MSC Payment Statements and Records

I've only worked for 4 different MSC but i keep very busy with ms as well as anither business i run. I need to keep my accounting very clear. I would like to compare the way MSC provide their shoppers with information on their payment history. So far the company that has provided me best payment history is MarketForce. It provides the date of the shop, the name, the address, the id number, etc. It keeps all your records online making it easier to balance with my own excell sheet. Other companies grossly limit the number of payments they keep online for you and also limit the details of the shops.

I love the people at Maritz and their shops are easy, but their payment history is very limited. I find myself not taking shops from them unless i have nothing else to do.

Which companies do you find provide the best /worst payment history information? Does this affect your desire to work for them?

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I keep detailed enough records for tax purposes and I have a separate tab on my spreadsheet for payments that are owed to me, so I personally never look at the work history on the MSC sites.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I keep my own records, and don't rely upon my MSC clients. Gives me a chance to keep up my knowledge of Excel, in particular.

I rarely look at my payment history. I keep track of things on my Excel spreadsheet and then when the check/Paypal notice comes in, I write it in. I only go to the company's website if the payment is different from what or when I expect it to be, or if there's been some question as to whether the shop was accepted.

We are all here on earth to help others....What on earth the others are here for I don't know.

--W. H. Auden

Not to pile on, but I mostly rely on my own records more than the MSCs like the other posters who've responded.

Off the top of my head, though, A Closer Look has a good payment page. All of the companies on the sassie platform have a pretty good history on the Shop Log page. Similarly, any shops performed on iSecretShop have a good history visible on the Payments/Coupons tab.

Any company that requires you to submit an invoice usually doesn't have a very good history of payments on their site: not just Maritz. But I agree that the process for invoicing shops probably keeps me from performing more assignments for them. It just seems like an unnecessary extra step.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/2015 11:02PM by CaliGirl925.

martica,
If you ever need to show records to the IRS, you will be much better off with your own, consistent, and up-to-date records. You now run a business and you will need to take responsibility for record keeping. It's not hard, and it is much safer than relying on MSC records.

Also, are you keeping daily mileage records?

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

Any company that requires you to submit an invoice usually doesn't have a very good history of payments on their site: not just Maritz. But I agree that the process for invoicing shops probably keeps me from performing more assignments for them. It just seems like an unnecessary extra step.

I've never had an issue with getting paid by Maritz, but Cirrus comes to mind. I hate having to submit an invoice and they always pay super late and usually won't pay unless you remind them.

Among other things there are some companies out there that you can't rely on to pay you when and as contracted for. You MUST keep your own records so that they don't profit from your work without paying for it. And with a couple of companies I can think of, the hoops you need to jump through to get paid are pretty obviously designed to avoid payment.

I keep a detailed Excel spreadsheet, but have the same (or similar gripe) about Maritz. Because they don't have anything I can double-check myself against, I have to be very very extra careful when filling out my spreadsheet. If I've missed or mistyped a shop number it can be very difficult to reconcile the check in hand vs. my spreadsheet. It would also be helpful to know which shops they think they still have outstanding so I can compare it to what I think is still outstanding and nip any issues in the bud.

Everyone's different, though. This is just one of those things I've learned to work around. I certainly wouldn't let it affect my relationship with them. I make too much money from Maritz to let that happen.

For me. at the end of each month, I grab the PayPal statement and bank statement (with scanned checks deposits) and match up with my tracking spreadsheet. Companies like Market Force that provide me with an itemized breakdown also get downloaded and compared as well.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

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