Photo of ID/Driver's LIcense requested for shop
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
No issue. Many of the bar integrity shops I've done over the years sometimes requests a scan of the ID of the person under 30 years old or whatever their criteria is.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
I guess I am just a little leery since I had my identity stolen about 12 years ago and it took four years to completely get it all cleaned up....We don't "know" these MSC's...not really, and putting your name, ssn, photo, and other data out there just seems to be an invitation to get hacked.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2019 06:36PM by winemaker.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2019 06:36PM by winemaker.
One Canadian company requests that but says it is okay to black out any information that is personal. They want it in case a client disputes that the shopper went there. They have a picture to point out the shopper. I would not provide my DL either unless I black out info. I also have never worked with a mystery shop company that has asked for my SIN. No way, no how!
@Whatfun14LF wrote:
One Canadian company requests that but says it is okay to black out any information that is personal. They want it in case a client disputes that the shopper went there. They have a picture to point out the shopper. I would not provide my DL either unless I black out info. I also have never worked with a mystery shop company that has asked for my SIN. No way, no how!
SIN? Or SSN?
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
"I would not provide my DL either unless I black out info. I also have never worked with a mystery shop company that has asked for my SIN. No way, no how!"
Then I guess you don't make more than $600 with any mystery shopping company if you are in the US since the MS companies are required by law to report your earnings over $600 with your SS # to the IRS and give you a 1099.
Then I guess you don't make more than $600 with any mystery shopping company if you are in the US since the MS companies are required by law to report your earnings over $600 with your SS # to the IRS and give you a 1099.
From Canada. SIN = Social Insurance Number. U.S. companies exempt us from providing tax info. So, I make more than $600.
@Whatfun14LF wrote:
From Canada. SIN = Social Insurance Number. U.S. companies exempt us from providing tax info. So, I make more than $600.
Makes sense now. Most of us are in the US, I'm assuming.... Out here, our incomes are tracked closely, whether via our SSN (Social Security Number) and/or by our proxies, known as EIN's (Employment Identification Numbers).
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2019 09:38PM by Tarantado.
A bit of a different viewpoint, I am a scheduler. We ask for a copy of a drivers license before a shopper does an apartment shop. Also, you have to provide a copy of your license when you show up for the tour. The apartment communities require this for the safety of their leasing agents. We require a picture of the license to cut down on fraudulent shoppers and to compare with the apartment communities if they need the info. You would be surprised what people will do to try to get away with a shop.
Not surprised at all I dealt with people claiming to be at stores when merchandising and claiming hours their when all they may have done was drive by the store. We started requiring that they get a managers signature and send us a photo of it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2019 09:14AM by 2stepps.
@Shadow_Beth wrote:
A bit of a different viewpoint, I am a scheduler. We ask for a copy of a drivers license before a shopper does an apartment shop. Also, you have to provide a copy of your license when you show up for the tour. The apartment communities require this for the safety of their leasing agents. We require a picture of the license to cut down on fraudulent shoppers and to compare with the apartment communities if they need the info. You would be surprised what people will do to try to get away with a shop.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2019 09:14AM by 2stepps.
This is common for alcohol compliance shops. They are often taken extra seriously, so it's extra important for them to verify that you are in the required age range. As mentioned above, they almost always say you can black out your address, SSN, etc. They are mainly focused on your name and DOB.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2019 09:48AM by RedRose22.
Happily shopping the Pacific Northwest. Shopping since 2013 
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2019 09:48AM by RedRose22.
.@RedRose22 wrote:
This is common for alcohol compliance shops. They are often taken extra seriously, so it's extra important for them to verify that you are in the required age range. As mentioned above, they almost always say you can black out your address, SSN, etc. They are mainly focused on your name and DOB.
All of which any company you are signed up with all ready has so I am not sure why people consider it a security threat to provide their DL to a company as well.
Liz
I can understand requiring the ID the alcohol compliance shops and the video apartment shops (where the shopper is one-on-one with the client agent). But for me at least, and i think - for all of us - the risk vs. reward of mystery shopping is already on the edge....the time involved is significant, and makes (at least here in California) the compensation reward dicey sometimes. Adding to the risk is one's identity exposure...it just bugs me, that's all. If I was compensated more for the jobs, I probably would readily supply my photo ID...but, as the compensation is fairly low, that risk presents a question.
The social security requirement in the US has nothing to do with whether you earn $600 or not. That rule is an IRS rule allowing the msc to only send a 1099 if you earn over $600. You need to report all your earnings to the IRS unless your income is so low (and that is quite low) that you do not need to file. Most, if not all, of the companies I work for will not send your check/auto payment until you provide them with a soc sec number. I know this thread was about drivers license but one of you mentioned the $600 so I wanted to clarify.
A driver's license contains your address, date of birth, and driver's license number. That's too personal to share with dozens of companies. It only takes one of them to get hacked. I don't give out my SSN to MSCs; I provide an EIN.
This is an honest question - most people's address, name and date of birth can be found online without much effort, so what does the additional part of the DL number give someone? I don't really recall needing to give my DL number for something like a credit card or financial? I guess someone could create a fake ID but it wouldn't match your social. What am I missing here?
It gives someone more of an ability to successfully steal your identity. DL #s are associated with at a minimum auto insurance, criminal and driving records, banking, past addresses, etc. etc. Your physical characteristics are there too. You may not think you needed to give it to open a bank account, but they requested your ID, no? If you have ever completed an apartment or auto test drive shop, the establishment requests your DL. Someone there who was hell bent on getting a new identity would have a wealth of info if they knew a less than upstanding employee of the DMV.
.....therefore I refuse to work for Red Quanta......
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Hi, Im from Canada too and new at this. How do we claim the money for tax purposes if it comes from an american company? (Do we need to file with the US?)
I would check into work visa laws..... I have no idea what they are, but I do know that if you earn money in a country other than your own, at some point (some income level?), you need to apply for a work visa in that country. Part of doing so should get you acquainted with the appropriate tax laws.
@hamiton wrote:
Hi, Im from Canada too and new at this. How do we claim the money for tax purposes if it comes from an american company? (Do we need to file with the US?)
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I don't do any work in the US, but some companies pay me in US funds for work I do in Canada.
I don't need a work visa to work here. So all the money I earn from Canadian and American companies is added to my income here in Canada. It seems a bit odd, but I have not found anyone to tell me how I really should handle it.
I don't need a work visa to work here. So all the money I earn from Canadian and American companies is added to my income here in Canada. It seems a bit odd, but I have not found anyone to tell me how I really should handle it.
@MFJohnston wrote:
I would check into work visa laws..... I have no idea what they are, but I do know that if you earn money in a country other than your own, at some point (some income level?), you need to apply for a work visa in that country. Part of doing so should get you acquainted with the appropriate tax laws.
@hamiton wrote:
Hi, Im from Canada too and new at this. How do we claim the money for tax purposes if it comes from an american company? (Do we need to file with the US?)
I live in the US and do work for a Canadian company. I still report it as income.
Exactly what I do. Just seems odd to report American income as Canadian.
@iagal wrote:
I live in the US and do work for a Canadian company. I still report it as income.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.