I note what appears to be still a new scheduler trying to get these jobs placed. If I were interested in performing the job, here is what I think I would respond back to the scheduler . . .

"Due to payment issues with Franchise Compliance of more than a year's duration and due to the failure of Franchise Compliance to be responsive to shopper contacts through schedulers and providing no viable contact information for shoppers, I would consider performing this shop on a cash up front basis.

I am sure you are aware that in both the personal and the business world, those who have no credit must pay cash at the time of purchase. This is no different.

You are offering a fee of $X to perform this job with a reimbursement of up to $Y. When I am in receipt of payment of $X + $Y via Paypal we can schedule this assignment as quickly as possible. Payments by check or money order will require 10 business days from receipt for the check to clear my bank prior to scheduling the job. Once the job is completed, if the $Y reimbursement exceeded the actual expense, I will promptly remit the unspent balance to you.

Thank you."

Boy oh Boy, do I wish I had looked at the board before accepting a Franchise Compliance shop. I did the shop a few weeks ago and already two emails I have sent have gone unanswered. Has anyone ever had any success getting paid by FC and, if so, how did you do it? P.S. this is a great proposal!

I worked for FC in the past and have never had any problems, but the point is really rather moot because I last worked for them around 2009. Sorry to hear what happened to you, and them for that matter....

In order to be reimbursed for $125 from Sept., I actually called the Chem-Dry parent company (Harris Research in Logan, UT) and I suggest you do the same.

The gal I spoke w/is DeAnn Corbell (435)890-1032. I felt that the company that contracted w/FC needed to be notified of the shenanigans. I also posted a notice on www.ripoffreport.com and used the CHEM-DRY example. Harris Research was notified from that agency and DeAnn called me.

I wish that more shoppers would sign up for a FC Shop and then bail and/or write a formal letter to: Jess Gibbs, Sales Exec. and Brent Mortinson, Director of Finance- Harris Research 1530 N. 1000W Logan, UT 84321-1966

Lainerz

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I note what appears to be still a new scheduler
> trying to get these jobs placed. If I were
> interested in performing the job, here is what I
> think I would respond back to the scheduler . . .
>
> "Due to payment issues with Franchise Compliance
> of more than a year's duration and due to the
> failure of Franchise Compliance to be responsive
> to shopper contacts through schedulers and
> providing no viable contact information for
> shoppers, I would consider performing this shop on
> a cash up front basis.
>
> I am sure you are aware that in both the personal
> and the business world, those who have no credit
> must pay cash at the time of purchase. This is no
> different.
>
> You are offering a fee of $X to perform this job
> with a reimbursement of up to $Y. When I am in
> receipt of payment of $X + $Y via Paypal we can
> schedule this assignment as quickly as possible.
> Payments by check or money order will require 10
> business days from receipt for the check to clear
> my bank prior to scheduling the job. Once the job
> is completed, if the $Y reimbursement exceeded the
> actual expense, I will promptly remit the unspent
> balance to you.
>
> Thank you."

i probably wouldn't even say all that. i would probably just send and email saying "go to #&X?@!!!", and then wait a day or two for a response back. if it were me, i'm saying.

of course, if they did actually send me cash, it might take me about 6 months to complete the assignment. and only after they beg me incessantly.

by the way, i just got another call today from the client that i had serviced last summer. they still want to remodel my bathroom. i didn't answer the call though.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2012 08:21AM by vince.

I have been mystery shopping 10+ years and this is the first time I got the shaft from a company totally. Can anyone who has successfully gotten cash through Better Business Bureau of Utah let me know what category they used to get it not rejected?
Thanks. The next step is to have my lawyer hubby write a letter...sigh...

I would call the client, as Lainerz suggested. I would also fill a small claims case against both Franchise Compliance and the client. If you can get them served with papers, you'd probably win a default judgment. Collecting is another matter, but I expect they'd pay a court judgment before they'd pay the average shopper. Most shoppers are just going to lick their wounds and retreat, but the legal system has some teeth.

I am still owed for an August assignment that was "being looked into" by the only person there I could get to answer me. Unfortunately I'm not sure who the client would be to look into it. It was more of a de-branding sort of assignment.

I have been waiting on a payment for a COIT shop in Lexington KY that I did in October. I have had some email communication where Ms. Bishop said she'd let me know when the check was sent. That was in January. Today I sent her another email asking if it would help if I contacted COIT directly, to see if that would nudge it a little. I have already attempted filing a complaint with BBB but because is a work/contract issue they cannot do anything about it. I had worked with FC since 2006 or 2007 and never had a problem until this year. So clearly something has changed. I REALLY hope prospective shoppers are reading this so they know to avoid FC right now because they are not paying.

I deactivated myself based on the feedback on this forum. I hope others will follow suit.

Thanks for the information. I was about to sign up for them and came here to check for feedback. So sorry to hear of you all who are still fighting for payment.
The shop I was going to do would have cost me $225 out of pocket, and the thought of never seeing that - crazy!

I did the same. I was signed up for a shop but after reading about all the problems I decided not to do it.


audrialyn30 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I deactivated myself based on the feedback on this
> forum. I hope others will follow suit.

What a mess...I know. I did shops for them going back several years and never a problem. In all my years never had this happen. Maybe a little nagging to get the payment (oops, we forgot...we'll send it right out or oops, jeez, don't know why we never got your first invoice, receipt, payment request...we will send the check right out!) but never crickets. Bishop gives me zero response maybe she is gone now too?

i still say that we should all simultaneously sign up for as many shops as possible on the last day of the month with them, and then flake.

I agree!

Terrible company. Full of empty promises and lies about when payment will be received.

I wonder what happened to them. I used to love their hotel shops. It was a quick report as they didn't want a lot of narrative. I cut back on shops and got busy with life, then come back and they're not paying. Even my best friend had an issue getting payment...something like eight months. Crazy. Bummer.

Private Eyes just started scheduling these now. Lysa isn't the type to not pay her schedulers or editors and I can't see her tolerating not getting payment. I hope it all goes well for her.

AlwaysAngie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wonder what happened to them. I used to love
> their hotel shops. It was a quick report as they
> didn't want a lot of narrative. I cut back on
> shops and got busy with life, then come back and
> they're not paying. Even my best friend had an
> issue getting payment...something like eight
> months. Crazy. Bummer.
>

it almost seems like somebody at the top developed a drinking/drug problem or something. maybe someone is spending everybody's money on drug binges or something. why wouldn't they pay people? i once worked for a man who created a very prosperous small company so that he could buy a mansion, but then it began to go downhill when he developed a drinking problem.

In an effort to get paid, I contacted DeAnn Corbell and Camille Ezola at Harris Research. This is the answer I received.

The email makes no sense as the second sentence is about payment for services and the third sentence is about becoming a shopper for Franchise Compliance.

Any thoughts?

Jane

Franchise Compliance is an independent Vendor and is not associated with Harris Research, Inc or Chem-Dry. Payment for services contracted with Franchise Compliance Inc is to be made by Franchise Compliance. You need to communicate with the individual(s) you worked with to arrange to be a shopper for their company.

Thank you,

Harris Research, Inc.
Camille Ezola
Franchise Administration & Compliance
(435) 755-0099
Camille.Ezola@hrisupport.com
fax: (435) 890-1089

I read the last sentence as talk to whomever you worked with WHEN you became a shopper for them, not IF you want to shop now.

Hi GoldFL,
The email response you got back was pretty clear to me. Harris/ChemDry has nothing to do with getting payment to you - as you are an independent contractor for Franchise Compliance who is a contracted service for ChemDry.

In a hypothetical situation lets just say you want your dogs walked during the day, and so you find Company X who says 'we'll walk your dog once a day, five days a week, for ten dollars". You agree to this and hire them.

This company needs people to do the work so they send out an email saying we need someone to do this. Say, I get the email and want to do the actual work. I agree with Company X to walk your dog once a day, five days a week for six dollars".

Say I do this for four weeks, and although Company X agreed to pay me weekly - I never received payment for them. So, I am upset and then I contact you - the dog owner - and complain that I never got paid.

You would likely say to me that you paid your bill to Company X - and if I am not getting paid I need to go back to Company X because that is who I made the agreement with. The dog owner would have no responsibility to me.

I hope that clarifies a bit. It sure must make ChemDry think twice, though, before using the services of FC!!!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2012 11:42AM by Chix.

Several members of this forum suggested I contact Harris Research. Some members had success getting paid after contacting them.

Hi Gold,
I'm just basically saying that is what the email is saying to you. You said that it didn't make sense, so I was hoping to help out.
Have a great one!

OMG! I have my first shop with them scheduled for Monday! It is the one for the carpet cleaning. I can't afford not to be reimubursed. But I really needed and wanted my carpet cleaned. Dang.

Based on this chain I am going to cancel. THANKS FORUM!!!!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/09/2012 01:06AM by HaveARayDay.

You found this just in time!!!! Even if it's your cheapest option and your carpets are really, really, really dirty, it's not worth having to write a free report.

Good decision to cancel your shop. Honestly, Chem Dry didn't do such a great job cleaning my carpets.

I mailed a demand letter today to Franchise Compliance for full reimbursement. I will keep you all posted on the results.

I did a lot of shops for FC for a certain popular specialty burger joint back in the day before they were folded under the umbrella of Market Force. Since then, I haven't had the opportunity to do any shops for them. I guess I lucked out on that.

Good that you found out in time, HaveAaRayDay. I did the carpet shop a couple of years ago when Franchise Compliance was still paying its shoppers according to their stated terms. I agree with goldfl: the client did not do a great job of cleaning my carpets. There is another MSP shopping Sears carpet cleaning....Sears did a much better job, pay is slightly higher, I did not have to reveal that I was a shopper, and the check came quickly. Keep looking, there are other carpet cleaning shops....better service and you get paid.

HaveARayDay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OMG! I have my first shop with them scheduled for
> Monday! It is the one for the carpet cleaning. I
> can't afford not to be reimubursed. But I really
> needed and wanted my carpet cleaned. Dang.
>
> Based on this chain I am going to cancel. THANKS
> FORUM!!!!

don't pay anything and don't sign anything.