Using video on regular shops?

Ok, so I've been a member since March 2012 since I started MS. I've been lurking for awhile and thought I'd jump in.
Since I started, I've done 60 shops. I just started doing bank shops for a MSC in July. On a recent submitted shop, the evaluator requests additional information. I told him I needed to refer back to my video for the details (which was on my home computer) and he says that video or audio taping of the shop is not permissible.
I've used my hidden camera on regular shops before, of course, I never divulged that to the scheduler. Is this a no-no?

Silver Certified, I own my own PV-500, and I do shops in and around the DFW area.

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In and of itself, no. Texas is a one party consent state so you are fine there. Your problem will be if the business has it posted that recording is not allowed or the MSC has it in the guidelines.

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.

Lisa is correct. Your problem is actually a matter of ignoring the MSC guideline for the shop. It may be that the MSC's contract with the client requires that no recording occur, or that the location has a "no recordings" sign posted. When the MSC passes that requirement on to you, your ICA agreement requires you to perform the shop according to the guidelines that you are provided.

If you want better shops notes in a bank, you can write them into your check record, in full view, without arousing any suspicion. So why go to the extreme of video recording?

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.

I'm looking forward to the response and wondering if the MSC did have it in the guidelines. I've also got a few bank shops this week and will look for any signs.

On occassion, I have audio recorded on a longer format shop just to give me something to go back to confirm my thinking. Many shops tell you things like no recording, no cell phone, no writing notes, etc.

Whenever someone calls, just tell them you have to go home and check your notes, but offer no clue as to what those notes could be.

My son was boots on the ground in Iraq for 10 months about a year after I started shopping. He got to call us about once every 2-3 weeks and it was always routed through a different number. I answered every unknown call during that time period, because I wasn't about to miss one of those calls and didn't care if it cost me a shop.

I never got a call from him while on a shop and never let a MS company know I would answer a call if it rang. I never had a shop questioned because of answering my cell and would have been honest if asked, but didn't see the need to volunteer info.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2012 08:20PM by Shelly.

Part of the test of being an Independent Contractor is a certain degree of freedom and judgement when determining how best to deliver the desired results

As a follow-up; I went back and re-read the shop instructions sent to me and did not see anything pertaining to audio or video recording devices, either explicit or implied. The shop was for HCMS. As for credit unions and signs prohibiting recording, I did not see any on my visit. To my recollection, the only time I remember seeing a sign prohibiting recording of any type was when I was a member at 24 hour fitness.

Silver Certified, I own my own PV-500, and I do shops in and around the DFW area.

If it is not in the guidelines and there is no sign at the bank they don't have a leg to stand on. Regardless, stick with the advice given and when speaking with them just refer to your "notes." Depending on if she was just freaking out or not, pay attention to the guidelines for future shops in case they decide to slip it in somewhere.

Who is MSC?

Grateful

MSC is a what not a who, mystery shopping company. It is interchangeable with MSP which would be mystery shopping provider.

Wouldnt do it unless in the guidelines.

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