One of the most common complaints mystery shoppers have about their providers is that they don’t pay fast enough. For some providers, this complaint has turned into a full dilemma when the paycheck doesn’t arrive after weeks of waiting. Before you go into panic mode about your missing paycheck, take a deep breath and think about your options.
Check The Calendar. Before you call up your provider with an angry tone and even angrier words, double check your dates. Verify the date you submitted the report, but keep in mind that most providers don’t count the report as “complete” until after all questions have been answered. So if you and your scheduler went back and forth for a week answering questions on the report, use the date of final correspondence on the report as your starting point on the calendar. Then count the number of weeks until today.
While many mystery shoppers would love to get paid a week or two after an assignment is complete, in the real world most providers won’t send out your payment until one to two months after the report is submitted. A few providers average even more time than this! Don’t start harassing your provider about your check into the provider’s average stated turnaround time on payments has passed.
Check The Website. Providers offer a range of useful information on their websites. Take a few moments to log in to your account with that provider and check your account status. You can often get valuable information from your account page that may clear up any questions you may have. For instance, some providers require payment to be sent via PayPal. If you don’t have a PayPal account on record with your provider, some providers will simply hold your payment until you submit that information to them. Some providers also include payment information on-line, such as the date a check was mailed as well as what address the check was mailed to.
Check The On-Line Forums. Mystery shopping forums are often used by mystery shoppers to share feedback on providers, including information on slow and no payment. Take some time to peruse the message boards to locate the information you are looking for. If you can’t find the information you need, simply post a quick message about your issue and await the response. Usually you will get back several relevant responses within just a few short hours.
Ask Nicely. When every indication points to the fact that your payment should have arrived long ago, simply send a polite email to your provider to request an update on the payment. Keep in mind that any number of things could have happened, from a simple oversight in the provider’s bookkeeping to a check getting lost in the mail. A polite email can be used to both give the provider a gentle reminder that you are still expecting your payment as well as to notify them that there may have been an issue the paycheck’s delivery (via PayPal, US mail, or other methods). While you may be livid that it’s been three months since you completed the assignment and have not yet gotten paid, it really accomplishes nothing to get angry. So unless the matter escalates, try to keep a friendly and professional tone to get your check faster.
While not getting paid (or not getting paid promptly) can be a frustrating issue for mystery shoppers, you will usually get your end result of receiving a paycheck by staying calm and exploring the situation in more detail on your own before you raise the issue with your provider.
I have had this happened to me four different time this year. I kindly sent my scheduler an email explaining the payment situation and have always gotten feedback fast. The problem in the long run has always taken care of. I have learned that if you deal with the situation in a calm and professional way, you will likely get your problem resolved quickly.
Wise advice! Moreover this is a business in which one has more success by staying calm and cool. The skill of being objective on the job can be just as useful in handling personal matters. Problems, questions and misunderstandings will arrive. That is just life. Keep it professional.
I performed a shop through Kern Scheduling for International Service Check. Told I would receive check in 45-60 days. Three months later went back to Kern, given an email to contact at International Service Check. My reply back from them was that I sent them an email and didn’t fill out the form via the web page. I went back and said that wasn’t so, and scanned 2 pages, which showed I went through the web site. As to when I will receive the check, it’s any one’s guess. You can be sure International Service Check will be on my no-no list.
My Girl Sno
What do you do when you are suppose to get paid for the cost of the food that you are to sample? I am out about $400 and the company did not pay me for that. I just got paid $10 for each job I did. I contacted the payroll department but they neer replied. I faxed in my receipts numerous times but noone contacted me.
I wait 10 days past the time I should be paid. Then I email the scheduler asking when I might expect payment. I always get a reply from the scheduler either telling me to expect payment within a couple of days or they give me a direct email address to the payroll department.
I have a spreadsheet that I pull up every morning to tell me what payments to expect that day. I have set it up that it will remind me what payments are still past due.
The important thing is to stay on top of the situation and not let it slide. I have been a Mystery Shopper for over three years and have never not been paid for a shop.
Joyce, Given the amount of $400, if you don’t received satisfaction, send a certified letter recounting the situation with all pertinent details (including your contact information) and state that “time is of the essence” and request payment within five business days. If you don’t receive a satisfactory response, take it to small claims court. If you win and they still don’t pay you do have possibilities like leins. Good luck
Although most of the companies I shop for take two to three months to pay, when there’s a problem, they’ve responded immediately. I usually calculate the payment date plus an extra few days (to allow for weekends and holidays), then send a polite note. I am sure to include all pertinent information including the job number, name of the business, the date the job was finalized, and the amount of reimbursement/fee. Since most of them are paid with PayPal, many of them have deposited the money into my account WITHIN HOURS of my email. They are usually very apologetic and thank me for the oversight. Also, I pretty much only choose jobs that don’t involve spending hundreds of dollars because it does take so long to get paid. (Sorry, Joyce!)
Joyce – very curious about what kind of shop would have you sample different foods and which company offers shops like that.
To everyone — it’s very important to read the details about how to get paid. Some companies require you to fill out a separate form (different from the online report) and email, fax, or mail it to them. If the company does not receive the separate “invoice” from you within a certain time frame, they will not pay for the shop.