The Mystery Shopping thread - VIII

duchy

I'm a tweaker

DJChris

jdan9 wrote: »

I was technically over the 3 month limit by a couple of weeks when I registered and they overlooked it - but that is obviously much less than what you have.

I don't think it's likely they'd look very favourably on you - as monkey says they'd 99.999999% certainly want tax from the last 2 years (and you probably don't even have accounts from then do you?), and I think it's very likely they'd give you the £100 fine too.

BUT, the longer you keep it from them, the more likely they'll find out, and the less pleased they'll be with you when they do find out...

I think you're probably better telling them. You might get some minimum-wage-earning clerk deal with your form, who doesn't notice the date you started... never know!

Thanks also to Debthater and UKmonkey

I appreciate your replies.

I am genuinly worrying about this and i so so want to register everything properly.

Equally though, i don't have accounts etc for the last 2 years (i have been keeping records since Jan 09 though).

Furthermore we're not talking huge amounts here - average of around £50 a month actual earnings (ie fees). I work fulltime with PAYE as usual so i do pay tax, NI etc - I'm not a dodger or anything. Although I appreciate that is effectively what i've been doing with the mystery shopping. I guess if the backdated tax - if i have to pay 2 years (is that the maximum?) - wouldn't be much more than £100 a year.

I do want to put it right. I can't believe everyone (maybe not even the majority?) declares their mystery shopping income, surely?

Help!!

DJChris

creaker wrote: »

has anyone done a bookie and not stayed the minimum time and if so, have you tweaked your time or just honestly put time in/out even if less than the minimum.

I managed to stay for the required time for my last one - not sure how!!

In the past I have tweaked the odd minute or two though - i doubt the client would mind that.

Maybe if you're adding on 10+ minutes they might look at CCTV recordings - I suppose that depends on whether you gave thema good visit or a bad one!

KSG1970

Hi, I did my first TNS job at the beginning of May and on my visits page it still shows as booked in. Is this normal and is there anywhere on their website I can find out if and when payment will be made ?
Thanks.

Timmne

jdan9 wrote: »

I don't think there's anything wrong with the clue the OP has given - most of our clues are like that, think of "golden arch" burgers, "blue every little helps" supermarket, "underground" sandwich shop.

BUT do take out the fees and reimbursement amount.

IMO I think all three of those descriptions are too revealing- ive resisted saying anything in the past as people think I'm being over cautious.

I don't understand why anyone needs to say any more than "TNS phone shop" for example. Anyone registered with TNS would know who the client is anywy.

ukmonkey

DJChris wrote: »

Thanks also to Debthater and UKmonkey

I appreciate your replies.

I am genuinly worrying about this and i so so want to register everything properly.

Equally though, i don't have accounts etc for the last 2 years (i have been keeping records since Jan 09 though).

Furthermore we're not talking huge amounts here - average of around £50 a month actual earnings (ie fees). I work fulltime with PAYE as usual so i do pay tax, NI etc - I'm not a dodger or anything. Although I appreciate that is effectively what i've been doing with the mystery shopping. I guess if the backdated tax - if i have to pay 2 years (is that the maximum?) - wouldn't be much more than £100 a year.

I do want to put it right. I can't believe everyone (maybe not even the majority?) declares their mystery shopping income, surely?

Help!!

Google "backdated tax" and read the first result, some forum thread about a musician. I realise it'd be quicker to find it and just send the link, but I cba, sorry! :-)

cte1111

I've tweaked the timings when doing the competitor visits, but not on the client ones, as I also think they might check the CCTV.

And I did see the point of the length of the visit on one at the weekend, as the place was quite messy when I got there, but whilst I was there a staff member tidied up and swept up the rubbish from the floor, so I could give them a good report. If I had only popped in and out then I wouldn't know that they were tidying up (presumably regularly) like this.

Scaredy_Cat_3

KSG1970 wrote: »

Hi, I did my first TNS job at the beginning of May and on my visits page it still shows as booked in. Is this normal and is there anywhere on their website I can find out if and when payment will be made ?
Thanks.

'Booked in' means they have received your report. My last lot of jobs were done early April and they paid me before the end of the month. You will know when they pay because they send a statement in the post.

Mumto2

KSG1970 wrote: »

Hi, I did my first TNS job at the beginning of May and on my visits page it still shows as booked in. Is this normal and is there anywhere on their website I can find out if and when payment will be made ?
Thanks.

Don't worry about the 'booked in' status. I've still got visits from Jan showing as this. It does change to 'done' at some stage, but I think this might be more of an internal indicator than anything for a shopper to know.
TNS payments normally arrive around the 27th/28th. You'll get a payslip at around the same time (someone might be able to give more definate dates). I've never know TNS query completed questionnaires. As long as you recieved an automatic confirmation email, then you should be fine for payday!

cte1111

DJChris wrote: »

Equally though, i don't have accounts etc for the last 2 years (i have been keeping records since Jan 09 though).

Furthermore we're not talking huge amounts here - average of around £50 a month actual earnings (ie fees). I work fulltime with PAYE as usual so i do pay tax, NI etc - I'm not a dodger or anything. Although I appreciate that is effectively what i've been doing with the mystery shopping. I guess if the backdated tax - if i have to pay 2 years (is that the maximum?) - wouldn't be much more than £100 a year.

I do want to put it right. I can't believe everyone (maybe not even the majority?) declares their mystery shopping income, surely?

Help!!

I think your best bet is to look back through your bank statements, and put into a spreadsheet what your MS income was by month. Then put in an 'average' deduction, e.g. mileage to the sort of sites that you were usually visiting, any purchases that you were required to make, and work out how much net income you are left with. Then declare this to the tax people when you set up as self employed.

Your income is likely to be so low that they aren't going to be too hassled about it.