I have contacted MSPA about my nearly worthless silver certification 14 TIMES in the last 3 weeks with no response. I am getting e-mails daily from companies saying they are unable to verify my certification with MSPA. I have gone onto the MSPA website, quadruple confirmed my certification number (which I already know), copied the number from the website onto shopping company sites, and I still get a response that my certification number cannot be verified. I received this "certification" several months ago and have just recently had this problem. While the certification may be worth not much more than peanuts, several companies are wanting verification of the number whether at the time of sign-up or as an update. I don't know if it matters or not, but surely it would not be given this much attention if it matter for absolutely nothing. Does anyone know how to get a response from MSPA? I have e-mailed more than a dozen times from MSC websites, through the MSPA website, replied to an original contact that convinced me to take the test on MSPA and NO ONE will respond.
Please help if you have any advice. Juggling 2 little kids, trying to work my rear off to make money, and keeping up with all this unnecessary petty business, that should not be an issue, is driving me nearly insane.

amie068 Wrote:
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> I have contacted MSPA about my nearly worthless
> silver certification 14 TIMES in the last 3 weeks
> with no response. I am getting e-mails daily from
> companies saying they are unable to verify my
> certification with MSPA. I have gone onto the
> MSPA website, quadruple confirmed my certification
> number (which I already know), copied the number
> from the website onto shopping company sites, and
> I still get a response that my certification
> number cannot be verified. I received this
> "certification" several months ago and have just
> recently had this problem. While the
> certification may be worth not much more than
> peanuts, several companies are wanting
> verification of the number whether at the time of
> sign-up or as an update. I don't know if it
> matters or not, but surely it would not be given
> this much attention if it matter for absolutely
> nothing. Does anyone know how to get a response
> from MSPA? I have e-mailed more than a dozen times
> from MSC websites, through the MSPA website,
> replied to an original contact that convinced me
> to take the test on MSPA and NO ONE will respond.
>
> Please help if you have any advice. Juggling 2
> little kids, trying to work my rear off to make
> money, and keeping up with all this unnecessary
> petty business, that should not be an issue, is
> driving me nearly insane.


Ok this just happenbed to me last night. I was applying with a new company and had to mark what type (or none) and I clicked Gold Workshop and it kept saying it could not be verified as well. I tried using both small letters (as usual) and capitals and had no luck. The directions on this companies form was to send them an email and I did but now I am wondering if there is a glitch right now.

Liz

I haae responded to that same e-mail at least 5 times. Nothing has come of it. No response...nothing but the sound of crickets. They were certainly repsonsive when I was deciding whether or not to commit my money (even though it was only $15) but now that that has cleared, I can't get a response no matter how I attempt to make contact. If you get a response or figure out how to get one, let me know!

A similar thing happened to me. When I registered with a new company, I provided my Silver number. I got an error message that the e-mail address I had used to register is not the same as the e-mail address tied to the Silver Certificate. I was told I need to go back to MSPA and register my new e-mail address before I would be able to use the certificate number. Huh? I have registered with over 150 companies using that Silver certificate number and the same e-mail address and had no problem. Yes, I verified that I was providing the correct number. I went to the MSPA site but did not see a place to make the change so I decided that falls under the heading of Who The H*** Cares, went back to the MSC site and completed registration as not certified since certification was not a requirement to register. I've always thought the Silver certification was pretty worthless ..... actually I think Gold is pretty worthless as well .....

Okay, so my question is this, does ANYONE work at or reply to e-mails sent to MSPA. If so, who are they and how can they be reached? They were "Johnny on the Spot" when my money was needed, but nowhere to be found now that I have paid and have a question.

amie068 Wrote:
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> Okay, so my question is this, does ANYONE work at
> or reply to e-mails sent to MSPA. If so, who are
> they and how can they be reached? They were
> "Johnny on the Spot" when my money was needed, but
> nowhere to be found now that I have paid and have
> a question.


At the mystery shopping convention a few weeks ago a representative from MSPA and also the new company that manages MSPA spoke. I know they were talking about how they were upgrading the website and I also am somewhat sure that no one works full time for the MSPA. It's too bad this didn't happen before the convention and it could have been brought up there.

That said, I find Gold to have been extremely profitable for me over the years.

Liz

Until I encountered these problems that can not seem to be resolved, I actually believed my little silver certification was a benefit. I just find it extremely ironic the absense of response or any communication if a problem arises when there is immediate response when money is needed. I wish I could get this issue resolved so it would stop being a daily thorn in my side as I attempt to sign up with as many companies as I can to increase my shopping opportunities.

Amie - Apparently the MSPA website is not confirming anyone's registration right now and no one's home. I need to sign up for a few new companies myself, and what I plan to do while this is happening is register without entering certification status. Then I'll go back later and add my certification information when the system is working, or I'll send an email or make a phone call to the MSP. I know this is an inconvenience, but it is a practical workaround.

I could not agree more with MDavisnowell more.

I would just do things the old fashion way and pick up the phone and call.

there number is: 1-502-574-9033.

If all else fails file a complaint with the BBB. I am sure the MSPA would not want to jeopardize there A+ status.

I hope this helps.

MSPA hired a new management company last fall to overhaul ALL of its operations. The new manager spoke at the IMSC conference in March. He explained that various MSPA areas will "roll over" to the management company's responsibility in the next few months, one-by-one. Unfortunately, I am currently on a road trip, without access to the business card for the new manager that I got at the meeting. If anyone gets through to the MSPA, I suggest that you ask for the name and phone number of the management company president, rather than trying to deal with MSPA.

Easier not even to list it.
So not to bring up a can of worms but have heard from others that being ousted on the "V" board is tied to ousted on the MSPA site.
I know for a fact those involved in the old scandal with Pacific were ousted.

Does your e-mail address match the e-mail you signed up for at certification. If you change e-mails I know that can be an issue. If not, try callling.

I don't know what e-mail you have, but I can give you what I have : mspa@home.ease.lsoft.com - let me know if that gets you anywhere. I know that often the certifications don't verify for our company and if the shopper sends us an e-mail we can notate their profile manually and look up the certification manually so they don't have to worry about it.

Anonymous shopper. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I could not agree more with MDavisnowell more.
>
> I would just do things the old fashion way and
> pick up the phone and call.
>
> there number is: 1-502-574-9033.
>
> If all else fails file a complaint with the BBB. I
> am sure the MSPA would not want to jeopardize
> there A+ status.
>
> I hope this helps.

Wonderful idea to give out their phone number. While calling ask why they still have the carpet cleaning company FRANCHISE COMPLIANCE (see Flash's thread by the same name) listed on MSPA when there are a zillion complaints about never being paid.

I not sure if you're being agreeable or sarcastic.

No matter what like everyone else on this forum I am just trying to help. Take care.

Hmmm, I just registered with a new company the other day and my verification went through fine. I'm wondering if this is a sudden glitch on their site.

That being said, you can log onto their site under "certified shoppers" and go to the section regarding your certification information. See if you can get info there. You could always tell it that you are changing to another email and it will reissue a new certificate number which might then work. I just changed my email with them a few days ago and got a new certificate number and it works fine.

Also, if you want to contact them, have you logged onto the special forum there for certified shoppers? I think it might be a helpful way to get their attention if you post there.

I tried to use my MSPA silver certification to register with four companies in the last 24 hours and it didn't work at all for any of the four.

This is pretty annoying - I am trying hard to build my portfolio of MS companies and can't input my certification and have it verified by the MSPA.

How much trouble/time would it take for the MSPA to send out a quick email letting us know what is going on? It couldn't take more that 10 minutes, tops.

I think you should send them an e-mail with the following subject line...
"URGENT. Trying to PAY for my GOLD membership and your website is not accepting my payment. Please contact me ASAP if you would like my MONEY!"

Yes, I am being sarcastic. From what I read, it sounds like it will be a temporary situation while they upgrade their website. I agree with whoever said to go ahead and register with new companies without the certification for now and go back later to update.

As walesmaven mentioned above, MSPA's website is being transitioned and redesigned and it is taking place in phases. As the site states the gold certification is currently down for technical reasons and will be back up by the end of April. The inability to find certification numbers is also having technical issues, but again this is temporary and will be back in operation at the end of the month. Please be patient.
There is a lot of misinformation being posted. The phone number above is correct, 502-574-9033. Please remember MSPA gets hundreds of phone calls a day from shoppers. The email listed above is incorrect. The correct email address is mspa@hqtrs.com.
If you have a question that is how to contact MSPA.

I was having major problems with my gold certificate not showing. I had changed email accounts and could not get a new number.

Candice at MSPA was of major help, and all is now working for both myself and my husband. If you are having probles with your certicate number or are unable to update with a new email, try sending a short descriptive email to Candice
Her email address is: CZavatsky@hqtrs.com;

shoppinalong Wrote:

>
> Wonderful idea to give out their phone number.
> While calling ask why they still have the carpet
> cleaning company FRANCHISE COMPLIANCE (see Flash's
> thread by the same name) listed on MSPA when there
> are a zillion complaints about never being paid.

I just checked... Franchise Compliance is not listed on the MSPA Members List.

I had an issue with one ms company saying that my code would not go through for my silver certification but it was resolved within a few days.

Jessica