Ok the EIN deadline has now come and gone.
still get the same job offers.
Anyone hear anything.

Same here. They even called me today.

I get about 3 emails a day from them. There are alot of those pancake shape food with ketchup and cheese around here.

i am thinking about applying for a shop but i haven't done the ein thing....so, i'm a little worried about that.

I'm guessing the key here is that Trendsource didn't state you couldn't complete assignments without an EIN, only that you wouldn't be paid. Last month, I sent a letter explaining my refusal to comply with their request and received a response thanking me for the notification, but I wasn't de-activated. IF you choose to "test the waters," at least don't go overboard and complete multiple shops. Personally, I don't think this MSC will back down ala Maritz, but I certainly could be wrong.

I still question why they want an ein and won't accept the ssn.

you can still get assigned shops. You just won't get paid without the EIN.

When TS/MSI first announced this requirement on their website, they said existing field agents would have to submit an EIN by May. Several weeks ago that part of the homepage message was removed, which still left the requirement for new field agents. Today I notice the whole message is gone, although there is still a clickable notice at the top of the page telling me an EIN is required. I, too, have not (yet) been deactivated. hmmm ...

Perhaps the fact that most of their shoppers refused to spend the time getting an EIN made them quietly reverse their policy.

It's still there on my home page and in my profile. I turned off e-mail notifications and asked them if I would receive notice when the EIN requirement is dropped or if I would need to hear about it on the mystery shopping forums.

i wouldnt do the shops without an ein, as they are going to say we will pay you for the shops after you give us an ein, and if you want your money, you will be stuck!

I have a question about all this. The only IC agreement is the one I signed in 2010 which does not include the EIN requirement. Shouldn't they be putting another one out there? It is a contract and wouldn't that contract be in force until another supersedes the old one?

I am still laughing at this. It could be so many things!

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I get about 3 emails a day from them. There are
> alot of those pancake shape food with ketchup and
> cheese around here.

I'm glad I found this. I came here wondering the same thing. I still get lots of shop notices & haven't submitted an EIN.

The thing is, I actually have an EIN for another business that I run. I could give it to them, but I refuse on principle.

I'm thinking about taking one of their shops just to see if I get paid for it.

Please take one for the team and see what happens! Be sure to report back what happens (paid or not paid!)

Joytron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm glad I found this. I came here wondering the
> same thing. I still get lots of shop notices &
> haven't submitted an EIN.
>
> The thing is, I actually have an EIN for another
> business that I run. I could give it to them, but
> I refuse on principle.
>
> I'm thinking about taking one of their shops just
> to see if I get paid for it.

As of today, you must now also submit a w9 form with your ein, so they can make sure your ein is real. I guess some people were submitting fake ones. It's in a big message at the top. Have until June 21 to do it.

"All Independent Field Agents are now being asked to fill-out and upload a W-9 form to verify your EIN number is valid. Please Click Here to access the W-9 form and upload your signed copy.

The deadline for uploading your W-9 form is June, 21, 2012. By this date all existing Independent Field Agents must provide an EIN to continue to request projects. Please note, if you have projects scheduled for June 21st or later, you will still be paid for any work completed and verified; you will just no longer be able to request projects.

To read more information about what an EIN is and why MSI Services is requiring Independent Field Agents to obtain an EIN and upload a W-9, please read through our FAQ's and/or "The Truth About EIN" (available under the Resources tab).

Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation! "

Wow also notice something else. They changed the word assignment, project; to futher cement their position that they are assigning work to a seperate contractor.


I guess they know rules are going to be changing via congress soon so they are crossing their t's and dotting their i's

techman -- It's not that Congress is going to change any rules, the IRS has been cracking down on the use of ICs for the past year or so. They must have had someone tell them that they needed to tweak things to be in compliance. That may also explain the ein requirement. They may think if they're paying someone with an ein rather than an ssn they won't have to worry about being in compliance with IRS rules regarding the difference between ICs and employees. Whether someone is using an ein or not won't protect them if they don't meet the other requirements.

techman -- Submitting tax documents with bogus information is fraud, whether it is an ein or ssn.

There have been 'scares' that IRS is about to outlaw 'Independent Contractor' status for years. At least the MSPA no longer has all their members send out emails to all shoppers that it is URGENT we write to our congressmen to stop the legislation.

Back as far as the 1980s and '90s IRS had clear parameters about what was and was not an Independent Contractor. Enforcement was and still is somewhat loose because after all political campaigns are paid for by businesses by and large--whether directly or through PACs slamming the opponent with dirt, innuendo and part truths (I wouldn't even give them the credibility of being 'half' truths).

An EIN or SSN for work makes no difference in tax reporting or enforcement. Nor does it make any diffence as to whether a self-employed individual is being treated as an employee or as an Independent Contractor. An EIN is required if we hire employees, and since we are not allowed to subcontract shops, that does not become part of the equation.

Flash -- Exactly my point. The test points that determine whether someone is an employee or IC have nothing to do with the taxpayer id. As I said above, the reason this became an issue and the IRS started to crack down was because ICs at large corporations started to complain about working in the office for years on end without being hired on as an employee even though they were being treated the same as those on the payroll. That has nothing to do with mystery shopping and is why I questioned what was posted as an "explanation" of why Trendsource was demanding the ein.

I understand avitoots. And when my son was working with a major tech company he watched senior folks a year or so from full retirement be fired and immediately retired as IC going back to the same desk, at the same task, with the same boss. They received higher hourly pay to 'compensate' for needing now to pay both the employer and employee parts of FICA and buy their own health insurance etc., but few were so geeked to think they were getting a 'better deal'.

The same company(ies) post jobs and delete all applications so they can run off to their Congressman and say "Hey, we have had this job posted now for 90 days and are unable to find a single US Engineer willing to even apply for it. We need a special green card to bring in someone from India/Pakistan/Taiwan."

Yeah, get that scam and it needs to stop.

I don't know that it is legal to withhold payment because you don't have an ein. I do a lot of freelance work in different sectors and have never been asked for an ein for the other freelance jobs and have always been paid. I think Trendsource may be trying to set up a situation wherein they can rip off shoppers with the excuse that they don't have an ein.

No, I don't think they are stupid enough to do that. I suspect even a freshman law student could successfully take that through the courts. I do find it absurd, however, that their 'explanation' would make it sound like they are doing us a big favor by requiring it. I think they stuck their heads where the sun don't shine.

If they are making the EIN a requirement, then they need to 'turn off' access to the job board (and sending out solicitation emails) to all of us who do not want or plan to comply with the folly. I chose not to do their 'background check' last year and they keep soliciting me for the jobs with that requirement. Crock 'o ____.

I thought I was not affected by it because I am Canadian but I keep om getting this
==========
Click here to view your Independent Contractor Agreement signed on 2/12/2009

Please take a moment to review your personal information and make any updates needed and click UPDATE.
This will allow us to make sure we have your most current information. Thank You!
++++++++++
I can't even view any available assignments. Must be something to do with it as they did ask me before.

I am in total agreement with everything you said regarding IC status. I do have to point out that virtually everything regarding hiring alien workers is incorrect. It is because the laws are so stringent, cost so much money and involve so much red tape that many companies will turn a blind eye and hire illegals. There is also a huge difference between a visa, which is temporary, and a green card (actually it is white) that makes someone a legal resident of the U.S. and eventually allows them to become a citizen.

In all things mystery shopping and even other areas I bow down to your superior knowledge. However, this time you chose one that I know extremely well, LOL!

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I understand avitoots. And when my son was
> working with a major tech company he watched
> senior folks a year or so from full retirement be
> fired and immediately retired as IC going back to
> the same desk, at the same task, with the same
> boss. They received higher hourly pay to
> 'compensate' for needing now to pay both the
> employer and employee parts of FICA and buy their
> own health insurance etc., but few were so geeked
> to think they were getting a 'better deal'.
>
> The same company(ies) post jobs and delete all
> applications so they can run off to their
> Congressman and say "Hey, we have had this job
> posted now for 90 days and are unable to find a
> single US Engineer willing to even apply for it.
> We need a special green card to bring in someone
> from India/Pakistan/Taiwan."

On my homepage I have a notice changing the date I must have an EIN from May 1st to June 21st. I have not gotten an EIN and have no intention of getting one. I do not employ workers and therefore have no need for one. There is also a link where Trendsource has a huge explanation as to why I would need an EIN. Much of it is untrue.

As I said above, I questioned where the information came from. I also question whether it is legal to withhold payment for services rendered. I believe they are opening themselves up to a class action lawsuit if they start withholding payment because people only submitted a SSN.

Has anyone else even received this letter from Trendsource?
"WARNING: Shops must be entered online WITHIN 12 HOURS OR SAME DAY as execution, (whichever comes first). In the future, you MUST input your shop data WITHIN 12 HOURS OR SAME DAY (before 12 midnight) your local time. We have made an exception this time and accepted your data late, but a penalty has been incurred. Thanks, TSQC."

The shop they were referring to was a fast food ms/audit. Required were 6 pictures. I always make at least double the amount of required pics in case something is wrong with some. I had a new camera and it was not set to make the correct size pics, so I had to resize all of them. I ended the shop at 8:45 PM, went home, resized the pics, and entered the report. I have the printout showing it was received at 1:32 AM.

I don't think anyone was there to edit the shop at that time of night and besides it was 1 hour and 32 minutes after midnight! The project was $7.00, the reim was $3.00. I was deducted $2.00. So Instead of $10, I got paid $8.

This has definitely left a bad taste in my mouth when it concerns working for Trendsource.

number1nana50 Wrote:
> I don't think anyone was there to edit the shop at
> that time of night and besides it was 1 hour and
> 32 minutes after midnight! The project was $7.00,
> the reim was $3.00. I was deducted $2.00. So
> Instead of $10, I got paid $8.
>
> This has definitely left a bad taste in my mouth
> when it concerns working for Trendsource.

It's posted all over the site the time for input. While I agree with you that an hour and thirty two minutes after midnight is nitpicky... it is their rules. appeal to support and they may reverse the penalty if you tell them what you told us. Even though I don't know how it took 2 hours to resize 12 photos.