The Mystery Shopping thread - part 6

creditcontroller

Loolabell wrote: »

Hi, you really need to be quick with GR as as soon as juobs come up they are gone in a flash!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

I had got an email and logged on....it was for two banks...i clicked one to confirm one of them and when i went back to get the other one it had gone :rotfl: :rotfl: i imagine it is the case "Fastest finger first"......somtimes there is a delay from when the email gets sent out and when they post jobs so i usually check the website throughout the day!!

I've noticed that there seems to be a 30 mins delay in receiving the e mail. I've had no Bank jobs for ages and I was thinking it was just me. They didn't seem to have so many jobs on offer last year either.

Timmne

It probably depends which bank - I know that with one bank (a northern one), if I select one, the rest disappear but my wife can still accept the others.

ghostmadlittlemiss

ghostmadlittlemiss wrote: »

Hi, I've just signed up for my first assignment but they want a digital timing device that records seconds. I was going to use my mobile phone but I've just found it doesn't seem to work for that. Can anyone recommend me anything?
Kayleigh

I've sorted this problem now, it turns out my phone will be ok. Thanks for all your help.
Kayleigh

cte1111

I've had 3 bank jobs with GR in the last 2 weeks, 2 different banks. I find that for 1 bank, if I accept 1, then the other jobs aren't available to me usually, but have accepted 2 once. Not necessarily consistent then, but I always try to make sure to grab the most convenient one first.

brryssn

nads wrote: »

Do you mean visit to other banks or to other branches of the same bank?

I've taken 2-3 branch visits one after another for the same bank without any problems.

I regularly do three different branches of the same bank for GR, sometimes on the same day. I always choose the one five minutes walk away from me first, then if the one a five minute train ride away is still available, go for that one too, then if the one fifteen minutes away by train is still there add that one on - most of the time I'm lucky & nab all three, but occasionally it's just the one or two.
For this particular one you have to be an exsisting customer with that bank & I've just got three more for next week, with a different scenario this time & slightly higher fee - never noticed them before.

creaker

Hiya

Can somebody help with my tax questions?

In thinking about taxes, do I need to keep petrol receipts in order to show the HMRC that I've been using my car for MSing or can I just apply the 40p per mile rule. I've put petrol in my car twice now since the day I've started MSing but haven't kept those receipts.

Also, if I started MSing on 10/01/09, do I need to complete a tax return by 31/01/09, I've heard that day for self employment tax forms but I'm thinking it applies to the previous year and not this one.

And, just to clarify, if I already have a full time job, does that mean I do not have to pay an additional £2.30 a week for NI contributions or do you pay that amount on each job that you have, i.e, once for my main job and once as self employed.

Thanks in advance, I really appreciate the help on this board.

Timmne

creaker wrote: »

In thinking about taxes, do I need to keep petrol receipts in order to show the HMRC that I've been using my car for MSing or can I just apply the 40p per mile rule. I've put petrol in my car twice now since the day I've started MSing but haven't kept those receipts.

Yes, you need to keep some receipts although this rule's not really followed as it seems illogical so it's not a massive problem for the ones you don't have - it's just worth collecting them from now on.

creaker wrote: »

Also, if I started MSing on 10/01/09, do I need to complete a tax return by 31/01/09, I've heard that day for self employment tax forms but I'm thinking it applies to the previous year and not this one.

Nope- your first tax year is 06/04/08 to 05/04/09, which means your first tax return will need to be submitted by 31/01/10.

creaker wrote: »

And, just to clarify, if I already have a full time job, does that mean I do not have to pay an additional £2.30 a week for NI contributions or do you pay that amount on each job that you have, i.e, once for my main job and once as self employed.

You need to pay this aswell (unless you have an exception certificate). They're different types; the one you pay in your job is class one, £2.30 per week is known as class 2, the one you pay on self employment income over ~£6k is class 4 (not usually payable on the likes of MSing income).

Hope this helps!

Hollypear

Timmne wrote: »

Yes, you need to keep some receipts although this rule's not really followed as it seems illogical so it's not a massive problem for the ones you don't have - it's just worth collecting them from now on.



I find this one puzzling Timmne. Say I fill my car with petrol for £40. Not all of that is for MS'ing. So how would I know how much of that is used for MS'ing.

If I just claim x miles x 40p per mile what does a receipt prove.

Does that make sense or is it me being thick again.

Loolabell_2

Hi all, was just wondering if anyone has ever came across this before...

I had a cinema job last night for RS, i was able to complete the first part of the questionnaire about the exterior, box office, foyer etc.....the film wasn't due to stat for another hour and a half so i left to get something to eat, when we came back there had been a fire alarm so everyone was evacuated from the cinema, when i had spoke to a member of staff she had said that the generator had blown and the cinema wouldn't be opening again that night?!?!?!

Tried to call the MS company..but no one answered, so have sent an email and left a message to explain things.....

Has this ever happened to anyone, did you still get your fee or part of it? as i still think i should get reimbursed for travel and the ticket....at the very least!!!! :rolleyes:

Thanks all.....;)

Loolabell_2

Timmne wrote: »

With GR, if you select a bank, the other(s) will go instantly as you're only allowed to do one at a time.

Ah i see never knew that!!!! glad i picked the closest one to me then!!! is that only with banks, because i was able to accept three retailers in the same town, all after each other?!?!