I DO NOT like Primus (kinda overall by now, .. that CS is horrible, beyond horrible.. - i dread to deal with them if ever have to, was already mentioned above.. - but overall - very skeptical and negative about Primus by now)
But .. i am still with them
(for the Phone only mind you)
I am in Winnipeg..
And switched to Primus Phone .. and then (or maybe at the same time) to Primus internet years ago.. when found out that they offer those services in Winnipeg here (their web site still says no High Speed internet.. - up until now.. but actually they do have it.. (well in my case became like they "don't have it".. - and my internet with them is cancelled like a year ago or so now)
was at the beginning like 20 and 20 dol. - 40 bucks (if bundled) .. phone and internet.. (then price for internet became 25 .. now i think the price is up to 30)
internet is supposed to be like 5.0 mb or something.. but in my case .. the fastest i ever got when downloading full blast was 300-330 kb / sec
They told me (their favorite story, lol) .. it's due to facility.. and how many killometers i am away from facility.. - told me i was like 3 km away.. (that for me wasn't a big deal anyhow) .. later on i think .. it proved to be actually i was much closer..
So i stayed with them with that speed (upload actually was, as i am starting to understand now, not too bad.. - was gettng abou 90-95 kb/sec maximum.. then later on it dropped somehow to like 60-70 kb/sec (who knows why) .. but still currently i am with MTS .. and my max upload is like 0.5 mb (which is about 45-50 kb/sec when uploading full blast)
SO stayed with Primus at 300-330 kb/sec d/l speed (probably around 3.0 mb, eh?) .. and after about 2 years.. - the d/l speed started to drop..
One day .. it just dropped to like 1.0 .. and stayed around there.. never could go back up..
Won't go into that long cruel story.. - but they tried everything.. finally sending here some guy (lol, repair man).. that didn't even have any tools (Primus, he said, have to send him tools, etc.. COMICAL) ..
Then after about a month.. he got his tools or whatever they sent him (maybe it was just a Primus modem, who knows)
Meanwhile i kept putting up with Speed of 1.0 (100 kb/sec download max.. - almost like their Light one.. which is about 0.8 - 0.9 mb)
He got his "tools" .. and could not fix me anyhow..
tried outside on the post (or wherever).. tried with his comp.. his laptop.. - same thing .. slow speed..
Primus meanwhile tried to tweek me on their end there.. (in Toronto or wherever they are)..
Multiple calls to them .. from them to me.. supervisors .. whoever.. sent me few replacement modes (just in case) - no use.. could not fix me anyhow..
then i think they hired MTS people to check at their facility.. (should have done it right away anyhow) .. and MTS people could not fix either...
So then Manager (or whoever) called me and said "Sorry" .. - they can't fix me up.. they tried everything.. etc
don't know why my speed went down to 1.0
LOL - i was always unhappy (those 2 years) .that i am at 3.0 (instead of 5.0) .. but put up with it.. BUT with 1.0 i wasn't going to put up..
The dude tried to tell me even .. that they share same facility with MTS .. and it goes over the same lines even (say as their phone lines when switchiing the Phone service.. - even though.. i now think.. that even though the lines / wires are the same.. MTS is using different facility and / or equipment) ... and told me that if i switch to MTS, say.. - will lbe the same slow speed..
He knows "jack" anyhow.. - cuz before them i WAS with MTS (and sometimes with Shaw cable also. - jumped back and force often due to various promotional offers for "new customers")))) .. and my speed with MTS was normal..
So i cancelled.. but kept the Phone Service..
So .. MTS took me .. and i think, maybe .. installed a separate jack (even though i don't have phone with them..) ..and more likely "dry loop" or whatever (not sure .. it's good by the way to be on separate jack etc.. - not using any filters etc.. don't have to basically) ..
and my speed with MTS is normal.. - as was told (by MTS) would be .. - my maximum download now is around 750 kb/sec or so (max upload is around 50 kb/sec .. which is standard with this service i found out, even though i would not mind faster one .. as say peopl have in Europe.. for the same money or cheaper even.. and not for like 100 - 150 dollars , as say their (and Shaw's) fastest internet plan..
S Primus guy was wrong.. MTS gave normal speed.. as i thought they would..
My phone is still with Primus.
I guess i am keeping it for the Price.. (like 19.95 a month + i think, 40 cents for 911, minus, i think 50 cents for the Ebill (paperless bill) .. plus taxes. .- paying 22.23 i think all together.. which is about a dollar or 1.50 dol. less than Shaw's phone (which is 20.95 plus taxes) ..
So the only reason i am staying with Primus (for now anyhow) .. not cuz it's "dollar less" but cuz i think, i "grandfathered" (for no extra cost basically) Call Display (which Shaw gives you also, by the way, for 20.95) + Call Waiting (which Shaw does
NOT give me for their 20.95)
Those 2 features with Primus .. i think, should be 10 bucks a month extra (so would have been 30 instead of 20 basically).. - but at one point, long time ago, they were offering on a Promo, those for FREE.. and i think i got them
Other than that.. The Phone finally is working without glitches (say last year or two).. before that.. MANY times.. i had problems with the service.. - the Phone just "died" often.. "No Dial Tone" etc..
or was often .. - dial tone.. but when calling you get "There is a Problem at Facility. Sorry about it" etc etc..
Or few times was - People can call you, but you can't call them (can't dial out).. few times was vice versa.. - you Can call them .. but they can't call you..
It was terrible and rediculous!
Especially when was "No dial tone" .. - i had to go to Pay Phone (and call for FREE, lol, their Toll Free customer service.. - if they were open (they are not open 24/7) .. or go to the neibours say.. and do the same)..
Rediculous.. with MTS for like 10 or 15 years .. never once happened that i "didn't have dial tone" (and they dare say it's over the same lines .. from same facility.. BS .. - it's not... at the very leaslt not the same facility and / or equipment at facility)
I told CSRs (not that they cared anyhow) : "What if someone is dying and i NEED to call 911"???
Anyhow .. year or two put up with that on frequently.. but last year or two.. didn't happen like that any more (maybe only once.. long time ago.. i can't recall now)
So i am
STILL with them )))
Customer Service if have to deal with them (G*d forbid) - TERRIBLE most of the time..
Most of the Time (if not always..) when press 1 for ENGLISH .. - you ll end up in with India's CSR (which sometimes, though, maybe actually better than to deal with Primus Canadian CSRs, lol)
If want to speak to Canadian CSRs .. (i found a "loophole"))) .. - gotto press 2 for French.. go through some menues (that don't understand (cuz i don't speak french) .. press some buttons 1, 2 or 3 (to move forward)...and then press 0 or something.. and fanally you ll be on hold.. and then CSR would come and speak french to you, when you'll tell him / her : "i don't speak french.. Can we speak English" (hehe) .. and they will)))
Later i tell them.. i do that so i don't go to India.. and they Laugh)))
But several times .. MANY times actualyl.. would end up with some supervisor.. who are stuck up and rude..and hang up on you.. and don't want to give you credit.. or threaten you to reverse the credit (cuz i am rude to them etc)
In those cases .. actually DID help.. to call back.. (in desparation) and press 1 .. and end up in India.. and talk to them.. or supervisor in India.. and hussle for credit.. and few times actually got the credit (that deserved) that Canadians or Canadian supervisor(s) .. moronically refused to give (or didn't even want to listen my story etc)
At one point i was being charged for some "
Collect calls to myself" (AHAAHA) ..
I don't even use their long distance.. cuz have better choices (cheaper ones - with phone cards overseas.. or with some Just Dial / Goldline "dial-up first" service etc)
So never called once long distance with Primus (by the way, when with Primus for Local Phone.. you CAN NOT switch to any other Long distance provider for "direct dialing" you have to remain with Primus.. "don't use it basically .. - but have to remain"
.. Nor EVER i called "collect anywhere" .. or called "collect to Myself" (as the bill clearly showed), which is phisically impossible, LOL
and then had to prove myself to some morons CSRs .. who either that moronic from birth to apprehand it.. or just "play Morons" .. to frastrate "da heck out of you" (softly spoken) .. including many of their supervisors .. who are NOT any better in most cases.. and even worse .. cuz "stuck up" and think of themselves as gods)))
they wanted me to pay like 8 dollars extra for those "Collect calls to Myself" that i never placed of course..
Of course i never paid.. and fought as heck to hussle for my credit.. - even if had to do that in India .. or with French CSRs, supervisors or whoever..
Finally then .. i demanded to put some kinda "Block" on my Long distance" , direct dialing .. so it would be phisically impossible to place direct dialing long distance call. (tall free - yes.. but long distance - not)
and they finally DID.. (i tested it, LOL.. to make sure) .. Now if want to .. i can NOT place a direct dialing long distance phone call (for about two or three years now) .. don't need to anyhow.. (i have other ways to call long distance if needed)
Since then .. i was never charged any Long Distance charges .. , Collect calls to myself .. etc.. (VERY HAPPY about that)
SO it's been like "pulling teeth" often..
maybe it's better if you live in Ontario or Quebec (not sure) .. but getting service from Primus . and / or dealing with Customer Service from here Winnipeg Manitoba.. - most of the time is Horrible.
Sorry for the long post (and for spelling / slang))))