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Check if your being ripped off by this mystery company!

May 06, 2025 09:13AM
There is a company that doesn't pay unless you email them many times. After a ton of emails I finally got paid. They don't have many shops up on their site so it's easy for people to forget about payment from a doing one or two simple little paying shops. Now I see they are doing the same thing to me again. We deserve to get paid for our work and especially when your going in your own pocket to make a purchase. if you are doing Goodwill's or car washes. Just check to make sure you got paid and if it still says pending payment, you didn't. Hope this helps others not to get ripped off!
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May 06, 2025 10:38AM
I am unsure which compay you are referring to, but I have noticed a trend with Sentry and have addressed it here as well as with Sentry. I do not get paid unless I email their helpdesk after 2 months and then all of a sudden, my payment is pending. This happened a total of 4 times in late 2024 and early 2025. I will not shop for them again. And for anyone asking if I know how their payment system works, I do. My direct deposit is set up. The payment never initiates until I email them. This cannot be conincidence.
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May 06, 2025 12:49PM
I have worked with Sentry and been paid without reminding but they don't have much of a presence in my area so the tasks are few and far between on my spreadsheet. They are one of the slowest to pay.

If you are doing this work and not keeping records, it's only a matter of time before you discover you worked for months for some MSC that hasn't been paying. IMO, keep an eye on all of them and be ready for tax time by keeping records. Google Sheets is free.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2025 12:51PM by Deedeezthoughts.
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May 06, 2025 02:30PM
The company the OP refers to is Mystery Shoppers Inc. belong to Trish. She's notorious for not paying shoppers and "feeling awful" when they email her because she's the only one working and has no help.

I had enough of this company and reported them to the BBB and Tennesee AG, because they're unethical and I'm not sure how they keep the car wash client. Their shops sit unaccepted for weeks.
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May 06, 2025 03:11PM
When I was contracted with this MSC 20 yrs. ago, the mother was in charge and I do not recall ever experiencing any problems. That, though, was then and this is now. Our association ended, when they lost their custom computer client and did not have any other business in my area.

Folks, if you are needy, hassling to receive your due is illogical. If, though, you are not in need, hassling then becomes an undesirable situation.
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May 06, 2025 08:24PM
I would check, per the thread topic, if I knew which mystery company "your" referring to.
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May 09, 2025 01:48AM
Sentry has always been a pain and it's only getting worse. I'm in the same boat in having to email them about pay and then...bam, payment is sent. But now they're making it difficult to even send payment inquiries. The 'submit a ticket' function does not work anymore. I get no email confirmation that a ticket was created and no response. I've had to send direct emails to get responses and that's difficult. They're definitely getting to the point of being more hassle than they're worth.
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May 09, 2025 01:51AM
I’m sorry you’re experiencing this but glad to get some validation. I hope someone from Sentry will read this and respond. Dave, what’s going on?

@Snuffycuts99 wrote:

Sentry has always been a pain and it's only getting worse. I'm in the same boat in having to email them about pay and then...bam, payment is sent. But now they're making it difficult to even send payment inquiries. The 'submit a ticket' function does not work anymore. I get no email confirmation that a ticket was created and no response. I've had to send direct emails to get responses and that's difficult. They're definitely getting to the point of being more hassle than they're worth.
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May 09, 2025 10:16PM
It is not for sentry. I haven't ever had any issues with them but I will make sure to keep an eye open in the future if I do anything else with them but not usually much available from them. This for the company that was mentioned by nabilino with the employee named trish. I just didn't want to put a name because I didn't want this to be removed.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2025 10:19PM by Itsamystery127.
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May 09, 2025 10:20PM
Thank you for letting me know so I know this is a common thing. I like these shops I was doing so it sucks but I just can't believe how petty people can be especially if the shopper has already complained, obviously they keep track of their payments and need the money.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2025 10:26PM by Itsamystery127.
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May 11, 2025 03:58AM
One of my "boundaries" is, I will never go out of pocket for an assignment. I'm already providing skills, devices, transportation, and lots of time.
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May 11, 2025 01:51PM
You can name the msc or name a company you shopped, you just can't name both because that discloses their relationship.

A warning about a bad msc needs to include the name of the bad msc or it's just a general warning that there are bad ones out there.

Everyone here already knows that, it's why we participate in groups like this. Searching before working with a new (to you) msc can save a lot of headaches.
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