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Unfair editors

October 01, 2025 09:16PM
I'm really struggling with an editor who has withheld pay for EACH of my shops that she has edited. I have more than 20 years of experience and have done thousands of shops - and hundreds for this company. This has never happened to me before. Do I have any recourse? She actually lied on the most recent one, saying I submitted a receipt with the date and time cut off, though it's clearly there on the photo. What can I do?

Shopping domestic and international locations since 2003.
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More About Mystery Shopping Editors
October 01, 2025 09:40PM
Missing too many context to give viable information or suggestion
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October 01, 2025 10:33PM
MSC?
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October 02, 2025 12:27AM
More details are needed in order to give you an unbiased assessment.
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October 02, 2025 02:08AM
You could name the MSC and someone here could probably advise you on a manager at that MSC that you could escalate to, maybe
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October 02, 2025 04:39AM
Is the editor from the MSC or an outside editing firm, such as WSP's? Is there a reason you cannot state which MSC OR which client, so those who have some insight on either can help with suggestions? Your post is too vague, since one size does not fit all.
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October 02, 2025 05:58AM
I can say that I've had editors that need more education, and I've had editors read stuff into the guidelines that just aren't there. But if you do your job, take extra pictures, just in case you missed something, and TALK to the editor when you have a problem, you will most likely be paid when all is said and done.
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October 02, 2025 04:50PM
Sorry you are dealing with this. It sounds like you need to find a manager at the company to talk to. Most editors are easy to work with, but if you end up with one who is unfair and incorrect, the company would want to know.
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October 06, 2025 08:33PM
@pambam I would reach out to the project manager on this to try to get a resolution and see what can be done in the future. If what you describe is true, it is a waste of your time to deal with this and the editor needs some educating.

Your case underscores the reason why we should click the link for a pdf copy of the shop after you submit it. This provides proof on any future claims that you submitted the information. We all know from experience that editors are wrong sometimes and they also don't read everything.
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October 07, 2025 05:06AM
I guess all we will ever know is the editor is female and unfair.
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October 07, 2025 05:34AM
Who wants to take bets this is Coyle?
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October 07, 2025 06:24AM
@weatherman2111 wrote:

Who wants to take bets this is Coyle?

I'll take that bet. I have never had Coyle hold back money.
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October 08, 2025 03:36PM
There are companies previously discussed in these forms who have employed editors who need ...editing, and will not engage in additional communication once they reject something. Hard to know how to best support you with who else to reach out to without more information.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2025 03:37PM by SBP.
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October 11, 2025 08:41PM
@Momomomo wrote:

Your case underscores the reason why we should click the link for a pdf copy of the shop after you submit it. This provides proof on any future claims that you submitted the information. We all know from experience that editors are wrong sometimes and they also don't read everything.

Yes, this is important -- you should always save a PDF file of every shop just before you submit it (or right after, as on sassie and other shop forms) as it will be evidence of what you did or did not include. You should also download a copy of the guidelines/instructions in effect when you did the shop, in case they changed the day after you submitted the shop.

Saving a PDF of submitted work: I've had the experience of seeing what some "editing" looks like after something was bounced back to me by a supervisor seeking additional information. The editor had removed most of the important details from the narrative, added a few of their own, and left behind an illiterate mess. Fortunately I had a copy of the original, so the supervisor could see the truth. (I don't know what happened to the editor after this episode.)
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October 12, 2025 12:45AM
Years ago, I had an MSP employee accidentally delete my report, so I faxed them my saved copy and they retyped it. It looked like a very young child had done it after they were done. They did not even make an attempt to correctly retype what I had originally submitted. Thank goodness I had the saved copy to show that I had submitted a properly written report, since the editor demanded that I fix the badly written report (that their employee had done).
@Susan L. wrote:

@Momomomo wrote:

Your case underscores the reason why we should click the link for a pdf copy of the shop after you submit it. This provides proof on any future claims that you submitted the information. We all know from experience that editors are wrong sometimes and they also don't read everything.

Yes, this is important -- you should always save a PDF file of every shop just before you submit it (or right after, as on sassie and other shop forms) as it will be evidence of what you did or did not include. You should also download a copy of the guidelines/instructions in effect when you did the shop, in case they changed the day after you submitted the shop.

Saving a PDF of submitted work: I've had the experience of seeing what some "editing" looks like after something was bounced back to me by a supervisor seeking additional information. The editor had removed most of the important details from the narrative, added a few of their own, and left behind an illiterate mess. Fortunately I had a copy of the original, so the supervisor could see the truth. (I don't know what happened to the editor after this episode.)
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October 13, 2025 11:42AM
How long do you save these for? I would like to start doing this, just in case.
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October 13, 2025 03:44PM
@nighthawk4455 wrote:

How long do you save these for? I would like to start doing this, just in case.
At least till I get paid.
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October 13, 2025 08:10PM
I think I have all of mine since B.C.
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October 15, 2025 02:48AM
I just started doing video shops and I had an editor actually say I said and did something I flat out didn't do- and it clearly showed on the video what was said and done. Still, I was made to feel like such a fool because what was said I said was completely out of character for me- it was stated that I DEMANDED that the sales agent give me a ride in her car, when in fact she offered the option of riding with her or following her, and I said I'd just as soon ride with her, and commented that I'd been on the road all day. I guess I should have left the last part off but the editor ran with it and made me look bad, when in fact you are supposed to ride with the agent if offered. I hated having to have a dispute on one of my very first shopsl.
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October 15, 2025 07:46PM
re: Saving copies of submissions...

It's our only backup in a dispute, along with the instructions/guidelines provided. So sorry you went through that with your first assignment. We do have to be proactive and run this like a business to be ready for something like this and to track our income for taxes, and to be sure it arrives.

I've had no luck saving anything on Gigspot except as consecutive screen shots. It won't allow me to print the form. Anyone know a work-around?
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