There is another thread about SNAP. I personally think they are a scam

I got the same email which led me to come here and search the posts. A smell a rat! A few rats in fact! They want EIN's..that's their first question ...they are phising for ino.website down for updates? then reappears..two new posters on this site..no Facebook page..Tammy says she can't stay on the forums all day (real professional) I am going to email World Alliance to see how a non member could access my info.

Also Tammy Little you should know that I can use my SSN if I want. I smell so many rats I have to buy some Dcon!

Tammy a "real" company would know that an Independent Contractor can choose to give their SSN

I received 2 emails from this company. After researching and coming up empty I called the building manager at the commercial address they are using (901 N. Market, Wilmington, Delaware). The manager has never heard of them or their phone number. Beware folks! [snapaudits.formstack.com]

That is our registered address. We don't ask for SS #, we don't ask for ID'S. We do merchandising. We pay once a month the week of the 15th. You must have an EIN. Take one job, see how it goes. You would be out an hour of your time if we were a scam, which we are not.

If you are speaking about SNAP (food stamps) Audits through ISN then it is legit. I used my SSN and went through a background check.

Tammy..You were with Cast correct? I noticed that the Privacy Policy for Snap looks like it was copied and pasted from Cast. I received an email from Cast recently and like the one from Snap has glaring grammatical errors. Not good..Also I will need to confirm with the IRS but I believe that an IC can choose to use their SSN. An EIN is NOT required..a company cannot make up their own rules..it doesnt matter what SNAP requires..if the IRS says a SSN can be used THEN THAT IS THE LAW

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2016 09:58PM by 25yearsofMysteryShopping.

Silly..this is a company called SNAP not the SNAP program

bottom line did anyone respond

I am sure some people responded.from what I can understand dozens? hundreds of people? got the same generic email..you may want to Google reviews for Cast and Tammy Little and bottom line a company has to accept a SSN

[www.linkedin.com]

Wow, @debshops good thinking. Definitely staying away after finding that out.

I had seen the LinkedIn...there are many reviews about Tammy Little and many reviews about CAST. Know your rights everyone..even IC 's have rights--and don;t take what you read on here as gospel..do you research. I can say the sky is checkerboard but that doesnt make it so I simply can't believe how much this industry has fallen..SMH

I so agree. Do research on any offer, then weigh it with a good heap of common sense. The people who feel used and abused are more likely to write a review on glass door, indeed, etc. I had a bad experience with a company that everyone else loves, and, I had a great relationship with a company everyone hates. It truly seems to depend on the manager you get. The work is always going to be a huge variable, store staff that doesn't care, shipment delays, test sets / resets are ALWAYS done in the headquarters store ( the one that is the best in the country), not a real world nasty store. Yes this industry has taken such a hit with too many fly by night companies hiring non experienced people and expecting the experienced ones to become unpaid trainers / leads. Oh for the 90's! Door to door mileage and drive time, generous time frames. Lots of out of town work, nice motels, solo rooms, good per deims. I was working part time and still made over $26K. The good old days....

Call this my follow up.

Because I am a Canadian, and the I can't get the EIN, I contacted both Tammy and SnapAudit by PM & E-mail respectively. No response.

I got the same email. Mine at the bottom said they got my email from World Alliance.
They look fishy to me.

I got the email too. Probably sent to everyone with a profile on World Alliance (former NARMS)

I don't even know what World Alliance or NARMS is. I've logged every thing I've ever registered for and neither of those are on my spreadsheet. So I would definitely like to know where these people got my email address.

@25yearsofMysteryShopping

Trendsource is another company that requires an EIN. They will not accept your SS #. They also require a background check (at your expense) to do their business verifications. I got an EIN for Trendsource and it took me all of 10 minutes. IMO this may become a trend with all the class action lawsuits challenging IC status vs Employee status, especially here in California.

Wild Bill..I will verify later in case anything has changed but if it hasn't the IRS does NOT require an EIN..they will accept a SSN. I believe the "problem" is some companies do what they want..but the law is the law.. I have seen companies requiring background checks but I would never pay for it..This industry has changed so much as others have said...the internet has so many people "eager" to Mystery Shop and Merchandise some companies do what ever they want knowing if Person A won't do it People B and C will. Sad

I know for a fact that the IRS does not require an EIN. But there is no law forbidding companies from requiring an EIN. It is just a condition of doing business with them. I am not endorsing the idea... but, it is what it is.

Oh, and SPAR requires a 4% deduction of your pay for workers compensation insurance, but there is no law requiring such insurance. It is just a condition of doing business with them.

Are you an IC for SPAR? Independent contractors are not eligible for worker's comp so your money is going for nothing since you can't file a claim. I don't see how that wouldn't be illegal for them to charge you.

Companies cannot just do whatever they want as a condition of doing business with them.That is going around the law. IF the company requires an EIN or deductions then they are breaking the law and if IC's continue to play by their rules they are doing an injustice for the rest of us

Yes I am Lisa. They will waive the 4% deduction if you can prove you have your own workmans comp policy in excess of $100,000 in place. They have thousands of contractors and have been charging them for years. So if it was illegal wouldn't have they been challenged by now?

"Companies cannot just do whatever they want as a condition of doing business with them.That is going around the law. IF the company requires an EIN or deductions then they are breaking the law and if IC's continue to play by their rules they are doing an injustice for the rest of us"

What specific laws are they breaking for requiring an EIC or deducting for insurance they require? Seriously... can you provide a link or something other than your opinion? These companies contract with 100's even 1,000's of contractors across the country.

Why aren't money hungry defense attorneys bringing class action lawsuits on these companies? My guess is that because there are no laws preventing these practices and that is why all the current class action lawsuits are about companies mis classifying employees as IC's. Don't lawyers follow the money trail?

Class action lawsuit but people usually just "settle"....Thats why you're an "INDEPENDENT" contractor. When you pay comp and insurance, that means you're an employee. My exhusband owns a few businesses (non franchised) and does IC work as well. IC's dont pay insurance and comp. Employees do. Anyway, SNAP audits looks like a straight up scam...Common sense tells me that if it looks like a rat and smells like a rat....well you know the rest.

OK , I checked my last paystub for SPAR and the deduction says Workers Compensation. Perhaps it is this they mean? Independent Contractors Liability Insurance? I got this information from Google.

What Is Independent Contractors Liability Insurance?
Getting the right independent contractors liability insurance in place can protect you from lawsuits, mishaps and third party property damage that can devastate your business.

Normally, you will need a few different categories of coverage for complete liability protection:

General liability: The foundation of all contractor insurance coverage is a general liability policy. This coverage will provide two types of protection:
Bodily injury: Provides coverage if you or someone you employ causes injury or death to a third party during the course of work. It provides for medical care for the injured person and covers your legal defense if you are sued for damages.
Property damage: Provides coverage if you or one of your employees causes damage to property belonging to others. This includes the building or property you are working on or any third-party property.
Completed operations/product: Provides coverage in case a project you finished has an issue or causes damage. It can also extend to any products you sell or distribute.
Advertising personal injury: Covers the risk of damaging another's reputation or causing a loss through slander, libel or false advertising claims.
Contract liability: This covers you in a contract dispute. It is not always included in general liability coverage so verify that you carry this coverage with your insurer.
The specific independent contractors liability insurance coverage you need will be unique to your business. By working with a knowledgeable agent, you can ensure that you don't have critical gaps in coverage that could leave you exposed to expensive legal claims.

OK , I checked my last paystub for SPAR and the deduction says Workers Compensation. Perhaps it is this they mean? Independent Contractors Liability Insurance? I got this information from Google.

What Is Independent Contractors Liability Insurance?
Getting the right independent contractors liability insurance in place can protect you from lawsuits, mishaps and third party property damage that can devastate your business.

Normally, you will need a few different categories of coverage for complete liability protection:

General liability: The foundation of all contractor insurance coverage is a general liability policy. This coverage will provide two types of protection:
Bodily injury: Provides coverage if you or someone you employ causes injury or death to a third party during the course of work. It provides for medical care for the injured person and covers your legal defense if you are sued for damages.
Property damage: Provides coverage if you or one of your employees causes damage to property belonging to others. This includes the building or property you are working on or any third-party property.
Completed operations/product: Provides coverage in case a project you finished has an issue or causes damage. It can also extend to any products you sell or distribute.
Advertising personal injury: Covers the risk of damaging another's reputation or causing a loss through slander, libel or false advertising claims.
Contract liability: This covers you in a contract dispute. It is not always included in general liability coverage so verify that you carry this coverage with your insurer.
The specific independent contractors liability insurance coverage you need will be unique to your business. By working with a knowledgeable agent, you can ensure that you don't have critical gaps in coverage that could leave you exposed to expensive legal claims.