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

MysteryMe

An increased fee for abai has only been hinted at to me by them for a red coloured shop that was in a location that they always had trouble filling. In the end I think the shop got done anyway so I never did find out what may have been on offer.

Good luck, don't ask don't get.

squeaky1055

misssarahleigh wrote: »

anyone ever got an increased fee of Abai? if so, how did you go about it.

Yes I have when they have phoned me in desperation. I um and ah over the distance..even if I am going there anyway! No harm in trying as They have quotas to fill.

proshopper

I wish that there had been a forum such as this when I started MSing (there wasn't even the Internet in those days). I have had a huge amount of help from the stalwart members of this forum, and from some of the newer arrivals, too.

I respect posters (new or old) who ask valid questions and who are honest. I also respect the posters who respond to valid questions, but sometimes have to point out that MSing requires a certain set of skills (and the question-asking poster has clearly demonstrated a lack of those skills).

There are a good number of us on this forum who undertake retail intelligence assignments to earn a living. There are also many people with vast experience who MS, etc., as a side-line. We all have different experiences and different areas of expertise: I feel that any new or established MSer has a tremendous support network here.

I think that it is highly disrespectful when new forum members steam-roller in and expect to be spoon-fed with all the information they need to make a go of this line of work. The first posts in this thread give enough information for any new MSer to get started. I feel that some MSers these days are making the mistake of trying to run before they have learned to walk.

There is no need for anyone to try and monopolise this thread. Give respect where respect is due, otherwise the thread will be worse than useless.

On that, I end the sermon .........

dazza.mk wrote: »

I think I'll join Yonk in his Zen forum...

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Can someone please post a link to the Zen forum?

_nate

dazza.mk wrote: »

_nate see misssarahleigh's posting #3816, I'd suggest that is your starting position and if you want to argue something that is more personally advantageous good luck.

<back to yonk's zen forum>

If you read that posting then you will see that HMRC say that the argument regarding goodwill depends on its strength, not what you suggest.

serendipity2706

_nate wrote: »

If you read that posting then you will see that HMRC say that the argument regarding goodwill depends on its strength, not what you suggest.

I'm pig sick of this tax talk now. We've been over and over it for days.
ARGHHHHHHHHHH
(off to stroke a bunny)
The Zen forum can borrow them if they like...

_nate

serendipity2706 wrote: »

I'm pig sick of this tax talk now. We've been over and over it for days.
ARGHHHHHHHHHH
(off to stroke a bunny)
The Zen forum can borrow them if they like...

I'm so sorry to anyone offended by this. I saw it as an important discussion since it affects almost everyone here. It remains a grey area, even with HMRC's response and I have found the responses interesting. But I will refrain from discussing it further as it is obviously causing contention.

Miss_Qwerty

<Just pops on to thank pro-shopper for another fantastic location comment, and then scurries off back to her self inflicted MS ban>

serendipity2706

proshopper wrote: »

Can someone please post a link to the Zen forum?

Wanna borrow a Bunny?:p

proshopper

Miss_Qwerty wrote: »

<Just pops on to thank pro-shopper for another fantastic location comment, and then scurries off back to her self inflicted MS ban>

That's an old one - I've been meaning to change it for the last few days!

Monkeynut

I wish I didn't have another comment about tax to add, as it has been done to death for now!!

But I did notice today on my TNS payslip that their view (not that I'm saying their view is right, as we've well established there is NO right or wrong answer) is that reimbursements are not taxable, and that's for general grocery shopping type purchases where they don't specify what you have to buy, Well, I suppose they do very vaguely, such as something bulky and multiple items requiring a bag!!

In the running totals/Year to Date section, it says Gross pay £x.xx which was the fees, Taxable pay £the total - reimbursements!!!

I do wonder also, Serendipity, I remember you've said before that you have picked up jobs in the past where your son lives, so you can count the mileage against your tax for the year. I thought this was quite clever I must admit!! But I suppose slightly worrying if you were ever to be audited in case they accused you of doing just that.
I suppose at least they are the secret eating jobs (if I remember correctly that's the ones you said you did for this reason) so you have the argument that it's to build up your points so you can pick better work. Although you were super shiny platinum so maybe that negates that argument?!?

Corrrr, what a load of palavour!!