Hi! I've been shopping for about 2 months now.....doin pretty good so far.....still learning which MSC's are worth my time.....Can anyone tell me how Inform pays & when?.......

I did a job for them on June 11 and got paid on July 2. So my guess is the beginning of the month following the shop.

They pay by check.

Thanks, that makes organizing easier.....

I read in this thread that they pay by check but in another thread somebody said direct deposit. Can somebody please verify whether it is direct deposit or physical check?

Goofy Wrote:
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> I read in this thread that they pay by check but
> in another thread somebody said direct deposit.
> Can somebody please verify whether it is direct
> deposit or physical check?


We pay by physical check!

Thank you Dylan.

Dylan, are there any plans to add Paypal or direct deposit as payment options? Thanks.

Physical check, usually around 30 days from the shop date. I've had them pay in as little as 18 days and as long as 40 days, but the average is around 30.

And they pay right on time too!

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
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> Dylan, are there any plans to add Paypal or direct
> deposit as payment options? Thanks.


The plans have been around for years but its a difficult process to get going. Mystery Shopping is actually a small portion of Informa's business so our Corporate offices are hesitant to make any changes to our accounting schedules and processes. It's been a very uphill battle.

However, we are apparently able to save money by sending out checks rather than using electronic services. An electronic transaction would end up costing more than sending a physical check. From what I am told, we are able to keep payments higher by not having to spend more on the payment transactions.

I look forward to the day when we can start using PayPal and direct deposit but I can't see it happening any time soon. Still, the plans are there and we are always trying to get them implemented.

If checks mean higher pay... then I'm all for it! Keep 'em coming!!

And the schedulers are AWESOME! They don't knick pick at your work either.

DLerner Wrote:
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> The plans have been around for years but its a
> difficult process to get going. Mystery Shopping
> is actually a small portion of Informa's business
> so our Corporate offices are hesitant to make any
> changes to our accounting schedules and processes.
> It's been a very uphill battle.
>
> However, we are apparently able to save money by
> sending out checks rather than using electronic
> services. An electronic transaction would end up
> costing more than sending a physical check. From
> what I am told, we are able to keep payments
> higher by not having to spend more on the payment
> transactions.
>
> I look forward to the day when we can start using
> PayPal and direct deposit but I can't see it
> happening any time soon. Still, the plans are
> there and we are always trying to get them
> implemented.

Wow, that's really shocking to me, especially considering how many financial services clients Informa has. I figure that each check that Informa mails costs somewhere between $0.70-$0.90. If you were to eliminate multiple monthly check mailings, you'd have to assume that there would be some savings, even if the payroll ACH charge is $2/transaction.

I know there are months that I have received 3 or 4 checks from Informa. If you figure that those checks cost $3.60 total, a $2 cost for direct deposit would be a no brainer. Unless you have very few contractors that get multiple mailings.

To illustrate the integrity of Informa, I'll share an incident from approx. 4 years ago

At that time, Informa had a bonus of $10 per shop, but only beginning with the sixth job of a calendar month. It happened I was in the bonus, so I accepted two banks entailing a 105 mile round trip, but in conjunction with two additional MScs that also provided me with assignments. When, though, I accessed the site the night before my trip to check on any changes, the jobs were missing. As I only accepted all of the visits predicated upon this small route, it became a non-profitable situation for me. When I returned, I contacted my scheduler who transferred my call to her supervisor. Upon hearing my explanation, she arranged for FULL payment to me. I neither requested a reason for the missing shops nor was there an offer of what had occurred.

Folks, I doubt any other MSC would have been so accommodating as to OFFER the above solution regarding this situation. I immediately conferred upon Informa the coveted Shopper Bob's 3 thumbs up award!

Informa is the BEST! They have assigned me special projects outside of Mystery Shopping.

They pay by paper check and they pay within 30 days

zlinedavid Wrote:
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> Wow, that's really shocking to me, especially
> considering how many financial services clients
> Informa has. I figure that each check that
> Informa mails costs somewhere between $0.70-$0.90.
> If you were to eliminate multiple monthly check
> mailings, you'd have to assume that there would be
> some savings, even if the payroll ACH charge is
> $2/transaction.
>
> I know there are months that I have received 3 or
> 4 checks from Informa. If you figure that those
> checks cost $3.60 total, a $2 cost for direct
> deposit would be a no brainer. Unless you have
> very few contractors that get multiple mailings.

Yeah, I did the math when they told me and it didn't make all that much sense to me either, but apparently it has something to do with our Corporate offices and the way they manage payments. We definitely have very few contractors that get multiple mailings, though. We also consolidate multiple shop payments into one check whenever we can.

Thank you very much, Dylan, for responding and explaining. I don't understand why paper checks would be cheaper, either, but if that's how it is, I can certainly understand Informa's reluctance to change.

I used to get more than one check from Informa quite often since I used to do multiple shops each month. Although Informa is one of my favorite companies, I only shop for it infrequently now because of the paper checks.

My local post office is the worst post office I know. I've been living in the same house since 1999. Some of my mail (including checks and debit/credit cards) get delivered to other addresses and I frequently get mail addressed to other addresses. My local post office also repeatedly makes mistakes with my vacation holds and mail forwarding. I have complained to different supervisors, in person, many times, but the mistakes continue.

I also have a tendency to misplace checks that I receive. That is my fault, I know. In fact, I recently found a stale Informa check.

It is just much easier for me to shop for companies that provide payment options other than (or in addition to) paper checks.

Busy bee, I believe you have the same people delivering your mail that I do. Every week we get 3 to 4 pieces that don't belong to us. I always wonder what is floating around out there that should have been delivered here.

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
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> Thank you very much, Dylan, for responding and
> explaining. I don't understand why paper checks
> would be cheaper, either, but if that's how it is,
> I can certainly understand Informa's reluctance to
> change.
>
> I used to get more than one check from Informa
> quite often since I used to do multiple shops each
> month. Although Informa is one of my favorite
> companies, I only shop for it infrequently now
> because of the paper checks.
>
> My local post office is the worst post office I
> know. I've been living in the same house since
> 1999. Some of my mail (including checks and
> debit/credit cards) get delivered to other
> addresses and I frequently get mail addressed to
> other addresses. My local post office also
> repeatedly makes mistakes with my vacation holds
> and mail forwarding. I have complained to
> different supervisors, in person, many times, but
> the mistakes continue.
>
> I also have a tendency to misplace checks that I
> receive. That is my fault, I know. In fact, I
> recently found a stale Informa check.
>
> It is just much easier for me to shop for
> companies that provide payment options other than
> (or in addition to) paper checks.

I can understand, I would imagine that most shoppers feel the same way. If you still have that stale check I would be happy to see if I can reissue it for you, though - just send me an email and I'll let you know what you need to do.

I love getting the checks! and Informa has been a great company to work for.

PayPal has been the problem for me. I tried opening an account and they sent me a generic
denial email listing several possible reasons, so I really don't know why I was denied or how to address
their concerns.

Direct deposit works for me as well, faster and more secure.

Informa gets my 5 star rating!

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
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> My local post office is the worst post office I
> know. I've been living in the same house since
> 1999. Some of my mail (including checks and
> debit/credit cards) get delivered to other
> addresses and I frequently get mail addressed to
> other addresses. My local post office also
> repeatedly makes mistakes with my vacation holds
> and mail forwarding. I have complained to
> different supervisors, in person, many times, but
> the mistakes continue.

Document everything and talk to a Postal Inspector. While misdelivery of mail happens, when it's a consistent problem it can be viewed as a crime. Any postmaster will bow to an Inspector when they say 'FIX!!'