Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys? (P...

[nearlyrich]

Due to the very long thread that has developed on this topic I have been asked to start part two as long threads slow the site down. I have copied the main info from post one on the old thread into this one thanks to Leni who started the original thread and all contributors.

Happy shopping!

Nearlyrich BG



MYSTERY SHOPPING ADVICE

COMPANIES USED BY CURRENT MSE Mystery Shoppers

Grassroots
www.grgresearch.com
Allocation of Jobs – via email or telephone calls
Pay Day – Varies but usually 3-4 weeks after your assignment by BACS
TAX – Self Employed (you sort your own)

Retaileyes
www.retaileyes.co.uk
Allocation of Jobs – Self allocation, you need to keep checking the website
Pay Day – 15th of the month following your assignment by cheque or BACS
TAX – Self Employed (you sort your own)

GapBuster
www.gapbuster.com/
Allocation of Jobs - Self allocation, you need to keep checking the website
Pay Day – 24th of the month following your assignment by BACS
TAX – Self Employed (you sort your own)

TNS
www.tns-global.com (Click Mystery Shopping Link in Pink, bottom Left)
Allocation of Jobs -
Pay Day – 28th of the month following the assignment
TAX – Employed, TNS will sort your tax out for you!

BAI
www.baidata.com
Allocation of Jobs – Self allocation although they contact you to tell you if you were successful in obtaining that assignment.
Pay Day – 15th of the month following the assignment
Tax –

GFK/NOP
http://www.gfknop.co.uk/sectors.asp?go=myst

Pay Day = Every 2nd Thursday (pay claims to be submitted the 1st Thursday of the month)

Retail Maxim
www.retail-maxim.co.uk
Allocation of Jobs -
Pay Day –
Tax –


TAX
If you wish to do Mystery Shopping, even just one job, you need to register with the Inland Revenue within 3 month or you could face a fine of £100.

Forms and Guidelines you will need –

Self Employed people with small earnings Guidance - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cf10.pdf

To register as Self Employed you will need to either ring the IR (Inland Revenue) ON 08459 15 45 15 or download and send back the form CWF1 (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cwf1.pdf )

You may also be required to pay National Insurance at the rate of £2.10 a week, but only if you earn more than £4345 after expenses in any one year THROUGH Self Employment. This means earning more than £4345 in addition to you other employment. If you think you will earn less than £4345 in the financial year, then you can apply for a “Certificate of Small Earnings Exception” which means you will not have to pay NI (National Insurance) Contributions. The Exception application can be found at the end of this document CF10 - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cf10.pdf


Information on Self Assessment - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/selfemp.htm

[jobbingmusician]

Thanks, Nearlyrich, for all the invaluable work you do on this board, and for putting the lovely sticky first post

[pondie1]

can someone help,im stuck on the training quiz on gfk/nop are we allowed to ask for answers on this,i keep gettin several wrong etc,driving me mad tryin to get past that part

[Genie75]

Originally Posted by pondie1

can someone help,im stuck on the training quiz on gfk/nop are we allowed to ask for answers on this,i keep gettin several wrong etc,driving me mad tryin to get past that part

If you open two browsers then you can check the training as you do the test. If you get really stuck, then contact NOP. They'll be happy to help and sometimes it's something as simple as a question not being changed to match a new scenario.

[DonnaP]

Hi

I have finally got my first assignment this weekend! I have been registered for a while but have never been quick enough off the mark to get one.

When does the briefing pack arrive generally? The assignment is on Sunday (when should I chase)?

Thanks

Donna

[Pumpkin]

Originally Posted by DonnaP

Hi

I have finally got my first assignment this weekend! I have been registered for a while but have never been quick enough off the mark to get one.

When does the briefing pack arrive generally? The assignment is on Sunday (when should I chase)?

Thanks

Donna

Hi Donna,

Which MS company is it for? TNS seem to be quite slow at sending their packs out, the latest I have ever had one from them is the day of the visit! I would wait until tomorrow lunchtime.

[DonnaP]

Hi Pumpkin

It is grass roots, but as soon as I posted this message, they sent me the pack!!

Donna

[catwoman150]

Have got an assignment with gg on friday and I have just got the paperwork through. When i tried to print it off it only prints some of it. The width is too long to go on the paper when I am printing it.
Has anyone had the same problem.

If so how are you able to print all the details of it.

Thanks

[jobbingmusician]

Originally Posted by catwoman150

Have got an assignment with gg on friday and I have just got the paperwork through. When i tried to print it off it only prints some of it. The width is too long to go on the paper when I am printing it.
Has anyone had the same problem.

If so how are you able to print all the details of it.

Thanks

Catwoman, are you using Internet Explorer, or are you by chance using another browser such as Firefox? Some of these mystery shopping forms will only work with IE - I keep suffering from this, and wish they would drag their software into the 21st century!

[catwoman150]

internet explorer and then I open it up into word.

[jobbingmusician]

Hmmm - i seem to remember this problem before in a very old post - have you tried fiddling with the margins?

[catwoman150]

I will try this will let you know
thanks

[josie]

Originally Posted by pondie1

can someone help,im stuck on the training quiz on gfk/nop are we allowed to ask for answers on this,i keep gettin several wrong etc,driving me mad tryin to get past that part

I've been stuck on a couple of these before and with me it was something that was a bit of a double negative - like what is NOT an example of upselling and I just hadn't read the question the right way, as was always thinking of the positives - if that makes sense!

[redcar]

Quite a few phone ones on retaileyes at the moment. The most I've seen in my area for ages.

[jobbingmusician]

Oooooooooooooooo I have SUCH an interesting MS to do next week.... One of the local health provisions (which is always a revolting place to visit!)

Can't wait!

[rachelandgromit]

Originally Posted by redcar

Quite a few phone ones on retaileyes at the moment. The most I've seen in my area for ages.

After doing one of these, I just don't think it is worth it. So many questions, it seems to take forever!

[lyndsay3006]

Hi
I've been mystery shopping since January as well as a full time job. I told the tax office and now I've been asked to fill in a tax return. I've tried to do it but it's soo complicated. I've worked out I've earned less than £100, now I'm thinking is it really worth the hassle if I've got to fill in a tax return. Wish I'd never told them!
Any advice gratefully recieved
Thanks

[catwoman150]

Are BARE a good company to work for at the monment I am half way through signing up and the report part of it is putting me off a little. I work for GAP and they only have the answers already.

Any thoughts would be great.

[jobbingmusician]

BARE are great except that you never know EXACTLY how much you are going to earn, as it depends on the euro exchange rate. They pay fairly though. I haven't tried any of their more exotic (involves flapping your arms) assignments yet............

They were really great for me when I had a week off between jobs - I earnt over £100 going round car shops (only one visit required) - just what I needed to fill time and bring in a bit of pin money

[shoptiludrop]

Lots of new jobs on RE this morning. Go get em guys!!