Payment Issue

I'm not sure how to handle this.

In March, I did a gas station/convenience store shop for an MSC. These are normally reimbursement only, but I requested and got a bonus.

I've done many of these shops with nothing bad to report. The one I did in March had many issues, which I documented in my report.

In May, I audited my spreadsheet and realized that I had not been paid for this shop. I checked the job board, and the shop disappeared. I don't keep emails for completed shops and the receipts, both electronic and paper, are gone.

I emailed the scheduler, and she said she would look into it. Other than that, what are my options?

I'm intentionally not naming the MSC or the client.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

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I would suggest in the future you keep receipts, emails, and any other documentation for 6 months. That's what I do.
What's my recourse for this missing shop? That's my question.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Check your "sent items" folder. If you requested a bonus by email, you would have the date you contacted the scheduler and the amount requested.

At this point, you are relying on the honesty of the scheduler and MSC, since you don't have documentation.

As an aside, I have iCloud on one phone and Onedrive on the other. Any photo I take is backed up, and a copy stays online until I delete it from the app. Both are free. iCloud of course is Apple, and Onedrive works on Windows (computers and phones) Android and Apple devices,
How in the world do you prepare your taxes if you keep no records? This is not a criticism, just an observation, as IRS has come down hard on small businesses, requiring that we be able to substantiate all expenses. How do you do that if you discard receipts and/or shop notes?

Did you keep a PDF of the report?
Have you checked the recycle bin on your computer? The deleted receipt file may still be there. Also what platform does the MSC use? Was it Sassie or Prophet or something else?
I would handle it by taking it as a learning experience. Learning to keep records of everything I do. I don't see as you have any options if you have no evidence.
ken, I did not consider my Recycle Bin. My receipts and report were there, thank you!

WHEW!

@kenasch wrote:

Have you checked the recycle bin on your computer? The deleted receipt file may still be there. Also what platform does the MSC use? Was it Sassie or Prophet or something else?

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Don't make assumptions. I track everything on a spreadsheet. Worse comes to worse, if I get audited, I can have my bank pull receipts. They are better at record retention than I am.

@ceasesmith wrote:

How in the world do you prepare your taxes if you keep no records? This is not a criticism, just an observation, as IRS has come down hard on small businesses, requiring that we be able to substantiate all expenses. How do you do that if you discard receipts and/or shop notes?

Did you keep a PDF of the report?

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Thanks Kevin!

I use Google Cloud, Maps, Keep since I have a Samsung Galaxy. I keep them organized and current. Older items go into an MSC folder on my laptop, which is backed up into another cloud.

Last year, I cleaned out over 3,000 unread, expired, or useless emails from my account. I'm not trying to have that kind of backlog again.

@KevinE wrote:

Check your "sent items" folder. If you requested a bonus by email, you would have the date you contacted the scheduler and the amount requested.

At this point, you are relying on the honesty of the scheduler and MSC, since you don't have documentation.

As an aside, I have iCloud on one phone and Onedrive on the other. Any photo I take is backed up, and a copy stays online until I delete it from the app. Both are free. iCloud of course is Apple, and Onedrive works on Windows (computers and phones) Android and Apple devices,

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@HonnyBrown wrote:

Don't make assumptions. I track everything on a spreadsheet. Worse comes to worse, if I get audited, I can have my bank pull receipts. They are better at record retention than I am.

@ceasesmith wrote:

How in the world do you prepare your taxes if you keep no records? This is not a criticism, just an observation, as IRS has come down hard on small businesses, requiring that we be able to substantiate all expenses. How do you do that if you discard receipts and/or shop notes?

Did you keep a PDF of the report?

No need to pull an attitude. You asked for help/advice and that is what you got. Just because you do not like some of the answers, does not mean that those suggestions are wrong or inaccurate.

You should be responsible for your own record-keeping and not rely on a bank. The bank statements usually have the date listed of when the payment was processed, not the date and time of the actual purchase. For this reason alone., the IRS might flag you. But maybe an audit would be a fun experience for you. To each his/her own.
There's no attitude. I'm pointing out that one lost receipt doesn't mean I don't keep records. I also didn't say that anyone's response was wrong or inaccurate.

I did not refer to bank statements. I said a bank can pull receipts for your debit card like a credit card can.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Don't make assumptions. I track everything on a spreadsheet. Worse comes to worse, if I get audited, I can have my bank pull receipts. They are better at record retention than I am.

@ceasesmith wrote:

How in the world do you prepare your taxes if you keep no records? This is not a criticism, just an observation, as IRS has come down hard on small businesses, requiring that we be able to substantiate all expenses. How do you do that if you discard receipts and/or shop notes?

Did you keep a PDF of the report?

No need to pull an attitude. You asked for help/advice and that is what you got. Just because you do not like some of the answers, does not mean that those suggestions are wrong or inaccurate.

You should be responsible for your own record-keeping and not rely on a bank. The bank statements usually have the date listed of when the payment was processed, not the date and time of the actual purchase. For this reason alone., the IRS might flag you. But maybe an audit would be a fun experience for you. To each his/her own.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I keep hard copies and PDF copies of all my shops. I also bcc myself for emails to schedulers and editors.

My spreadsheet is obnoxious, but it has everything I need to reference.

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
MA, my spreadsheet would send a MicroSoft engineer to the looney bin. It works well for me though.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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