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Hello, Shopper64. I've been lurking on the message boards for a little while now, but haven't ever commented because I've been learning. I hadn't yet found a post to which I thought I could add value. I have done a number of shops for MCG starting this year. I haven't always gotten an immediate response from MCG, as with some of the other companies for which I shop (who sometimes respond within minutes and spoil me), but I have always received a response when I've emailed or called. I, too, have not had follow-up questions or comments with my reports. I have consistently been paid, and have done only one hotel shop for them. I don't recall how long it took to reverse the folio. I want to say that it took somewhere between two and three weeks after checkout. Please post a follow-up if/when you make progress with the situation. I do hope you receive a resolution quickly.
Well it's over FOUR weeks now and MCG owes me an explanation. I'm not allowed to contact the client, but am just going to dispute the charge on my credit card as the bill is now due. NOT cool! It's beyond unprofessional on the part of MCG, especially when all my other shops have been put on an invoice EXCEPT this one and they wont contact me with any explanation after 6 attempts to reach them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2014 01:38AM by shopper64.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2014 01:38AM by shopper64.
This is their payment policy:
All fees and reimbursement payments are via PayPal at the end of the following month in which report is finalized according to guidelines. Typically, 30 days. You must insure your email address corresponds with PayPal.
So you should be paid the end of this month. They provide this information with each job listing before you even sign up for it.
All fees and reimbursement payments are via PayPal at the end of the following month in which report is finalized according to guidelines. Typically, 30 days. You must insure your email address corresponds with PayPal.
So you should be paid the end of this month. They provide this information with each job listing before you even sign up for it.
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Thanks to all the forum members!
Thanks to all the forum members!
Bayberry, MCG has the client reverse charges for hotel shops, rather than reimburse, usually within 10-14 days. Four weeks is very unusual for them, as that's 2-3x their normal reversal turnaround.
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Plan the work. Work the plan.
Plan the work. Work the plan.
The issue here is a hotel shop reversal of charges on her credit card, not so much payment for the shop. Shopper64, if you are unable to pay the credit card and have the charges reversed at a later date, I would challenge the charges.
I ran into the same issue with a shop for Freeman Group back in the days when they were alive, kicking and paying pretty much on time. A client took 11 weeks to back out a charge. I kept Freeman abreast of the situation and they agreed to cover the bill themselves if the client didn't back out the charges in another month or so. Meanwhile they reimbursed me the interest charged on the credit card for carrying the debt. But this kind of thing requires communication and communication means they need to respond.
I ran into the same issue with a shop for Freeman Group back in the days when they were alive, kicking and paying pretty much on time. A client took 11 weeks to back out a charge. I kept Freeman abreast of the situation and they agreed to cover the bill themselves if the client didn't back out the charges in another month or so. Meanwhile they reimbursed me the interest charged on the credit card for carrying the debt. But this kind of thing requires communication and communication means they need to respond.
I'm not expecting the shop fees now, just the folio reversal within 2 weeks of checkout, as promised. After 4 weeks, I have just disputed the charges, merely checking the "refund expected from merchant" box... not saying that the charges were not legit.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2014 02:31AM by shopper64.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2014 02:31AM by shopper64.
Heh, heh, heh 
Call their toll free and leave a pleasant message that "This is so-and-so and since the folio from the [client name] visit done on [date] has not been reversed yet and I need to pay my credit card on [date], I am going to need to contest the charges with my credit card company since you have returned none of my calls or responded to my emails. I just wanted to give you a heads up in case you hear from the XYZ Card, because I am explaining the situation to them and giving them your contact information. Also you will know in case you hear from the client about this."
Call their toll free and leave a pleasant message that "This is so-and-so and since the folio from the [client name] visit done on [date] has not been reversed yet and I need to pay my credit card on [date], I am going to need to contest the charges with my credit card company since you have returned none of my calls or responded to my emails. I just wanted to give you a heads up in case you hear from the XYZ Card, because I am explaining the situation to them and giving them your contact information. Also you will know in case you hear from the client about this."
I wouldn't have disputed the charges because they were legitimate charges. Just curious, but, on what grounds did you dispute them?
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Plan the work. Work the plan.
Plan the work. Work the plan.
UPDATE.... I JUST got an e-mail from MCG (@8:51 PM on Sept. 19th in response to my September 10th inquiry!!). It said that SIXTY DAYS is the folio reversal time. Sorry, but the industry standard is 2 weeks, as it should be with room stays that can be as high as $1,000+ for multiple night assignments. If I had spotted that little "nugget" in the guidelines, I would never have accepted the shop. MY bad. Buckalew Hospitality had my recent hotel stay folio reversed within DAYS. You guys can have at it... I'm not doing any more hotel shops for MCG.
The company that you shopped is under no legal agreement with you whatsoever.
Disputing the charges for rendered services should be denied by the credit card.
You only recource is a civil matter with the MSC and you may only have binding arbitration in the state of thier choosing, depending on the agreement you signed with them. Any contract they have with the company that you shopped is not a contract where you have any legal standing or are part of in any legal way.
You without a doubt agreed to never contact the MSC's client or the shopped company directly or indirectly about your shopping them in any way. So by disputing the charges, you are now in breech of your contract with the MSC and they have no legal requirement to pay you at all.
The MSC could have even had you shop for a clients competing company, where the hotel was not even aware of the shop being done against them to see how thier services were in comparison to the clients offerings.
Disputing the charges for rendered services should be denied by the credit card.
You only recource is a civil matter with the MSC and you may only have binding arbitration in the state of thier choosing, depending on the agreement you signed with them. Any contract they have with the company that you shopped is not a contract where you have any legal standing or are part of in any legal way.
You without a doubt agreed to never contact the MSC's client or the shopped company directly or indirectly about your shopping them in any way. So by disputing the charges, you are now in breech of your contract with the MSC and they have no legal requirement to pay you at all.
The MSC could have even had you shop for a clients competing company, where the hotel was not even aware of the shop being done against them to see how thier services were in comparison to the clients offerings.
I just looked over the shop instructions for my last hotel assignment. It says that the folio charges will be reversed after the client has accepted the report, and that the reversal should post within 7-10 business days. Other than in the email they sent to you, where did they state it would be 60 days? I don't see a reference to that anywhere in the paperwork for my shop. I wonder if they changed the policy. Two months is way too long.
I agreed to never contact a client, and I contacted my credit card company only, saying "refund expected from merchant." If it's a "competitor shop", the hotel I shopped would not be reversing my folio. It would be a reimbursement situation.
MCG just emailed me, 9 days after my inquiry, and claimed that "up to 60 days" is the stated folio reversal time. Are you looking at guidelines for an MCG hotel shop? I can no longer access the guidelines for the shop I did last month.
WhoMe Wrote:
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> I just looked over the shop instructions for my
> last hotel assignment. It says that the folio
> charges will be reversed after the client has
> accepted the report, and that the reversal should
> post within 7-10 business days. Other than in the
> email they sent to you, where did they state it
> would be 60 days? I don't see a reference to that
> anywhere in the paperwork for my shop. I wonder
> if they changed the policy. Two months is way too
> long.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2014 02:35AM by shopper64.
WhoMe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just looked over the shop instructions for my
> last hotel assignment. It says that the folio
> charges will be reversed after the client has
> accepted the report, and that the reversal should
> post within 7-10 business days. Other than in the
> email they sent to you, where did they state it
> would be 60 days? I don't see a reference to that
> anywhere in the paperwork for my shop. I wonder
> if they changed the policy. Two months is way too
> long.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2014 02:35AM by shopper64.
Yes, I am looking at the instructions for one of the hotel shops.
The plot thickens... just going to let it go for now since at least I know there's a warm body replying to emails, albeit 9 days after I inquired. We shall see...
Hmm, is this company still paying by their own guidelines?
Bayberry Wrote:
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> This is their payment policy:
>
>
> All fees and reimbursement payments are via PayPal
> at the end of the following month in which report
> is finalized according to guidelines. Typically,
> 30 days. You must insure your email address
> corresponds with PayPal.
>
> So you should be paid the end of this month. They
> provide this information with each job listing
> before you even sign up for it.
Bayberry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is their payment policy:
>
>
> All fees and reimbursement payments are via PayPal
> at the end of the following month in which report
> is finalized according to guidelines. Typically,
> 30 days. You must insure your email address
> corresponds with PayPal.
>
> So you should be paid the end of this month. They
> provide this information with each job listing
> before you even sign up for it.
another good reason to always print out the guidelines and keep them until long after you've been paid for the shop. How did you do the shop without having a copy of the guidelines with you in the hotel? Are you sure you don't have a copy lurking in your recycle bin somewhere?
even if you could access those guidelines online now, there is no guarantee they haven't changed them since you did the shop.
even if you could access those guidelines online now, there is no guarantee they haven't changed them since you did the shop.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
Sorry, rhetorical question. They have not paid per guidelines.
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