you think you got problems with this company I did 7 shops 71/2 months ago and still have not been paid.

I assume you have contacted them. They are slow to pay but recently folks do seem to be getting paid in around 4 months.

Are yal serious I just signed up for a hotel for the weekend.

Read the threads. At least at this point they are paying, though likely you will need to follow up with them after the I think it is 12 weeks they are claiming as a pay cycle. This is a drastic improvement from where things stood a year or so ago.

prettygul1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are yal serious I just signed up for a hotel for
> the weekend.


Been there. Unless you want to wait forever and beg cancel it on prophet. Someone naive to their system will pic it up until they figure it out. If it a nice holiday thing and you can wait for the $ indefinitely some of the hotels a re cool- then get out.
cyn

I just cancelled a hotel, taking a look at my funds, I can't wait the time to get paid, even if it's 3 months. There hotels ae all gone, so they'll re-schedule I'm sure. I paid my dues, this hotel isn't worth the wait.

After calling the Dallas Better Business Bureau on Freeman last year for non payment. We immediately received an email from the "President" of Freeman (Mr. J. Hogg) with apologies and promise of a new and improved future payment system that would "ONLY" take 8-10 weeks. So ... We decided to give it another try this past July. We performed two hotel shops. You guessed it. Yesterday was eleven weeks and 6 days. After 3 emails and four phone calls we had the privilege of speaking to the Executive Director-Measurement (Pam) After informing us that they had "found" our shops, she went on to inform us that she would submit the information on the shops to the accounting department and that we would be receiving payment in "approximately" two more weeks. We explained that this was "totally" unacceptable and that not only would we be in touch with Dallas BBB again, but also our home state's attorney general. We will be receiving payment on our shops Tuesday via paypal. It's almost like ... If you don't call them and threaten them, you will not be a priority. Needless to say, we will no longer be shopping for Freeman Group. We shop for many companies and have since 2008. This is THE WORST MYSTERY SHOP COMPANY "EVER" to deal with. I would not recommend them unless you don't mind "major" hassels in receiving your money.

Okay, my hubby was looking forward to the get away but that's okay. We will still go but just won't stay overnight. Thanks for the heads up. They are on the sassie system so I guess I will email and be frank about worrying about non payment. I had applied for one of their restaurants but I guess after I cancel this one they'll cancel me. Oh well, I'd rather be paid for my services.

Would greatly appreciate the contact information for A/P @ this company, have to imagine this is a pretty busy desk .... THANK YOU!

I have to say that I have never had to beg for any of my shop payments. They have always come through 3-4 months after the shop has been completed. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones (and I should probably "knock on wood" as I type this ) but I have never had issues getting payment from them.

Three- Four months is still a long time to wait on a payment, at least in my opinion. They expect timely reports so at least they could pay in a timely fashion.

roxygirlie1021 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have to say that I have never had to beg for any
> of my shop payments. They have always come
> through 3-4 months after the shop has been
> completed. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones
> (and I should probably "knock on wood" as I type
> this ) but I have never had issues getting payment
> from them.

I have only done one de-id shop for them. It was less than two miles Tom home and closed, All I had to do was take a few pictures. If and when I get paid of will be a surprise and a blessing. :p

That is why this forum is so valuable. This kind of info is invaluable and how else would we know? My guess is that that they withold shopper payments until the last possible moment to use the $ for company expenses. Very shoddy busines practices.
If I had been told the possible wait time for payment I NEVER would have taken the shop. That is the devious part of their operation. Gives Mshopping Cos a bad name. I hope some reputable co takes their clients.
cyn

I have emailed the direct contact number attached to the shop and let them know I did not get paid for June, yet.

What other recommendations do you have to try and get paid?

And they never wrote me back or paid me

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2011 09:33PM by SunnyDays2.

I just kept after them.

cynb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just kept after them.


Thanks. How about if I call them? Would they deactivate me? lol..

I've emailed them 3 times, and nothing. I did a shop in MARCH and it's now OCTOBER! No one response.. UGH! Really... Can u believe they are a MSPA MEMBER? How can MSPA allow someone to use their name in an industry and give them a bad name too!

oK Here is what we will do. First of all contact MSPA and ask them why they are on the list of recommened companies. This had been going on for years. I will continue to research for a phone number. This company makes all MSCs look bad. Call the BBB ornwrite we need to shut this co. down. Make sure that you have all documentation. E-mail and say that you will give then 5 days to respond and then you will take them to civil court. Let me know. I am going to message MSPA re this also.
cyn

Sounds like a plan, I will call AGAIN on Tuesday (due to Columbus Day holiday on Monday); f I do not get through to an actual person and/or receive appropriate referral info. I'm onboard with "the next step". THANK YOU!

Hello,
I just joined the forum after finding the freeman thread AFTER I signed up to do 2 motel shops. So it sounds like for the past 2 years they have been optionally reimbursing for the hotels or pay for the survey. Thank you all for sharing and warning. Any suggestions on how I should contact to remove myself from the shops? I'm not putting unpaid overtime into squeezing deadbeats.

There was talk of a boycott--is that still in effect? maybe someone should do a free website linked to this forum to communicate the demands of the union of mysteryshoppers?

Hi nwlc! Welcome to the forum!

Your post represents precisely the reason that a boycott will not work in this business. I have to assume that you are not new to shopping as Freeman is not generally a company that shoppers find first. I also have to assume that you did not research Freeman before you registered or before accepting shops. And that is not unusual.

The vast majority of shoppers do not research the companies they work with or ever even find forums. Shoppers here have known about the Freeman payment problems (and those with Goodwin and Channel Watch and Restaurant Evaluators) for a long time and most of them have not shopped for them since problems began arising. In fact, it would seem most shoppers find forums either when they are looking up large checks they receive unsolicited in the mail to see if they are scams or they find us after they have already been burned, are upset and want to vent.

In reality, most of us are informally 'boycotting' companies that do not pay and companies that are a PITA to try to deal with already. It does no good, brings about no changes, does not enlighten the companies to behave better. It just is fewer experienced shoppers willing to take their work. I'm sure my 'slots' with these companies have long since been filled with other shoppers who have no clue about what kind of mess they are walking into.

nwlc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello,
> I just joined the forum after finding the freeman
> thread AFTER I signed up to do 2 motel shops. So
> it sounds like for the past 2 years they have been
> optionally reimbursing for the hotels or pay for
> the survey. Thank you all for sharing and
> warning. Any suggestions on how I should contact
> to remove myself from the shops? I'm not putting
> unpaid overtime into squeezing deadbeats.
>
> There was talk of a boycott--is that still in
> effect? maybe someone should do a free website
> linked to this forum to communicate the demands of
> the union of mysteryshoppers?


Go to their prophet website and cancel. Who cares if you hear from them or not. Boycott just means that shoppers that know of their practices will not work for them. However you got to the forum keep it up and give us your valuable experiences.
cyn

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi nwlc! Welcome to the forum!
>
> Your post represents precisely the reason that a
> boycott will not work in this business. I have to
> assume that you are not new to shopping as Freeman
> is not generally a company that shoppers find
> first. I also have to assume that you did not
> research Freeman before you registered or before
> accepting shops. And that is not unusual.
>
> The vast majority of shoppers do not research the
> companies they work with or ever even find forums.
> Shoppers here have known about the Freeman
> payment problems (and those with Goodwin and
> Channel Watch and Restaurant Evaluators) for a
> long time and most of them have not shopped for
> them since problems began arising. In fact, it
> would seem most shoppers find forums either when
> they are looking up large checks they receive
> unsolicited in the mail to see if they are scams
> or they find us after they have already been
> burned, are upset and want to vent.
>
> In reality, most of us are informally 'boycotting'
> companies that do not pay and companies that are a
> PITA to try to deal with already. It does no
> good, brings about no changes, does not enlighten
> the companies to behave better. It just is fewer
> experienced shoppers willing to take their work.
> I'm sure my 'slots' with these companies have long
> since been filled with other shoppers who have no
> clue about what kind of mess they are walking
> into.


Seriously ?? Why are you ragging on the shopper indicating that it is their fault that the did not do the research and only coming to this forum because they have a problem. Who cares how they got here. Do you really research every co before you take a job? Your attitude is consistently know it all and condescending. Whose side are you on anyway?

I am certainly not ragging on the shopper! The point is that very few shoppers investigate companies before they work for them so do not find there is a community out there sharing experiences. Thus deciding to boycott any company--whether it is for low fees or not abiding by their side of the contract is a waste of time and energy. You simply do what YOUR business needs to do and move on. And for the record, yes, I do research companies before I sign up with them or work for them. Some I can find nothing on, so I do go in with my eyes wide open that there may be issues.

Flash made valid points with everything she said. For every shopper who has found one of the forums there are probably 100 who have not. Would it be great if shoppers could unite and force positive changes, absolutely. Is this likely to happen, no way. How many times have you read posts from shoppers who have taken jobs at these companies only to find the forum later? In the real world how much research does someone have to do before accepting a job with a company? Mystery shopping is unique and there are so many things to learn, most people just don't realize going in.

If I were going to be needing to stay in a hotel in the city where they are looking to assign one, I would take it. On any other conditions, I would stay away from this company! I eventually got paid for my shops, but it was about six months with several emails in between--each promising I would be paid the following month.

Bunny2Carole

I agree 100% with what Flash said. I did not take it as any "ragging" on anybody. Flash is a dedicated shopper who is extremely knowledgeable and has spent many (unpaid) hours online mentoring other shoppers through this forum. Her posts are consistently clearly written and informative and free from emotion and accusations.

Sometimes it is a greater help to a poster with a problem to point out and explain other issues and/or walk through the situation. Sometimes other eyes see things in a different light. I post on this forum because I want the ideas and knowledge of other shoppers, not just blind agreement.

Thank you all for your feedback. Yes it all works for good.
Yes, I am a new shopper so Freeman must be advertising more--I can't remember where I clicked them.
1. So when you say there is trouble with the pay--does that include the reimbursement? Do they reimburse first and then 6 months later pay?
2. Is there a list of the companies blacklisted by experienced shoppers?
3. What is PITA?

The issues with pay include receiving the reimbursement. Some of their hotels work on a charge-back basis where you check out and the charges go on your credit card and anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks the hotel backs out the charges. Thus Freeman would not be reimbursing you for those charges. But if you were doing a 'de-brand' to make certain no logos and such were still visible from the old chain, there is no chance of the charges being reversed. Your shop instructions probably told you whether the charges would be reversed. If they are not reversed then you will receive fee and reimbursement in the same payment.

To put together an organized 'blacklisted' list would be potentially libellous. So companies shoppers are having payment issues with are discussed comfortably throughout the forum but there will never be an 'official list'. If you read through the forum you will find there are longstanding issues with Franchise Compliance, Freeman, Goodwin, Restaurant Evaluators, Channel Watch and occasionally others. Watch also for the threads where someone is screaming they have a problem and others are saying "no problem here" because it is likely a glitch or perhaps the shopper did not get their invoice/receipt etc. submitted.

PITA is 'pain in the ass'. There are some companies that are nothing more than that. Fascinatingly, the companies/schedulers who represent a PITA for me are sometimes ones that others find work well, so there is a whole lot of individual variation in what shoppers are willing to deal with.

I'm a poster child this month.... Did a motel shop in June. There had not been recent posts about pay issues so I thought I would take a chance. We were traveling anyway, but I would have picked a better motel or would have demanded a refund after seeing a large beetle. Sometimes there are reasons that certain locations are shopped...

A couple weeks after payment was expected per the shop instructions, I called the scheduler. I had to leave a voice mail, but she did email me back to say that June payments would be made "on Friday." The Friday in question was two weeks ago...