The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

Pullin_me_hair_out

Hi guys, just want a little bit of advice.
Applied to TNS some weeks ago and received an email a couple of days ago saying my application had been successful and would receive some info in the post, which has arrived today. There is a form in there asking for my bank details and NI number. Is this TNS' usual procedure or what worries me is could someone be posing as TNS in order to gain my identity. Just have a bad feeling for some reason.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Timmne wrote: »

OK ignore my last post - on reading it, it's completely pants and makes no sense!

If what you spent was higher than they told you you had to spend to do the job, claim the amount you should have spent, not what you did spend.

If what you spent was less, claim what you spent.

Does that make any sense now?!

Yes! That makes sense now - thank you!

IF (and I've deliberately put that in capitals) I am ever asked to provide receipts, will there be problems over the fact that I have claimed £5 but don't have a receipt for £5 (because my receipt will show what I actually spent, £5.99)?

mysterious_girl

Hello
I received the same stuff from TNS and filled it out and sent it off. It's their usual proceedure, don't worry. I've had that from a few MS companies. It is safer to give bank details via post than online - well that's my opinion.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Timmne wrote: »

OK ignore my last post - on reading it, it's completely pants and makes no sense!

If what you spent was higher than they told you you had to spend to do the job, claim the amount you should have spent, not what you did spend.

If what you spent was less, claim what you spent.

Does that make any sense now?!

Just to make this absolutely clear - because I think I understand it, but I am a thicko...

If they tell me to spend 'around £5' and I spend more, then I only claim £5.

If they tell me to spend 'around £5' and I spend £4.50, then I only claim £4.50

Now, if they tell me I MUST order x and y and it just so happens that x & y come to more than the reimbursement amount, I am still ok to claim what I actually spent (MORE than the reimbursement) because they didn't say spend £x, they said buy this and this, without telling me what it would cost.

mysterious_girl

If they say you can spend £5.00 it means that that is the amount they are going to reimburse you - no more. So if you spend £3.00 they will reimburse you £3.00. If you spend £8.00 - they will reimburse you £5.00. I usually spend more than they reimburse for and it doesn't matter - they don't care how much you spend, as long as you spend something and they are only going to give you £5.00 towards it if it is more than £5.00.

Pullin_me_hair_out

mysterious_girl wrote: »

Hello
I received the same stuff from TNS and filled it out and sent it off. It's their usual proceedure, don't worry. I've had that from a few MS companies. It is safer to give bank details via post than online - well that's my opinion.

Cheers...I just worry about these things sometimes

Timmne

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Just to make this absolutely clear - because I think I understand it, but I am a thicko...

If they tell me to spend 'around £5' and I spend more, then I only claim £5.

If they tell me to spend 'around £5' and I spend £4.50, then I only claim £4.50

Now, if they tell me I MUST order x and y and it just so happens that x & y come to more than the reimbursement amount, I am still ok to claim what I actually spent (MORE than the reimbursement) because they didn't say spend £x, they said buy this and this, without telling me what it would cost.

You're right on the first bit...

You have to remember that it's all logical and sometimes subjective so if you can explain on investigation why you claimed a higher-than-usual amount then that's fine, go ahead and claim it. If it's logical and reasonable then they'll let you keep it!

Scaredy_Cat_3

mysterious_girl wrote: »

If they say you can spend £5.00 it means that that is the amount they are going to reimburse you - no more. So if you spend £3.00 they will reimburse you £3.00. If you spend £8.00 - they will reimburse you £5.00. I usually spend more than they reimburse for and it doesn't matter - they don't care how much you spend, as long as you spend something and they are only going to give you £5.00 towards it if it is more than £5.00.

I understand that bit, thanks. I'm not asking about what I can claim off the MS company, I'm asking what I can claim as an expense in my accounts (for the Tax man).

Scaredy_Cat_3

Timmne wrote: »

You're right on the first bit...

You have to remember that it's all logical and sometimes subjective so if you can explain on investigation why you claimed a higher-than-usual amount then that's fine, go ahead and claim it. If it's logical and reasonable then they'll let you keep it!

Thanks. However, I don't have your faith that the inland revenue understand logic and reason . I think I'm a bit clearer on it, though. Thank you!

mysterious_girl

There are some restaurant jobs on RE at the moment with a total spending allowance of £60.00 I have 3 in my area. They are evening ones and have to be done between 17th and 19th Dec.