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

weeg

Market Force's website would make me laugh if it wasn't such a pain. I have a few postcodes/ towns listed. Places I vist - like Edinburgh and Oban. And the website is currently listing a couple of visits as '61 miles from' Oban. I prefer to think of it as 1 mile from my home address. And I have told them my home address.

genetic

MysteryMan00 wrote: »

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)!

I totally agree. It was just another data point and I know others have been told otherwise. I think trying to be reasonable in the interpretation of the fuzzy rules and being able to justify your interpretations is the way to go!

retireby50

Hi there, just starting out on mystery shopping and would appreciate some specific advice (I've read all the general advice in the early posts which was really helpful so thanks to all who contributed). I've signed up with Helion and spotted an ideal first job - ended up as Backup with due date today. Now as I happen not to be busy today this isn't a problem in that I could probably dash out and do it if required (not that I will be!). But what do people do with Backups generally given that they are likely to mess up schedules?

weeg

I love it when a plan comes together. For once it's actually possible to 'discretely observe ' someone for 10 minutes. The location in question is visible from a cafe on the level above. Simple pleasures. Mind you, said cafe belongs to a bingo hall,and I think we can conclude that the coffee isn't the biggest draw.

MO2

Does anyone knows the payment dates for the company that does not like to be named. Thanks

Larac

retireby50 wrote: »

Hi there, just starting out on mystery shopping and would appreciate some specific advice (I've read all the general advice in the early posts which was really helpful so thanks to all who contributed). I've signed up with Helion and spotted an ideal first job - ended up as Backup with due date today. Now as I happen not to be busy today this isn't a problem in that I could probably dash out and do it if required (not that I will be!). But what do people do with Backups generally given that they are likely to mess up schedules?

If its Helion - then don't get your hopes up, that you will get it allocated. You can have Backups sitting well past the allocated date and never get them. Loads of people can be sitting on their system as a 'backup' on the same job and if for some reason the job is allocated, then only one lucky indiviudal will get the job. (Their IT system is PP IMHO)

My experience of Helion is dont bother, unless you get self assign that automatically you can allocate to yourself.

Big_Graeme

as Helion only bothered to allocate them this morning with a due date of today then there is a better than average chance you'll get one.

enevel

'Enjoy dinner for two in this renowned London institution.' Reimbursement - £20 per head.

Pfffft. Yeh, right.

Big_Graeme

enevel wrote: »

'Enjoy dinner for two in this renowned London institution.' Reimbursement - £20 per head.

Pfffft. Yeh, right.

Lol, better than MF's new one, a walk in on a Saturday evening where the reimbursable will hardly cover 50% of the bill.

Macadamia

MO2 wrote: »

Does anyone knows the payment dates for the company that does not like to be named. Thanks

If it's A you mean, on or around the 19th seems usual for me, for jobs entirely completed before the end of the last month.