I did a bank shop for a certain company. I did other types of mystery shop work for them previously, so they called and asked if I would be interested in trying out a bank shop. I was told I only had to make a platform inquiry about opening a checking account, but was under no obligation to actually open one. However, I was told, if I did there would be a bonus. I did actually end up opening a checking account while there, and indicated so in my report.

When I received payment, I was only paid on the platform shop itself. I pointed out that I did not receive the bonus offered. I was informed that was indeed correct. The reasoning was that it was a "platform shop" and not a "teller shop", and the bonus mentioned to me would apply to me when I did an actual teller shop in the future. Now that is total horse stuff. I am sure they billed the client immediately for me opening the account, whether I ever worked for them again or not. Who is to say I would ever do another shop for them? And why would they not disclose these conditions to me when making the offer? I am sure the client would not be happy to know they are throwing in undisclosed contingencies to get out of paying their shoppers!

I see e-mails for the same bank/inquiry scenarios, and they always state that a bonus is available for opening an account. It does not indicate conditions or future payments. Has anyone else ever had a promised bonus "deferred?" Were you informed up front? Thanks.

Did you open the account through the banker or with a teller?

But I would look at it as a win-win. You're now eligible to do teller shops and will get the bonus when you do the first one...Yes?

Do you still have the email that offered the shop? If it states "You will be given a bonus for opening an account." then they indeed are full of horse stuff. I have done many platform shops where a bonus was offered for opening an account and never heard anything about the bonus being deferred. Go back and read the email offering the shop carefully as well as any other documentation you were provided. It is just possible that they explained or mentioned a deferred bonus, but if not, I would ask that they show me any place where it was mentioned that the bonus was deferred, not merely contingent on opening the account.

You don't mention the amount of the bonus you were offered.

In the communication back and forth between you and the scheduler, did you agree to open an account? Did the scheduler respond and actually name a dollar amount for a bonus? Or did you just figure you would receive some undefined bonus based on the statement "you are not required to open an account, but if you do, I can pay a bonus....?" So you opened the account, put it into the report, and waited for some extra bonus money to arrive? If there was no discussion of dollar bonus amount, there was no agreement.

Was this a KSS scheduler scheduling bank shops for Reality Based? If so, this is not an unusual situation. The teller shops for this bank are very unpopular and they have difficulty getting them shopped every month. The KSS scheduler sends constant begging e-mails for someone to do the teller shops. There are frequent begging e-mails when she schedules the platform shops, saying you don't have to open an account but there will be a bonus if you do.

She gets around paying the bonuses because, unless you contact her in advance, before you do the shop, AND you tell her in advance you will open an account AND you agree on a $ figure bonus, there will be no bonus. And if forced to pay, the bonus is likely $5.

I opened with a "Personal Banking Representative" (not a teller)

Well, that was the way they tried to play it off--what they did mention was that the advantage of opening the account was that they were always in need of shoppers who were customers. Which is a great opportunity. But for any jobs I do, if there is a bonus on something I do, the scheduler does not say, "Oh by the way, if you ever feel like doing something kind of related to this for us some day we'll give you that bonus we discussed!"

No, this person was actually someone in charge of the project for the mystery shop company. He called me and asked if I would be interested. Honestly I did not even inquire on an amount when he mentioned a bonus. I just remember that I got emails like every other day for these shops and recall reading there was some sort of a bonus involved. for opening the account. Plus I felt that this company has integrity and seems to be well-respected in the industry, so I figured they were reasonable and fair about those issues.