Kristie, I work for TrendSource very little because the pay is low and they have few jobs I am interested in. I have never paid for the background check so I haven't done those particular shops. I go months without shopping for them and suddenly they will get a project with a client that interests me and I'll do a bunch of shops for them .... then the project ends and I don't shop them for a while. The downside for TrendSource is low pay. The good things about shopping TrendSource: very, very quick and easy reports with almost no narrative, easy editors (I have NEVER gotten a question or ANYthing from them after reporting), easy scheduling, website that allows easy access to my shop/payment history, nice employees (what little I communicate with them - only when trying to schedule shops after I have exceeded the maximum number and I want them to waive that), and very fast pay - they pay twice a month by direct deposit. Not sure my rambling thoughts will help you, but ....... I've read the negatives, too, and, while I agree that the pay is low, I'm perplexed by them being selected the worst.