I've been doing trailer checks for Market Force for a long time, several years. I plan my schedule around having Fridays available to do movie trailer checks. I quit doing the open checking awhile ago because they reduced the pay amount to a point where it was ridiculous to tie myself up like that for an entire weekend. But I've always enjoyed doing the trailer checks, even though the pay is low, it's a low pressure, relaxing day.

last weekend I had an SVAC ad check scheduled in a small town not too far from me. Only 9 screens and they wanted the ads checked on each screen. Because of very poor scheduling at the theater, many of the screens started movies at the same time, so I brought my son to help. He's 31, not a child.

I followed the instructions, as always, I gave the man that claimed he was the manager the introduction letter. And asked for a door schedule. I explained to him what I was supposed to do and explained that I brought my son because of the way the movies are scheduled, I need an extra body because after 55 years I still have not learned how to be in two places at once.

I had done 3 screens. My son had done 3 screens, but not written anything down on the forms I had given him. I talked and joked with one of the ushers when he came in to clean while I was waiting during the required 30 minutes before the scheduled movie time. We only had 3 more screens to do, but none of them were going to be ready for another hour or more. My son came to get me because the owner was ranting and refusing to sign the papers. I had no idea what he was talking about so I went to the lobby to find out what was wrong.

Apparently the "manager" called the owner to come because he "used to be a checker" and he thought it was suspicious that I brought help, even though I explained why when I first arrived. The owner was ranting and on the phone with someone (not market force) saying that he's been compliant for 16 years and why are they checking on him. He told me that he won't sign any papers no matter what, and he doesn't know what I'm checking for and I'm not going to find what I'm looking for so I might as well leave. He told the person on the phone that I was going in and watching the movies which I was NOT. And that I didn't buy a ticket, which I wasn't supposed to.

Anyway, long story short, the woman on the phone from Market Force told me that he didn't have to sign anything to just put in the thing that the manager refused. So I did. I didn't try to sign back in to Market Force until today, because I was working on my schedule for the week. I went to sign on and it says that I've been deactivated.

I've only ever had ONE problem with ONE theater.. this one. And now I'm deactivated?

I know I shouldn't be upset, it's not like I'm losing a significant amount of money, but it was a job that I enjoyed doing. Actually, since I moved to Alabama the movie trailers barely cover the gas it takes to get to the theaters. So I should probably be relieved..

Try calling MF again. The theatrical folks have generally been pretty good to me even when there have been problems in the past.

That's horrendous!

Write an email to the helpdesk and ask if you have been deactivated permanently. Be very professional, obviously, and only ask that. Wait a week and then call the help line if you don't hear from them. You should hear from them though.

If you are deactivated at Market Force, you can sign up with their other site, certifiedfieldassociate.com. They do some movie checks.

@catgrannyof5 wrote:

If you are deactivated at Market Force, you can sign up with their other site, certifiedfieldassociate.com. They do some movie checks.

FYI, he's saying the CFA side deactivated him.

op try veritas I hear they pay better and they do trailor checks

They do...but scheduling is a real pain and they want a lot more information.

I like VeriTES enough, though I don't find they pay more than CFA, just structured differently. It is really nice when you can arrange to be at the theatre for both companies.

@Kakita987 wrote:

I like VeriTES enough, though I don't find they pay more than CFA, just structured differently. It is really nice when you can arrange to be at the theatre for both companies.

Also true, though that means keeping a lot of different paperwork straight as they have very different requirements

I do find that VeriTes has a higher base pay for their trailer checks. However, I don't do their checks unless I have some other jobs in the area because the pay is still low. If I can be in the same theater at the same time for Marketforce, then great. The combined base pay of the two jobs at the same time is about the minimum I'll work for. I also find that if you wait, Marketforce does add bonuses to their trailer checks to make it worth the drive. I have only seen VeriTes offer a bonus once in the two years I have been on their checker list.

I do ask my scheduler for a small bonus as it is downtown and I would need to either bus or park downtown. I need to ask her every time, and it is barely above minimum wage then, but it is really easy so I don't mind too much. Do I want better pay? Of course but it does work for me this way too.