@laloweryshops Hoping you get paid and it all works out. Sorry, I wished me contacting the client would have resulted in something. I think Marguerite and David like me the least, no response.

I haven’t been paid for 6 shops I did back in March-April 2024. I’m out $253. Have been emailing them for payment since then. One of their emails to me said to wait 30-60 days until they get things straightened out. After 60 days I emailed them that I didn’t receive payment.

I filed an on-line complaint with the Florida Attorney General yesterday. Thanks for the link from a previous poster. I especially like that the form says “penalties can be enhanced for victimizing senior citizens” since I’m 75!

I’ll let you know if anything becomes of this.

Are you a member of MSPA Americas? I am and have never not had an email response within 24 hours. If you are not a member, I don't think you have standing to complain, especially when memberships are offered for free, and I find your statement hard to believe. Also I do know that Elite status is not a "paid" thing. It is a series of events that you must achieve in a year that has nothing to do with money. Now this doesn't justify any of the actions of Elite CSX and the money we are owed, but you place yourself in their same gutter by lying just like they do. I wish you wouldn't do that. Just write the facts.

@KCSoccer2014 wrote:

Are you a member of MSPA Americas?

Hello, I'm assuming this is directed towards me. I'm not a member, and was not aware you could get a membership for free. I didn't know that's what Elite status was. Thank you for letting me know.

That's fair, and I'll acknowledge that anyone reading this thread to please disregard my previous comments about MSPA Americas and Elite status. I do want to ensure my posts in this thread are factual.

But come on, read this from their website:
Security
You are safe with us. We are an MSPA Elite member, which means that we are independently vetted and that YOU WILL GET PAID.
You have to see the irony here... Look at how many BBB claims have been unanswered and the number of shoppers coming forward still looking to get paid. "You will get paid." Anyone can see the contradiction here.

@KCSoccer2014

Thank you for informing me that I can create a free MSPA Americas account as a shopper. This is the first time someone has made me aware of that. I have signed up for an account now.

Could let me know which email address or contact method would be best to forward my concern onto? Thank you.

To note, when I did not receive a reply, my email was directed to inquiries@mspa-americas.org on 8/12/2024

If you are owed money as well, and have already contacted MSPA Americas, please share your experience. It would be beneficial to everyone, if anything positive resulted out of it.

Also, I couldn't help but read through all eight of your posts. I will give you the benefit of the doubt.

KCSoccer inquires of?--Are you a member of MSPA Americas?

Bob responds--As I am not an MSP, it would not profit me.

KCSoccer opines--If you are not a member, I don't think you have standing to complain, especially when memberships are offered for free, and I find your statement hard to believe.

Bob agrees it is your prerogative to be opinionated, but disagrees concerning whomever, you neglected to direct your comment to a specific person, stating their position.

KCSoccer continues--Also I do know that Elite status is not a "paid" thing.

Bob asks--How do you KNOW it is not a paid thing?

KCSoccer offers an explanation--It is a series of events that you must achieve in a year that has nothing to do with money.

Bob agrees--Were money to be involved, this thread would not exist and shoppers would have been long ago paid.

KCSoccer concludes--......you place yourself in their same gutter by lying just like they do. I wish you wouldn't do that. Just write the facts.

Bob types--The verbiage GUTTER was unnecessary, as was the accusation of LYING.

The actor Jack Webb, in his role as Sgt. Joe Friday, was a stickler for the facts. KC, are you?

Again, I have to laugh whenever MSPA is mentioned, especially in the context of being an organization that assists shoppers with our concerns about the industry.

MSPA = Mystery Shop PROVIDERS Association

It's a trade group for MSCs. MSPA's only interest in shoppers is to collect fees from selling their "certification" classes, and a shopper being "certified" means about as much as an MSC being "Elite."

Refer a non-payment issue to MSPA and see how far that gets you.

Regarding MSPA Elite, I wanted to do my own due diligence and research, and report my findings. As @KCSoccer2014 kindly suggested, "Just write the facts."

First, I visited [www.mspa-americas.org] to see the list of MSCs that fall under MSPA Elite. Elite CXS is currently not listed. However, CX Orlando Research and Revenue Architects is included. When I did an exact search for this exact company name on the forums, the results only returned posts by KCSoccer2014.

Regarding criteria for MSPA Elite, when I visited [www.mspa-americas.org] it stated "This content is restricted to certain memberships." I logged into my FREE Field Talent - Basic membership. It stated "Hi, Okie. You do not have permission to access this page."

As a result, I did a search with Gen AI, with the second link above as its source. It states, this is the criteria below:

The criteria to qualify for Elite status with the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA) varies by program and region:

MSPA Americas Elite

Companies must demonstrate leadership and support for the association's goals. Criteria for the 2025 CME Conference include:
Attending a Legislative Fly-In, Virtual Fly-in Event, or a Letter of Support
Purchasing at least one quarter of advertising on the MSPA Americas website
Providing a white paper for publication on the MSPA Americas website

Disclaimer, I am interjecting my personal commentary and thoughts below:
CX Orlando Research and Revenue Architects - Why is there not more shopper feedback regarding this MSC/MSP on the forums? Other Elite peers like BARE, HS Brands, and Jancyn are much more mentioned. To note and be objective, I was lazy with my search terms for an exact search.

This content is restricted to certain memberships. - Why the lack of transparency?

"Hi, Okie. You do not have permission to access this page." - See above.

Purchasing at least one quarter of advertising on the MSPA Americas website - I could not help but notice the word "purchasing."

@KCSoccer2014 wrote:

Also I do know that Elite status is not a "paid" thing. It is a series of events that you must achieve in a year that has nothing to do with money.

@KCSoccer2014 wrote:

Now this doesn't justify any of the actions of Elite CSX and the money we are owed, but you place yourself in their same gutter by lying just like they do. I wish you wouldn't do that. Just write the facts.

Oscar @KCSoccer2014 Are you calling the Cookie Monster a grouch? Yes, Okie is said Cookie Monster for purposes of this example.

I did an updated search for "CX Orlando". I apologize, 24 results returned. However, the posts from the thread below, best sum up the results.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

"Well apologies if I'm off course, but I would guess that OP has some connection to CX and is flat out spamming us."

"Four posts in four years and three of them about this company........."

"I think they are some employees from the former MS company based in winter Park, FL that shopped the popular casual chain paying with giftcards and went belly up. The new company appeared a couple of months after the other company folded and were doing all the local clients in the greater Orlando area. They clearly got hold of the shoppers database because I had never signed up with them but received unsolicited emails to do local restaurants that I had done in prior visits to Orlando."

To share, I received a reply from MSPA Americas. KCSoccer2014, I will give you credit that the they responded to me quickly. For full transparency, the email is below:

I want to say upfront that I am sorry to learn of your situation. Elite CSX is not a current member of MSPA Americas. Even if they were, as a trade association and not a governmental entity with authority over third party business dealings, the most I could do for you would be to pass your concerns on to the designated point of contact that a member has listed with us. The BBB would not be able to advocate or intervene for you either, as they are in a much similar position as a trade association.

Your best path forward would be to consult local legal advice and explore arbitration/mediation or the court system as you would in any other business dispute.

I truly hope your situation does resolve to your liking, whether it is directly with the company involved, or through your local dispute resolution services. But going through arbitration/mediation or small claims court are really your two options if you can’t resolve the issues directly with the company.

Yeah, I just don't even know where KCSoccer's post came from or what it was supposed to mean. Quite random.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2024 12:12AM by sestrahelena.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

Again, I have to laugh whenever MSPA is mentioned, especially in the context of being an organization that assists shoppers with our concerns about the industry.

MSPA = Mystery Shop PROVIDERS Association

It's a trade group for MSCs. MSPA's only interest in shoppers is to collect fees from selling their "certification" classes, and a shopper being "certified" means about as much as an MSC being "Elite."

Refer a non-payment issue to MSPA and see how far that gets you.

When GAPbuster Worldwide tried to stiff me, MSPA was able to get them to pay me the following day.

With that said, that was many years ago and I don’t know how they operate anymore.

Talking to MSPA is a good idea. I’m not a member and they helped me.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Yeah, I just don't even know where KCSoccar's post came from or what it was supposed to mean. Quite random.

KC is a bot.

I want to say upfront that I am sorry to learn of your situation. Elite CSX is not a current member of MSPA Americas. Even if they were, as a trade association and not a governmental entity with authority over third party business dealings, the most I could do for you would be to pass your concerns on to the designated point of contact that a member has listed with us. The BBB would not be able to advocate or intervene for you either, as they are in a much similar position as a trade association.

Is the MSPA now saying Elite is not a member? They were for a very long time

@Iluv2shopUSA I think MSPA Americas recently updated their website to remove Elite CXS. MSPA Americas and Elite CXS have been updating their websites. Elite CXS no longer showcases biographies of their team members on their website.

I don't believe I've ever done a shop for this company and I must say I'm glad about that. Since many MSC's have changed their names to some version of CSX, CXE, CXG, CXGroup, shop CSEX, IMCSX, WERCSX etc..I avoid all of them. I'm easily confused and don't want to mess my brain. For Pete's sake, please stop using such similar names!!

Sure hope payment comes through for all of you waiting. Don't give up, but also, don't do any more with them going forward!

Edited to add some more CX's



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2024 11:38PM by MsJudi.

@MsJudi That's how I feel when I see a variant of "shop" or "shopper" as a username on this forum. jk

I'll speak for everyone, when I say thanks for the support. Me personally, I think I moved and am ready to take the "L" on this. But when the occasional reminder comes up, it does a strike a nerve, as evidenced by my recent Internet outburst on KC ... whatever its name is (too lazy to scroll up).

Then, there is also the temptation to pursue small claims court in FL, when I get the time. I would love an opportunity to present my case. Seems like a pretty open and shut case, and can recoup the costs from the defendant, if I'm understanding it correctly.

An update after I contacted the state attorney general and the FTC:

Hello **,
I wanted to personally update you that your payment issue in our system has been resolved and your payment for the ** shop is being processed and sent out today. Keep an eye for the notification.

David

And my reply:
Thanks for the follow up. I am incredibly disappointed that it took several months of follow up emails and reporting you to governmental agencies to finally get this info. I think you'll both agree that your payment process is in need of a major overhaul and that you are not in compliance with your own terms as agreed upon and advertised.

I will not be taking on any jobs with you in the future and will continue to warn others to stay far away from anything involving either of your names. I expect you to go bankrupt by the of quarter, if not sooner. You have brought shame to yourselves and your company, and for that you are fully responsible.


So, We will see if I actually get paid. I'm not holding my breath. Here's hoping everyone continues to keep the pressure on!

@Momtreal Good to hear that it'll get worked out!

Momteal, did you get paid??

@Insight wrote:

Momteal, did you get paid??

Ha, no. Just an email SAYING it was processed and sent out. My job was completed in May and I've had an invoice pending in Tipalti for months so.... I'm not expecting anything. I suspect this polite, professional email was in response to a request from one of the many reports I submitted and not actually to my 20+ emails.

Copy of letter I received after filing a complaint with the Florida Attorney Generals Office:

attorney.general@myfloridalegal.com
Tog
From the Florida Attorney
General's Office
4:05 PM
Dear O
The Florida Attorney General's Office received your email regarding a solicitation you received for a mystery shopper or secret shopper opportunity.
We appreciate that you consider our office as a source of assistance. I am sorry that you fell victim to this scam. We are forwarding your information to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. We collect complaint information in an investigative database, and hopefully will develop enough data to lead us to those perpetuating this kind of scam.
Because you lost money, please file a report with your local police or sheriff's office and where the payment was received, if you know.
You should also file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and Internet Crime Complaint Center:
Federal Trade Commission
Phone: (202) 326-2222
Toll-free: (877) 382-4357
Online complaint site: [reportfraud.ftc.gov]?
orgcode=FL011

Has anyone actually contacted the companies they represent to see if they are paying elite? It would seem to me that they would not want to deal with a company that is so corrupt. Also contact tipali to see if the money got there.

Obviously they misunderstood your email (or not).

@Insight wrote:

Has anyone actually contacted the companies they represent to see if they are paying elite? It would seem to me that they would not want to deal with a company that is so corrupt. Also contact tipali to see if the money got there.

I thought I saw a post from someone who did but can't seem to find it. Maybe it's in another thread.

@Boutique wrote:

Obviously they misunderstood your email (or not).

See, everyone (except those who do it professionally) thinks mystery shopping is a scam! Lol!

I have a policy. Whenever I decide to do a shop for an MSC I've never worked for before, I only do ONE shop. And I wait until I get paid for it to see if they pay on time BEFORE I do any more shops for that MSC. I will only do one shop for them at a time, cautiously and slowly building up to doing more than one only after I see over time that I've been paid according to their promised payment schedule. I will not do more shops if any payments are outstanding until I've reached the point where I know they're reliable and we have established a good relationship. If I had to wait two or more months past the date I should have been paid, there's no way in hell I'm going to do any more shops for them! I don't understand how so many of you have numerous unpaid shops outstanding.

.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2024 01:43AM by shopnyc.