I know that someone posted about ace in the past about problems. Now ace is saying that no payments will be made since the report was not accepted by client. I have never seen this before. Ace does not give any other details. When I question about why payment was not made from a few months ago this was the reason given by ace.

Yep, chrsj, that's the way it works in the life of an Independent Contractor. It's pretty simple. If the client doesn't accept the report, the mystery shopping company doesn't get paid and, for this reason, the mystery shopping company doesn't have money to pay us.

Any questions?

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ACE is an excellent company with a good reputation. I worked for ACE for several years, very happily. I was always paid on time and enjoyed the one shop that they had in my area. Their editors usually give very good feedback. The only problem I can remember seeing reported here on the forum was when ACE began suddenly to use PayQuicker as their only payment method. Like several other forum members, I chose not to sign up with PayQuicker, so I have not worked for them since then. After PayQuicker has been around a little longer and I read a few more good reviews, I may accept shops with them again, because I do miss them although they had few clients in my area.

If ACE told you that the client did not accept your report, then that is the reason you are not getting paid for the shop. If you don't understand the reason that the client did not accept the report, I would contact your scheduler and ask for more information. I've always found them to be very open and willing to answer questions.

Only ACE is going to be able to answer your question. Please write again and let us know what the answer turns out to be.

I enjoy shopping for Ace, though they don't have much here. Regarding their move to PayQuicker, I was hesitant and initially resisted. Some years ago, a scheduler called, looking to book a shop. I explained that I had chosen not to sign with PQ. He gave the MSC's point of view, but sympathized with shoppers' hands being tied, being required to jump through one more hoop. I don't recall his name, but that conversation prompted me to open a PQ account. So far, so good.

Hi, chrsj.

It is better, in these situations, to contact the editor for more information. As I am not sure of the specific shop or circumstances I would need a little more information regarding how you are. I am ACE's editing manager and would be happy to provide further details. I typically try to provide some information with every shop declined by the client.

Stilllearning explained it perfectly. If the client declines a shop, nobody receives a fee. It actually leads to more expense for the company due to man hours and the cost of generating a new shop. Shops, with this in mind, are not declined without reason as it is in a company's best interest to ensure every project is a success.

I, again, would be more than happy to explain the situation. Please, e-mail me at jkcox@acemysteryshopping.com.

Regarding being declined a fee, you have to decide if that's the hill you are going to die on. I have one who said I didn't perform the shop exactly to specifications. I reviewed and I did. Awaiting whether or not the client accepts. If not and not paid: I'm I willing to pursue this matter to the fullest?

Let's say I did. So I spend $90 - $120 to sue, or I threaten to sue in small claims court in Indiana. They can insist on the clause that says all legal matters resolved in their court of designation. Fine, but they still have to show up in Indiana to present the ICA. So most likely they'll pay.

Then what? No more business with them. And is there a system to reporting troublesome shoppers?

I see it as just another cost of doing business. Just make a note of it, and watch for patterns. If you find you frequently have similar problems with the same MSC over and over again, then you take your business elsewhere. If one of them obviously cheated me out of a large sum of money, I'd have to decide whether it was worth the fight. If I decided it was, I'd fight hard and win.

I guess that's the professional LJ's way of say what the every-day LJ would say as: @#$%& happens and sometimes we lose out and we gotta just suck it up. If it keeps happening dump the trash. If they try to dork you out of a big wad and you've got a can of whoop-ass to spare, go all spider-monkey on 'em.

Um, LJ, I wouldn't suggest to whoear to "go all spider-monkey on 'em".

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

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Aren't spider monkeys about the size of a large kitten?

Yikes. I guess not.

Naw, throwing poop at MSC's is a sign of weakness.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2014 01:35AM by whosear.

I have performed three shops for ACE, like their photo on the home page. Can contact via chat, and the assignments were not hard. Either have phone shops or mobile phone shops inside a wholesale club. Not super hard. If I can be sure the associate who I shopped the month before is not working, I can schedule to shop the same location in the following month.

Oops, I was thinking of squirrel monkeys. they're only about 12 inches long. Spider monkeys are the big ones.

I decided that I will not shop for ACE anymore. I may also also do some other things also.

Chrsj, allow me to be the second ACE staff member to remind you that we will be happy to discuss with you any questions you may have. We can't tell who you are from this forum to help you.

MaryACE
Disbursements, ACE Mystery Shopping

@ MaryACE ~ If you read Chrsj's other posts, he/she seems to have a solid track record of complaining about not being paid by several MSCs, not just ACE.

I know. I'm just throwing it out there. I'm sure we have already presented the reason why we can't send a disbursement, but we would be happy to take a second look and re-explain. As Jesse mentioned in an earlier post, shops aren't declined by a client without a solid reason. If the information was not what they asked for, the client should not have to pay for it, and we can't send Disbursements to every shopper that doesn't do the shop as agreed to. However, we will be happy to take a look.

MaryACE

I've only done a few shops for ACE and they are very professional and have always paid me, but then again, I do what they want. Period.

I might add that Erika is fantastic. She replies immediately to any inquiries.

Haven't had a bad experience with them at all. If the client doesn't accept the report, there was something seriously wrong with it and ACE has no obligation at that point to pay. I would talk with the scheduler and find out specifically what was wrong with the report. Not to argue but to learn from your mistakes.

Also will add that Erika is very sincere and professional.

Ahhh.... the common denominator again.

Yes, Erika IS fabulous. And I'm not just saying that because she knows where I live.

Thank you all so much for your kind words! :0) I do try to respond as quickly as possible to shoppers and help in any way I can. I am in theoffice Mon-Wed & Fri 6am-4:30pm (CST), so if you ever have any questions, concerns, or just want to "chat", you can email me at either scheduling@acemysteryshopping.com or Erika@acemysteryshopping.com and I will do my very best to help you. I realize that this is a "group effort", so we all need to be able to communicate effectively. I am constantly checking my emails throughout the day to ensure everyone receives a prompt response. If for some reason you do not hear back from me in a timely fashion, please be sure to email me again or call our office at 866-240-7324 as there is a good chance the "Spam Monster" has struck again-lol:-) Again, I truly appreciate your kinds words-it was my "little ray of sunshine" for the week to find these posts this morning-Take care! :-)

Erika

To the ACE Girls ~ I briefly worked for your company when I first started MS'in at the end of August 2011. In fact, I think your company was the first company I worked for. Unfortunately the timing was bad because I was expecting my first paycheck just as your company switched to PayQuicker. I ran into a lot of problems receiving my payment. If I remember correctly, one of your co-workers ended up paying me from her personal PayPal account and I got charged a small fee.

Now it is three years later. Is PayQuicker your only payment option? I know several companies offer more than one form of payment. I figured that it would not hurt to ask. TIA.

It, indeed, never hurts to ask. But yes, PayQuicker is still our sole method of sending shopper disbursements. Other than some issues with a small handful of cautious new shoppers each month, almost everything seems to go off without a hitch each month when disbursement time rolls around. With PayQuicker being FDIC-insured, some of the security regulations they are required by the government to follow make people a bit nervous sometimes, but we have no reservations. We even use them to pay OUR paychecks here in the office. And of course, my personal goal is to make sure that every shopper that has done quality, client-accepted work for us receives their funds, so I do everything in my power to make that happen. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions anyone has about PayQuicker or our disbursement process at any time. And if I don't know the answer, I'll find it for you.

MaryACE
Disbursements, ACE Mystery Shopping
mary@acemysteryshopping.com

TOTALLY agree with Shop2Live. I shopped for ACE for several years and loved them. ACE had few shops in my area, but I liked a sports bar shop. It was reimbursement-only and I always spent more than the reimbursement, but it was fun, decent food, easy reports, and the ACE staff were great to work with.

When the change to PayQuicker happened, I had two unpaid shops. If I had received advance notice about the change and notified I would no longer be paid by check and that PayQuicker would be my only payment option, I would not have accepted and performed the two shops. After communicating with ACE staff, I was paid for both shops by check. Since I was unwilling to open a PayQuicker account, I have performed no more shops for ACE.

Maybe someday I will be willing to open a PayQuicker account, but I am not yet ready to do that. So, I'm not able to work for ACE, although I would love to.

I understand that PayQuicker is still ACE's only payment option. In fact, I'm told that even their employees are paid with PayQuicker. I saw the ACE staff at the New Orleans IMSC in July and I started to introduce myself and present the above info, but I figured if ACE has enough shoppers and their single payment method is working for them, then my thoughts would be irrelevant.

If ACE ever decides to offer alternate payment options, I hope they will announce it on all the forums.

We always welcome feedback, AustinMom. However, since PayQuicker has worked so well for us, I haven't heard of any changes in sight where disbursements are concerned.

I know whenever there is a transition to a new process for ANY company, there are bugs and confusion to work through. If you would like to send me an email, I'll be happy to discuss any concerns with you, and I promise, I'll not push on you to decide either way. I've got time to talk.

MaryACE
Disbursements, ACE Mystery Shopping
mary@acemysteryshopping.com

AustinMom..why don't you care for Payquicker?

I was a bit nervous signing up with them and giving them ID, but they pay just as fast as Paypal, in my opinion. No hassles whatever. Nothing went wrong.

I would be cautious about identifying yourself and expressing your opinion. I did and was promptly deactivated. I told them I did not have any intentions of opening a PQ account at that time to which they decided I was not eligible for shops. After being told my intention had been to remain in the database in case circumstances changed. The response was the ICA I signed included a clause agreeing to open a PQ account. It did not as I registered several years before the change.

When the change was made to PayQuicker, we did require ALL shoppers applying for their next shop to accept the new agreement. Of course, we don't want anyone completing a shop for us that is not comfortable with our disbursement method. I don't know how far back you were deactivated, because we don't know who you are, but I always make it clear to a shopper in a case like yours that you would be ineligible for new shops if you weren't willing to use PayQuicker, as in the IC agreement.

MaryACE