MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 17 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

wearside_2

bylromarha wrote: »

I began feeling that way, but then I joined a few more companies, and started being selective by stopping the small fee fast food jobs and did a few more quality ones with higher fees. Feel my time goes further now.

I am registered with ten companies in total. A couple of years ago I went to a high class jeweller to evaluate an expensive watch, whilst on holiday in USA we ate out twice at a Mexican Restaurant. We have had a weekend in York at a top class hotel, all expenses paid. This assignment had the most stupid question I have been asked to carry out. It said "Go to the bar and ask the barman what he would reccomend":eek:. As if this would not raise suspicion:rotfl:.

Lil_Me_2

wearside wrote: »

I am registered with ten companies in total. A couple of years ago I went to a high class jeweller to evaluate an expensive watch, whilst on holiday in USA we ate out twice at a Mexican Restaurant. We have had a weekend in York at a top class hotel, all expenses paid. This assignment had the most stupid question I have been asked to carry out. It said "Go to the bar and ask the barman what he would reccomend":eek:. As if this would not raise suspicion:rotfl:.

About as bad as asking someone in a supermarket what you should have for tea!......oh wait.

serendipity2706

Just cancelled a couple of Secret eatings, Glasgow and Edinburgh if anyone is near enough to get there

Misty_Blue

wearside wrote: »

This assignment had the most stupid question I have been asked to carry out. It said "Go to the bar and ask the barman what he would reccomend":eek:. As if this would not raise suspicion:rotfl:.

At least if you're ordering wine or something, it's vaguely believable. I once did a series of jobs for a well know energy drink manufacturer, where you had to walk into city centre bars in the evening, and say: "I'm driving tonight. What non-alcoholic drink do you recommend?"

flyer

Anybody fancy a free night away for a single or couple at an Edinburgh and Essex hotel?

Robert_Roberston

FAO Pixi - please complete you tax return the way you think it should be done - if you get away with it, bully for you. If you dont declare it and the HMRC ask questions - please bear in mind what you were told.

squeaky1055

Lil_Me wrote: »

About as bad as asking someone in a supermarket what you should have for tea!......oh wait.

Or when buying stamps...ask where the teabags are located.

proshopper

Lil_Me wrote: »

About as bad as asking someone in a supermarket what you should have for tea!......oh wait.

Is it just me, or is there a reason why they mostly suggest omelettes???:rotfl:

nehpets81

dazza.mk wrote: »

Exactly, to quote HMRC

"


You can get some private benefit from the expenditure and still get tax relief for the amount spent for your business, as long as either:

• the private benefit was incidental and not the reason for the expenditure "

Still can be grey areas, but for a no fee shop it would be difficult to argue that a'no fee' shop was not done to benefit from the free meal/drinks/petrol , unless you can argue that you were a compulsive report writer.

Thanks for this - I guess these tax rules were not drawn up with MS in mind hence all the grey areas.... Actually this does seem to suggest that the eggs for example in the egg jobs shouldn't be taxed as the reason for the expenditure was to obtain the fee but for a pizza job, where there is no fee the reason for the job is really the free pizza, so this SHOULD be subject to tax... Seems to go against what has been said earlier in the thread. Unless you can try and claim these jobs are done to get the more lucrative jobs in future? Not sure that would wash....

I do think that the above really does suggest the eggs (for example) are an incidental benefit...

nehpets81

wearside wrote: »

This assignment had the most stupid question I have been asked to carry out. It said "Go to the bar and ask the barman what he would reccomend":eek:. As if this would not raise suspicion:rotfl:.

I used to ask that question a lot in my student days - it's a great ice breaker! One bar maid did give me a double shot of neat lime cordial though - I did it somewhat less after that!