I performed two shops for them, (more of a test for them than for me), and two weeks later, when applying for a third shop, found out I could not apply...I was frozen, or disenrolled. Had to email four times to get a response...turns out the 'client' disputed (via the bank branch manager, who received input from the shopped new account employee!) some of my observations, specifically saying i was too brief, told the new accounts person I had to have lunch with my wife (who was in Germany on business!), and that I did not give her a 'chance' to do her job. Ath did not inform me of any problems, they just eliminated me from their system. After professing innocence AND asking for another chance, I was informed to use an alias and do another shop, this time at an a different branch (and I actually have an account at this branch!). When I responded via email (I tried three times) that it would be impossible to do a deposit/teller shop using an alias. I did not receive a response. Instead, I was labeled a 'flake', and again 'eliminated' from their system.
And, they haven't paid, as of July 7, for shops completed in mid-May.....
My advice, stay away from Ath....they might not be around for very long.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/2014 06:31PM by winemaker.

Don't let it go! Go above and beyond the scheduler. Lately these companies are using to many excuses to eliminate their shoppers.

One reason why it's a good idea to record all your shops, if it is legal in your state. If they say you cut the shop short to have lunch, and you have a recording of long silences where you gave them every opportunity to try to get you to open the account, it's no longer your word against theirs. But you need to be in a single party state before you trot out that recording or there could be legal repercussions.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2014 04:10AM by dspeakes.

I just did a shop for them, and the instructions specifically said, do not record the shop. I am in a one party state. I work for another MSC that says the same thing.

I am surprised by ATH, but more and more MSC's don't like bad reports and play dirty

Ath Power has been around a long time and I have done a lot of work for them. I have always been paid no matter if the report was good or bad.
update 8/1/14
I did a shop for them today (big national bank) the shop was easy as was the form. The problem was getting the shop assigned in the first place. So bear with me well I try to sum up what happened. I get an email for $50 account opening shop near me. I go to apply and all the dates are blacked out so I can't apply. I contact Ath Power through there website shopper live chat ( not live email) and wait for response. Some guy emails back and says that it is because I have done that shop for that client in the last 180 or 360 days so I don't qualify but he will pass my request on to the person who deals with the shop and maybe i can actually do it. After about 8 emails dealing with doing the shop, what shop, what location, what location, what location, finally assigned are you going to do it july 30th or 31st after I told her I would do it aug 1st. Email her tell her all the same info 3-4 times. Get email this morning asking if I did the shop. She finally changes date to today aug 1st. I mean real moron. first the start date on the job board was aug 1st. second in the original email I stated the shop address in full, the date I could complete it, and also again in my email to her response after she got the forwarded email from her associate. Now between emails it added another 20 minute of time to shop which took in person 20 minutes and to enter 30 so toal time 1 hr 10 mins for $50 pay. If the pay wasn't so good I would have asked for a bonus (for my aggravation).
Observation they constantly have new schedulers so something may be screwed up over there.
update 8/20/14
shop was accepted and I will be paid. On another shop that I had to call a bank and the number given for the bank in the shop and on the banks own website location were the same 800 number. Well shop was rejected as I called the 800 number there was no local number. Emailed no reply shop magically removed from job log. Offered to recall if given local number. no reply. It was a $6 shop that took 10 minutes total. It looks as thou the company may be turning bad.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2014 05:25AM by BuffaloNY101.

I myself am having troubles with ATH too and would warn others to stay away from them like the plague. I did what seemed like an easy shop for them yesterday here in Phoenix and received notice today that I did not do the shop right - I had to go in and complain that some kind of information I called to receive over their 800 line I was unable to receive and Ath seems to believe that the banking CSR should have turned this into a sales opportunity and does not seem to believe me that they did not. Any advice? Who do I go to in the state of Massachusetts to begin formal complaints - for me I don't care if I never see the money, I want other shoppers to avoid this fate.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/01/2014 05:14PM by squireparty.

You went in to complain and they think the CSR should have tried to ... do what? Get you to open a CD?

Have you gotten your scheduler involved?

Formal complaints won't get any action because this is entirely a civil matter and your only legal recourse is to file a lawsuit. You may be able to file it in Arizona since the work was done in Arizona, solicited in Arizona, and you live in Arizona.

I have some good news. Both good and bad news, actually. Bad news is that it seems that I am done with Ath Power. Good news is that I have an email from some higher up manager who claims I will be getting paid. Now that some time has passed, I really think the problem was not so much with myself or with Ath or with their editors/managers. The form I had to fill out and submit online strikes me as poorly worded and I can see where others could fall into this unpleasant situation.

I have thought about sending them an email advising Ath to at least look this possibility over but I'm probably best served being done with them at this point - there was some rudeness with one of their editors I did not care for.

If anyone else is having problems with Ath, I will provide the contact name and number and email of the manager who claimed I would be getting paid - it seems he is a little bit higher up on the food chain.

Thanks for letting me post my side of the story here.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You went in to complain and they think the CSR
> should have tried to ... do what? Get you to open
> a CD?
>
> Have you gotten your scheduler involved?
>
> Formal complaints won't get any action because
> this is entirely a civil matter and your only
> legal recourse is to file a lawsuit. You may be
> able to file it in Arizona since the work was done
> in Arizona, solicited in Arizona, and you live in
> Arizona.

Hi! Just to clarify, I did email the scheduler but never heard back from her - someone higher up the food chain responded to me. To be fair, this may be very well my doing as when I did not hear back from the scheduler, I posted my experience with ATh here and then emailed them as to my post if they'd like to read what I'd posted in regards to my issues with their company.

And yes, the proofer/editor who handled my shop expected the banking CSR to turn my complaint in regards to not being given understandable information over the 800 customer service number into a sales opportunity. I'm glad that banking CSR did not have the nerve to do that as I'd never bank with any company that would stoop so low - in my book this is a very low move though others may not agree.

At any rate, once paid it appears as if I am done - chalk me as up as being done with two different MCS's now, not too bad a record these days I hope?

BuffaloNY101 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ath Power has been around a long time and I have
> done a lot of work for them. I have always been
> paid no matter if the report was good or bad.
> update 8/1/14
> I did a shop for them today (big national bank)
> the shop was easy as was the form. The problem was
> getting the shop assigned in the first place. So
> bear with me well I try to sum up what happened. I
> get an email for $50 account opening shop near me.
> I go to apply and all the dates are blacked out so
> I can't apply. I contact Ath Power through there
> website shopper live chat ( not live email) and
> wait for response. Some guy emails back and says
> that it is because I have done that shop for that
> client in the last 180 or 360 days so I don't
> qualify but he will pass my request on to the
> person who deals with the shop and maybe i can
> actually do it. After about 8 emails dealing with
> doing the shop, what shop, what location, what
> location, what location, finally assigned are you
> going to do it july 30th or 31st after I told her
> I would do it aug 1st. Email her tell her all the
> same info 3-4 times. Get email this morning asking
> if I did the shop. She finally changes date to
> today aug 1st. I mean real moron. first the start
> date on the job board was aug 1st. second in the
> original email I stated the shop address in full,
> the date I could complete it, and also again in my
> email to her response after she got the forwarded
> email from her associate. Now between emails it
> added another 20 minute of time to shop which took
> in person 20 minutes and to enter 30 so toal time
> 1 hr 10 mins for $50 pay. If the pay wasn't so
> good I would have asked for a bonus (for my
> aggravation).
> Observation they constantly have new schedulers so
> something may be screwed up over there.

For those remaining with Ath.....I'd give it some time before giving them a chance again. This is just me and my instinct - obviously others need to be guided by whatever works for them. I do see a change - and not a pleasant one - in the overall tone of dealing with them since I started doing shops for them not long ago.

Thanks for sharing this experience with us. It's possible you just got a rogue editor or scheduler if the person higher up in the food chain is backing you up on this. They may use this as a training opportunity and things might improve. But it's good to put everyone else on notice to be aware of this situation.


I've seen some awkwardly worded instructions and questions before. There have been one or two shops where I wanted to re-write the instructions for them after I reported it because the instructions were not designed to yield the answers to some of the questions. (Not necessarily with Ath -- speaking generically here.)

I have done over 110 Ath Shops, all banks. I have always been paid and have a solid "10" with them.

My question, did you have any negative timings, information, feedback or such?

It seems strange, you had a normal bank shop right?

And they are disputing exactly what?

Why would the associate say you said you needed to meet up with your wife?

If this were a bad shop, I can see someone could be lying through their teeth. But I don't read that here.

I see you say she said you did not "give her a chance." I suspect on your report you have things she did not do, that she should have? Right?

Did I miss something?

Ath never has no consistency with there editors. This has also been a problem with them. They also take two months to pay also. They have some schedulers that are great and some that are terrible. They have a j reed that is horrible. Otherwise they have gotten rid of most of the bad schedulers.

chrsj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ath never has no consistency with there editors.
> This has also been a problem with them. They also
> take two months to pay also. They have some
> schedulers that are great and some that are
> terrible. They have a j reed that is horrible.
> Otherwise they have gotten rid of most of the bad
> schedulers.


None of my reports came back to me with questions, except one. They questioned a Penny Arcade being there but it was there. Once they were satisfied with that, the report went to the client.

While I haven't had any non-payment issues with Ath, I did have a frustrating experience trying to schedule a bank shop last week. I applied for it on their website, and got a "You don't qualify because your shopper rating is not at least 2" message. I checked my history with them, and I have completed - and been paid for - 74 shops with them, and not one of them had been rated. So I emailed the scheduler, told her that I don't even have a rating, but I am a reliable and dependable shopper with you for xx years, etc. etc. Two days go by, I completely forget about it, then I finally get a response asking if I am willing to open a checking account for the scenario. Well, since that was the scenario provided when I applied - yes, I am willing. Next morning I get a response to that email, asking if I am a current customer. Um, no - again, scenario in the shop I applied for: NON-customer willing to open an account. I reiterate again that I am a NON customer, yes, I am willing to open an account. She responds, Great! Yes, I want you to do it for me. Now it's the next day. No assignment email, no shop in my log, so I email her one more time: Do you still want me to do this shop? Due date is now today, so I need to know in the next couple of hours whether you want me to do it or not. Finally 6 hours later and 2 more emails - it's in my shop log. Whew. I should have asked for a bonus for all that.

I just did my first shop for Ath. Honestly, it's the first MSC I've had problems with but, it has been problems from beginning to....well I would say end but, it hasn't ended yet! Nothing but hassle, from scheduling to admitted 'glitches' in their system asking me to complete my report for the third or fourth time (I've lost count), a report that they edited beyond recognition as it was. I wish I had followed my gut instinct and avoided them.

SunnyDays2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have done over 110 Ath Shops, all banks. I have
> always been paid and have a solid "10" with them.
>

You have been rated all tens? I started working with Ath in July and have never been rated.

I have shopped for Ath for many years, all banks. Each bank has a different Guideline, yes, some I would like to re-write myself. Some can be confusing. I have always been able to talk to their schedulers, they have been very accommodating. The editors vary, but I usually get a 9 or 10. I don't do any phone shops, just the simple banking. I have shopped 300 banks with them. I never use my full name, usually an alias, never give a last name and never my phone number.

I had some bank shops for Ath Power and the fees were way, way above average. My only problem was getting a specialist on the phone and making an appointment. Voice messages everytime. Other than that, everything went through and I got paid. But it is best not to do too many banks. They can really drive you nuts. At least it did me. How can one conduct business if VM is running the place?

I had a thrill when logging in to them today. They had a bank shop bonused for $500! I had to open every link to see if it was for real, even called them, but got the voicemail. I emailed schedulers and also updated my profile while I was in there. You guessed it, someones itchy Monday finger! Oh well, one can dream can't we?

I have done over 80 shops for ath over the years and have never had any of the ratings publicized to me. I don't know how anyone could know that they have always gotten 9 or 10's from them.

I have done 50 shops for them and have no rating on any of them. I did get a hero citation for one which gives me an average rating of 10. It seems as if the person here who had gotten all 9's and 10's may be talking about a different msp otherwise I would like a screen shot.

Today I received an email to the effect that I would be getting paid for the shop I had with Ath that was in dispute. I am grateful they are following through but wary of shopping for them again as I perceive the wording on their shop forms to need some work. But that's my take, that doesn't mean everyone else is going to see this this way, and it looks as if they are paying so YMMV with this MSC.

I just looked, and sure enough, no ratings! So, I emailed my scheduler if I would start getting rated with the last shop. We'll see!! This shop I just did wasn't positive. The bank branch I shopped is CLOSING in November. That poor girl . . . In my initial notes I wrote, "discouraged, disillusioned, frustrated, polite but distant, DEPRESSED. Her presentation to me was what you'd expect. Sad.

We'll see what they do with this one.

Just wanted to post here that Ath did pay the $20 for the shop they had issues with. So at least I received payment and I'm glad for that much, and it's only fair that I come back and update here that they did pay.

I have shopped for ATH since 2006, never got a rating. If you don't hear back from them about a shop you are fine. They will only contact you if there is a problem. I have only shopped their simple teller, drive-up and platform shops. When I apply for a shop I always email the scheduler to let her/him know what my needs are. They have a few new schedulers this year and they are great! They deposit into your checking account, no PayPal. I have always been paid. They pay 60 days, check your log. I am in New England.
This is a copy from Hymnsinger below;

Hymnsinger

Posts:76

[ PM ]

[Toggle User Visibility]

Just heard back from my scheduler about ratings (Per the continuing ath Power discussion on another thread). She said,

"We do not grade shops. Every shopper starts with a shopper grade of 5, that only changes if you do one of two things.

#1 flake on a shop then we give you a 1.

#2 Do one of the shops that we offer a shopper grade of 10 on.

There you go!

Someone asked about who to go to in Mass to complain...contact the Mass attorney generals office. When we lived in Mass, they were very helpful when my husband had consumer complaints

ebit123 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Someone asked about who to go to in Mass to
> complain...contact the Mass attorney generals
> office. When we lived in Mass, they were very
> helpful when my husband had consumer complaints


Thank you for your advise/response. I was very recently paid - including promised bonus - for the shop in dispute and I came back to update that Ath had paid, so I won't be needing to contact anybody in regards to seeking payment. Thank goodness for that!

Spork Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SunnyDays2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have done over 110 Ath Shops, all banks. I
> have
> > always been paid and have a solid "10" with
> them.
> >
>
> You have been rated all tens? I started working
> with Ath in July and have never been rated.

I did a bunch of shops and was told "Shopper Citation of 10!" if you can pick up these banks, so I did the favor and my shops remained a 10 throughout my time with that company.