Interactions Marketing Company System Merge
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I've been procrastinating on this one. I've never worked for them and can't even remember if they have shops in my area. Think I'll wait until after the holidays, since we have until the 4th.
We are all here on earth to help others....What on earth the others are here for I don't know.
--W. H. Auden
--W. H. Auden
I sincerely doubt that their background check will be a big problem. I've worked for one of the national labs and know what a "real" background check is like. I have done the background check for two companies that I do on site inspections for and asked for a copy from one of the companies. I was amazed at the report I received as it was basically someone just googled my name.
According to the instructions email I got from Adams, we only have until the end of this month to complete steps 1-3: online application, i9 form, and background check.
I only know of one sample shop in my area once a month so it really feels like a PITA.
I only know of one sample shop in my area once a month so it really feels like a PITA.
Shopping Santa Barbara and Goleta, CA.
@plmccut wrote:
I sincerely doubt that their background check will be a big problem. I've worked for one of the national labs and know what a "real" background check is like. I have done the background check for two companies that I do on site inspections for and asked for a copy from one of the companies. I was amazed at the report I received as it was basically someone just googled my name.
That would be nice, i as imagining those full on background checks that cost $60 minimum.
Shopping Santa Barbara and Goleta, CA.
I moved it out of my junk box and will decide before the 4th. 
I think I'll pass. I did the sampling shops and liked them but that's it and not interested in the other work. Wondering if they will have enough people for all the sampling after this.
Liz
Liz
I did not do the sampling shops but I did like their Smoothie shops (however, I have not seen this for a while).
I am wondering if it is worth it myself for just a few shops that may or may not happen.
I am wondering if it is worth it myself for just a few shops that may or may not happen.
Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
@gojiberry wrote:
The bummer is going through a background check is mandatory! This sounds like a pain... Also, an I-9 is required, and is due within 24 hours.
They need I-9 docs within 24 hours of what? And who pays for the background check?
I'm away from my desk until the 28th. So, I can't send I-9 stuff right away.
I haven't even answered the original e-mail because I thought I had time. I'm also still concerned they may want employee type commitment. I hope I'm wrong though.
I liked the Smoothies when they had them and I still enjoyed Samples until recently when somebody else grabbed my usual location.
I guess I'd better shoot an e-mail to the contact person about these employment looking requirements.
Edit: This laptop keeps moving my cursor.
"All we want are the facts." Sgt. Joe Friday
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2015 07:07PM by goldilox.
A $60 background check still is not going to be anything major. I remember being told several years ago that a background check done by the Personnel Management department for the Feds cost $10-15000. In today's world, $60 does not cover very much.
I don't appreciate their little deadline emails, particularly when people have replied a couple times and not received any response from the MSC. I, too, have done the smoothies and liked them but there are not enough of them to make it worthwhile for me to be overly concerned about not getting into their "new" database. I never did the demo shops as I didn't think they paid enough to do three demo tables. That's all the shops they ever have in my area.
I don't appreciate their little deadline emails, particularly when people have replied a couple times and not received any response from the MSC. I, too, have done the smoothies and liked them but there are not enough of them to make it worthwhile for me to be overly concerned about not getting into their "new" database. I never did the demo shops as I didn't think they paid enough to do three demo tables. That's all the shops they ever have in my area.
I9 is fill in online and submit. Nothing to snail mail.
I answered the e-mail twice and still have not heard back. I also do not think that I have ever worked for them.
I'm leery. The instructions say that they notify shoppers less than a week before an event if they are needed and my schedule is often filled up for the following week. Then they require cancellations 96 hours before the event. But the biggest problem is the poor grammar in the email. That is my pet peeve. Jump through hoops within a narrow time frame, be on-call for events that we may or may not have that may or may not pay well. Hmmmm...
Mystery Shopper since 1998; Author of Make Money Mystery Shopping available on Amazon in the Kindle Store.
After reading that same email, iamloved1, and having a gut feeling about this, I'm moving it into my junk folder.
I went back and forth about it and decided against it. I loved the sample jobs but one or two 12.00 a month jobs aren't enough for me to want to go this far with them. The woman also told me it was mandatory for employment. But I'm not an employee. If I was the person giving the samples, etc I would definitely do it as it is a much better paying gig but not for this type of assignment only.
I loved doing the shops I did with them. It helped a lot with the grocery shopping. I had no objection really to the background check, but the I9 was over the top for me. They already have more personal information than most when you include the background check and if you've been working for them regularly over a period of time, it should not be necessary. I am one who keeps my shopping to myself and I am not about to seek out someone to sign a form. I think it's ridiculous for ICs. I will dearly miss the MSC, but they are reaching in where they don't belong in my opinion, so I'm a no go.
As for the emails, they replied promptly to me. I've never had issues with their schedulers, except for slow responses. Sometimes I've had very quick answers/replies, but most of the time it takes a while, and beyond that, often there is no response. The main editor for the shops I did was great.
As for the emails, they replied promptly to me. I've never had issues with their schedulers, except for slow responses. Sometimes I've had very quick answers/replies, but most of the time it takes a while, and beyond that, often there is no response. The main editor for the shops I did was great.
It is not an easy task to get through all the paperwork but I finally managed to get it all done correctly.
I filled out the application, but do they then send the I-9 to us, and the release form for the background check? It is a bit confusing! Thank you for your help.
Paying for a background check as an independent contractor just doesn't seem like something a shopper should have to do.
On the one hand the I-9 shouldn't be a big deal, it just to verify you are eligible to work in the U.S. On the other, I don't believe it is actually a requirement unless you are an employee. I have a bigger problem with paying for background checks for sporadic, low paying assignments.
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.
The I9 is required by Interactions for the merger. You have to complete the form and have someone else sign it, saying you are you. It cannot be someone in your immediate family either, meaning you have to get a neighbor or friend. I forgot if co-workers are okay are not.
And after reading this, I am off the fence and have deleted the email. Way too much trouble for what I do for them.
Huh? Normally an I-9 is filled out by an employer and requires specific documents to prove citizenship or eligibility for employment. The instructions are for the employee to fill out the first section, including name, DOB, SSN and the employee's signature. The employer is then required to fill out the rest. Nothing about a third person chosen by the employee.
Have you all been offered and accepted jobs with Interactions? If not, it is illegal for them to request the I-9.
Have you all been offered and accepted jobs with Interactions? If not, it is illegal for them to request the I-9.
@Orrymain wrote:
The I9 is required by Interactions for the merger. You have to complete the form and have someone else sign it, saying you are you. It cannot be someone in your immediate family either, meaning you have to get a neighbor or friend. I forgot if co-workers are okay are not.
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.
The email was sent out by Interactions. I responded and asked specifically about an I9 because I did not even know what it was. All ICs are being required to submit the form. The Interactions employee responded to me as I said, that it basically was just to have a third party state I'm me. She said it was like being in an HR office where you show your ID and an HR rep then signs off, acknowledging, again, that I am me. Because there is no HR office, a friend or neighbor must sign the form, vouching that I am me. As I've said, I think it's ridiculous since they have our SSNs etc anyway.
Oh --- and again, they are essentially changing who they are. You have to completely register again and fill out new forms, as has been mentioned. As of Jan 4, any IC who has not gone through the process is essentially let go and will no longer be part of Interactions.
Their sample shops were some of my favorites. I haven't seen any shops posted in my area for months. Do we know if they are even going to continue with them? Why are they asking for so much? They want more information than I've given to any other mystery shop company I have registered with. Initially I thought they had been hacked and it was a scam. Is it even worth it?
It would be interesting to know what percentage of shoppers did make the transition. We'll never know, but I think that would be an intriguing thing to find out.
Look at the requirements for the I-9 on the USCIS website. They are so far off base and actually lucky they are not required to have them on contractors because nowhere does it state it is acceptable to have an unknown third party sign off on the form. They are actually defeating the purpose of the form which is to prove you can work in the U.S which they are supposed to verify. What proof do they have the person swearing you are you is actually who they say they are? Plus, it states clearly the employer is not to collect the information prior to offering employment and the employment being accepted along with it being illegal to discriminate based on the information collected.
It never ceases to amaze me the crap these companies either think they can get away with or the difficulty they have in reading and comprehending the applicable laws.
It never ceases to amaze me the crap these companies either think they can get away with or the difficulty they have in reading and comprehending the applicable laws.
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.
They get away with it because they can! lol We're powerless really. Oh well -- it's about to be a done deal as the calendar flips forward.
You are only as powerless as you choose to be
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.
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