Anybody notice that Regal has some Las Vegas assignments for November? I didn't know they shopped Vegas. Any of you that do shops in Vegas and are going to the IMSC conference might want to look into that.

I didn't know that Regal was licensed in NV......

I prefer to work under a huge licensed PI firm as they get many more jobs. Paper work for just one company is a hassle.

I have not seen that Regal has a PI license in NV. I suspect that they are running their NV shops under the auspices of one of the 4-5 MSCs that are licensed there. Those shops are SUPPOSED to only show up on the job boards of the licensed entity, according to what the folks from NVPILB told us at the last LV IMSC conference. (Nov 2016). I also do know that there were proposals in the NV legislature to tweak some of the provisions of their PI laws but the tweaks discussed did not appear to extend beyond clarifying minimum wage laws as they would pertain to MS work in the state.

@bgriffin wrote:

I didn't know that Regal was licensed in NV......

It's my understanding that they are not and would like shoppers to do their shops anyway.

what’s the worst that can happen?

For an MSC to operate in NV but not through one of the NV licensed firms? All hell would break loose because the few licensed firms would most certainly insist that the NV PI Licensing Board board swoop down so fast it would make your head spin. Do not mess with those folks or their backers in the legislature or the whole (not just MSC) PI licensee community in NV.

Who would take the brunt of the abuse, though, ya or Regal?

Regal, since the penalties for the MSC are much greater than for the shopper. And the MSC has more to lose than an individual shopper. Operating a PI business (Which is what MS is in NV) without a PI license, is a pretty serious offense. Getting duped into working for such a business, not so much.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2017 02:28PM by walesmaven.

Is there any chance they may now be licensed?

I am in the process of trying to find out.

That's just completely weird, right? Why would they subject themselves to almost certain legal trouble in order to fill a few shops? And the clients, don't they know any better?

The clients are often totally unaware of the issue! I just had to help one to understand how to "get legal" in NV. They were in shock!

But Regal has been doing hospitality shops for long enough to know better. That's what is confusing.

@walesmaven wrote:

All hell would break loose because the few licensed firms would most certainly insist that the NV PI Licensing Board board swoop down so fast it would make your head spin.

You may be overestimating the swiftness of a governmental agency.....

That said, I think many of the smaller MSC's who venture into a few shops here/there in NV do so unnoticed. Part of the ease of that is the mystery component. How do you prove that someone is a mystery shopper? You would need access to the communications between the shopper and the MSC, or the MSC and the client, and that's generally something beyond the scope of the PILB to collect.

Putting the shops up on a job board for all shoppers to see is probably the biggest mistake in this case. It started a thread here, which in turn has people asking questions, which I expect would result in a call to the MSC in question at some point and the shops no longer being listed. Do we then know if they were truly removed or just assigned another way?...no.

Can you imagine the kind of resources it would take for a governmental agency and small group of independent PI's to monitor every business in the sate in order to be sure they were not conducting illegal MS activities? Yes; it would be difficult to maintain a MS program for a major fast food restaurant covertly, but a few selected shops annually?...probably not.

I think that you may underestimate how much the MSCs that hold NV PI licenses keep an eye on the competition.

@walesmaven wrote:

I think that you may underestimate how much the MSCs that hold NV PI licenses keep an eye on the competition.

Agreed that they may insist on an immediate swooping. The likelihood of that happening as fast as desired is what I was questioning.

I have been deeply involved in the workings of the NV MS industry in the past, so I know the tenacity of the licensees well. That's a big part of why I'm no longer interested in working there....

Actually, according to the PILB head at the IMSC conference a few years ago, the shopper is the one that bears the most punishment. They have no legal jurisdiction over a transaction that takes place outside of Nevada with a company with no Nevada presence. Their only recourse is to fine the shopper, and if I'm not mistaken the fine starts at $1000 for the first offense.

There are other ways to penalize the MSC.

...and that gets me back to my previous point; One gets the impression after spending some time with those operating in NV that those "other ways" are sometimes a throwback to the old mafioso days of Vegas.

The system in NV is really set up to do something right (offer shoppers worker protection while ensuring the shopper background & qualifications for clients), and then gets it so wrong. It ends up putting the pricing power into the hands of a few select MSCs that may minimally raise shopper fees while taking a large chunk for themselves. The price for clients to have shops done in NV is staggering compared to other locations, but that profit is not really passed on to shoppers. It generally goes to a third party who inserts themselves into the process and then tenaciously protects their territory, and the local shopper pool suffers for it. The PILB and NV MSCs are so happy to have non-Nevada resident shoppers available because it does nothing but make them look better and justify their operation. That's why they welcome you with open arms at the conferences and are so happy to sponsor them.

It's no wonder that companies try to skirt the system. If there's no reversal for a hotel shop, how do you think an agency would know that a hotel has even been shopped, who the shopper is, or have any authority to fine them if they do not reside in NV and are not a registered shopper there?

What about the shoppers who obtained a license to shop in LV? I'm not one but many shoppers who attended the IMSC conferences in LV were encouraged to work in LV..

@walesmaven wrote:

I think that you may underestimate how much the MSCs that hold NV PI licenses keep an eye on the competition.

Hardly. Regal has had shops in NV for over a year that I know about. They aren't that swift if they (other MSC's) are just finding out now. I don't even shop for Regal, but once in a blue moon. I knew that they were doing this. I thought that everybody knew?

@cubbiecat wrote:

What about the shoppers who obtained a license to shop in LV?

Are you asking if they'd be subject to fines for working with an unregistered MSC?

Yes, any shopper would be subject to the fine. The question is more about how to prove that someone is a shopper. I think we are all pretty adept at denying it. My concern would be having the right to work suspended.

Seems a bit dangerous to recommend companies when you don't know the inside makings of working in Vegas.
We usually don't just sign for a job with an MSC because they posted a job...so much more to know and you need a PI company backing you. Thank goodness Steve and Wales and those involved have shed so much good advice with us. I was with the largest PI company having gone to them in Vegas, watched their video and signed. after getting work card, etc., they then send you jobs. Both Regal and ACL are two I wouldn't bother working for in Vegas.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2017 03:54PM by Irene_L.A..

@JASFLALMT wrote:

...might want to look into that.

That was hardly a recommendation. Yes, good thing that others appear to be looking into it.

I have been told by a reliable source that, according to NV PILB, Regal is not licensed in NV. So, which of the licensed NV MSCs do they work through there?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2017 04:06PM by walesmaven.

@walesmaven wrote:

I have been told by a reliable source that, according to NV PILB, Regal is not licensed in NV. So, which of the licensed NV MSCs do they work through there?

I believe you, since Regal told me the same thing over a year ago when they suggested that I shop for them in NV.

I read it was 2500.00 fine for both the shopper and the company.

But since Regal is not in NV, can they really be forced to pay?

I thank everyone for their concern, it is very much appreciated. Regal Hospitality is aware of the laws in Nevada and we have taken the appropriate measures for our shops there. Thank you.