Need some feedback. Like everyone else, I recently received an offer in my credit card statement from Primus with a 5,000 Aeroplan bonus for switching. The fine print says it's given in stages and that's o.k. with me, but I wonder about the service. Anyone else switched over, have any opinions good or bad ?

You'll have no problems getting your points. They also post promptly upon monthly payment of your bill as well.

I used Primus for the last 2 years until I left Aeroplan.....no complaints at all.

They are very good. Cheap as well (At least for calling England). No hassle with bills or points. Go for it. I should add you need to spend a minimum with them each month to earn any points (I think it is $15 but may be wrong - I always spend at least this)



[This message has been edited by lmartin999 (edited 06-19-2002).]

I used to have Primus with a reasonable deal that I combined with Yak's dial-around, http://www.yakcom.com which is cheaper and just as good. Then Primus added a network access charge or something like that - so I switched to Yak "all the time" (they can be your carrier if you ask -no dial around needed). They are much cheaper, no network charge, and they have a great credit card for those who are account holders. You can pay with your Aeroplan visa or Diner's Club and still get points. I read that they handle calls for Telus and others.

I've used them for years - no problems either. 7 cents/minute for Canada/US anytime for $2/month.

I should point out that they do a credit check each time to switch... even with a preauthorized credit card to guarantee payment. This is different from many LD phone companies. If you switch back a few times, you will see their names a few times on your credit profile. They didn't warn peope about this on the phone but it's in a fine print somewhere. You accept the whole "fineprints" as soon as you agree to switch.

Think about this if you are getting a mortgage soon. Any inquiry after 3 in a year will lower your credit score so you want to save those for real ones (eg, banks, credit card issuers) Low credit score translates to high interest rate on loans... you may not save after all.

I had Primus for a year or so, no problem on service or getting the points, although I think they now give 25pt/$5 instead of 5pt/$1. I assume it's rounded down to the next $5, but that change came on my last Primus statement so I didn't bother checking, and I could be completely wrong. Don't see what other reason there would be for changing the point calculation though. [I switched back to Bell LD because they called with a decent deal and were offering my sixth month free, which I thought was better than 15% in AP points (3c@ x 5/$1).]

On the subject of credit checks (I didn't know about Primus) and mortgages, if you're hunting for a mortgage remember that shopping around various banks means multiple credit checks and potentially an affected credit record.

It's one of the many reasons to use (or at least consult) a mortgage broker, since he will do only one check then shop your mortgage around.

There is an excellent site (and mailing list, as informative on mortgages and related topics at FT:AC is on what it does) at www.MortgagesInCanada.com I used the broker who runs it for my mortgage renewal back in 1998, but it is not necessary to use him to benefit).

andrew


[This message has been edited by Andrew Webber (edited 06-19-2002).]

I just wish their sales agents would be gone from air terminals along with the CIBC folk. Next RD will get the bright idea to have them set up in the MLL to harass us some more.

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I miss Canadian Airlines