I received a phone call from a good friend about three weeks later asking me if I would be interested in going to lunch with him. He had something he wanted to discuss. I agreed. I met him and another gentleman for lunch who discussed the business with me and answered all my questions. He brought some papers with him, showing me how much earning potential there is in the business.

I honestly wasn't really concerned with how much one could make at this point, as I simply wanted to make enough to provide for my family. He told me that working full time, it would be very feasible to make between $50,000 and $60,000 the first year, which was what I had made before being laid off. So I decide to join up.

I had $125.00 in my account the day I wrote the $99.00 check. I figured if all I had to lose was $99.00, I'll give it a shot. I worked with PFS full time from January to May. By the middle of April, I had a good idea that a great job offer was coming my way, so I slowly started pulling out of the business. I dabbled in the business part time over the course of the summer and fall of 2009. By the end of 2009, I started receiving nasty letters from PFS, which I will get to in a moment.

With all that said, there are good and bad things about the company as mentioned. I think it best to break it down and explain each one in detail. Before reading these, however, please understand, I no longer do business with PFS, which you will understand why as the story unfolds.

Products. Honestly, I think PFS has decent products. After a lot of research and my own study in the industry, whole life insurance really is a bad product when compared with term insurance. And PFS does really seem to want to help people get out of a bad whole life product. As far as PFS term insurance is concerned, they are not necessarily the cheapest, but they are very competitive. They have high industry standard ratings, and honestly, if you are considering purchasing a term policy through PFS, you are purchasing a good product. The SMART loan from Citi is also a decent product. People get a little confused because the interest seems high, but they don't understand the interest is simple interest. At the end of the day, I was able to help take several years off a few home loans for friends and family using the same money they were used to spending each month on their traditional fixed loan.

From a products standpoint, simply do your research and compare with other companies. If it's something that meets your family's needs, PFS does have decent products--life insurance and home loans.

Solicitation. Unfortunately, the negative aspect of their products is how the products are marketed. You are asked to build a list of names. Anybody and everybody you know or ever knew. You then take a "training" script and convince these people that you basically need their help while you're in training. What they don't realize is that, yes, technically, you are in training, but your end goal is still to sell them products. And worse, recruit. If you are not comfortable soliciting friends and family, then Primerica is not for you. If you are, then this won't be a big deal. I was somewhat uncomfortable, but I still did it, because I needed income.

Recruitment. Possibly, the worst aspect of the company is the ridiculous pressure to recruit. You can make a little money selling products, but you are not going to make any real money until you start recruiting and recruiting very heavily. I recruited six people in two months, and I got a little effort out of one individual and decent effort from another individual. But in both cases, the effort was short-lived. They were sold an idea, as are many people, but because Primerica takes almost anybody who is breathing and has $99.00, these folks really lacked the skills required to sell and run their own business.

I was embarrassed going with my trainer to the early sessions where I had asked a friend to let me come over for the purpose of training, only to have my trainer spend thirty minutes trying to recruit him. I wound up learning the presentation on my own very quickly, so I could go out on my own as fast as possible, because I didn't want my trainer pressuring my friends and family who were doing me a "favor" into joining the company.

It started to actually irritate me. The pressure they put on reps is not products or helping people (though they do talk about this); the real pressure is on recruiting. A good company screens qualified candidates and selects the most capable. PFS takes anyone, and I do mean anyone. Needless to say, the six individuals fizzled out before I did.

I was told by the RVP that it takes an average of 30 recruits to find one good one who will stick. If you need income sooner than later, don't depend on overrides for at least 9 months to a year.

Training. This is another area that really lacks. Because my background is Sales Training in the corporate world, I had a strong skill set when it came to presenting and selling. However, the training process is a joke. My upline was somebody who wanted to build his business by merely recruiting. He had no interest in learning the products or doing appointments. So I basically had to rely on the RVP for training. His efforts were decent in the beginning, but there were a lot of broken promises and business left unfinished because of something he forgot to show me or tell me.

There are no training standards in place or formal programs. The reason this process frustrated me is that I broke the selling process down into three phases: the presentation, the sale, and the delivery. I nailed the presentation almost immediately. I nailed the close almost immediately. However, I was never really shown how to deliver the policy or what was expected once the sale was made. I didn't know what to ask, because I didn't know what I didn't know.

Because of this, I wound up with a lot of sales that fell through the cracks, thus a lot of charge-backs. While recruiting they talk about how you can make all this money for a few hours of work. And by setting 8 - 10 new appointments each week, you can make a ton of money. Well, that's true to some extent, but what they fail to mention is that each potential customer who has interest turns into 3 and sometimes 4 appointments to finish business.

If you have several go-backs, closes, and deliveries to make in a week, how the heck are you still supposed to schedule 8 new appointments? Then if I decide I need to take a little time off to spend with my family, I am criticized because my priorities are screwed up and am not committed to the business. PFS reps will tell you that they say: 1) God; 2) Family; 3) Business.

But that is not true. They hide behind God-mask, but it is clearly business first. They tell you what you want to hear about making time for family and working when you want to work, but once you're in the business, if you're not working on their terms, they let you know about it. They tell you how you get to run your own business, but after you sign up, scrutinize you if you're not running your business on their terms.

Meetings. This was perhaps the most irritating thing about PFS--the meetings. We had a weekly Opportunity meeting that met one night per week, and it was expected that we be there regardless if we had potential recruits or not. Kind of irritated me because it was the same thing week after week after week! And it took a night of appointments away from me or time with my family. Everybody was also told that the meetings would last one hour, but they always lasted very close to 2 to 2.5 hours, which is why I never invited anybody.

When I approached the RVP and told him that it might be a good idea to keep our meetings to whatever time frame we tell people, such as start on time and end on time regardless, he became furious. "We only started 20 minutes late! That's why we ran late!" Instead of taking constructive criticism, he became defensive. I stopped going to the Opps meetings, and I was constantly harassed about it.

Then we were expected to also attend the Saturday morning training sessions, which again, were very repetitive and always lasted three or more hours. Again, time away from potential appointments or time away from family. If you miss, then you are harassed and told you are not committed to the business. This doesn't even include the big events that are held in hotels and halls. These events are expensive and more of the same thing that's been shoved down your throat the entire time.

Except now, you have hotel, food, and travel expenses. You go to the event and listen to a handful of people talk about how rich they are for six hours. Again, if you don't go, you are harassed and told "How can you afford not to go?" These sessions did nothing to help my business but take money out of my pocket as a tax write-off.

The meetings are really designed to keep people plugged in and motivated. If the business is so great and so easy, then why do you have to constantly have rah-rah sessions?

Financial Planning. In the beginning, I made mention of how PFS products are good. I spoke strictly of life insurance and home loans. Avoid any financial planning with PFS. Their people are securities-licensed (as I was with a previous employer), but very few reps actually have any clue how to invest other people's money. I thought my RVP was investment savvy, until after watching him suggest the same exact fund family to the fourth client in a row. He did not take suitability or risk tolerance into consideration at all. He simply suggested one fund family, because that happened to be the fund family he knew a little about, and so could speak semi-intelligently about it.

Rich people seek out the best advisors with experience. PFS takes anybody off the street regardless of education, ability, or experience. Are these the people you want handling your investments? No!

From what I can tell, the RVPs I met all had the same story. They started with PFS in their late teens or early 20s, because college wasn't for them. And nobody would give them a chance. PFS would though. And so, while they didn't have families, any debt or living obligations, they spent the next 2-3 years of their lives building their business while living in mom and dad's basement.

If this is a sacrifice you're willing to make, then yes, you can probably make RVP. Unfortunately, I have a mortgage, bills, and a family. I can't afford to make a living off $1000 a month selling as a senior rep whoI couldn't afford to wait the 6-9 months they say it takes to really start building your business. And my kids are at the age that I didn't really like the idea of working every single evening and all day Saturday and Sunday (which was happening despite being told I could make a ton of money working a few hours each day).

All in all, is PFS a scam? No, it's not a scam necessarily. It is multi-level marketing. It's not a pyramid scheme as many claim (real pyramid schemes eventually collapse because no product or service is exchanged, just money). Where it becomes hazy and suspicious is the fact that PFS doesn't give you the whole picture up front. They have shady recruitment practices, paint this picture of getting rich working a few hours each week, and many in the business have bad manners and poor business etiquette. Unfortunately, this is the face of PFS. You just need to know what you're getting into.

Would I do it again? Not in a million years. I made about $1,000 a month for five months working 60 hours a week, only to walk away owing the company $2,500. I was constantly told "Keep persisting and you're going to go RVP in 15 months! You're doing great! Charge-backs are part of the business!" Well, you do the math: 1200 hours of work for $5,000 income minus $2,500 in charge-backs = $2,500 of gross pay (which doesn't include taxes)--a far cry from the $50 or $60,000 I was told a full-time person could make in the first year. And it wasn't for lack of trying. I worked my ass off. And now, I'm being constantly harassed with letters telling me PFS wants their money.

With PFS, the people make the business, and I have yet to see a truly good person working with PFS. They talk about how they want to help you and all these people. And guess what? They're no different than anybody else--they're trying to make a buck just like the next guy. There is so much more I could say. But I think, you all get the idea from this post. I hope this post has helped even one person make a more informed decision.

When i got there they had me sit in the front with some of the other selected few that day. A guy went up to the window and asked the secretary what we were all here for and what's the $99 fee about. the secretary was in a nasty mood and said with an attitude "the person who called you will be with you in a second, but i cant discuss matters with you" [so why is she there?] a few people got up and left, which i should have done the same. my rep. came and introduced herself and took me into this room with other people.

she told me that the information that she was providing me with should just stay between her and i, and that i could not discuss anything with any of the other representatives either. [weird] she gave me her life long story on how she was raised on a farm far away some where and how she got to where she was today. i guess she was trying to relate to me in some way being that i live in the south. the story didn't touch me any because I'm from the west coast.

she hands me a paper and leaves me for a second and wanted me to jot down names of people i know [with kids, without kids, with jobs etc] so i did and when she seen my list it seemed as if her eyes screamed "MONEY!" so she took my paper when i was done and left me in the room by myself while she made copies. the whole time i didn't feel to good about the situation. i sat there for some time until someone approached me and said that i was free to go. i felt robbed from something. so i left.

the next meeting i came professionally dressed and ready to work. the lady i was working with came to me and basically said that i was over dressed? and told me that next time i could come in something a little more comfortable. but i didn't see the reason to why. i had spent so much money on a weeks worth of business clothes that i felt the need to wear them only to Primerica because i felt like i needed to look professional. so that was a waste of money right there.

anyways, she takes me a room in the back and tells me to sit down and take a test that was on the computer. it was soooo hot and stuffy in that room. no vent and the desks were cluttered with papers making it so uncomfortable to work. i clicked through the test just trying to get out of there.. with people sneezing and coughing, i didn't want to get sick. so after i was done no one was around so it like she stood me up like the first visit. so i got up and walked out.

the next day at work, my co-worker came up to me smiling and grinning saying that he got a call from the same job company i was "working" at [Primerica] my co-worker said they were looking for someone like him. the same crap they said to me! so i told him that they were frauds and to not waste his time with them. after blowing $99 with them i didn't want my money gone to waste so i was thinking of ways to just play everything out so i can hurry and finish the course.

the next meeting she set up with one of my "clients" a good friend of mine. my representative and i met at my friends business and sat her down to talk with her. my rep. told me to just sit back and watch, so i did. and at the end of all the number talk about how my friend can save money for having Primerica as her insurer the price came out on how much I WOULD HAVE MADE. i already told my friend about the whole scam thing before we arrived so my friend turned it down and said she would wait till i finish so she could know that her money would be safe with someone who wasn't a stranger. but that still didn't work! my rep told me the only way that i would start making money is if i had three of my clients take her offer. so by the time i make one cent, I'd have to give up about $4,000. i then said forget it and that was my last day of even dealing with them.

i wanted to make sure my name was taken off the whole Primerica company so i called up to the office and said that i wanted my refund back. the secretary said OK and that she would tell my rep about it. but just to further make sure things were going in my way, i decided to take a visit to the building. i spoke with the secretary and told her that i wanted to see my rep so i could further see how everything would come along. i waited in the front for some time and i heard my rep in the back finally, saying to tell me that she was not there. so i said fine and walked out.

they didn't take the money out of my account yet so i called my bank and closed my account. which was another thing that i shouldn't have done. so i had to open it back up with a $30 fee and let them stick there nasty little hands in my account again for $125. my dad wrote to there company head boss in charge where it seemed they didn't even know who it was. my dad then told me that the refund was going to made. i was happy that i could get my money back. BUT about a week later i got a note in the mail reading out the numbers of what my money was used for! i know what it was used for, i just wanted my money back! my dad told me not to worry about it but it just upset me so much the way people are.

so to break everything down for the next person, Primerica is a company that likes to feed off of people really going through the struggle of this recession and wanting to hang that $125 over there heads so they can chase there own money while making more for themselves. and by the time your tired of chasing your own money they hope to gain $4,000 off of you plus you lousy $125 that they don't even care for. my advise to anyone is to stay away from them!

I was approached by Austin's mother, Sunny Ellis, repeatedly regarding this "amazing business opportunity". I finally agreed to give it a shot and went to the introductory meeting. The short video was spectacular and promised support at every turn. I had questions for Sunny, but her answer was always the same - "It is just so wonderful. You are going to learn so much" - this as she rolled her eyes. In spite of asking several times, I never got answers. Left the meeting feeling good about the company and the prospects. The fee to join was $99. Although this seems like a small amount, it was incredibly difficult to come up with at the time. Took me two weeks to accomplish. From the moment I signed up, I said I work Saturdays and could not attend meetings with Primerica. Before signing up, Sunny called me nearly daily. Went to the second phase and spent 20 minutes with Sunny's son, Austin and his wife, Geeta. Austin explained the process to get online to me while talking to his wife and mother. He walked away several times and told me to "poke around in there" and I would be able to figure out the computer process. His mother, Sunny, was useless.

Saturday afternoon, Austin called and asked where I was. There was a meeting in progress and I was expected there. I reminded him I could not make the meetings on Saturdays.

Two days after this, we had a serious car accident and I was unable to work for over a month. I communicated this to Austin via text message and never received an answer. Later, Sunny called me and asked why I wasn't at the meetings. I told her about the accident and she was less than supportive saying, "If you aren't making any forward progress, we aren't going to mess with you".

In the meantime, $25 drafted from my account for computer access. I sent a text message to Austin and told him I needed to cancel the web access for now as I couldn't work and therefore couldn't afford to pay for it. He agreed to take care of it. He didn't!! The following month I came home to no electricity. The check I wrote to the electric co-op bounced due to the Primerica draft that Austin didn't stop - he broke his promise. This cost me overdraft fees ($35) and a reconnect fee ($50) for the electric. Sent Austin another text message IN CAPS saying I needed the draft stopped NOW!! He said he would take care of it. The following month, I ordered a small birthday cake for our daughter's birthday party. Went to get it and my debit card was declined. Austin bombed again!! So, no birthday cake!

Austin contacted me via text message a couple of times and I told him to leave me alone. He had done enough damage. That was a couple of months ago.

Today is Christmas and Austin sent me a text message!! The guy just doesn't get it!! I am out $175 for Primerica and the OD fees and reconnect fees.

Neither Primerica, nor Austin nor his mother will step up to the plate on this.

It is all numbers for these "fine Primerica" folks. Not human kindness and emotion! Just numbers.

STAY FAR, FAR AWAY!!

I was told to come in for an interview on Friday, Saturday and Monday August 31, 2009. I was told i had a job but then told i have to put down a down payment for classes and licenses. i was harrassed and followed because I didn't have the money right away, I was also asked to come in tomorrow Tuesday, September 1 at 11:00 with the money. This is was a BIG scam. Please look into this company. I didn't feel comfortable at all

I'm on a buisiness trip this is my fisrt time here ever,I set a reservation through you and this is the best you can offer the first room had bad lightin that did'nt work well the they moved me and second room was smaller and clogged bathroom sink plus the lamp shades are broken, and to top it all off the day manager was a jerk by not willing to make any adjustments of any kind when I asked him to, plus there not even prepaired they have construction going on right now I took a couple of pictures

I was contacted by Primerica and asked if I would like to interview for a job in December 2008. I completed two interviews and following the second talked to an acquaintance who communicated to me that Primerica is an MLM company with a very questionalble reputation. At the conclusion of the second interview I provided my credit card so that Primerica could conduct a 'candidate paid' background investigation. I did not think anything of this as I understand that most Independent Consultant candidates do pay for this required service. I was also told that upon starting at Primerica I would be charged $25 monthly for computer access and that it would automatically bill to my credit card that was used to pay the background investigation charge.

As was stated earlier, I did eventually learn that this was a MLM company and because I had no interest in working for them I immediately withdrew my name for consideration. A few weeks later I noticed the first $25 charge on my credit card statement. The charge was dated two weeks after I declined the job offer at Primerica. I attempted to contact Primerica Corporate. Each time I called I was prompted to enter my Primerica employee identification number. I obviously had no number at which point the answering system leaves you no options but to terminate the telephone call. I did locate an additional phone number for their Accounts Payable department, but the line is always answered by an automated system with an outgoing message stating that the Department is in a corporate training meeting. Eventually February 2nd came about and another $25 was charged to my credit card for computer access.

At this point I contacted Nick Lisowe at Primerica's Woodbury, MN office. Nick was the so-called "Vice President" that I had interviewed with in December. I related what was occuring to him at which point he told me that he did not appreciate my lack of professionalism and that I was 'stupid' for declining the job offer. He then went on to say that he would terminate the $25 monthly charge only if I provided him with (25) names of friends and family that he could contact regarding Primerica's services. He communicated that I owed him this for wasting his time and that I consented to the $25 charge and therefore was required to continuing to pay it until I provided the aforementioned list of names and telephone numbers. On May 2nd my credit card was once again charged for the fifth time by Primerica.

I was contacted by PreVisor and asked if I would like to interview for a job in December 2008. I completed two interviews and following the second talked to an acquaintance who communicated to me that Primerica is an MLM company with a very questionalble reputation. At the conclusion of the second interview I provided my credit card so that Primerica could conduct a 'candidate paid' background investigation. I did not think anything of this as I understand that most Independent Consultant candidates do pay for this required service. I was also told that upon starting at Primerica I would be charged $25 monthly for computer access and that it would automatically bill to my credit card that was used to pay the background investigation charge.

I did eventually learn that this was a MLM company and because I had no interest in working for them I immediately withdrew my name for consideration. A few weeks later I noticed the first $25 charge on my credit card statement. The charge was dated two weeks after I declined the job offer at Primerica. I attempted to contact Primerica Corporate. Each time I called I was prompted to enter my Primerica employee identification number. I obviously had no number at which point the answering system leaves you no options but to terminate the telephone call. I did locate an additional phone number for their Accounts Payable department, but the line is always answered by an automated system with an outgoing message stating that the Department is in a corporate training meeting.

Eventually February 2nd came about and another $25 was charged to my credit card for computer access. At this point I contacted N. Lisowe at Primerica's Woodbury, MN office. N. was the so-called "Vice President" that I had interviewed with in December. I related what was occuring to him at which point he told me that he did not appreciate my lack of professionalism and that I was 'stupid' for declining the job offer. He then went on to say that he would terminate the $25 monthly charge only if I provided him with (25) names of friends and family that he could contact regarding Primerica's services. He communicated that I owed him this for wasting his time and that I consented to the $25 charge and therefore was required to continuing to pay it until I provided the aforementioned list of names and telephone numbers.

On May 2nd my credit card was once again charged for the fifth time by Primerica. Reoccuring charge the second of each month on my credit card for $25. I have been charged $125 YTD

I met a Gentleman by the name of Robert C. He offered me a position (part time) that sound interesting. I took his business card and called him curious about the position. He told me to come to the orientation.I went to the orientation. The orientation basically went over the whole prtocol of the business, their expectations,etc. I filled out some general paperwork. Robert offered mte to come back and start the job and get the feel of the program (training) I went home to discuss the opportunity with my mother but she DID NOT LIKE IT.

i called Robert after he persistently kept calling me after the orientation to confirm if i was coming back, i told him i will get back to him ( i was at work). HE kept on Calling me. I finally told him that i WAS NOT INSTERESTED In the position and he asked me was everything okay. I told him yeah, but come to find out. they took $124.00 out when I told them i no longer want to do that and not only i DID NOT AUTHORIZE PRIAMERICA TO TAKE ANY MONEY OUT.. I WANT MY $124.00 REIMBURSED. I HAD TO GO TO MY BANK AND CHANGE ALL MY INFORMATION, I AM SOOOO FURIOUS

There are some individuals (particularly farmers) who have to submit taxes by Feb. 28 instead of Apr. 15, and they cannot afford any further forced procrastination on their taxes. Primerica's customer service center LIED when they stated that tax forms would be available online starting Feb. 15! I was wanting to start my taxes on Presidents' Day weekend--now I can't as a result of this company's negligence! It is to the point that I am considering pulling out the little investment assets of my account and refunding the money to myself (as I've got car payments and loans I would rather be paying than thinking about retirement over 50 years down the road--I'm only 30 and I don't have any plans to retire from my job as an archivist because I enjoy my job!

I was contacted in March 2007 by Bradley Andlovec at Primerica from a resume I had posted on a job site about a possible "business opportunity". This opportunity was to get licensed to sell insurance and work for their company. This process involved an initial fee of $199. I was told numerous times in no uncertain terms that that fee was refunded upon my completing a training course and passing the insurance exam. This was stated in group meetings by the company owner, to me personally numerous times by Bradley Andlovec and was generally accepted as common knowledge by everyone I came into contact with that was going through the same process as I was.

The sales pitch was this: that they didn't need your $199, but that they collected it to make sure that people were serious about completing the process, once you did complete the licensing process your money would be given back to you. At one meeting Mr. Andlovec even stated that I would be receiving a check for $200 and so "you will even be making a buck on the deal" is what he said to me. At another group meeting that I attended I personally witnessed the owner, Roosevelt Kirby hand a couple $200 in cash, the statement he made about it was that he was refunding their fee early (they had not passed the exam yet) because they had recruited other people.

There was also a fee of $65.95 for having fingerprints taken for the process of becoming licensed. Primerica also promised that this fee would be refunded upon passing the examination. I did everything that was asked of me, paid the fees, took the training course and I passed the examination on June 21, 2007. After passing the examination I tried to make inquiries about when I would be receiving my refund and I would not get a response to that question or I would get a vague response. After not receiving my license or being contacted by the company by approximately August 27th, I called and spoke to Ingrid, who is the company secretary I believe. She acted like she had no idea what I was talking about in regards to a refund and told me there was no refund of the $199. In regards to the $65.95 she said they needed more information about my employment which I faxed to her promptly. I was told she would inquire about the refund situation and get back to me but I have again heard nothing from them. I now feel that this is some sort of scam.

I have invested in Smith-Barney mutual funds for about 8 years. They (Primerica Financial Services) have deducted fees from my account automatically whenever they assessed them, and my portfolio naturally shrunk 1-3 years ago during the market downturn.

We made plans for me to meet him and his wife Sandy who too is an associate of Primerica. There is when I was given all the information of what would be expected of me to have the opportunity to make my living with this program. I had to come up with about 25 names of people I knew to make "cold calls" to set up meetings on "Financial Needs Analysis" with Dan McKeon and myself. I was also told that I would need to recruiting to build a base of my own. This was happening so quickly, that after a few days of thinking about this I decided that this was not for me. When I called Dan McKeon about my decision, I was told that I had 120 days to respond to Primerica for a deducted refund of my $200.00. That $40.00 would not be refunded because of the "Independent Business Application"(IBA) fee would be held for being processed. Since then which is about 2 weeks ago, I have been trying to contact Dan McKeon as well as his higher up for the address to write to for my refund. I have not received any responses as yet. I am reacting to this quickly as not to go by the 120 day refund date.