Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys? (Part Two)

catwoman150

Had an awful time the other day doing a MS at a building society. I went in for a quick chat with a mortgage adviser and there was not one available at the time. So I spoke to a person who took some details and they offered me a interview with a mortgage adviser. As I was a customer I had to give a false name, but my real telephone no and made an appointment. Then the day of my appointment I rang to cancel as I had all the information that I needed. Later on that day I get a phone call from the police saying that someone had reported me for using a false name and details at a building society. Then I had to inform them that I was doing a MS which had gone totally wrong. The building society had informed the police for suspicious behaviour. The woman that I spoke to was ok about it and a bit a shocked liked me. I then had to inform the company that I was working for and explain that the police were then going to tell the building society and reveal all.

After the day that I have had I don't think that I will be taking those assignment again ever. I have learnt a lot from that not to use a false name or anyone else details.

jobbingmusician

Catwoman, this sounds like a really horrid experience, but don't feel bad! Firstly, the fact that the building society were so 'on the ball' will be invaluable to the client so you have done an excellent job as a MS. Secondly, it makes me rather :mad: that the MS companies don't give more guidance as to what to do and not to do in this specific scenario - banks and BS are very alert to money laundering, these days, so I can see that we would either have to give our full real details, or have a VERY good cover story! Hopefully the MS company (was it one based in Belgium, by any chance?) will have learnt from this experience too, and give a better briefing in future!

I learnt a lot from the famous disaster car shopping contract that one of the companies has had recently. I went to the briefing, and COULD NOT believe how little the German commissioning company understood about how things work in this country!!!!! :eek:

matthewluck

I have been mystery shopping for a few months now. But have not got round to sorting out the tax stuff yet. Is it really worth it?

Matthew

aniseedball

matthewluck wrote: »

I have been mystery shopping for a few months now. But have not got round to sorting out the tax stuff yet. Is it really worth it?

Matthew

It is if you dont want a £100 fine, which you will get if you don't declare it within 3 months:eek:

Becles

catwoman150 wrote: »

As I was a customer I had to give a false name, but my real telephone no and made an appointment.
<snip>
After the day that I have had I don't think that I will be taking those assignment again ever. I have learnt a lot from that not to use a false name or anyone else details.

Just wanted to add, if you are already a customer at the branch you must either use your real name, or refuse to take on jobs for that client/branch (some companies state this anyway).

As they already know your real name, you can't get away with giving false details. However it is fine using a false name when you are not known to anyone in a branch because you don't have an account there.

I've done loads of false name jobs, and never had a problem like this before.

Becles

matthewluck wrote: »

I have been mystery shopping for a few months now. But have not got round to sorting out the tax stuff yet. Is it really worth it?

Also, if you don't declare it, you could be prosecuted for tax evasion.

bylromarha

"been looked by a field controller"

was given as the reason expenses on a MS visit have been withheld this month

I've never had this before but am hugely concerned as this visit is around £120 to reimburse.

Have worked for the company for over 2 years now and this is the first time anything like this has happened...also followed the brief to a tee as always, so not sure what they are looking at?

Anyone else experienced this? Am I likely to see the money?

Genie75

clareski wrote: »

This is probably a really thick question, but if you are signed up with companies who pay the tax for you (ie Cybershoppers), does this mean that you do not need to do anything regarding notifying IR?

Thanks

No, the company do it for you. You will have had to fill in a P46 which is sent to the Inland Revenue to work out home much tax to deduct etc.

As with false addresses, at least company say that if you use a false address to make sure it doesn't belong to someone else. They had problems with a complaint to the police about identity fraud because the client started mailing stuff out to a false address used by an MSer.

catwoman150

The person details that I used on this occasion was a previous customer that had an account with them years ago and they still had that person's records on the computer.
I think that if the policewoman that I spoken to had not been so understanding they could of taken it further. I suppose that in theory I could of been done for some kind of FRAUD.

catwoman150

And Yes it was for that company that is based in Belgium. I have learnt for this very much. I have not had any major problems before when I have been MSing This was my first job with them I don't know if they would let me work for them again or if I wanted to work for them again.