Mystery Shopping Thread 21 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES*

marvellousaunt

Katie22313 wrote: »

Hey please can someone message me the companys they have been successful with as there is quite aot to get through and I am new to this.

Have a look through the past few pages of the Alerts thread - that'll give you an indication of which companies have alerts quite often. Best bet is to register with a few and see how you go.

Personally, I use: GFK, Gapbuster, Retail Eyes, Grassroots and Helion most often and have found them fine. Don't forget all the contact details and a list of companies are on the first page. There aren't that many of them so you could work your way through them a few at a time if you like

weeg

borders wrote: »

Not wanting to worry anyone but was there not a post recently about HMRC doing checks on SE workers claiming tax credits?

Might not have been on this forum. Have certainly seen some posts on the tax forum about this. And some SE workers have lost tax credits because they couldnt prove their hours/income/expenses. Be wary.

It's an ongoing debate and I can agree with the reasoning behind claiming it all as a taxable expense. The problem is that the tax man probably wont agree. I certainly wouldnt want to argue it, if they do decide to check your accounts. And I certainly wouldnt want them taking a wider interest in my affairs, which is likely to happen if they find something they're not happy with.

Sorry to hark back to the tax stuff, but just wanted to say you remember correctly.

It was me who was audited by the tax credits people. They asked for a breakdown of all my hours, income and expenses for a 3 month period, including all receipts, invoices, payslips and any other supporting documentation and an explanation of what I do, to prove I really did work 30 hours per week.

They accepted my figures and were quite friendly about the whole thing, but I was advised I'm likely to be checked again next year as my hourly rate works out really low. (Not so much the MS stuff, as putting down 8 hours per week for a job that pays £30, and unpaid hours I put in to trying to market and grow my personal concierge business). I see MS work as my cashflow income, not my long term goal.

Tax credits have been a real godsend to me - helping me make the leap from redundancy induced unemployment to self employment, but I do look forward to the day when I am no longer eligible to claim them.

borders

Thanks weeg. I thought there had been a poster on here mentioning it. Also read a post on the tax forum where a poster earning £2k a year starting up their own business was in danger of getting their tax credits stopped because they didnt believe she was doing 30 hours a week. The advice given was to keep a note of time spent on paperwork, searching for work, preparation, etc, as well as actual business/work hours, to help prove the hours involved. Might be useful for some people on this forum to do this as well.

Stryder

Anyone know when Dec. BAre pay is going in - seems overdue again :-s

Trevor64_2

Before I get into a dispute with a proofreader I want to know which of these is grammatically correct.
She said: "May I help you?" or
She said, "May I help you?"

Opinions please.

sunnyjasmina

Just got back from doing my "fleece job" and it was ok, just one little prob with a promo but otherwise it was relatively easy and the staff were quite helpful too. Hope you all have an easy time too.

serendipity2706

Trevor64 wrote: »

Before I get into a dispute with a proofreader I want to know which of these is grammatically correct.
She said: "May I help you?" or
She said, "May I help you?"

Opinions please.

I'd go for the 2nd one (Former English teacher with a MA in it!)
Although I am old so the 1st might be some new way of doing it.

deedee71

Trevor64 wrote: »

Before I get into a dispute with a proofreader I want to know which of these is grammatically correct.
She said: "May I help you?" or
She said, "May I help you?"

Opinions please.

Neither. I would say it should be...

She said "May I help you?"

Stryder

For work hours - don't forget job searching, travelling time and obviously report writing. I spend more time in car and looking for work than on actual assignment. Also you can put some time to book keeping, doing tax returns, etc. I easily do 36 hours a week just MS if you take into account there is probably 7x2 hours searching and communicating with companies, probably another 7 hours travel time, 2 hours admin time - sorting out diary, printing, cashing cheques, fixing the printer, fixing computer, etc... and do well more than 20 hours of assignment and report writing. n0t sure how the tax will see mine though - I pulled in about £7/8k from MS this year (first full year) although with petrol my allowances are about £3k as I do a lot of regular long journeys for audits. Only earned about £500 from my other business which takes about 1 hour a week up since my website was hacked - still looking into alternative solutions.

Monkeynut

deedee71 wrote: »

Thanks Monkeynut, I know what they are just not why they are called SELs lol.

Good good! Sorry, just re read my comment and it sounded a bit patronising! Not intended! :cool:
Am still hoping I don't go into labour before I can get out and do it, as I'm not doing it till after OH has finished work because I've got my toddler at home today!
Don't want to have to let them down at all with this seeing as it's an ongoing project. We all know they have their favourites, so it's a nice chance to get in there and prove your reliability. I already do one regular visit for them, but for a different allocator, and this one seems to be organised by one of the main allocators.