Mystery Shopping Thread 20 **PLEASE DO NOT MENTION CLIENT NAMES OR FEES ON HERE**

invalid_username_2

invalid_username wrote: »

How do HMRC know what jobs/assignments you've done?

HappyMJ wrote: »

They don't.

So how can they acurately audit someone? You could tell them anything. You could tell them you don't mystery shop for a start :silenced:

And who's this Max? He sounded likea headteacher in his 'telling off' post. Just my type Is he single?;)

dazza.mk

If the 'default' position for reimbursement only jobs was classed as anything other than disallowable we could have a good thing going...

I give all my purchases to misssarahleigh
misssarahleigh gives all her purchases to monkeynut
monketnut gives all there purchases to Lil_Me
and Lil_Me gives all her purchases to me.

All purchases have been given away, so they're all going to be allowable....

.... or more likely we'll get more than a slap on the wrist from HMRC.

weeg

While we're being friendly - I missed out (by going to the wrong place - rookie mistake!) last time there was an MS Glasgow meet up. Anyone fancy a coffee?

proshopper

Izi21 wrote: »

Yay! My week was looking really bad with no mystery shops at all but I managed to get an urgent Retail Maxim visit with travel expenses. But I have give my report over the phone. Has anyone done this before. I'm used to typing it on screen then sometimes rewording the sentences as I'm writing it up.

Reporting by phone used to be quite common in the old days (especially pre Internet); as you have just discovered, the system is not obsolete. I did two reports by phone last week (neither was for RM).

My tip would be to fill in your questionnaire before you make the call, but keep sentences short. The person taking down your results will probably have done this many times: it is highly likely that they will be very accommodating and helpful. I generally find that it is over and done with relatively quickly.

Good luck

brryssn

weeg wrote: »

While we're being friendly - I missed out (by going to the wrong place - rookie mistake!) last time there was an MS Glasgow meet up. Anyone fancy a coffee?

Ha ha....I remember that!

We're due one soon so that'll be great....

weeg

invalid_username wrote: »

So how can they acurately audit someone? You could tell them anything. You could tell them you don't mystery shop for a start :silenced:

And who's this Max? He sounded likea headteacher in his 'telling off' post. Just my type Is he single?;)

Max is Fab! He founded Helion Research (see first page for details ) and he helps us out with advice on his projects, lets us know when he's got work, and also helps us see this business from the shopping company's point of view.

He's a huge asset to this thread, and we're lucky to have him IMO.

(and he has an alert set up for his name, so if he's at work, will usually pop up if he 'hears' his name.)

dazza.mk

HappyMJ wrote: »

They can't. If they audit you they'll look at whatever records they can and that is your bank statement looking at credits from companies. So mine says GFK NOP LTD then they'll check your accounts to see a corresponding entry.

And in the event that they don't agree with your backing invoices / receipts they'll make their own assumptions and recalculate your tax accordingly.

yonk

But they send money to you. In today's world, nothing is untraceable, other than cash and there are major restrictions on that nowadays.

cyprus31

Max Aben you have a PM (or 2)

Rosy_Violet

HappyMJ wrote: »

I don't send invoices to mystery shopping companies. It's just an entry in the accounts.

Mystery Shopping Companies keep meticulous records of everyone on their books and everthing they pay!
They get looked at by HMRC too and have to justify profits, just like us.

If you ever get investigated I think they and the benefits system would throw the book at you. Good luck with taking the risk.