Primus Canada Primus Telecommunications Ripoff Canada Toronto Ontario

From what I have read, Primus has definately crossed the line. Shame on them for trying to hang on to 60.00 per month. Stick to your guns consumers.

My experiences with Primus. I have been a forever client of Bell for phone service and DSL. I seriously considered a bundle59 package from Primus to save 25.00 per month.

I was told to get this bundle that I would have to sign a 1 year contract. I said OK.

I was then told that they also have to do monthly advance payments via credit card or pre authorized automated bank account debit. I said OK.

Everything was set up.

Next day I get a call from Primus credit department saying they have a problem. I said, oh? They said they did a credit check on me and nothing came back and they wanted my SIN. So I then said.

Wait, why are you doing a credit check in the first place. Primus told me that "because they are extending credit". I laughed and said, wait, hold on here. You are not extending credit, I am paying in advance for the services through a pre authorized payment. Well that started a debate. It ended up with me saying, Primus you can not have my SIN, I am a home owner for the last 16 years and I disagree with your policies.

I laughed again and said, you are not worth my business and I am going somewhere else.

When you really need credit, like for a mortgage or a car, ok do a real credit check, but don't let these c***'s get away with their bull and nickel and dime you. You are the consumer, use your power.

I tried them for a few short months. Not only was their phone service inferior, their Internet service was horrible since they took over a previous one that I was very happy with for over 4 years. They changed their billing cycle and cut-off dates and ended up billing me for for invoices that already were paid. Getting through to them via their automated phone system is near impossible, waiting times often exceeding one hour. When a human being actually comes to the phone, they are rude and demand that " I write this down ", in other words, do their work for them. There are 52 emails in my folder, sent by them and replied to by myself. Most of them are canned replies, often the same repeated message that this case is not closed. I disputed the duplicate charges with my credit card company and they acted on my behalf. I finally got a call from an executive of the company and he was the only polite person that I ever got to speak to. His words:

All charges will be reversed.

Months went by and I thought the matter was resolved.

Starting in January or February of 2008, I started to receive automated phone calls at all hours of the day and night, demanding that I call their billing department. I did not do this. They know my name and will not repond to these types of calls.

Then I started getting invoices again in February, 2008 for $110.15 and March of 2008 for $232.55.

The repeated automated phone calls continue and they are using a new tactic - Private Caller. After a few of these, I stopped answering the phone.

A phone call was received on March 19, 2008 with the number, but not the name displayed. Primus has a culture of their employees refusing to identify themselves, not even a first name or employee ID number most times.

I stated to her that the previous unidentified man that I spoke with day before that there was no money owing to them and that my account had been closed as of June 28, 2007. She would hardly let me get a word in, constantly interuppting me and after about 20 minutes of this, she threatened that a collection agency would be contacting me. At that point, I said: " Be my guest, good-bye " and hung up.

I have read on many other forums about the poor service, the rudeness of their employees and their incompetent invoicing staff.

I will not be intimidated or bullied by the worst Telco and ISP that I have even come across. By now, they have wasted in excess of 18 hours of my time. If anything, they owe me money, a lot of it. My time has value and these are obviously low level employees that are paid minimum or close to minimum wage and have a lot of time on their hands. Not one of them would be employed by any reputable company, that is a given. Let them get a collection agency after me and take me to court. I have enough documentation to prove that not a penny is owed to them.

I can tell you a lawyer would say by paying you make the company look right. But if I do not pay the 59.00 it will be on my credit report for 6 years. And with all the explaination in the world to a company looking to lend you money it does not look good.

Customers are forced to pay these amounts even though they cancelled the service because they do not want their credit scores effected for such a small amount of money.

So I come to you today, and after reading other Primus Canada complaints, do not choose Primus because you will be sent to the credit bureau for none payment of a service you cancelled.

You might want to know too that in Canada Bell does not report your account to Equifax and TransUnion like Rogers and Primus do, because I check.