Freeman Group Update -- The MSPA Has Acted.
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As we say in the South, Attaboy! Thank you, Jacob, for once again making a big difference.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Jacob . Great Job. You really got the ball rolling.
Well done!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Jacob you are amazing! Thanks to you we can now say, "We are mystery shoppers, hear us roar
"
"Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Way to go Jacob!
Your work on the MSPA sets a precedent - and all MSC's should take heed.
Essentially Jacob your site has created an organization of and for shoppers!
Yes, I know there are other forums but not like yours and what you allow shoppers to post about.
Huzza and halleluja Jacob. I take off my hat to you.
Shoppin
PS:
Where did the MSPA post this announcement, by the way ?
Your work on the MSPA sets a precedent - and all MSC's should take heed.
Essentially Jacob your site has created an organization of and for shoppers!
Yes, I know there are other forums but not like yours and what you allow shoppers to post about.
Huzza and halleluja Jacob. I take off my hat to you.
Shoppin
PS:
Where did the MSPA post this announcement, by the way ?
I kept after Kim with e-mails every week and I got paid this week from a shop done in Dec 2011. I figure she got sick of me e-mailing and saying I would do whatever it takes to get my money. I hope you all get paid soon.
Great job Jacob. You made a difference. So now Freeman is the first inductee in MSPA Hall of Shame.
I wish the software companies (SASSIEST, Prophet etc) would also take high road and not rent their software to companies who use it to continue with their practices of luring shoppers.
It seems that Freeman group does not exist on MSPA web site as a member company.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2012 02:56AM by anakin.
I wish the software companies (SASSIEST, Prophet etc) would also take high road and not rent their software to companies who use it to continue with their practices of luring shoppers.
It seems that Freeman group does not exist on MSPA web site as a member company.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2012 02:56AM by anakin.
Bravo to Jacob and all others who assisted!!!!
Let's keep the momentum going and send a hard
message any more of these
disgusting msc's. Power to the people!!!
Hey MSPA: Start policing yourself, because we
are not going to put up with it anymore and
the unethical msc's will be boycotted.
Let's keep the momentum going and send a hard
message any more of these
disgusting msc's. Power to the people!!!
Hey MSPA: Start policing yourself, because we
are not going to put up with it anymore and
the unethical msc's will be boycotted.
Thanks J And where does the $ go to that you pay for "certification" and what benefits does one get from this payment? I think that it is time for them to be busted and it should not be all up to you.
We can do it . You have done enough. How should we go about it as shoppers? Thanks again, you rule.
We can do it . You have done enough. How should we go about it as shoppers? Thanks again, you rule.
I like that..
"HALL OF SHAME"
@ JACOB Yooo Hoooo JACOB
can we have a sticky called "HALL OF SHAME' ???
only for deadbeat MSC'S - no conversation,
just lists of MSC's who have proven by our group as "non-payers" or late late late payers, or deducters for no good reason.
"HALL OF SHAME"
@ JACOB Yooo Hoooo JACOB
can we have a sticky called "HALL OF SHAME' ???
only for deadbeat MSC'S - no conversation,
just lists of MSC's who have proven by our group as "non-payers" or late late late payers, or deducters for no good reason.
Jacob has done an excellent job having an important issued recognized and handled without creating an adversarial situation between shoppers, companies and the MSPA. A climate of mutual respect should be the goal. We are all in this together.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I am absolutely certain that V-God would not have done anything. Most likely, V-God would have banned the posters who wrote anything negative about any MSC.
It'll be interesting to see if the V-God even allows the post of that announcement on his website.
As much as I would like to take credit for what has happened, none of this would be possible without the many people who have been active members of this community. I want to thank the members who have reported payment issues with Freeman. And the members who highlighted the MSPA's initial response to this issue.. (See [www.mysteryshopforum.com] )
The members of this forum are what made this possible. My role was to simply make it clear what this community had already figured out. I very much believe in this community. As much as I would like to take credit, it is the entire forum community that deserves credit.
Your participation in this forum makes a big difference. Whenever a good company is highlighted, or a bad company is reported, it helps every other shopper who participates here, and makes big results like what happened with Freeman possible.
To the members of this community: Thank you!
The members of this forum are what made this possible. My role was to simply make it clear what this community had already figured out. I very much believe in this community. As much as I would like to take credit, it is the entire forum community that deserves credit.
Your participation in this forum makes a big difference. Whenever a good company is highlighted, or a bad company is reported, it helps every other shopper who participates here, and makes big results like what happened with Freeman possible.
To the members of this community: Thank you!
I want to thank this board for all the good warnings or I would also be a shopper who was not paid. I keep gettings requests to do the shops in Florida and they sound great ... but I did not accept any.
Thank you all for that!
Thank you all for that!
anakin,
At this time there is a link on the volition forum to this discussion. And, my post aludes to this forum. I hope that volition has the good sense to leave those posts in place, in spite of their rule not to permit anything that promotes another forum. We shall see.
No matter what his detractors may say, I have personally heard the volition owner be openly critical of the MSPA and their policies. I can also tell you that the new executive director of the management company of MSPA got quite a raking over the coals from some of the shoppers when he presented at the IMSC conference in Chicago. I was glad to see that he was willing to participate and also that he did not just get "softball" questions. I do not envy him his job of trying to herd the cats who are the "good ole boys" of the MSPA, since some of them are saber toothed tigers (Yup, the dinosaurs of the feline world.)
At this time there is a link on the volition forum to this discussion. And, my post aludes to this forum. I hope that volition has the good sense to leave those posts in place, in spite of their rule not to permit anything that promotes another forum. We shall see.
No matter what his detractors may say, I have personally heard the volition owner be openly critical of the MSPA and their policies. I can also tell you that the new executive director of the management company of MSPA got quite a raking over the coals from some of the shoppers when he presented at the IMSC conference in Chicago. I was glad to see that he was willing to participate and also that he did not just get "softball" questions. I do not envy him his job of trying to herd the cats who are the "good ole boys" of the MSPA, since some of them are saber toothed tigers (Yup, the dinosaurs of the feline world.)
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
One issue that I have not seen anyone address is, do the companies contacting Freeman's services know that Freeman is welching out on the their independent contractor shoppers. Both hotel chain (representing hotel A, hotel B, hotel C, etc) and the restaurant chain could choose to cancel their relationship with Freeman and choose a more reputable company to carry on their mystery shopping program. A number come to mind: A Closer Look, Marketforce, Service Check, Intelli-shop. etc.........ABF (oneone but Freeman). I have done a number of shops for Freeman (several motel shops and one restaurant shop), and I have been paid for all, albeit quite late on the motels stays. Question is, who should tell them? Would it be ethical for the shoppers to blow their cover? Indirectly, Freeman's behavior could affect the reputations of these major businesses in long run. Do they want to continue to take that risk? Time has come for Freeman to fish or cut bait!
Chris you need to edit your posting so that you are not violating your ICA. You can not list a MS company and a client in the same thread.
I have been contacting the companies that are contracting Freeman and making them aware, it may not be ethical but either is Freeman
chris,
You can take it as gospel that Freeman's competitors are well aware that Freeman shoppers are not being paid, and that those competitors are probably vying for those clients. Why the clients don't jump ship I do not know. UNLESS, is it possible that those clients have not paid Freeman on time, and the competitors are wary? Inquiring minds would love to know.
I can tell you that I know of at least 4 medium and small sized MSCs that have had BIG name clients default on their bills in the past 2 years. All of the MSCs survived, but only because they let their shoppers know, asked for understanding, and brought their shopper accounts up to date on an agreed schedule. I will gladly work for all of those companies, and do so. It took a lot of grit and sacrifice for them to make good what they owed shoppers. No banks are making small business loans anymore on the collaeral of recieveables, so these MSC owners are really on their own when it come to managing cash flow.
You can take it as gospel that Freeman's competitors are well aware that Freeman shoppers are not being paid, and that those competitors are probably vying for those clients. Why the clients don't jump ship I do not know. UNLESS, is it possible that those clients have not paid Freeman on time, and the competitors are wary? Inquiring minds would love to know.
I can tell you that I know of at least 4 medium and small sized MSCs that have had BIG name clients default on their bills in the past 2 years. All of the MSCs survived, but only because they let their shoppers know, asked for understanding, and brought their shopper accounts up to date on an agreed schedule. I will gladly work for all of those companies, and do so. It took a lot of grit and sacrifice for them to make good what they owed shoppers. No banks are making small business loans anymore on the collaeral of recieveables, so these MSC owners are really on their own when it come to managing cash flow.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
This is a double edged sword.
To notify the clients of Freeman will cut off any payments to shoppers owed.
I suspect that Freeman may just go on Twittter or Facebook or online bypassing MSPA and scheduling companies to continue to advertise for unsuspecting victims.
What must be done at this point is email Jacob your real name and how much money you are owed by Freeman..and you had better have proof of it by emails from Freeman (all of them) especially those promising payment or copies of your report and verified expenses.
After Jacob has all of you together, a lawyer or perhaps without a lawyer, papers can be filed asking a Federal Judge to attach any assetts of Freeman and/or to hold all funds due and payable or paid to Freeman in an escrow account. It would be up to the request in the lawsuit and the Judge to order all funds be held in an escrow account and to notify all of Freeman's clients that they are to pay the escrow account.
Also,get your names, addresses and so on to Jacob through private message ASAP
because if Freeman decides to declare banruptcy you have to be named as creditors owed money to.
One other thought on the matter. You can go to Federal Court because there is "diversity of venue", meaning the complainants live in many different states. It doesn't matter that Freeman is in Texas and Florida only. What matters for diversity of venue to get into Federal Court is where the plaintiffs/complainants
live.
Next, make sure to research which state of the complainants' is friendliest to the complainants/plaintiffs. You sure don't want to file in a state like Delaware which is pro-corporate paradise - see what I mean ?
Get moving guys. Pull out your emails, reports, print them up, and most important private e mail JACOB with your true name, address and amount of money owed.
It might also be considered to take a copy of MSPA's "divorcing" Freeman statement, and each writing your State's Attorney General with the amount of money owed you. This seems like a ponzi scheme on some levels, it would be hard to call it embezzlement because it just looks like plain theft of services - shoppers' services at this point, but on a grand scale perhaps. That won't be known until Diswtrict Attorney's of counties, or Attorney Generals or a Judge gets hold of Freeman's books and bank accounts.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2012 07:57PM by shoppinalong.
To notify the clients of Freeman will cut off any payments to shoppers owed.
I suspect that Freeman may just go on Twittter or Facebook or online bypassing MSPA and scheduling companies to continue to advertise for unsuspecting victims.
What must be done at this point is email Jacob your real name and how much money you are owed by Freeman..and you had better have proof of it by emails from Freeman (all of them) especially those promising payment or copies of your report and verified expenses.
After Jacob has all of you together, a lawyer or perhaps without a lawyer, papers can be filed asking a Federal Judge to attach any assetts of Freeman and/or to hold all funds due and payable or paid to Freeman in an escrow account. It would be up to the request in the lawsuit and the Judge to order all funds be held in an escrow account and to notify all of Freeman's clients that they are to pay the escrow account.
Also,get your names, addresses and so on to Jacob through private message ASAP
because if Freeman decides to declare banruptcy you have to be named as creditors owed money to.
One other thought on the matter. You can go to Federal Court because there is "diversity of venue", meaning the complainants live in many different states. It doesn't matter that Freeman is in Texas and Florida only. What matters for diversity of venue to get into Federal Court is where the plaintiffs/complainants
live.
Next, make sure to research which state of the complainants' is friendliest to the complainants/plaintiffs. You sure don't want to file in a state like Delaware which is pro-corporate paradise - see what I mean ?
Get moving guys. Pull out your emails, reports, print them up, and most important private e mail JACOB with your true name, address and amount of money owed.
It might also be considered to take a copy of MSPA's "divorcing" Freeman statement, and each writing your State's Attorney General with the amount of money owed you. This seems like a ponzi scheme on some levels, it would be hard to call it embezzlement because it just looks like plain theft of services - shoppers' services at this point, but on a grand scale perhaps. That won't be known until Diswtrict Attorney's of counties, or Attorney Generals or a Judge gets hold of Freeman's books and bank accounts.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2012 07:57PM by shoppinalong.
jodinbrad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been contacting the companies that are
> contracting Freeman and making them aware, it may
> not be ethical but either is Freeman
@ JODI AND ALL OTHERS
PLEASE STOP NOTIFYING COMPANIES
READ MY LONG POST ABOVE -
shoppinalong
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been contacting the companies that are
> contracting Freeman and making them aware, it may
> not be ethical but either is Freeman
@ JODI AND ALL OTHERS
PLEASE STOP NOTIFYING COMPANIES
READ MY LONG POST ABOVE -
shoppinalong
JacobJ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As much as I would like to take credit for what
> has happened, none of this would be possible
> without the many people who have been active
> members of this community. I want to thank the
> members who have reported payment issues with
> Freeman. And the members who highlighted the
> MSPA's initial response to this issue.. (See
> [www.mysteryshopforum.com] )
>
> The members of this forum are what made this
> possible. My role was to simply make it clear what
> this community had already figured out. I very
> much believe in this community. As much as I would
> like to take credit, it is the entire forum
> community that deserves credit.
>
> Your participation in this forum makes a big
> difference. Whenever a good company is
> highlighted, or a bad company is reported, it
> helps every other shopper who participates here,
> and makes big results like what happened with
> Freeman possible.
>
> To the members of this community: Thank you!
And on top of all that, Jacob is quite humble too! What a guy!
-------------------------------------------------------
> As much as I would like to take credit for what
> has happened, none of this would be possible
> without the many people who have been active
> members of this community. I want to thank the
> members who have reported payment issues with
> Freeman. And the members who highlighted the
> MSPA's initial response to this issue.. (See
> [www.mysteryshopforum.com] )
>
> The members of this forum are what made this
> possible. My role was to simply make it clear what
> this community had already figured out. I very
> much believe in this community. As much as I would
> like to take credit, it is the entire forum
> community that deserves credit.
>
> Your participation in this forum makes a big
> difference. Whenever a good company is
> highlighted, or a bad company is reported, it
> helps every other shopper who participates here,
> and makes big results like what happened with
> Freeman possible.
>
> To the members of this community: Thank you!
And on top of all that, Jacob is quite humble too! What a guy!
I finally got paid by Freeman Group after 4 months. I self assigned myself to all the shops posted on their site. Maybe they got the hint when some of the shops were in Hawaii and Alaska on the same day. It may have helped that I threatened to file a small claims suit if not paid by the 30th of this month.
I am unaware of this situation but judging from your comments a good thing has happened and a bad company has been called to task. It is always good to see a line drawn in the sand. Good work!!
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