Trendsource EIN?

Keep in mind, what you could have applied for and gotten might be two different things. You have to complete a specific number of shops to be allowed self-assign. That was my goal in order to get some business verifications. The problem was once my self-assign status kicked in it only applied to the crappy shops, I still could not assign the BVs. I have no idea how many more it would have taken, but it was just not worth it for me to continue along that path.

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.

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Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I do at least four or five business inspections a month for Trendsource, and enjoy doing them. And those assignments fly off the boards in my neck of the woods.

I already had an EIN because of my other business, so for me, it was a moot point in providing it.
More like different locations. They fly off the boards here as well and without being able to self assign getting one is rare. For me that all happened prior to the EIN requirement so I had let my self-assign status lapse anyway. It wasn't worth doing pizza shops for $20 to $30 less than I had done them with another company or to take the $7 office supply stores.

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 was interested in the business inspections. They seem like they would be similar to gas station audits. Lots of pictures and be nice and professional to the staff. If I'm wrong please do chime in. They have one of this right down the street from me I wanted to try. If I didn't like it or found it to much trouble, it's no big deal because it's so close.

Floating around like a feather hoping the wind will set me down somewhere awesome.
If it's close by you are right, worth checking it out. I think they pay $17? It's not worth my dressing up in business casual and styling my hair for that, personally. I also work for other companies where training is paid, so I am reluctant to take the time to get certified to do these without being compensated. Maybe the actual inspection doesn't take that long, but then one has to come home and upload photos and fill out the online report, so when factoring in drive time and report time it doesn't seem worth it.
Lelou: Go ahead and take the bv. I find them much, much easier to do than the regular shops. First of all you do not to role play, you make an appt., go in, go over the questionnaire, take a few pics and on your way home. I find them easier to do than a cell phone shop, a mattress shop, a car shop, etc., etc. If the bv is some distance from your home, you are free to request PAD. I think after 5 shops, you can self assign, in most cases. I picked up quite a bit of cash just doing bvs for TS. I do not do any of there other shops.
I can't remembered if it was 5 or 7 shops before I could self-assigned. I just hope that would have more shops in my area.

Willing to travel, Alberta, Canada
Thanks guys and gals I submitted my documentation and they should get around to approving it in a few days. I'm already used to uploading tons of pics from doing gas stations and these business inspections might be nice filler on slow weeks like this one. Making an appointment might be a pain. I've been trying to make an appointment for a shop all week with no luck. Why are they inspecting these places anyways? Some of the ones I've seen seem to small to be a franchise dor a chain.

Floating around like a feather hoping the wind will set me down somewhere awesome.
dspeakes,

I used to live in a different state, that stated had a tax law that stated anyone operating under an EIN was required to get and pay for a state business license and pay a business fee every single year (only about $20 per year but still - not necessary in most states), I was also required to file state business tax information quarterly due to the EIN - it complicated my taxes and I stopped using it. I won't use it again, my taxes are complicated enough without a secondary filing as well.

Ellie in Ohio - trying to get those ends to meet...
Lelou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks guys and gals I submitted my documentation
> and they should get around to approving it in a
> few days. I'm already used to uploading tons of
> pics from doing gas stations and these business
> inspections might be nice filler on slow weeks
> like this one. Making an appointment might be a
> pain. I've been trying to make an appointment for
> a shop all week with no luck. Why are they
> inspecting these places anyways? Some of the ones
> I've seen seem to small to be a franchise dor a
> chain.

The BVs are conducted for business' requesting access to proprietary information--like background checks and/or credits reports, etc. The client wants to ensure they are legitimate businesses and are not selling this information. Some are mom and pop start-up businesses and some are established/well-known companies and, well, some are not. These are my favorite shops and they all are anxious to schedule the appointment. They do not resemble "targeted shops" in any way or shape or form. They are all black and white, requiring (x) amount of pictures and, after your first one, in my opinion, more fun than work.

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
1. They are indeed a "Targeted" Shop. You have a specific Contact or Contacts to deal with.
2. Black and White? Hardly. You are required to observe any "Grey" areas and report them.
Examples? Sure! - Anything shady going on? Are they engaged in credit repair? Co- Located with another business?
Anyone living there? The list goes on. Always check the guidelines and the blank report before making that first call.
All BV's are NOT the same. The data you need to capture depends on both the type of business and the credit reporting companies data requests...

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
They're "targeted" in only so far as you usually need to contact a specific one or two people only. BUT you can usually meet with someone else as long as that initial contact okays it, and you let the MSC know about it. (I've never had the MSC deny it, but I've only twice had the contact not want to meet me.)

Usually, as long as these are legit businesses getting verified, and where I live I doubt I'd see a shady business, they want you to come ASAP because they can't start pulling credit reports/background checks/whatever they need to get their business moving or continuing without you showing up.
I have found 3 so far. Today, I paid a pre visit to one I am concerned about for Monday. All I found was an empty building with a new sign. The Contact has an out of state phone number. Monday should be interesting...winking smiley

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
While I was still doing those I ran into a few I certainly would not want having access to MY personal data! The handwritten 'sign' on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of printer paper on the door of a rent-by-the-hour "office complex" where the guy had no idea how to use the printer or the phone in the space. His cardboard box marked "FILES" he had forgotten to put the lid back on and it contained a 6 pack of bottled water (with the one he was drinking removed) and a bag from Wendy's. A question to the front desk of the suite indicated he was a day rental for a meeting.

A personal favorite, however, was the empty building where the guy was late and when I called he asked ME directions for how to get there. He never showed up.
Every time I've looked at a business verification offer, I've had a little prickle in the back of my neck. Just me but no thanks. More for you. OK.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Yeah,
I have done a few where there were pretty clear warning signs that it was not a "real" business entity. And, yes, they are targeted in that anyone but the original target requires a seperate vetting by the MSC before you are allowed to accept that person as the new contact. It is now uncommon for,say, a Washington, DC area site to have an original contac in Los Angeles, who wants me to interview someone that the MSC has never heard of out here. That can take several days to resolve before I can make a new phone call to set an appointment. Just because the vast majority of BVs ARE routine, we can't become complacent. This is a credit threat detection mission if ever there was one.

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.
But the fact that it's not a mystery shop takes a lot of pain out of the targeting, I'd think.
Bvs pay anywhere from $15-$20. You call ahead, make an appt. with someone who wants to see you. Then you go on site, review the questionnaire with them and make your observations, take several pictures and then spend about 20 min. doing the report.

A cell phone shop, for instance, pays $15 to start (although I have picked up an occasional bonused one that was higher). You go on site and wait to speak to someone, listen to their presentation, take a couple pictures (of the bus. ext. and bus. card), do your report. Time involved can be much more than the bv.

What I'm trying to say, is that both take the same amount of time ONLY if you can get waited on right away at the cell phone store.

I'll take the bv over the cell phone shop any day I can get them.
ronile999

I totally agree with you I already have a business with a EIN I seriously think it'd make my taxes harder than they already are.
Ronille, what state did you used to live in that did that? I've been trying to confirm these stories about states "finding" you through your EIN and demanding you get a license but nobody has ever said where this was happening.

I'm skeptical because my understanding is the IRS does not go around sending lists of EIN numbers and the address of the applicants to anyone. Your business with the IRS is supposed to stay between you and the IRS.

So tell me what state is getting this information from the IRS. I want to look into this because I have tax clients all over the country.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
I don't understand the problem with an EIN. When you do your taxes, you declare all your income. Getting an EIN should not raise a flag for someone on disability - that flag is raised when they do their taxes unless they are not declaring the income. I use an EIN that I had for another business and so far the earth is still rotating. On my Schedule C I use the EIN instead of my social. I worry more about Google tracking my every move on the Internet.
You can earn a certain amount a year on disability without it affecting your benefits. Not sure what the amount is but anyone on disability should know what their threshold is.

Time to build a bigger bridge.
They did not accept my statement that I am alone and do not have any employees..they deactivated may account, and still since 2012 no other company requested EIN so loosing Treadsource not such a big deal for me...

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
I want to add that the IRS indeed allows a person more than one EIN. It will not allow more than one EIN for the same business entity, such as an LLC, corporation or sole proprietor. For instance, an owner of a bookkeeping business can have an EIN and the same owner can have an EIN for mystery shopping. I do not recommend using an existing EIN for your mystery shopping business.

I have rental property which is owned by an LLC and I have an EIN for the LLC - I am the responsible party for this business entity. I also have an EIN for mystery shopping.

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What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. -Henry David Thoreau
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Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out. -Frank Clark
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I thought it was stupid and not necessary, but I finally just did one online. It is very simple
and easier than fighting it. Sometimes it's best to smile and pick your fights !
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