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

Tolteca87

MF makes you open the brief before you apply for the job, so I always save it when the job's mine even if I only save it to my mystery shopping file. I pop it into its own folder later and everything is ready for the job and I have a folder to save the receipts, pics and notes into when I might be busy. Plus, no need to stress on downloading it first thing in the morning before heading out.

Sorted.

Big_Graeme

Shopper81 wrote: »

Anyone else unable to get on MF website this morning? I haven't downloaded the paperwork or looked t questionnaire for a job; plus I am due payment for about 15 jobs on the 25th which although small fees its added up to a reasonable amount! I hope there isn't a problem with them or is it just me that can't get on?

Seems to be sorted now, don't worry too much about MF going bust they are one of the biggest in he world and they haven't missed a payment for me in 5 years.

Big_Graeme

Tolteca87 wrote: »

MF makes you open the brief before you apply for the job, so I always save it when the job's mine even if I only save it to my mystery shopping file. I pop it into its own folder later and everything is ready for the job and I have a folder to save the receipts, pics and notes into when I might be busy. Plus, no need to stress on downloading it first thing in the morning before heading out.

Sorted.

This is about the best advice you'll get today.

I've Firefox set up to save the PDF's when I open them then its just a matter of going to the folder and pulling the right one.

sukitnsee

Big_Graeme wrote: »

Seems to be sorted now, don't worry too much about MF going bust they are one of the biggest in he world and they haven't missed a payment for me in 5 years.

My payment experience over the last 4 or 5 years is the same as Big Graeme. Their fees may be low but I like pretty much everything else about them and their website/operation.

Gamereat

Has anyone done any of the 'something that means you spend less money' convenient store jobs on MF? They have up the pay like twice and keep emailing me about them but the brief seams o.O really strange.

Big_Graeme

Gamereat wrote: »

Has anyone done any of the 'something that means you spend less money' convenient store jobs on MF? They have up the pay like twice and keep emailing me about them but the brief seams o.O really strange.

What's strange? The stores have certain key performance targets they have to hit, we go check them, the fee is poor but the work involved is miniscule.

Implication

Hi, really hope someone can help me!

I've just decided to start doing Mystery Shopping because it sounds like an interesting way to get a little bit of extra money (currently an unemployed student). I've accepted my first assignment and have it arranged for a few days' time, but I've just read the advice in this thread about tax...

I'm not planning to do more than 2-3 jobs per month (if that) and I have no other income so I was hoping I wouldn't have to pay any tax, but it sounds like by default I'll have to pay £2.70 per week National Insurance. That will basically mean it's not worth bothering with Mystery Shopping, but it sounds like I can apply for exemption from this. However the exemption itself sounds like it could cause problems in the future with pensions, maternity leave etc..

Is this something I should worry about? Like I say I'm a student so I don't really know anything about tax - is it worth me bothering with all this or should I just release my assignment and forget about Mystery Shopping altogether?

Cheers for any help

enevel

Implication wrote: »

I'm not planning to do more than 2-3 jobs per month (if that) and I have no other income so I was hoping I wouldn't have to pay any tax, but it sounds like by default I'll have to pay £2.70 per week National Insurance.

There is a lower earnings threshhold for the £2.75 per week Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (which is what you are talking about here) of £5,885 per year. If you earn less than this, you do not have to pay anything.

whitelabel

enevel wrote: »

There is a lower earnings threshhold for the £2.75 per week Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (which is what you are talking about here) of £5,885 per year. If you earn less than this, you do not have to pay anything.

but you must still register as self employed and apply for the exemption
it doesnt mean you just dont have to tell them till you earn over that

Implication

enevel wrote: »

There is a lower earnings threshhold for the £2.75 per week Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (which is what you are talking about here) of £5,885 per year. If you earn less than this, you do not have to pay anything.

Thanks for your reply.

I understand that I have to specifically apply for an exemption certificate if I want to be exempt - I can't just not pay if I declare myself self-employed. My worry is whether I will be causing myself problems in the future by applying for the exemption certificate because it lowers paternity leave, pensions etc. I'm not sure if that's only if I remain employed forever or if it could cause me problems even if I start paying National Insurance when I have a "proper" job over summers and when I graduate.