Mystery Shopping Thread 25 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES

JohnnyG

shell_belle wrote: »

Sorry to wade into this Tax debate but I have a quick question that I'[m hoping someone might be able to answer please...if I take jobs in another town for the day which job do I deduct the travel from or do I just round up the travel for the day and work it out as a circuit?

I did a circuit in Oct last year. First town, where I had just one premium job was 30 miles away. I then drove another 20 miles to complete another 3 jobs, then 20 miles to do the last 4 jobs, then a 37 mile journey home. I claimed the whole 107 miles. On my spreadsheet, the mileage is only entered against one job, but I make a note that it was for all 8 jobs.

Big_Graeme

banjobob59er wrote: »

Can I ask for some advice regarding income tax. I know it has probably been covered before so please accept my apologies. I am new so please be gentle. I understand that reimbursement only shops are treated as payment in kind so I can't claim purchase expenses (except the usual mileage, paper and ink etc). My question is can I claim the VAT that I pay on the test purchase as an expense.
Test purchase.
A shirt at a cost of £20. Reimbursed £20 by MS agency. Can I claim the 20% VAT (£4) I paid on the shirt as an expense. My way of looking at this is that I have already paid tax on the shirt so if I pay 20% income tax then HMRC are having two bites of the same cherry.

Seems a strange question to ask but if I don't ask then I may be paying too much tax.

From a HMRC self employed course last year - Not unless you are VAT registered.

Cybi-Ping

banjobob59er wrote: »

Can I ask for some advice regarding income tax. I know it has probably been covered before so please accept my apologies. I am new so please be gentle. I understand that reimbursement only shops are treated as payment in kind so I can't claim purchase expenses (except the usual mileage, paper and ink etc).

From what understand you can't claim any mileage and other 'usual' costs for a reimbursement only job either.

MostlyFine

Lil_Me wrote: »

I forgot to ask once too, mainly because I'd done it before and had been told the toilet was for staff only so I wasn't expecting to use it. I expressed the report and they refused to pay me, so you're best off not bothering

Also, you can reschedule online which is always the best way to do it as long as there are other dates available.

Thanks for this - I still haven't heard anything back but I did get the automated email saying my questionnaire was late. I couldn't reschedule online and it said in the brief to contact them for a reschedule as well. Am sure will hear on Monday.

Am so mad at myself for forgetting - must have been distracted by Dad's appointment.

chambta

I've just started doing easy local ones for Gapbuster again. Wish there was a little more variety locally than KFC though.

Lil_Me_2

MostlyFine wrote: »

Thanks for this - I still haven't heard anything back but I did get the automated email saying my questionnaire was late. I couldn't reschedule online and it said in the brief to contact them for a reschedule as well. Am sure will hear on Monday.

Am so mad at myself for forgetting - must have been distracted by Dad's appointment.

It's very easy to do, don't beat yourself up about it. At least it's not a huge loss for you as you'll have needed petrol at some point anyway

sukitnsee

chambta wrote: »

I've just started doing easy local ones for Gapbuster again. Wish there was a little more variety locally than KFC though.

Hello Chambta

I too have just started again for GB after about 18 months self-imposed rest from them and I have quickly realised that I still dislike asking for a receipt at the golden arches.

Thought I might have got used to it by now after all the shopping I've done for other MS companies and strangely I don't feel the same dread at the chiCKen Food place or anywhere else, at all. It doesn't embarrass me or anything but feels so inappropriate and just silly to be honest, particularly when one takes into account the reaction.

Just this week I had a trainee freeze on me when I asked for one. Her mouth just gaped open and she stared as she appeared to remember that she was supposed to tell someone.

In the end a colleague with more stars than a US General had to come over to see what the delay was. I asked again and she took her turn to stare at me for for a moment before I got one. I ended up feeling sorry for the trainee who was sweeping around my table the next time I saw her a few minutes later.:o

What a farce but I will break through this discomfort barrier, it's my New Year resolution. Or I might just stick to the drive-thrus.

Love to you all. An endless source of help.

Larac

MostlyFine wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for the reply - yep, tried both for each query today so, in all 4 attempted contacts lol.

I am thinking like you - that there is no point completing. Am sure they will contact me quickly after the deadline though

We all make mistakes - my favourite was not to take a picture of the site or not noted what was left or right of the shop. Having to drive back for a MF job was the 'biscuit'. I now take a picture of every site I go to and helps to jog my memory. I also scrutinise the brief more closely as was not paid for a cofffee shop for buying the 'wrong cake' You have to have a few failures along the way IMHO,

Kulafey

Does anyone know if any companies have any jobs in airports at the minute? Wspecially a particular airport in the North, named after a former beatle?

superliss

chambta wrote: »

I've just started doing easy local ones for Gapbuster again. Wish there was a little more variety locally than *** though.

Can we remove client names please.