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

wax

jobbingmusician wrote: »

1. Expenses. You can either claim £3.50 (I have never had a query from them, and believe that they see it as part of the 'fee') and sort it out with your overall travel when you do your tax, OR

You can claim car mileage at 22p a mile, OR

Do what I do, which is a sort of mix of the two... claim the most expensive way you can think of to get to the venue, up to a max of £3.50!

I normally claim the whole amount, confident that sometimes £3.50 (or whatever the allowance for the job is - and £3.50 is the most they normally give) isn't enough, so it all comes out in the wash!

2. Receipt - there is no way they will want the receipt if you weren't asked to buy anything - and sometimes they don't want it anyway. Keep it safe though, as you never know when it could come in useful. I normally throw mine away after 6 months (but keep my written records well backed up).

HTH - JM

Thanks for the advice, I wasn't sure what to do so claimed £3 so not to look cheeky.

jobbingmusician

TNS have written to me today, a circular email not targeted specifically at me, suggesting that the final comment at the end of coffee shop visits is often not detailed enough.

They have attached a sample comment which they think is good.

The sample comment totals 263 characters. The space on the form does not let you enter more than 255.

Says it all, about MS admin!:rotfl:

jpwhittle

is anyone else registtered with reatail eyes?
iv just registered with them but my parents seem to think the whole mystery shopping thing is a bit dodgy.is everyone else finding it ok?
thanks

DAVETHE_CARDBOARDBOX

Dodgy in what way ?
Dip your feet with some of the companies you see on here.
Retail Eyes are fine, they pay and the jobs are relatively straightforward.
Its not going to make you a millionairre though.

jpwhittle

they said they have never heard of anything like this before and were afraid id be scammed. dont mind not be a millionaire but nice to have a job that will fit around other halfs job

Apocryphal_Bob

I have been checking out the info throughout this thread with a view to signing up for some of these MS sites and just want to thank you all, specially the regular posters, for all the time and effort you have saved me so far.
One thing not really covered so far though, and one that makes me a bit nervous about taking the leap and actually doing it....is it really something that can be done by anyone?

I am just a factory worker, one O level to my name, never worked in any kind of office environment nor felt any affinity for form filling, tax/receipts/allowances or spreadsheets, so am I just going to be floundering out of my depth not even understanding what is required of me?

Most of you here seem to have an understanding of the system and how it works so, at least on the surface, appear to be familiar with a world of work that is totally new to me.

What do you think, is MS really for anyone?

Thanks in advance, people, appreciate the help and opinions!

DAVETHE_CARDBOARDBOX

Bob,

Its not for everyone, there are some really crappy jobs that you will feel insulted by, there are also some good ones where you are well rewarded.
You will work that out as you go along and drop the ones that treat you like rubbish.
If you can spell, have basic punctuation, can use a computer and follow simple instructions you will do fine.
It really is a job that can be done by almost everyone and hopefully you can build up a portfolio, and be able to pick and choose what you do, works both ways, you can also tend to get better jobs if you are reliable for them, lots of people start and lots do not last, I find that having tried about 15 companies, I stick with about five, the rest simply are not worth the hassle.
Dont ever think these companies are doing you a favour !

Apocryphal_Bob

Thanks Dave, like the sound of that last line

I guess it's just something that's outside my comfort zone.
I am not dumb, in fact my friends say I am to clever for my own good but just not too confident when trying out new stuff for the first time.

If I go for it (probably will) I guess I will start off with a toe in the water and see how it goes from there.

Thanks again

jobbingmusician

Apocryphal Bob, your written English is great (you can even spell 'receipt'!) Just keep good records of your incomings and outgoings, and the tax bit will be easy. I am guessing you will make a great MSer!

jpwhittle - if your parents haven't heard of mystery shopping, that is their loss. If you explain it to them I'm sure they will see the sense of it - I would want it if I were a retailer, and I commission it for my own charity to make sure we are giving a good service. I've been to the most famous shop in the world mystery shopping (they have their own website for input, so I'm sure it was legit!)

Everyone - loads of mystery telephone calls (to banks) on TNS!

ilean

Looking for shoppers with excel on their Pc to do bar visits in the following places:

Ipswich
Newquay
SALISBURY
MIDDLESBROUGH

Anyone interested please email me with area and age

Thanks
Eileen

eflaherty1@yahoo.co.uk