I have a thought about collecting our money from Franchise Compliance. If you are interested, please send me a private email for more details.

I am owed money from Franchise Compliance for a carpet cleaning job that I completed in February. Can you give me some information on what your plan is and what I can do to help get them to pay everyone they owe? Thanks!

Hi, mozzjen, welcome to the forum. Use the forum's search function and select "all dates" and you'll see plenty of discussion on Franchise Compliance. gooldfl has an idea and is collecting people .... to be included, click on goldfl's name and select "send a PM."

Thank you, AustinMom. I am new to this forum and thought I had sent a PM to goldfl, but I see I didn't. That is now corrected and I appreciate your help.

show up at his house.

Has everyone filed their complaints with the Utah Attorney General? This can be done via email. Attach a screen shot to your email complaint as proof of money owed.

[attorneygeneral.utah.gov]

goldfl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a thought about collecting our money from
> Franchise Compliance. If you are interested,
> please send me a private email for more details.




I completed mystery shop for the same company and I still haven’t gotten paid, I have emailed Julie Bishop several times and I haven’t gotten a response. I had worked for this company a few years ago and completed a mystery shop and got paid with no problem that this why I completed this carpet mystery shop. My next step is contacting a lawyer (maybe the people that didn’t get paid can come together and file a class action suit against this company). I am also going to call the better business bureau and the labor board. I think what you wrote was wonderful and this company is ripping people off. I would also recommend sending a certified letter with a copy of your emails, then get then notarized and explain in the letter in detail that you are going to take legal action, report them to the better business bureau and that you would like your payment promptly. I hope this helps I am contacting my lawyer and the above agency’s tomorrow. Please email me at SophiaB42@gmail.com

Hopefully we can come up with a solution.

Thanks

I have contacted the Utah BBB and the Utah Attorney General. Neither one of them can help with this situation. Also, I submitted a formal complaint with the Utah Dept. of Labor and they can't help either. They told me to submit a complaint to my state Dept. of Labor since the work was done in my state. I am in the process of submitting this complaint and we will see what happens.

I have also e-mailed everyone that I have an e-mail address for at Franchise Compliance multiple times and never get a response. I don't think they pay because no one can force them too. I think the attorney idea is a great idea, but we would need a large group of folks to pitch in to make it worth while.

I not owed money from FC, but would look not class action attorneys in Utah if I was.

It's my understanding that a lawsuit of that nature could force FC to turn over data on all shoppers who are owed $$ and I'm guessing since they are still posting jobs, there is a LOT of money owed to shoppers at this point.

I demanded money owed from FC. The problem is, after you pay for the carpet cleaning you are out $130. It's not just waiting for a $10 payment with nothing as an expense. This really sucks because you have used your own money. I hounded them, e-mailed, and did get responses, always, yes, we have sent your concern over to blah, blah, blah. Shortly after I contacted the Utah BBB, I received a check for the full amount, dated 3 months prior. Total crooks. Sorry for all of you not reimbursed yet.

Hey Carol,

When did you do the shop, and when did you get paid? I did my shop in January 2012 and still have not been paid. I get no response at all when I send FC emails. I filed a claim with the BBB, the FTC, the ULC, and others, with no results. I would love it if you could tell me the time frame in between your shop and your payment, this might give me some hope that eventually I will get my money. They owe me $218.33.

57carol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I demanded money owed from FC. The problem is,
> after you pay for the carpet cleaning you are out
> $130. It's not just waiting for a $10 payment with
> nothing as an expense. This really sucks because
> you have used your own money. I hounded them,
> e-mailed, and did get responses, always, yes, we
> have sent your concern over to blah, blah, blah.
> Shortly after I contacted the Utah BBB, I received
> a check for the full amount, dated 3 months prior.
> Total crooks. Sorry for all of you not reimbursed
> yet.

Well, it's been a while. I think I had the carpets cleaned. Okay, I had to go and look it up. ( Funny, but I have been deactivated by FC. Oh the shame! )Okay it was 9/8/10 that I had the cleaning job done. I belive I finally was paid in Feb. or March 2011 with a check that was dated from the past Oct, so about 5 to 6 months later, right about where you are now. Unfortunately, they have probably only gotten worse in the last year and a half. So sorry.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2012 06:35AM by 57carol.

Moral of the story: NEver Ever do a shop with little fee and big investment up front (No matter who the MSC is).

Here it seem that the Carpet Cleaning Franchisor might be in bed with FC. The franchisor could easily send out 'freebie' coupons to be used as payments.

I have actually contacted the carpet cleaning company and based on the communication I have received, I do not believe that anyone is in bed together. In fact, they have stated they no longer use FC for their mystery shopping company.

I wonder why the shops are still showing in the job board for FC if Chem Dry is not using them anymore? I just looked at the job board for FC a minute ago, and there are a bunch of the Chem Dry shops showing as available in many states. I think that Chem Dry just said that to get you off of their back.

mozzjen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have actually contacted the carpet cleaning
> company and based on the communication I have
> received, I do not believe that anyone is in bed
> together. In fact, they have stated they no
> longer use FC for their mystery shopping company.

I discussed this with the lady and she told me that there are some shops remaining with them and that they have already been paid for. She said after these shops are done, they are not using this company again. Either way, she has no control of what FC does and she has fulfilled her obligation. FC has not, thus the reason we are all complaining. By the way, Chem Dry is the franchise name, but I believe the corporation that owns them is called Harris something. I have the information at home if anyone wants it.

why doesnt sassie block them from using their job board and mspaa ban them. It's ridiculous that none of them take action.

I completely agree!

They are not with the MSPA, so MSPA can do nothing about it. Sassie doesn't care...apparently Adam manages to make sure that Sassie gets paid. I have contacted Tony with Surf Merchants (Sassie) twice with a detailed explanation about what is going on and he didn't even bother responding.

techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> why doesnt sassie block them from using their job
> board and mspaa ban them. It's ridiculous that
> none of them take action.

Yes, that would be Harris Research. This was brought up on an earlier thread concerning Franchise Compliance. Many people have contacted Harris Research/Chem Dry over the past few years voicing complaints about not being paid and were told basically that it wasn't Chem Dry's problem and they needed to contact FC (I wish I would have seen all the message boards before signing up for the carpet cleaning shop back in January)...and HR was still working with FC despite what the shoppers were telling them about FC and Adam; maybe HR isn't going to do business with FC now (after they get their reports for shops that are posted currently), but they didn't seem to be too bothered about what Adam was doing to other shoppers previously. Furthermore, at this point, they know that FC isn't going to pay the shoppers for the shops that are listed on the job board currently, but they don't seem bothered that shoppers are going to be out 100s of dollars as long as they get their reports. That's really low life for a major company who makes millions of dollars to do to people who may need the out of pocket reimbursment money to pay part of their mortgage or buy lunches for their children. Low, down, and dirty. Oh also, both Harris Research and Franchise Compliance are both in Utah; interesting, yes?

mozzjen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I discussed this with the lady and she told me
> that there are some shops remaining with them and
> that they have already been paid for. She said
> after these shops are done, they are not using
> this company again. Either way, she has no
> control of what FC does and she has fulfilled her
> obligation. FC has not, thus the reason we are
> all complaining. By the way, Chem Dry is the
> franchise name, but I believe the corporation that
> owns them is called Harris something. I have the
> information at home if anyone wants it.

I agree with you and that is a coincidence.

It might be a coincidence, or it might be more...some higher up at Harris could be a relative or old friend of Adam's and that might be how they started doing business together to begin with; one never knows. I know of some judges and attorneys that play golf together and have known each other for years, perhaps since high school or college, do you think this could possibly be a conflict of interest when they are in court? Is there a chance that the judge might do favors for his old buddies? It's possible. It's also possible that the people at Chem Dry just tell shoppers whatever they need to say to diffuse anger, frustration, and possible legal repercussions or bad press towards Harris and Chem Dry. Impossible to say for sure one way or another. Just sayin'.

mozzjen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree with you and that is a coincidence.

I wish you guys the best of luck in getting your money back. Hopefully quickly. Please keep posting on your progress. I think this is valuable information in case it ever happens again.

I would recommend calling Mr Quinlan at 615-806-1077. He already has a list starting of other shoppers that have not been paid. He seemed committed to advocating for us. He represents Chem Dry. He said they did end their relationship with FC. However, he feels the company's reputation is on the line still. He is trying to reach the CEO of FC to demand payment. He committed to me to keep monthly communication. If after several months it is not resolved he will give us his legal adivce and list of each other.

I have been doing shops for over 10 years and this is the first i have been "taken" on. Of course it is for $200. (I did a hyatt hotel one twice that valued of $600 for both times. I was paid within 48 hours of the report graded.)

let's hope we get resolution

sue hulme

This is great information, I really am so glad to know that someone is on our side! Thank you for your persistence and for sharing this information. I will give Mr. Quinlan a call tomorrow. Many thanks.

konopelski Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would recommend calling Mr Quinlan at
> 615-806-1077. He already has a list starting of
> other shoppers that have not been paid. He seemed
> committed to advocating for us. He represents
> Chem Dry. He said they did end their relationship
> with FC. However, he feels the company's
> reputation is on the line still. He is trying to
> reach the CEO of FC to demand payment. He
> committed to me to keep monthly communication. If
> after several months it is not resolved he will
> give us his legal adivce and list of each other.
>
> I have been doing shops for over 10 years and this
> is the first i have been "taken" on. Of course it
> is for $200. (I did a hyatt hotel one twice that
> valued of $600 for both times. I was paid within
> 48 hours of the report graded.)
>
> let's hope we get resolution
>
> sue hulme

This Adam Valdez sounds like Karen Call. They both have picked up and started a new business on hoodwinking shoppers. :<|

I am not stopping with this ....until we all get paid. This is shameful. I have never had to speak to so many people for any situation in my life with little to no end results. I have 3 pages of documentation of emails, phone calls, etc. I even pretended to be a perspective company in need of their services to get someone's name and number for the company. I got a call in 24 hours of submitting my email. I got tons of names by the sales rep for the company. none panned out!

What business is Karen Call with? Let us know so we can steer clear.

Also, FYI: I heard from another shopper that Kami from Franchise Compliance and Adam Valdez got married and she started a new mystery shopping business. I don't know what the name of it is, though.

audrialyn30 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This Adam Valdez sounds like Karen Call. They both
> have picked up and started a new business on
> hoodwinking shoppers. :<|

You need to have Adam's home state open a criminal fraud investigation against Adam. Also get the newstation there involved. Someone will likely have to travel to that state to get it rolling though.

@ Jasflamt. Karen Call used to own the now defunct company, Restaurant Evaluators that was notorious for stiffing shoppers. She is now in real estate in Gigharbor,WA.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2012 05:40PM by audrialyn30.