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

squeaky1055

MSRyan wrote: »

Im shocked. I sent ESA an email about doing 5 egg shops for the fee + a half per visit. I got a very polite email back saying that is fine by them, I also got a phone call asking me to do a travel shop in the same city also for an increased fee. I guess pigs can fly!

Hehe...They ùpped`a fee on a job for me to be done early next week. Really handy because it is right next door to a chemist I shall be visiting as I know I shall have a really bad headache on that day :rotfl:

tas123

Morning

Has anyone been paid by RE yet?

Monkeynut

Dotty13 wrote: »

One company uses excel spreadsheets to report the results, the other uses their online submissions. The data collected is basically the same, but one company requires more than the other. There is also a difference in the fees (but I can't tell you which one is which.......:D).

Seeing as are always discussing fees, obviously not specific numbers, but we're always moaning about ESA, RE etc fees being so low, I don't think it's too bad to say that if just doing 1 screen (as obviously First Tracking pay more for each subsequent screen, and 'The company starting with A' you only do one screen anyway), the A company pay more a little more. But you do have to do slightly more work.

Best times is when you can manage to get both companies at the same time and get paid from them both!!

Misty_Blue

tas123 wrote: »

Morning

Has anyone been paid by RE yet?

My money went in to my account this morning, but my housemate hasn't been paid. They always go in on the same day as we bank at the same place.

NotSoNiftyAtBeingThrifty

Hello and apologies in advance if this really obvious. I think I have asked about this before and was told to ring the helpline but well, I'm not good with officialdom.

I am not employed elsewhere as I am at home looking after kids at the moment. Starting MS again.

Although I will qualify for NI small earnings exemption, if I fall pregnant over the next year, and have been paying the NI contributions for 26 weeks of the 66 week test period, does this mean I will be eligible for the higher rate of Maternity Allowance even though my mystery shopping earnings probably won't be more than £30 a week?

Do I need to try to earn the £30 a week averaged over any 13 weeks in the test period? This is mentioned on the govt. website as a qualifying factor.

Thanks.

StacFace

Can't believe the cheek of Tern! Did 2 visits last week for them and submitted the results. A week later I log in and they've removed the jobs and deactivated my account. I've rang them and they claim they've been trying to contact me all week through email and text and they haven't. I've had the allocation email and the email telling me to set the date and that's it, just gone back and checked every email in my inbox from the past couple of weeks to make sure. And I've never had a text from them ever!

dazza.mk

NotSoNiftyAtBeingThrifty wrote: »

Hello and apologies in advance if this really obvious.

I've just registed as a mystery shopper and sent off my self employed tax form.

I am not employed elsewhere as I am at home looking after kids at the moment.

Although I will qualify for NI small earnings exemption, I intend to pay the NI contribution so that my contributions are up to date.

If I fall pregnant over the next year, and have been paying the NI contributions for 26 weeks of the 66 week test period, does this mean I will be eligible for the higher rate of Maternity Allowance even though my mystery shopping earnings probably won't be more than £30 a week?

Do I need to try to earn the £30 a week averaged over any 13 weeks in the test period? This is mentioned on the govt. website as a qualifying factor.

Thanks.

Firstly,

If you are at home looking after the kids are they under 12 / receiving child benefit (claim made in your name) - as you'll receive Pension credits, so keeping NI contributions to date is less important.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Caringforsomeone/DG_10018691

I mention this as Direct.gov says that you MAY qualify for Maternity Allowance if registered Self Employed and hold a small income exemption certificate.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

But I'd advise posting your query on a new thread in the benefits forum, more likely to find people there to give you more specific advice.

boyoboy1986

StacFace wrote: »

Can't believe the cheek of Tern! Did 2 visits last week for them and submitted the results. A week later I log in and they've removed the jobs and deactivated my account. I've rang them and they claim they've been trying to contact me all week through email and text and they haven't. I've had the allocation email and the email telling me to set the date and that's it, just gone back and checked every email in my inbox from the past couple of weeks to make sure. And I've never had a text from them ever!

This appears to be becoming a regular feature with tern!

mimi1234

StacFace wrote: »

Can't believe the cheek of Tern! Did 2 visits last week for them and submitted the results. A week later I log in and they've removed the jobs and deactivated my account. I've rang them and they claim they've been trying to contact me all week through email and text and they haven't. I've had the allocation email and the email telling me to set the date and that's it, just gone back and checked every email in my inbox from the past couple of weeks to make sure. And I've never had a text from them ever!

Oh gosh. I was just going to say the sun shines out of TERN's a$$. Did 3 visits, and got paid for them 2 days later. Speedy or what? Hope I don't get sacked.

So that's GAP, RE and TERN that are cleaning people out like it's no ones business. Eeeeeeek! :eek::eek::eek:

StacFace

At least they were local no-purchase visits I guess, one of them was in town centre when I was going there for another job anyway. The other was in the next town and cost just over an extra £1 in petrol to include. But I did do an urgent high-fee job for Gfk on the same day for a village further out so it's not all bad.