I am just venting. I understand that this is not going to serve any other purpose.

Over the past ten years that I have been a mystery shopper, I mostly have had success.

It is too bad that the majority of the opportunities that I come across pay so little as to not make them worthwhile. I understand that is a matter of opinion, but I consider myself to have value.

One of the companies that pay well is ath Power. I have done numerous successful evaluations for them.

I recently became eligible again for some of their projects. I applied but was not obtaining any assignments. I made several queries and was told to just keep applying.

Finally, one of the individuals advised me that I had been the subject of a "secret deactivation". Although my account shows a status of "active", I had been deactivated.

Apparently, it was the result of a payment dispute, and I had been considered as being "combative". I have copies of the email messages from that dispute, and I can testify that they are not combative. I merely requested being advised specifically why I was not going to be paid. I eventually was paid, but in retaliation, I suffered the "secret deactivation".

As a consequence, I wasted a lot of time applying for evaluations, taking tests, and setting aside days for shops that I never had a chance of obtaining.

I left phone messages and sent email messages to the principles of ath, but I did not receive a response.

It is my opinion that this practice is juvenile and vindictive. However, nothing is going to change if the heads of the company approve of such retribution.

Sincerely,

PS

I noticed that their executive profiles are no longer available online. At least, I just received an error message via ath.

I wonder what the purpose of a "secret" deactivation could be. Would it not be better for all concerned to let the shopper know he was deactivated? It looks like it would save the company time and effort no to have to wad through all the requests that will not be accepted.

This is very depressing to read. I'm glad somebody had the courage and integrity to finally tell you the truth.

I would speculate that the purpose of a secret deactivation is to prevent the deactivated shopper from creating a new profile and applying all over again

If the msc did that to you, it's plain wrong and unethical.

The only purpose I can think of is to be vindictive. If I had been advised about it, that would have been that. I am an independent contractor, and they can do whatever they like as far as their relationship to me.

And to be clear, "secret deactivation" was the term used by the person at ath Power who advised me about it. They even stated that they did not approve of the use of them, so apparently, it is something that was not unique to me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2018 10:09PM by jameschicago.

Then why have it be secret? Why not just deactivate me so I know it? I cannot make up social security numbers, names, bank accounts etc.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2018 10:11PM by jameschicago.

Yes, it is good. They even asked a supervisor if they could reactivate it on their end, but they were told no. I thanked them for their effort.

Who's your scheduler? Have you considered writing a formal letter to an owner enclosing the documentation you have and an explanation?

I left phone messages for the three individuals listed on their executive management page. I also emailed them. I allowed for several weeks, but I did not receive a response. Today, I discovered that the "executive management" page can no longer be found. Seriously.

Wow that's bonkers.

I'm a member of a few facebook groups. I'll see if I can't get you a point of contact. No promises. I'm a member of the IMSC and if they are a member company too I can likely get you an email for someone who will reply.

No promises though!

Ath is not the only company that does not tell shoppers when it deactivates them. I have always thought that the reason a company does not tell a shopper when it deactivates them is that they don't want to explain why, argue with the shopper, or discuss or negotiate with the shopper. It's over. They don't want the shopper anymore. They don't plan to change their mind so they see no reason to explain or discuss. Or ..... it could be that they are "taking a break" from the shopper and they think they might change their mind and want the shopper again someday so they don't tell him he's deactivated. Who knows?

@jameschicago wrote:

Then why have it be secret? Why not just deactivate me so I know it? I cannot make up social security numbers, names, bank accounts etc.

Companies have to deal with people making up fake information all the time in order to get back onto their website

deleted

Thank you, I appreciate that. I left phone messages via the three executives listed on the executive management pages. I used their direct lines and I also sent them email messages. They did not respond. I am avoiding naming names. And, the executive management page is no longer available. I am not joking.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2018 12:04AM by jameschicago.

No dice on IMSC, they are not a member company.

You could try reaching out through the MSPA.

@roflwofl wrote:

Ath is not the only company that does not tell shoppers when it deactivates them. I have always thought that the reason a company does not tell a shopper when it deactivates them is that they don't want to explain why, argue with the shopper, or discuss or negotiate with the shopper. It's over. They don't want the shopper anymore. They don't plan to change their mind so they see no reason to explain or discuss. Or ..... it could be that they are "taking a break" from the shopper and they think they might change their mind and want the shopper again someday so they don't tell him he's deactivated. Who knows?

There is no good reason for them to do that. As I stated, I wasted time applying for evaluations, taking tests, and leaving days open for shops that there was no way I was going to obtain.

All they have to do is advise a shopper that they have been deactivated and then ignore them.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2018 12:13AM by jameschicago.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@jameschicago wrote:

Then why have it be secret? Why not just deactivate me so I know it? I cannot make up social security numbers, names, bank accounts etc.

Companies have to deal with people making up fake information all the time in order to get back onto their website

So, people create new bank accounts or Pay Pal accounts, and home addresses? Some companies want a copy of the DL.

Well, even before I found out about the secret deactivation, I could have conjured up fake accounts so I could have done the shops more frequently, rather than having to wait six months etc. The thought of doing that never occurred to me.

If you decide to reach out through MSPA, Richard Bradley, who is COO of ath, is the Chairman of MSPA's Global Board of Directors. Go here if you want to see his bio and the other board members: [www.mspa-global.org]

There is also an email link that you can use to send him an email directly through the MSPA webpage.

I am not sure what you hope to accomplish by contacting them over and over? Re-activation? An apology? The company to agree they will stop with “secret deactivations?”

I highly doubt you will get any of those things. You may even shoot yourself in the foot if this company/schedulers tell others to drop you because of all this. Your best best is probably to let it go and move on.

The exact same situation exists with me. Several years ago, I completed a shop requiring the opening of an account with a bank. After the completion, though, ath informed me that, due to a scheduler error, I would not be paid, as an unacceptable account had inadvertently been placed on the list from which to choose; I replied attempting to explain that was not my error. After ath still refused payment, I sent an E-letter that if I did not receive my money, I would seek the assistance of my new bank, their client, to resolve the issue. I not only immediately received my fee but was placed in the identical limbo as James, where I remain to this day. That's business! I have not the slightest regret and were such a problem to surface today, but with the fore knowledge of the outcome, my actions would be identical.

Three weeks after a shop I get a question on my submission. They asked why a confirmation email from a bank employee had my last name as "NA" and to please explain the connection between my real last name and "NA". The reviewer must be an idiot. Obviously it stands for "Not Applicable", as the banker only asked for my first name.

It happened to me with Sentry and I didn't know why until I asked why I was no longer getting any shops I had applied for. It's a pity because I would not have known there was anything wrong unless I had asked and someone finally told me. I asked if I could appeal and I was told no, it was a done deal. It all arose when I got frustrated about a payment that I could not find any information about or get a response from anyone that wasn't canned and obviously automatic.for over 3 weeks and when I sent an email to them saying that it was unacceptable to not hear anything in response to numerous inquiries and well after the deadline for payment had passed, I finally geta a reply that the person who did payments had been out and had missed seeing my invoice. I was paid quickly for all my shops completed . Then I was apparently deactivated because they found issue with my performance when they had not before. . I still see their shops and have a profile on their website but I don't apply any more. It seemed rather unprofessional because while they didn't have a while lot of shops, I was one of the reliable ones in my area and even would travel to pick them up if it wasn't too far.

I am sorry to hear that you have been deactivated. I have shopped for ATH for 10 years and must say that for me they are the best. My schedulers in my area are great, all of them. If the editor has a questions I always answer and make the correct changes in my report if necessary. I have made mistakes and have not been paid a few times, as much as I don't like it, they have been right, my bad.
Sometimes in this business, as you all know, things happen that we don't like. I do think that you should have been told that you were deactivated.

@roflwofl wrote:

If you decide to reach out through MSPA, Richard Bradley, who is COO of ath, is the Chairman of MSPA's Global Board of Directors. Go here if you want to see his bio and the other board members: [www.mspa-global.org]

There is also an email link that you can use to send him an email directly through the MSPA webpage.

Richard Bradley is one of the people to whom I emailed and for whom I left phone messages. He did not respond. Neither did the founder, Mr. Aloi or the next in line, Ms. Saladini. I had their direct phone lines and email addresses at ath Power. By the way, the executive management page is no longer available.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2018 05:49PM by jameschicago.

@roflwofl wrote:

Ath is not the only company that does not tell shoppers when it deactivates them. I have always thought that the reason a company does not tell a shopper when it deactivates them is that they don't want to explain why, argue with the shopper, or discuss or negotiate with the shopper. It's over. They don't want the shopper anymore. They don't plan to change their mind so they see no reason to explain or discuss. Or ..... it could be that they are "taking a break" from the shopper and they think they might change their mind and want the shopper again someday so they don't tell him he's deactivated. Who knows?

As I stated elsewhere, all they would have to do is ignore the shopper. They are not bound to independent contractors. "Taking a break from the shopper"? Then just advise the shopper of that.

Folks, you and I deserve better, don't we?

I think you got your answer. The non response shows you how much respect they have for you. Why would you bother to vent? I wouldn't give the deactivation another thought. Knowing the level of respect they hold for you, why would you want to continue working with them?

@Megs7521 wrote:

I am not sure what you hope to accomplish by contacting them over and over? Re-activation? An apology? The company to agree they will stop with “secret deactivations?”

I highly doubt you will get any of those things. You may even shoot yourself in the foot if this company/schedulers tell others to drop you because of all this. Your best best is probably to let it go and move on.

Well, I stated that I was just venting, and I hope that I do not appear to be combative, but I figured that somebody was going to make a comment that served no purpose other than to ridicule me. My " best best" is to ignore comments such as yours.

@jameschicago wrote:

@Megs7521 wrote:

I am not sure what you hope to accomplish by contacting them over and over? Re-activation? An apology? The company to agree they will stop with “secret deactivations?”

I highly doubt you will get any of those things. You may even shoot yourself in the foot if this company/schedulers tell others to drop you because of all this. Your best best is probably to let it go and move on.

Well, I stated that I was just venting, and I hope that I do not appear to be combative, but I figured that somebody was going to make a comment that served no purpose other than to ridicule me. My " best best" is to ignore comments such as yours.

I agree 100%. Sometimes when you expect too much...

Good luck, keep your chin up and have a great weekend!

I don't think Megs's intent was to put you down. I took her post to mean pretty much what mine said. I basically figure that if that's how they do things, then to hell with them. Don't waste time with them. There's plenty more MSCs around.

It's good that you posted and let us know another company that deactivates without notice. I'm keeping a list. So far I've got ath, QAMS, and Sentry. It's certainly their right to deactivate without notice. It's a shopper's choice who he works with and knowing this helps me make my choice.