For anyone nervous about having their account information out there online with ANY company and/or, I suggest you open a second account at your bank of interest. Have all the money deposited into that second account, then have it transferred over to your main account as soon as it's deposited. That's what I do. It only takes about 30 seconds to have my money trasferred to my main account, so there's no inconvenience. If anyone hacks into PayPal, a MS company I have direct deposit set up with, or a wholesaler I deal with (not MSing), then there's no cash in the account and no harm done to me.

I'd also like to say I've known these ladies for years, though I've just recently been editing for them. I've never known them to give attitude over anything, even when I felt they would have been more than justified in doing so. *I'm* the one with the big mouth here. (Open mouth, insert foot...frequently.) The problem with printed words is the tone and inflections aren't translated so it's hard to tell how something was said. It can read fine to one but offensive to another. I have NO doubt that no offense was ever intended, especially when they've reassured us that through any kinks, they will work with us.


AustinMom, here's a copy of the email sent out to everyone. I don't know if yours ended up in the spam folder or if it bounced back. Sometimes I have issues sending out emails about shopper grading even though I know they're getting emails from schedulers. Quirks in the email systems, I guess.

Introducing ACE’s New Payment Program
9/14/2011
Dear Shoppers:
Associate Consumer Evaluations, LLC dba ACE Mystery Shopping is introducing our exciting, new payment platform; PayQuicker. As you may know, we started using direct deposit earlier this year and found that to be less reliable with many shoppers’ banks not accepting the service. As our company grows we are always looking for better ways to transfer funds to our shoppers in the quickest and easiest method possible. Choosing PayQuicker, the smarter way to pay, your payments will now be sent easily to you by a secure online portal.
We are working as quickly as possible to be able to pay everyone but there will be a delay until we are all set up with PayQuicker. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and please know we are working on this as quickly as possible. Here are the advantages of this new payment program:
You will now have easier access to your earnings! No more waiting for checks to be mailed or bank deposits pending the next business day. Using the PayQuicker website you can now:
• Deposit your earnings directly into your bank – free of charge
• Request a Visa Debit Card and spend your earning wherever Visa is accepted or withdraw money at most ATM’s – (see “Fees” at www.payquicker.com).
• Send free, instant online payments to others just by knowing their email address
• Request a traditional paper check
To start, you will be receiving a payment from ACE Mystery Shopping. When paid, you will receive an email notification from PayQuicker, explaining how to access your payment. Open the email, see your payment amount and click the “Accept Payment Now” link. The link takes you directly to www.payquicker.com where first time users enroll, in less than three minutes, and receive and FDIC insured bank account.
Go to www.payquicker.com anytime to access your account and transfer the money to your own bank account, request a Visa Prepaid Debit card, send yourself a paper check or send instant payments to friends, family or others. All you need is a person’s email address to send them money instantly, anywhere, anytime, best of all, it’s free!
ACE Mystery Shopping is now making it faster and easier for you to receive your earnings. You receive your payments without waiting for direct deposit approvals, waiting for checks in the mail or delays to cash checks, putting real money in your pocket faster!
General Info
PayQuicker’s issuing bank provides an FDIC insured bank account with;
• No setup fees
• No credit history required
• No minimum balance required
• No minimum transactions required
• PayQuicker would be happy to answer any questions you may have about their system, setting up your account and/or getting your payments. You can reach them at 866-400-2712 Option 2 for Support, or at support@payquicker.com or via live chat directly from their website. No monthly maintenance fee
Account Enrollment/Sign Up
Enrollment for a PayQuicker account is quick and easy; 3 steps, 3 minutes. For your security and protection, PayQuicker’s issuing bank follows all state and federal guidelines and requires the following information to open an account for you:
•
Remember, you’ll be provided an FDIC insured bank account. All information is gathered and maintained by PayQuicker’s issuing bank and kept within their bank level encrypted servers

• Full Name
• Home Address
• Date of Birth
• Government Issued ID
Get Your Money
You’ll receive our payments instantly into your account. You then have a number of options for withdrawing or using those funds. Your options include:
1. Transferring funds to your bank account – it is free and fast. Funds are usually in your bank within two days. You never have to wait for a check to clear!
2. Request a PayQuicker Prepaid Visa Debit Card. Make purchases wherever Visa is accepted and access cash ast most ATM’s. (Fees apply - see “Fees” at www.payquicker.com).
3. Let the payments accumulate in your FDIC insured account.
4. Send a paper check to yourself or others. PayQuicker fulfills the entire paper check process including stamping and mailing. (Fees apply - see “Fees” at www.payquicker.com).
5. Send free Instant Transfers to others around the globe. All you need is their email address.
PayQuicker would be happy to answer any questions you may have about their system, setting up your account and/or getting your payments. You can reach them at 866-400-2712 Option 2 for Support, or at support@payquicker.com or via live chat directly from their website.
Sincerely,
ACE Mystery Shopping
Accounting Department

Flash summed it up nicely:"I HAVE a bank account that direct deposits can be made to, I HAVE a Paypal account that payments can be sent to and I HAVE a mailbox that checks can be sent to. The rest is just noise.


It is not my aspiration to be a hoop dancer.....If ACE can't figure out how to pay me for my occasional work without my doing hoop dances, perhaps I can't figure out how to work for ACE."

Well said, Angie. And for anyone who doubts the sincerity of Julie & Tiffany when they say they're trying to do what's best for shoppers, please don't. As business owners, of course Julie and Tiffany need to protect their bottom line. However, this is not the first company I've worked for in this industry (I'm a scheduler and editor for ACE), but I can tell you this is the one that is most dedicated to it's shoppers and GREAT customer service. We're trained not only to get our shops filled (and edited), but also to work with the shoppers in the process - educating them about how mystery shopping works and how to write a great report. On top of this, we're asked to do it with a smile.

Julie and Tiffany are going with PayQuicker because of all of the problems that have arisen from direct deposit. While it does work well for some of us (I've never had a problem), we've had many, many shoppers email and call us asking where they payments were only to find out that it was yet another problem with direct deposit. Tiffany & Julie want to reduce shopper frustration and maximize their own valuable time. They can get a lot more done in their already long, busy work days if they're not answering "where is my payment?" emails and then having to research what went wrong on the shopper's bank's end.

I understand that some people are just naturally resistant to change of any kind, but you could at least give ACE the benefit of the doubt and give PayQuicker a try. You may be pleasantly surprised like Angie was! Julie, Tiffany and Steve have all tried to express to you all that they are willing to pretty much bend over backwards to help solve any issues that may arise as a result of changing payment systems.

For those of you who think it's "not worth it" to go to "all the trouble" of opening a new account for this purpose because ACE doesn't have many shops in your area, you may want to rethink that. ACE has gotten by just fine for YEARS with only one scheduler (Deva!), but we're growing by leaps and bounds. I switched from being just an editor, to primarily scheduling just so we could handle the workload. We're up to 12+ editors and we're adding new clients steadily!

OK, off my soapbox for now! Please, just give it a chance and stop knocking the process before there's even been a problem.

Jamie Giles
Scheduler/Editor
ACE Mystery Shopping

Technology is a blessing and a curse all in one. I am still on the fence about this. I have only done 4 shops for ACE but I have thoroughly enjoyed them. I have spoken with Steve and with University National Bank which is the bank the money is insured through. I was thinking of this as yet another personal checking account with a bank half way across the country. This is and isn't how it works. Hopefully, I will get all of this information right, but, if not, Steve please step in a correct me.
In a nutshell, the bank is just where the money sits(FDIC insured). They have nothing else to do with it. Everything is handled through PayQuicker - questions on the account, the Visa debit card and checks. If I want to write a check from my PayQuicker account to pay, say, my electric bill I kind of can. I would not actually have paper checks that I could write but I could direct PayQuicker to send my electric company a check, like online banking checks. The accounts are set-up through the PayQuicker platform not the bank.
This could just be stubborness on my part, but the main reason I am resisting this at this point is that it is being pushed so hard. I just can't shake the feeling that there is something being "hidden".
Those who have signed up with PayQuicker and are just average everyday shoppers, please let us know how it goes.

:"I understand that some people are just naturally resistant to change of any kind,"

That is not correct understanding.

Says you...but I am one of those people and I know it occurs! People get set in their ways, they get comfortable with routine and change can be difficult. All I'm saying is that it's normal and common, but that sometimes things DO change and we learn to adapt.

Kris3065 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Technology is a blessing and a curse all in one.
> I am still on the fence about this. I have only
> done 4 shops for ACE but I have thoroughly enjoyed
> them. I have spoken with Steve and with
> University National Bank which is the bank the
> money is insured through. I was thinking of this
> as yet another personal checking account with a
> bank half way across the country. This is and
> isn't how it works. Hopefully, I will get all of
> this information right, but, if not, Steve please
> step in a correct me.
> In a nutshell, the bank is just where the money
> sits(FDIC insured). They have nothing else to do
> with it. Everything is handled through PayQuicker
> - questions on the account, the Visa debit card
> and checks. If I want to write a check from my
> PayQuicker account to pay, say, my electric bill I
> kind of can. I would not actually have paper
> checks that I could write but I could direct
> PayQuicker to send my electric company a check,
> like online banking checks. The accounts are
> set-up through the PayQuicker platform not the
> bank.
> This could just be stubborness on my part, but the
> main reason I am resisting this at this point is
> that it is being pushed so hard. I just can't
> shake the feeling that there is something being
> "hidden".
> Those who have signed up with PayQuicker and are
> just average everyday shoppers, please let us know
> how it goes.
I juat received my payment from Ace thru Pay Quicker. It took 3 days. It is exactly the same set up as PayPal. You transfer the payment to your bank. It is not setting up a new bank account. You can but do not have to sign up for their debit card. No problems.

Cyn

PayQuicker is not a bank and we're not opening bank accounts with them. I have PayPal, too, and they're not the be all, end all. They take longer to process the payments, fees are sometimes taken out, and I've known many who've had their accounts frozen for unfounded reasons, leaving them unable to access the hundreds or thousands in their accounts. Or worse, PayPal has gone into people's actual bank accounts and REMOVED money, causing payments to bounce.

Please try to understand that ACE didn't go to PayQuicker to cause shoppers problems. They had to do it despite potential backlash from thousands of registered shoppers, though thankfully it's only been 10 or 15 who have expressed serious concern. However, ACE is REQUIRED by federal law to keep track of who gets paid what and the number of fraudulent shoppers is increasing. PayQuicker verifies the shoppers are who they say they are and help keep track of payments for tax purposes. It's sad that a few rotten apples spoil it for the rest. Unfortunately, not to follow the law or protect ACE against fraud would result in fines from the IRS and angry clients from the falsified reports who mistrust the MS industry and leave. Then we'd all lose. The way I understand it, PayQuicker is the best financially viable choice available.

I was not excited about having to switch to a new payment system. I was skeptical and expected the worse. However, it was easier to register with PayQuicker than filling out a MS company application; faster than PayPal by a few days. Bottom line: completely painless.

I'm glad you had a good experience Cyn!!! :-D

Those of you saying you did not set up a bank account should probably go back and re-read the email posted above that ACE sent to shoppers. Here is a line quoted from it - "Remember, you’ll be provided an FDIC insured bank account."

Maybe I am naive but how can one be a "fraudulent shopper"?

Kris3065 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe I am naive but how can one be a "fraudulent
> shopper"?


Hi Kris,

I absolutely LOVE your innocent question. The reason I love it because it means you're totally honest and that something like falsifying a shop is probably something you never thought of and most definitely would not even dream of doing.

Here's a little education about fraudulent shoppers. I really shouldn't even call them shoppers because they really are not shoppers at all and should not be in the same class with you all.

*They sign up in groups and accepts shops under aliases all throughout the country. We have found shoppers in our database that use up to 5 aliases (that we know of). We've even had more than one shopper try to accept shops in opposite ends of the country - in the same day!

* We've found shoppers accepting shops using multiple relatives names to be able to trick schedulers into giving them shops still in rotation.

* We've caught shoppers using identical receipts and business cards that they used on past shops.

I could go on and on about the ways that we have seen people try to scam us. I really believe that a majority of the population is really good. I'm sure that 99.9% of our shoppers are totally honest, but it really affects our integrity as a company if something like that gets through to a client without being caught on our end. We could potentially lose a client over something like that. If we lose that client - that's less shops for you.

We really look at PayQuicker as sort of an insurance policy for both shoppers and our company. It shows our clients that we are serious about protecting the integrity and credibility of our company and also the reports we provide them. (More happy clients = more shops for everyone)

Thanks!

Julie Simbro

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2011 05:02PM by JulieACE.

Kris3065 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> This could just be stubborness on my part, but the
> main reason I am resisting this at this point is
> that it is being pushed so hard. I just can't
> shake the feeling that there is something being
> "hidden".
> Those who have signed up with PayQuicker and are
> just average everyday shoppers, please let us know
> how it goes.

I personally haven't seen any pushing to switch, just an email notification. The reasons have been stated: PayQuicker offers better bookkeeping for the IRS, to prevent fraudulent shoppers from creating fake accounts, and to stop issues with direct deposit.

It isn't possible with all the shoppers registered with ACE to verify that one shopper isn't registered under different users and having all their payments transferred to the same bank account. They don't have the technology or manpower to do it alone. Obviously, there's a double blessing with having terrific records for the IRS so they're abiding the law.

I also forgot until Jamie mentioned it how recently there was a shopper who complained to me about having a payment a week or so overdue for a shop. I looked into it and found out that the wrong bank account information was listed. It was nothing ACE could correct on their end. I explained to the shopper the correct account info needed to be given and then the payment could be direct deposited. Desipte that, the shopper didn't believe that ACE tried to pay for the shop and still complained about not getting paid but wasn't updating the account information as I repeatedly requested. Having PayQuicker shows the shoppers that the payment is there from ACE waiting for them. If there are issues like the incorrect bank account number, PayQuicker can work with the shopper to correct it. That's what they're in business to do. It saves ACE time and money handling non-shopping issues.

That's it. There's nothing to hide. ACE doesn't work like that. If they did, I wouldn't work for them and I certainly wouldn't be on here defending their motives when I could be doing something else...like taking a nap. LOL Tiffany and Julie are super sweet and go well above and beyond with the shoppers, more than I would do if I was a company owner because I don't have that kind of patience or commitment to this industry. They do.

As for payment, I got the email notification on Friday, Sept. 16th, accepted the payment and requested an ACH transfer to my bank on Saturday, Sept. 17th. The money was in my account on Tuesday, Sept. 20th so that gave the bank Monday (the first business day) to process the payment, leaving a 24 hour turnaround time. However, I do understand why you would feel hesitant to believe me since I'm an editor for ACE. I'm an IC just like you, though. ANYONE who wants to see that my payment was processed EXACTLY as I said, you can email me at Angie (at) ACE Mystery Shopping (dot) com and I will send you a screen shot of both my PayQuicker account and my bank account showing the money deposited for my shop. If that doesn't satisfy concerns, then I don't know what else to offer. Sorry.

@JGiles:"Says you...but I am one of those people and I know it occurs! People get set in their ways, they get comfortable with routine and change can be difficult. All I'm saying is that it's normal and common, but that sometimes things DO change and we learn to adapt."

Did you read Flash's post and my summary? To many it has nothing to do with change.

It is perfectly OK for ACE to do whatever they want to do. In a nutshell, ACE is saying,'These are our terms NOW, it is up to YOU to work for us or not'. I as an individuals has to decide if it is 'worth' to me or not. (I personally don't open a checking account unless the bank pays me a sign up bonus. Even Paypal, when they first started (pre IPO and pre Ebay days) they were paying $20).

I just wish that ACE would honor their past terms that for $1 deduction, they would send a check. I have yet to hear that from ACE or others who have vested interest.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2011 05:26PM by anakin.

I have read all of the posts here, anakin. I'm not here to argue. I was just pointing something out. I'm sure there are many reasons for shoppers being skeptical or resistant to going through these measures, I was merely stating ONE of them.

Kris3065 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those of you saying you did not set up a bank
> account should probably go back and re-read the
> email posted above that ACE sent to shoppers.
> Here is a line quoted from it - "Remember, you’ll
> be provided an FDIC insured bank account."

Of course there has to be a specific number associated with our payments. That doesn't mean it's the same type of bank account that we would use locally for paying bills. I'm sure it could be done like that but why would I bother with such a hassle? I consider it no different than using PayPal, except my money isn't insured and can be held hostage with PayPal. All I do with PayPal is transfer my money to my checking account. Oh! And pay for eBay purchases. It's a go-between for me. Nothing more, nothing less.

A quick note about bank accounts...

Any IC--MS industry or otherwise--REALLY should have a separate bank account (local, not PayPal or PayQuicker or whatever) set up to receive payments for shops done. Having a second account protects you from having to worry if there's ever a security breach with any company or payment processor that you deal with. If someone gets access to my bank account from any of the companies, PayPal or such, it doesn't do them a bit of good but it saves me a WORLD of protection. Trust me here. I had my account stolen when I was a rep for Party Gals and they got hacked. I was lucky that the companies where the charges were made were on top of things so I didn't have to fight to get my money back. It could've been a nightmare with bounced checks and months of waiting for my money that I desperately needed. It took me years to get a second account but only seconds to transfer my payments over to my main checking account. The little time it takes to open a second account is well worth the hassle you'll save if your information is ever compromised!

"is well worth the hassle you'll save if your information is ever compromised!"

Angie: That is the key phrase here. Less people know about my personal information, better I am. I have no issue giving my bank account number or the routing number (You do that every time you write a check).

Angie,
The pushing I am referring to is the fact that if we want to continue doing ACE shops we MUST sign up with PayQuicker. There is no other payment option. If that is incorrect, please just tell me and as far as I am concerned PayQuicker becomes a non-issue.
I think a lot of the hesitation has to do with the fact that we have to give not only our SS# but our government ID to them. When I first started this a few months ago, I almost didn't do it because I had to give what seemed like everyone in the world my SS#. I have not had to provide my Driver's license to anyone yet and I am very reluctant to do so now.

There are few MSCs that require SSN, DL, name of Insurance company and policy number. Adios amigos.

My biggest problem with this is the way it has been implemented. Yes, change is stressful and almost ALL people have difficulty with change; that difficulty can be lessened if is change is properly implemented.

Proper implementation would include notice in advance, notifying ALL shoppers in advance (ACE's shoppers shouldn't have to find out by reading a complaint on a forum!), allowing shoppers to understand and ask questions before being required to make a decision, and full disclosure with empathy for the shoppers.

This was announced as an immediate thing - and applied retroactively to shops which were accepted under other payment terms. I'm also not hearing any empathy or sensitivity from the company. I'm hearing defensiveness and some apology for "you might have taken my words wrong" after some heated comments on the forum from shoppers. And I'm hearing a lot more explanations that ACE should have made in advance. The way this was announced as an immediate thing and applied retroactively, without options, makes me feel disrespected as an ACE IC.

I am keeping an open mind about PayQuicker, which is a total unknown to me. In a few months, when I have had the opportunity to hear from shoppers I know and respect who have used PayQuicker, I may very well be willing to sign up. Right now I am NOT willing to provide my personal information to this company I know nothing about. But I do want to be paid for the two shops I accepted and performed for ACE on 9/5 and 9/15 before ACE disclosed their new payment terms. Payment by check, which was my agreement with ACE when I accepted both shops (also how ACE has paid me for over a year - and they never deducted a dollar) would be just fine with me. Then if I become convinced that PayQuicker is something I am willing to sign up for, I will consider additional ACE jobs. But I'm feeling disrespected, and I'm disappointed in ACE.

anakin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "is well worth the hassle you'll save if your
> information is ever compromised!"
>
> Angie: That is the key phrase here. Less people
> know about my personal information, better I am.
> I have no issue giving my bank account number or
> the routing number (You do that every time you
> write a check).


I'm confused. You just contradicted yourself and argued my point. You said you have no issue giving your bank account number and the routing number. Your drivers license is out there also. Whether we use the Internet or not, our information is ALREADY out there and can be gained by any number of ways. Having a second checking or savings account at your main bank that is used solely for MS payments is simply added protection. It's of no use to anyone else if it's got a $0 balance 99.9% of the time.




anakin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are few MSCs that require SSN, DL, name of
> Insurance company and policy number. Adios amigos.

Actually, there are few MSPs that do NOT require your SSN. Your drivers license number is often required when writing a check and I've had to provide it to a number of MSPs, though not to as many as I've had to give my SSN to. There was no such request for an insurance company name and policy number. Can we PLEASE stick to the facts and not be grandiose? Everyone has a right to choose to work for ACE or not. You are determined to NOT to give the new changes a chance. That's your choice. I'm not here to argue or change your mind. I'm here ONLY to state the FACTS as they are in the midst of all the concerns. Fear feeds on itself and grows. I don't want to see that happen when it's so unnecessary.

I totally understand where AustinMom is coming from.

I will try to explain to you why we did it how we did it and hopefully, you will understand from our perspective.

1) We have 150,000+ mystery shoppers. We sent an email out to only a small batch (the current shoppers to be paid) because we just do not have the man power to effectively answer questions from 150,000 shoppers that may or may not ever shop for us. Even though we only sent the notification to shoppers with pending checks, (which we'll do again for next payroll), we still were overwhelmed with questions. We felt that notifying current shoppers would be the most manageable for us to be able to take the time each shopper needs to answer their questions.

2) If we had given a month or more notice, AND sent it to ALL of our shoppers it would have been disastrous. Imagine, all those shoppers posting here and letting it fester for weeks before we had "happy" feedback. Now that we've made several payments, we are expecting to start getting some good feedback on the forum.

3) Mystery shoppers are predictable for the most part. I've been around mystery shopping forums for long enough to know that anything different is almost always criticized - whether it's a new mystery shopping company, a new scheduling company, or a new mystery shopping forum. We really put a lot of thought into our timing because of this.

Just a side note - this has caused such a stir that we've even received calls from two of our competitors offering moral support and kudos for being brave enough to take this leap! That is really a great feeling to have the support of your competitors!

Thanks!

Julie Simbro
ACE Mystery Shopping

Austinmom wrote:"But I do want to be paid for the two shops I accepted and performed for ACE on 9/5 and 9/15 before ACE disclosed their new payment terms. Payment by check, which was my agreement with ACE when I accepted both shops (also how ACE has paid me for over a year - and they never deducted a dollar) would be just fine with me."

I will repeat again,"I just wish that ACE would honor their past terms that for $1 deduction, they would send a check. I have yet to hear that from ACE or others who have vested interest."

Julie:Can you answer that question? We frankly don't care what your competitors are saying or not.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2011 11:06PM by anakin.

For shops that were completed under the old agreement, they will send a check. You will receive notification of payment from PayQuicker, you refuse it then email ACE for a paper check. You have to tell them the shops were done before the effective date.

Thanks Kris. In my opinion this is very deceitful and unethical.

Just imagine your mortgage company unilaterally changing your interest rate, or your credit card company jacking up minimum payment or telling you that grace period no longer will be available, or your employer telling you that your direct deposit is not in $, but in Mexican Pesos.

Credit card companies have changed their terms, but they do give 60-90 days notice.

anakin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I will repeat again,"I just wish that ACE would
> honor their past terms that for $1 deduction, they
> would send a check. I have yet to hear that from
> ACE or others who have vested interest."
>
> Julie:Can you answer that question? We frankly
> don't care what your competitors are saying or
> not.


I would like to point out that neither Julie nor Tiffany have been disrespectful here. Julie and Tiffany, the owners of ACE, have spent their time on here answering questions from shoppers because they knew some would be hesitant to change to the new system. They wanted to reassure everyone. They've gone out of their way to explain about the changes and have done so in a POLITE and PROFESSIONAL manner. I've seen NUMEROUS MSP threads on other forums (like V) get NO RESPONSE from the MSPs because they didn't care to take the time. The shoppers weren't important enough. Yet, here Julie and Tiffany and the rest of us (who are NOT getting paid to do this) are trying to be helpful because ACE DOES care about its shoppers but are met with sarcasm and a nasty tone. Frankly, I feel you owe Julie an apology. She is one of the sweetest people I know and she is here answering questions. Out of respect for her, I will only say there is NO REASON why this thread can't stay civil and respectful. Please don't take it there.

Now, as Kris pointed out in her post below yours (thanks Kris) and as Tiffany had already pointed out in one of her first posts, you can reject the PayQuicker payment and you WILL be paid by check for those completed shops ONLY. Future payments will not be paid by check via ACE's business account. To do so will DIRECTLY contradict with the reasons given for changing: tax records for the IRS and to PREVENT fraudulent shoppers from abusing the system.

Finally, in order to put minds at ease, I have offered to send screen shots of my PayQuicker account and my bank account showing the money quickly and successfully transferred to *anyone* who requested it of me. Yet I have had NOT A SINGLE shopper take me up on the offer, not even from those protesting about not trusting PayQuicker and wanting proof that it's legit. It leads me to wonder if ANYTHING can be done to satisfy concern since it appears some have changed this thread's main priority away from wanting reassurance or resolution. I am sorry I could not be more helpful but I will let y'all be.

Kris3065 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Angie,
> The pushing I am referring to is the fact that if
> we want to continue doing ACE shops we MUST sign
> up with PayQuicker. There is no other payment
> option. If that is incorrect, please just tell me
> and as far as I am concerned PayQuicker becomes a
> non-issue.
> I think a lot of the hesitation has to do with the
> fact that we have to give not only our SS# but our
> government ID to them. When I first started this
> a few months ago, I almost didn't do it because I
> had to give what seemed like everyone in the world
> my SS#. I have not had to provide my Driver's
> license to anyone yet and I am very reluctant to
> do so now.


Kris, I hadn't planned on responding to any more comments on this thread but I had meant to reply to you before I made that statement. So, I will say, I DO understand the hesitation but PayQuicker is the only option going forward. I was disappointed at first. Then I got the payment notification and was impressed with how quickly I received my payment. So I am hopeful and happy until proven otherwise.

As for being forced to choose PayQuicker or not work for ACE, very few MSPs offer multiple options for payment. Most pay using only one method. Having to accept payments on the MSP's terms is just another thing that we have to do if we want to continue to shop for the company. ACE isn't alone in this.

Also, while most MSPs don't ask for our driver’s license, I've had a handful (at least) make me either enter in the license number on their website or fax/email my current license to them before getting accepted for certain jobs…MSPs. ACE does NOT ask for your license or have access to it. PayQuicker does so their participating bank can verify each individual is who they say they are, just as you would have happen at any financial institution. Again, I understand hesitation about giving your driver’s license number, but I guess I've become used to it in this industry and since I’ve never had issue, I don’t worry about it too much.

I guess I don't see it as a huge issue, just a little inconvenient, because even employers do similar. While it used to be an option to get paid by check or direct deposit with my husband's company, he MUST get direct deposit only now. No choice is offered. If he didn't like that choice, his only option would be NOT to work for the company. Then they changed vacation days, what qualified and what didn't. They changed how much of a discount we get on OnDemand movies (he's a cable guy). They changed how he gets a copy of his paycheck stub. They didn't ask. They didn't give a 60-90 day notice. Sometimes they gave no notice at all. They did it because they can and it happens ALL the time with employers and employees. It can happen with ICs, too. Despite the dramatics of one comparing mortgage and credit card companies changing interest rates, ICs are not customers. MSPs aren't trying to earn our money. They're trying to pay US. We are hired to do jobs, jobs with all sorts of stipulations that we MUST agree to first since this is a business. If we don’t agree, we don’t get the assignment.

With all that said, I can only PLEAD with you to reconsider giving PayQuicker a try and ACE another chance. Based on the quality of your posts, the terrific grammar, and the coherent, professional, and objective way which you have expressed yourself here, I WANT to edit your reports! Please! Give me that chance! LOL (But seriously, I want to edit your reports.)

While I appreciate that the folks from ACE have been here, as has the guy from PayQuicker to state their case, I do find myself rather put out by the comments about shoppers being reluctant to change, etc. Are we supposed to be mindless sheep who walk through any gate that is open? Please give us more respect than that.

I Googled PayQuicker shortly after this conversation started and found two web references to it aside from it being picked up from this forum. One was a comment by a ‘newbie’ on a forum unrelated to mystery shopping who seemed to have borrowed from Steve’s playbook and was called on it by members of that forum. The other was from someone who posted about it in May 2011 I think it was as an alternative to Paypal. I.e., there is not just a whole lot of enthusiastic gushing out there about it.

I do rely on the experiences of others and on the old mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. PayQuicker may have all sorts of advantages for ACE to do whatever it is that they feel they need to do, but I fail to see how it is of benefit to me except to allow me to continue working with ACE. Opening a bank account (which is what this is evidently having you do) with University National Bank in Minnesota is not a thrilling prospect, even if they are FDIC insured, when you look them up. [banktracker.investigativereportingworkshop.org] I also chuckled at this piece of folly [www.prnewswire.com]

If I understand Steve’s post correctly through all the hand waving, PayQuicker is not a product of the bank but rather operates through a bank that appears to me to have less than the ‘Prudent Man’ caution expected of banks. So thanks, but no thanks ACE. I won’t terminate at this time because I suspect this project is not viable. So I'll see ya later.

Why not direct deposit? Does the MSP incur costs with this payment method, similar to PayPal? I don't know. I can appreciate that we're all counting pennies in this business.

I'll go on record as being not terribly affected, as I rarely shop with ACE. A member posted that shopper required info for PayQuicker includes SSN, DL, name of insurance company and policy number. Bank info would also be necessary to withdraw/transfer funds. If I'm understanding, these requirements are to assist ACE in identifying fraud, thus saving ACE money. I guess I could assume that also benefits the shopper. SSN okay. DL, maybe sometimes depending. Insurance company with policy number? Another site where the shopper's info is out there? Another site/step where the shopper's time is spent just to get paid?

Good grief! Really? I don't care if I get paid one to two days quicker. I want paid, without jumping through more hoops and spending more of my time.

Does the savings to the MSP convert to an increase in fee to the shopper?