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

Big_Graeme

sparklysaver wrote: »

I spent a good chunk of today typing up reports for a client who was reported over the phone to RM last time I visited but has now changed agency to one using Sassie - I'm seriously missing the good old days of typists too! Wasn't it marvellous when your notes just had to be scribbled bullet points and someone would magically turn it all into a narrative report in about 30 minutes on the phone, instead of me spending half the afternoon ticking boxes and trying to find a diplomatic way of rephrasing "the SA was a stroppy, sour-faced, deeply unhelpful mare who spent most of my visit telling her mate about how many times she puked outside a club last night".

SASSIE - Making surveys long, repetitive and painful since 2001...

I love RM's reporting system for the online reports, I normally do the reports on my iPad right after the visit, quickly snap the receipt and email it and move on, On a good day and a decent circuit I can do 14 visits and have the reports completed and back home in around 6 hours.

I've not seen a SASSIE report that easy for a long time.

mrbanjo

Big_Graeme wrote: »

SASSIE - Making surveys long, repetitive and painful since 2001...

I love RM's reporting system for the online reports, I normally do the reports on my iPad right after the visit, quickly snap the receipt and email it and move on, On a good day and a decent circuit I can do 14 visits and have the reports completed and back home in around 6 hours.

I've not seen a SASSIE report that easy for a long time.

Lodge seem easy and much better value than React on sassie

MysteryMe

I think it's the report questions that determine whether report entering is repetitive or long not the reporting platform. The GFK platform is very easy to use but some assignments (think home shopping telly channel) have a number of questions asking basically the same thing.


I thought React used Prophet, have they got a Sassie site as well? Maybe that's where all their well paid jobs are located....

Big_Graeme

mrbanjo wrote: »

Lodge seem easy and much better value than React on sassie

Nah, I've had stinkers from Lodge too, an hour to fill a report on a 5 minute visit to buy a sausage roll comes to mind.

Chomeur

Alongman wrote: »

Oh agreed have just threatened them with legal action. Was also sent a mail at 12:00 am and told to do the corrections by 7Am. Yeah I am going to work through the night for them. Last Pizza job for me.

Where are they based? Are they in the UK? Going to be difficult otherwise.

skivenov

EU, so find a debt collector in their country.

I'm back shopping after a few months away from it, and I feel so much better for a rest from it. I did a few easy report jobs last week, and it's amazing how easy they are when you're not fed up with it all. Now I'm polishing my lens and charging my batteries for some real jobs.

Chomeur

genetic wrote: »

Just to open up the debate around tax and reimbursement-only jobs...

I just got of the telephone with HMRC after asking specifically about reimbursement-only restaurant jobs. I was told that I do not need to include them in my return, but that I do need to include anything that wasn't fully reimbursed or any fees received.
I also asked about mystery shopping for trains/travel where there is no fee, but you are given a free ticket. I was told that that also does not need to be included and it should be treated exactly as the restaurant scenario.

So if you go to a restaurant and the reimbursement limit is £20 and you spend £21 you have to pay tax on the £20. But if you spend £19 you don't have to pay tax on anything? Is that really correct?

flyer

Chomeur wrote: »

Where are they based? Are they in the UK? Going to be difficult otherwise.

I did caution about this crowd in post 5428!

MysteryMan00

I really wouldn't take what HMRC phone staff (or even individual inspectors) say as gospel.

In the absence of a specific statutory rule for the kind of situations we find ourselves in, you apply general tax principles. As is often the case, several could arguably apply and they give different results.

You have to take a view as to how risk averse you wish to be in preparing your return. The more aggressive you are, the more arguments you may have on your hands in the (unlikely) event of an enquiry and the particular inspector who deals with it disagreeing with your treatments.

Btw - I can see the tax logic behind what you were told by HMRC but I think there is plenty of scope to argue otherwise. That is, of course, just my personal view and I'll allow you to rely on it as much as HMRC will let you rely on theirs (which is not at all)!

Louisdf

Is the retail active website down?