fyi

15th October 2010



Dear FreemanGroup Limited Service Shoppers,



As you may be aware, I have just been appointed President of FreemanGroup and my first priority was to complete a comprehensive review of how we record and pay our Limited Service Shoppers. As you can imagine I was unhappy with our internal performance, communication and also payment schedule.



I have been working for the last few weeks on a complete change to our practices. As a result of this, the following has been done:



· We will be settling our payments with you all in the coming 14 days (regardless of the payment schedule you may have been given from all shops prior to September 1st 2010)

· We have retrained the team that you work with to make them more responsive.

· We have redesigned the accounts system for recording to speed up our payments.

· We will be making set payments on Friday of each week beginning November 1st for the September 2010 payments due.

· We will be keeping to an 8 – 10 week payment schedule for all future shops.

· I have created an email address so that you can talk to me directly with any concerns that you might have going forward. - President@freemangroup.org



I am sorry that we have let you down and I wanted to assure all of you that we will be caught up with our payments by the end of October 2010 and then we will keep them current going forward.



James Hogg // FreemanGroup

This sounds good/promising of James. I wish them the best in getting the company turned around because I have enjoyed working with Freeman in the past. Did you get this as an email NorthTexas? I have done work on both their Prophet4 site and through their other arm of the business and received no such notification.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2010 09:29PM by Flash.

I as well hope things improve and Freeman is again a viable Company. Personal emails would be in order so people owed will know when to expect payment, not everyone read's the forum.

I was paid for 1 out of the 3 shops. I contacted him today. lets see how long it would take for them to get back to me.

I got paid for 3 shops today, done in May-June. One more left, done July 31. Promises looking good so far.

I was paid for my 5 shops that I did in May for Freeman + $5.00 per shop. Thanks Freeman!

Freeman shoppers on other forums are also reporting being brought up to date for shops done more than 2 months ago. Looks like Freeman is aiming for an 8 week schedule. If they can do 8-9 weeks that would be in line with what, e.g., Regal does for their hotel shops. I can live with that.

Yay...I received payment for my final shop, conducted July 31 today. They also sent me an email with a $20 bonus for a shop in the middle of nowhere. I think I'll pass.

I'm happy for you...thanks for sharing and, will you continue to work for them?

Probably. We like to find "excuses" to go somewhere for a night to get away from the house and (at least the possibility of) a free hotel room makes it that much better. Lets just hope this improved accountability, attitude, whatever of Freeman is here to stay.


Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm happy for you...thanks for sharing and, will
> you continue to work for them?

I'm seeing mention of other parts of Freeman Group. Obviously the Prophet site is the limited service hotels. Does anyone know about the process for getting involved with other shops? I have high end hotel shop experience and would love to branch out with Freeman as well.

(No need to tell me what a risky company this is. I've done some shops for them in the past and know about the payment issues.)

northtexas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> fyi
>
> 15th October 2010
>
>
>
> Dear FreemanGroup Limited Service Shoppers,
>
>
>
> As you may be aware, I have just been appointed
> President of FreemanGroup and my first priority
> was to complete a comprehensive review of how we
> record and pay our Limited Service Shoppers. As
> you can imagine I was unhappy with our internal
> performance, communication and also payment
> schedule.
>
>
>
> I have been working for the last few weeks on a
> complete change to our practices. As a result of
> this, the following has been done:
>
>
>
> · We will be settling our payments with you all in
> the coming 14 days (regardless of the payment
> schedule you may have been given from all shops
> prior to September 1st 2010)
>
> · We have retrained the team that you work with to
> make them more responsive.
>
> · We have redesigned the accounts system for
> recording to speed up our payments.
>
> · We will be making set payments on Friday of each
> week beginning November 1st for the September 2010
> payments due.
>
> · We will be keeping to an 8 – 10 week payment
> schedule for all future shops.
>
> · I have created an email address so that you can
> talk to me directly with any concerns that you
> might have going forward. -
> President@freemangroup.org
>
>
>
> I am sorry that we have let you down and I wanted
> to assure all of you that we will be caught up
> with our payments by the end of October 2010 and
> then we will keep them current going forward.
>
>
>
> James Hogg // FreemanGroup

Is there a link to sign up to shop with them? I have looked at their site and cannot find a link.

[shopper.application.freemangroupsolutions.com]

Thanks Flash.

Most welcome. Just do be aware that there have been payment issues and although one would like to think they are resolved it is probably overall too early to tell.

I am entering in to the application with full understanding. Not sure I will do any work with them, but I live in such a rural area I like to have as many options as possible.

Understood. And I do truly HOPE that their pay cycle is back to functioning without demands needed.

I signed up with them over a year ago. I have been afraid to accept any shops. Perhaps things will turn around.

I don't see an answer to this...anyone have info on the higher end shops? I'd like to try them myself. Thanks


elynbeth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm seeing mention of other parts of Freeman
> Group. Obviously the Prophet site is the limited
> service hotels. Does anyone know about the process
> for getting involved with other shops? I have high
> end hotel shop experience and would love to branch
> out with Freeman as well.
>
> (No need to tell me what a risky company this is.
> I've done some shops for them in the past and know
> about the payment issues.)

I don't know how it is handled now, or even if they are still doing them. Back when I was doing time it was pretty much an invitation only deal as referrals were from their existing shoppers in the program. Basic requirements were the ability to write well, observe well, be free and willing to travel, a current passport and very high limit credit cards. Since they needed folks to travel inconspicuously to high end places they were generally looking for advanced education and high income/personal assets. While generally I got a kick out of doing the jobs, I found the report writing made it impossible to enjoy much more than the room, the meals and perhaps a spa treatment. The rest of the time I was writing the report. To realize you were 'at risk' for $3000 to $4000 on your credit card for a $100-$200 job was a little unnerving.