HS BRANDS Payment delay
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@Suzy Shopper wrote:
KssPete,
Seriously, why would you advise us to accept shops from HSB, a company that consistently violates their written payment policy, signaling serious internal financial issues? I was finally paid FOUR months later, in spite of my calls to the payroll dept. Waiting four months to get paid is completely unacceptable in any industry. The fact is Mystery Shopping companies do go out of business. As competent, reliable shoppers we certainly have a right to alert other shoppers about any such disturbing, red flag practices.
There's a lot here to go back and see what I said. I believe that I stated that everyone would get paid, and they do. I understand it can be late at times, and I also believe I stated that it isn't acceptable for it to be late. There are several shoppers here that are okay with the written payment policy, and continue to do their shops (because they know they will be paid, as always). If I stated anywhere that it is okay for the MSC to be late with payments, which I don't believe I would ever say, then my apologies.
I also have no issue with shoppers letting others know that payments came late. My issue is when shoppers tell others to "BEWARE" of MSC's and claim they don't pay, when they in fact do pay (whether it's sometimes/often/always late, aside).
The only shops I advise shoppers to take are the ones I schedule and have some control over. But if you were to ask me if HS Brands is going to pay for the shop that you completed for them, my answer is a resounding yes. They have zero history of just not paying their shoppers.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2019 06:22PM by KSSPete.
KSSPete - nobody cared and nobody believes this "hot and run" shopper anyway.
Anyone who "works" for you knows that you are one of the BEST!
You are on 24/7 and have never done me wrong.
Happy and prosperous New Year to you and your family.
Anyone who "works" for you knows that you are one of the BEST!
You are on 24/7 and have never done me wrong.
Happy and prosperous New Year to you and your family.
@SoCalMama Thank you, and you are very much one of the best also! Happy New Year to you and your family as well!
No. What was the message you received from the CEO?
@chiffon cupcakes wrote:
When I emailed asking about payment, I got a message from the "CEO." Did anyone else get that too?
It is inconsiderate of and unacceptable for HS Brands to not inform shoppers about this issue that has been an ongoing problem since July 2019. HS Brands has let red flags fly and shown no concern for their shoppers. There is nothing wrong with shoppers, who have invested their money and time, expressing their doubts and concerns about a company that has been late with reimbursements and payments for almost six months while remaining silent.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2020 06:24PM by MSF.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2020 06:24PM by MSF.
Did my standing slip? I thought I was third to the GF and the dog?@KSSPete wrote:
@SoCalMama Thank you, and you are very much one of the best also! Happy New Year to you and your family as well!
Whatever man. I’m hitting all of those BFE locations for you anyway. XXOO
@SoCalMama wrote:
Did my standing slip? I thought I was third to the GF and the dog?@KSSPete wrote:
@SoCalMama Thank you, and you are very much one of the best also! Happy New Year to you and your family as well!
Whatever man. I’m hitting all of those BFE locations for you anyway. XXOO
You're third to my daughter and GF. The dog just did her business on the kitchen floor, so she dropped a few pegs LOL
Ah so I’ve moved up from 4th to 3rd. I’m good with that.
Your floor is safe with me. I can’t say the same for your whiskey. The forum knows I’m a big drinker.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2019 12:51AM by SoCalMama.
Your floor is safe with me. I can’t say the same for your whiskey. The forum knows I’m a big drinker.
@KSSPete wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
Did my standing slip? I thought I was third to the GF and the dog?@KSSPete wrote:
@SoCalMama Thank you, and you are very much one of the best also! Happy New Year to you and your family as well!
Whatever man. I’m hitting all of those BFE locations for you anyway. XXOO
You're third to my daughter and GF. The dog just did her business on the kitchen floor, so she dropped a few pegs LOL
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2019 12:51AM by SoCalMama.
@SoCalMama My whiskey is a dangerous place to go hahahahha!
@CoffeeQueen wrote:
I just got payment but I don't know what for. It was $10 so I'm guessing phone shops?
That's how HS operates. Surprise! Here's that check for the shop you did so long ago you forgot you did it and did not get paid. They are consistent. I always get paid months later. Surprise! It's always nice to get that "surprise payment." I keep doing their shops. I know the payment will get there eventually, and it feels like a little bonus check because the shop was done so long ago I don't even calculate in the budget.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2019 09:13AM by 1forum1.
I received payment for a Sept 6 shop on Dec 23. I received payment for an Oct 1 shop today.
I'm guessing you are not doing shops that require purchases and feeling like it's a bonus to get back your own money that you spent, months later.
@1forum1 wrote:
I know the payment will get there eventually, and it feels like a little bonus check because the shop was done so long ago I don't even calculate in the budget.
In your experience, if the shop says "Payment Pending" is it usually within a few days or still months? I have two outstanding shops with them from October and Nov. Both say "Payment Pending." One had a hefty reimbursement. Last time I shopped for them, they paid within a month, so I thought they improved their payment cycle from long ago which had always been a few months.
*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
I got paid today for a November 1 shop. I haven't done any shops with them that have a reimbursement, so I'm ok with it. I know what I'm signing up for when I sign up.
Shopping the South Jersey Shore
Jenny Cassada states-- I know what I'm signing up for when I sign up.
Bob Comments-THAT is the key. I have completed three jobs for SS this year, being paid in 47, 63 and 77 days; their terms work for me. It is, though, understandable if they do not for you. A very important point is that never in almost 14 years with the company, through 228 shops, have I either been shorted or have any recollection of reading any shopper claiming they were cheated out of their fees.
Bob Comments-THAT is the key. I have completed three jobs for SS this year, being paid in 47, 63 and 77 days; their terms work for me. It is, though, understandable if they do not for you. A very important point is that never in almost 14 years with the company, through 228 shops, have I either been shorted or have any recollection of reading any shopper claiming they were cheated out of their fees.
@MSF wrote:
I'm guessing you are not doing shops that require purchases and feeling like it's a bonus to get back your own money that you spent, months later.
@1forum1 wrote:
I know the payment will get there eventually, and it feels like a little bonus check because the shop was done so long ago I don't even calculate in the budget.
Most shops don't require purchases. However, I still consider it bonus because the money all comes and goes in the same mystery shopping bank account I have set aside. The account just grows, as I don't use the money for anything other than mystery shopping. So, when those HS payments arrive, whenever they arrive, it's just dropped in the account making it somewhat feel like a little bonus.
December 31st has come and gone and I have still not gotten paid for my early September shop. Payroll had told me I would have the pay and reimbursement by the end of December. I guess tomorrow will be contact them again day. I will give them a few days of benefit for the holiday. It is getting close to 4 months since I did that job. So why have some gotten paid for November already? That part I do not understand.
I am a full time shopper and have done several thousand shops for HSB. Most of them required me to make purchases. I have always received payment and reimbursement. I consider them a sound company.
Now there are a few companies that take 2 or more months to pay, and my solution is to limit the number of shops I do for them. When I do shops for a company that makes me wait more than 15 days to receive my pay, I treat it like taking a day off work. I can only take so many days off work each month, because my electric company will not wait for payment and I cannot wait that long to buy food, pay internet, etc.
Now there are a few companies that take 2 or more months to pay, and my solution is to limit the number of shops I do for them. When I do shops for a company that makes me wait more than 15 days to receive my pay, I treat it like taking a day off work. I can only take so many days off work each month, because my electric company will not wait for payment and I cannot wait that long to buy food, pay internet, etc.
@sandyf wrote:
So why have some gotten paid for November already? That part I do not understand.
I agree, this is confusing for me as well. I see that some regular/long term shoppers here don't seem to have any trouble getting prompt payment from HS brands. I'm not sure if it is because of their history with the company or maybe the particular clients/shops they are doing? In any case, there are clearly many other people responding to this thread who aren't getting paid until 3-4 months out and, in many cases, after the promised payment timeline in their contracts. The "WHY" part we don't know.
I sent a note to payroll and the reply was pay would be sent Jan. 6th. I replied with a nice note telling the payroll person I understand the holidays can be an issue and that I hope their payroll problems get fixed soon. I even wished her a Happy New Year. I got the exact response word for word as before. Now I think the Jan 6th thing had nothing to do with my individual query but was just a canned response. Well, at least I only have to wait 3 more days to find out.
Two words regarding this company: Expect Delay! If anyone has been working with this company for a year you know the pattern. Don't expect payment the next month after the shop. No need to write or call them. I have worked with them a lot this past year and my experience is that they always pay and they always pay several months later. Don't worry about it. Again, I accept the fact that is how they do business. So, I decide to continue to do business with them knowing to, expect delay.
@1forum1, perhaps not in your area, but most of this MSCs shops do require a purchase. Shoppers should expect to be paid and reimbursed within the MSCs stated timeframe that the shopper agreed to, not later than that. Would the MSC accept a shop report that is several weeks late?
The MSC says to contact them if payment/reimbursement is not received within their stated timeframe, and shoppers should do just that. If you paid your bills late, you would be notified and probably penalized with late fees. If you continued to do it, the businesses may stop providing their services to you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2020 02:20PM by MSF.
The MSC says to contact them if payment/reimbursement is not received within their stated timeframe, and shoppers should do just that. If you paid your bills late, you would be notified and probably penalized with late fees. If you continued to do it, the businesses may stop providing their services to you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2020 02:20PM by MSF.
Your thoughts are all well and good to those who expect pay the month after the job. In my case it has been four months....that is not a month,not two months and not even three months. This is unreasonable.
@1forum1 wrote:
Two words regarding this company: Expect Delay! If anyone has been working with this company for a year you know the pattern. Don't expect payment the next month after the shop. No need to write or call them.
I received payment today for shops completed in October. This is actually earlier than the 80 days after the last day of the month (75 plus 5 for "PayPal processing"
that they list on their website. So, thanks HS Brands?
that they list on their website. So, thanks HS Brands?
@sandyf wrote:
Your thoughts are all well and good to those who expect pay the month after the job. In my case it has been four months....that is not a month,not two months and not even three months. This is unreasonable.
@1forum1 wrote:
Two words regarding this company: Expect Delay! If anyone has been working with this company for a year you know the pattern. Don't expect payment the next month after the shop. No need to write or call them.
I agree with that. However, my point is that there is an established pattern with this company. If someone is aware of this pattern, then they can expect it when they do a shop for them. It took me a few jobs to completely understand this, but it is what it is and I accept the job knowing that I am not getting one red cent for about 3 months. Additionally, the company states in their terms "payments are submitted to PayPal or direct deposit approximately 75 days after the last day of the month in which the project was completed." So, depending on when the job was completed, you can expect to wait a minimum of 75 days. So receiving payment 75 to 90 days after a completed job is really something everyone agreed to when they decided to work with them. I am aware that almost every mystery company pays every two weeks or every month, but not this one. It tells us upfront the terms of payment.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2020 08:06AM by 1forum1.
120 DAYS and counting.
@1forum1 wrote:
@sandyf wrote:
Your thoughts are all well and good to those who expect pay the month after the job. In my case it has been four months....that is not a month,not two months and not even three months. This is unreasonable.
@1forum1 wrote:
Two words regarding this company: Expect Delay! If anyone has been working with this company for a year you know the pattern. Don't expect payment the next month after the shop. No need to write or call them.
I agree with that. However, my point is that there is an established pattern with this company. If someone is aware of this pattern, then they can expect it when they do a shop for them. It took me a few jobs to completely understand this, but it is what it is and I accept the job knowing that I am not getting one red cent for about 3 months. Additionally, the company states in their terms "payments are submitted to PayPal or direct deposit approximately 75 days after the last day of the month in which the project was completed." So, depending on when the job was completed, you can expect to wait a minimum of 75 days. So receiving payment 75 to 90 days after a completed job is really something everyone agreed to when they decided to work with them. I am aware that almost every mystery company pays every two weeks or every month, but not this one. It tells us upfront the terms of payment.
@sandyf... I understand. "120 days and counting." Yikes! As someone here once said, "Unreasonable."
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