Anyone else having trouble getting paid for bonus shops with Informa Research? I've done a bunch of Informa bank platform shops at $15/each. I used to do 3 or 4 a day, but then the bank specified that only one shop could be done per day, it got to be less profitable so I don't do as many. Apparently a lot of shoppers feel the same, because Informa is having to bonus a number of banks shops every month. The problem is not getting paid the $15 for the shop, it's getting the promised $10 bonus. I never seem to get all the money owed me when I do bonused shops. Informa has an unusual payment accounting system. In February I did 5 bonused shops ($15 + $10), within a 5-day period. They also offer another $10 bonus if you do 5 bank shops, so I was owed a total of $135. They pay for everything separately. I received 3 checks: one for $45 for 3 shops, one for $30 for 2 shops, and one for $30 for the bonus on 3 shops. Didn't receive the $10 bonus for the other 2, nor the $10 bonus for doing 5 shops. You have to e-mail the scheduler after doing the shop to "remind" her to put you in for the bonus. Then you have to keep track of what you have and haven't been paid for, and you have to go back and beg for your money. This is the last time on this one. Be careful with Informa - I haven't had problems getting paid for shops but if you accept a couple of bonused shops, you may get paid for the shop but stiffed on one or more of the bonuses.

One of those situations where saving your emails can save you a whole lot of grief. My sense is that it is an oversight rather than intentional. There have been situations with a number of companies where I got paid but the bonus was forgotten. Usually they are pretty decent about getting them out promptly or in the next pay cycle. But it is annoying.

The problem seems to be an Accounting issue more than a scheduler issue. It looks to me like they have no internal way to add a bonus to the regular shop payment. So when you accept a bonused shop, you must e-mail the scheduler after completing the shop. She then "puts you in for the bonus" and e-mails you back that she did so. Lots of e-mails have to fly back and forth to coordinate these bonus payments. Then Accounting pays for shops and bonuses separately. I'm sure it is an Accounting oversight rather than a deliberate attempt to stiff the shoppers. But the end result is the same: I'm out part of the money. Again. And if I'm taking a shop only because it is bonused, and then I don't receive the bonus ......I have to ask myself "why bother?" and I've started to delete when I get the bonus offer e-mails.......

I have been doing shops for them for a while and never had a problem getting paid-bonus or otherwise.

I did finally receive the money owed .... in 4 checks - covering 5 shops, 5 bonuses, and one bonus for doing 5 bank shops in a month. This is a nice company and eventually they pay, but it's a lot of work keeping up with what they owe you, since they don't pay a bonused shop on one check.... bonuses and shop payments are made separately.

After you do five shops, you must email scheduler immediately. The bonus then must be approved. I have not had any problems ever getting paid with Informa.

The problem was not that I had not e-mailed Informa. I had, and I had gotten confirmation from the scheduler that she received my e-mail and had turned in the request to Finance for bonus payment. In addition to the $10 bonus for performing 5 shops within a month, they also, toward the end of the month, offer a $10 bonus per shop to get the shops done. You must also e-mail the scheduler when you complete each of these bonused shops so she can turn in the bonus to Finance. This is all kind of a pain in the neck, but ya do what ya gotta do to get paid. The only problem I have had getting paid by Informa has been when a bonus is involved.....and then it is only the bonus I have difficulty with.

Absolutely keep those e-mails discussing bonuses! If it is a phone call discussion ask for a confirmation E-mail, not because they are dishonest but super busy especially when looking for shoppers. I have found them to be very reasonable. I've negotiated gas money after a mapquest lookup, tolls and even parking.
I tried but failed to get help with a $35 parking ticket which I got after waiting the mandatory 45 min + being switched to two different bankers.The meter was for one hour, I missed it minutes. They were very sympathetic but not financially forthcoming.
My only other dissapointment was a special project. I laid out $50 to open an account, was told that I could close it after 2/3 months , kept the acct open 'cause the bank was conveniently located, only to find out that my "free" account has been eaten up by their fees. Called informa who said call the bank, called the bank, got haughty cust reps, called informa who said that it was not their fault. Anybody else got stung by the bank?

Have had two similar experiences.

1) MSC required that a bank account be opened during the shop. Done. They promised future shops at the same bank, to include many teller shops. More than a year later, there have been no tellers shops ever offered. Occasionally, they will have an additional platform shop. The bank, however, required a certain activity level to maintain the "free" account. Had the MSC kept their word, this would not have been a problem. This bank (according to the MSC) was suppose to waive all fees/requirements. In the end, closed the bank account.

2) MSC suggested a bank account be opened during the shop. Done. They offer teller shops to "qualified" shoppers --- meaning you have to have an open account at the bank to be eligible for teller shops. Scheduler confirmed that I am a "qualified" shopper, but can't seem to understand why the teller shops are not visible to myself or several other "qualified" shoppers. This bank requires a certain activity level as well. It's getting old, maintaining this account to be "free". This bank (according to the MSC) was suppose to waive all fees/requirements. I think I will be closing this account out soon too.

It happens.

ijk: informa does offer their shops by email through scheduler to their regular shoppers. Many shops are not visible to all shoppers. I have found that is their policy.

I have opened several bank shops for informa and had no problems.

As far as the bonus is concerned, after you complete the five bank shops, you must notify your scheduler.

Thanks Kittybratt.

Informa was not the MS companies being referred to in the email regarding bank shops. Sorry if that was confusing.

My personal experiences with Informa is that they honor their word and pay. They had actually made a mistake on my paycheck, realized it after they had mailed it, and quickly sent another check with a note. (Thanks Informa!)

I too have never had any problems with informa (only that one bank) and not because I'm terrific but because they are.
I'll risk the putdown and share: I actually got a phone call from an informa VIP, not the scheduler, not the bookeeper, a higher up asking me the details of a shop. After a discussion we agreed that I would only do drive ups as I had been strongly suspected of being an evaluator.There was no hysteria, no two month delay, no looking for a paycheck & discovering that it ain't coming 'cause the shop's been rejected etc. etc.It was done so soon after the shop that I still remembered it and without that pedantic tone which is such a turn off.
Informa seems to understand that they are the brains and shoppers' the heart of this partnership; unless we pump they ain't gittin no blood.

Hmmm. That is definitely a change. I got an email that I could no longer shop a particular client because I had been identified at the branch. I asked if I could still do the phone shops and got a negative on that as well. I quickly closed out my account and rarely see anything else either.

Phone shops, what phone shops? Why those nahstee so & sos ! Seriously, I'm dissapointed to hear that. What was given as a reason?
Some of the acct. managers do hold stuff back & I've gotten offers for cities fifteen miles away but out of state, requiring $8-$9 worth of tolls & not the bank in the next town. Those mgrs., I've noticed, don't last long. They're probably so brilliant that they've outshined Informa.

"It was the client's decision that you can no longer shop them." I truly expected to be IDed on a shop in the branch and did them for several years. The scenario screamed "SHOPPER!" and most of the time I was the only 'customer' in the branch (and this goes for all 8 or so branches in my area). Most of the time the branch personnel performed their circus tricks so well I suspected they had made me as a shopper. It was the visit when they miserably failed to perform (new teller didn't recognize the shopper?) that I got nailed as "the shopper", probably because part of the requirement was a teller visit with a transaction on my account. And I suspect there were darn few in person transactions with the tellers the day of my visit and fewer still customers who also visited with a platform person. So you wouldn't need to be a genius to remember that Mrs. Jones did a deposit and visited with the platform. They IDed me by name, not by physical description.

OK, but then why no phone shops? Were the calls to the same client, who has your name, is that why ? Do you think they post your name in the call center?

I sometimes wish they would put on a show. I once did a shop that I was psyched about: my second one for the same client, within 5 miles, $20 for a familiar & reasonable report, got a ten the first time, needed to make a purchase- no problem. Damned if I could find even one associate to interact with, there were cashiers, cust. service staff or manager types rushing down the main aisle ( a no no, per the guidelines). I stood, sat, walked, waited and was ready to brake dance.Bottom line: the report was rejected because there was no interaction & so 3+ hours were wasted. I still feel the client should know what occured but who am I ?. How else can the client achieve better, new & improved customer service ? The MS co, gave me a 1 resulting in a 5.5 av., and, I paraphrase, wrote me that my mission was to interact with an associate, "if only I could have found one" I lamented. After several e-mails, I took the MS co off my list lest I be tempted to write a dog and pony show rather than actual observations based in reality. I abhor and regret waste of time.
Maybe that's what happened to you: the bankers got teed off 'cause they messed up and to retaliate blew your ID. Vindictive employees and stupid clients who invite mediocrity and bad service in this competitive market place. But that should be the worst to happen to us. Happy shopping! Marija

marijaldm Wrote:
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> OK, but then why no phone shops? Were the calls to
> the same client, who has your name, is that why ?
> Do you think they post your name in the call
> center?

It strikes me as absurd. I always use an alias on phone shops anyway.

I recently did some of their call center shops for another client, so it isn't like I have been deactivated or terminated. But they have sure dropped off my list of 'favorite companies', which is too bad because they certainly spent a year or two on the 'favorite' list.

Even If the shop requires that you have an account and ask for your balance?

Obviously that you cannot do anonymously. But the phone shops I did were usually inquiries about other services where the information could be given to a customer or a non-customer.

When is informa research payday pls?

Informa asks that you allow up to six weeks for a pay check. However I've never waited more than three and usually get a paycheck within two.

Just keep your e-mails with the bonus info.

Good News: today I noticed more progress from Informa: Spell Check & a note indicating bonus amount and granting author.

Big Problem with Informa, Canceled my account with them because I could not get payment..



AustinMom Wrote:
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> Anyone else having trouble getting paid for bonus
> shops with Informa Research? I've done a bunch of
> Informa bank platform shops at $15/each. I used
> to do 3 or 4 a day, but then the bank specified
> that only one shop could be done per day, it got
> to be less profitable so I don't do as many.
> Apparently a lot of shoppers feel the same,
> because Informa is having to bonus a number of
> banks shops every month. The problem is not
> getting paid the $15 for the shop, it's getting
> the promised $10 bonus. I never seem to get all
> the money owed me when I do bonused shops.
> Informa has an unusual payment accounting system.
> In February I did 5 bonused shops ($15 + $10),
> within a 5-day period. They also offer another
> $10 bonus if you do 5 bank shops, so I was owed a
> total of $135. They pay for everything
> separately. I received 3 checks: one for $45 for
> 3 shops, one for $30 for 2 shops, and one for $30
> for the bonus on 3 shops. Didn't receive the $10
> bonus for the other 2, nor the $10 bonus for doing
> 5 shops. You have to e-mail the scheduler after
> doing the shop to "remind" her to put you in for
> the bonus. Then you have to keep track of what
> you have and haven't been paid for, and you have
> to go back and beg for your money. This is the
> last time on this one. Be careful with Informa -
> I haven't had problems getting paid for shops but
> if you accept a couple of bonused shops, you may
> get paid for the shop but stiffed on one or more
> of the bonuses.

Dear bobjw,

Sorry you're having this problem especially with one of my favorite MSC. That stinks!
I've learned from past difficulties to ask for, print and keep e-mails re. bonuses. More than once I've had to send them to Tanya in accounting. I'm not crazy about the extra record keeping such as "reminding" the bank (with the blue stop sign looking logo) field rep to effect my bonus but I've overcome my annoyance and put those bank numbers in there & keep a copy of that e-mail as well. That's the reason I'm exited about the notes included on the log and hope that Tanya sees those.
Can you talk about it or are you still seething? I'd/we'd love to learn from your experience.
As far as shops needing to be bonused, it may be because they've "adjusted" the number that can be done or delayed putting the assignments out there and then poof a hurricane blows dem shoppers away necessitating higher payments.