Cell phone shops requiring FICO score
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I don't understand the point. Are they going to run a credit check? Otherwise, it seems you could provide phony information. I don't like the idea of giving the client too much personal info, giving it to the competitor seems like way too much to require.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Thanks for your help, Lisa!
(edit) It says nothing about signing up for service, and with cell phone shops you generally just go through the sales process, and then make up some excuse for not signing up... In the job description, it says to send it to the scheduler which is weird to me...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2012 08:20PM by elizafrench.
(edit) It says nothing about signing up for service, and with cell phone shops you generally just go through the sales process, and then make up some excuse for not signing up... In the job description, it says to send it to the scheduler which is weird to me...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2012 08:20PM by elizafrench.
I actually did 6 of those shops (3 pairs), and they were not difficult. It took me an average of 15 minutes in each location and about the same on each report. I used a scenario that I was "buying new 4G phones and plans for my family for Christmas", effectively playing the technophobe mom looking at 4G "clever" phones.
The goal of the shops is to determine if you're denied any of the plan options, additional lines or charged an additional deposit based on your credit rating. All that's required to submit with the shop reports is the front page with your name and the "big number" that is your FICO score, with everything else blacked out for yourr privacy. I got my FICO free from one of the "big 3" credit reporting companies. I wouldn't use the MSC's recommended source for the FICO, because they're not one of the actual reporting companies, advertise heavily about identity theft, and I didn't trust that they'd be held to the same confidentiality standards.
The cell phone locations don't get to see your FICO at all, but in each case, I floated my number to see if they thought it would affect the cost of the plans I was offered.
I don't believe my personal/financial information was compromised by doing these shops.
The goal of the shops is to determine if you're denied any of the plan options, additional lines or charged an additional deposit based on your credit rating. All that's required to submit with the shop reports is the front page with your name and the "big number" that is your FICO score, with everything else blacked out for yourr privacy. I got my FICO free from one of the "big 3" credit reporting companies. I wouldn't use the MSC's recommended source for the FICO, because they're not one of the actual reporting companies, advertise heavily about identity theft, and I didn't trust that they'd be held to the same confidentiality standards.
The cell phone locations don't get to see your FICO at all, but in each case, I floated my number to see if they thought it would affect the cost of the plans I was offered.
I don't believe my personal/financial information was compromised by doing these shops.
Thanks Kat!
I might just go ahead and do the shops if the MSC pushes out the due dates. I just looked, and I'd have to do them between now and black friday... no thanks :-D. My husband and I bought a new car recently I have my numbers (not that anyone could get anywhere with mine anyway! I'm a "freelance stay at home mom" muahahahaha). I'm new to this whole mystery shopping thing so I'm just not sure what is acceptable and what isn't.
I really appreciate the input, and 15 minutes for the amount of money they were offering for these shops is great!
Great opportunities over on the IL side Lisa ;-)
I might just go ahead and do the shops if the MSC pushes out the due dates. I just looked, and I'd have to do them between now and black friday... no thanks :-D. My husband and I bought a new car recently I have my numbers (not that anyone could get anywhere with mine anyway! I'm a "freelance stay at home mom" muahahahaha). I'm new to this whole mystery shopping thing so I'm just not sure what is acceptable and what isn't.
I really appreciate the input, and 15 minutes for the amount of money they were offering for these shops is great!
Great opportunities over on the IL side Lisa ;-)
Eliza, be SURE you have proof of your FICO for these shops - proof that doesn't compromise any other of your bizness.
The sense I got was that FICO proof to the client some shoppers provided wasn't sufficient and some shop reports got bounced. Of course, I could also be reading too much into the wording of an email
The sense I got was that FICO proof to the client some shoppers provided wasn't sufficient and some shop reports got bounced. Of course, I could also be reading too much into the wording of an email
You basically made my point. If the shopper is just telling the location their score, there is no point in the MSC and client asking for proof. How much do these shops pay to justify all that?
And if you are correct about the "proof" not being good enough and reports being rejected, that is highway robbery.
And if you are correct about the "proof" not being good enough and reports being rejected, that is highway robbery.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
They pay $20.00 a piece, but I ended up not taking them because of the "proof of FICO score." I guess I just don't understand why they need it if I'm not going to get my credit ran at the store? If I could've just made one up, or if I was sure I wouldn't have to send them anything, I'd go ahead and do it. Anyway, I found another shop at one of the same locations for a different MSC that pays more money. No FICO required :-)
I've had enough cell phone shops at $50 plus without that requirement. Jeez, next they're going to want blood samples.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Wow $50? $30 is the highest I've seen so far! Do you just wait them out, or are there certain MSC's that really offer them at that rate to begin with.
cell phone shops are super easy for me. I was laid off two years ago by a carrier, and I used to run through scenarios pretending I was a customer for trainees. Thankfully, I worked for a pretty nondescript regional carrier so it hasn't affected my mystery shopping so far.
cell phone shops are super easy for me. I was laid off two years ago by a carrier, and I used to run through scenarios pretending I was a customer for trainees. Thankfully, I worked for a pretty nondescript regional carrier so it hasn't affected my mystery shopping so far.
I wait them out.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I saw that FICO one too and didn't want to do it either...that said cell phone shops are one of my least preferred shops and I try to avoid them. I did get one for $60.00 a few weeks ago though. I managed for that 
Liz
Liz
Did anyone ask them why they need proof of it? That just seems bizarre. If you don't have to prove it to the retailer, why would you have to prove it to the MSC? Weird.
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
There are cell phone providers out there that try to put you on a plan which provides you with the latest in phone technology and a slightly reduced rate for the actual service. However, you are paying an installment plan each month for the phone, in addition to the cost of the plan. Therefore, they want to run your credit. Every cell phone provider that I have shopped recently has been eager to run a credit check on me, and it is a common question on the reports to determine if they offered to do so.
The new twist is that a certain MSC is trying to evaluate how a shopper is handled after the credit check is run. Therefore, they want to know beforehand themselves what your score is. The posting I saw wanted shoppers in all FICO categories so they could run an accurate sampling.
The new twist is that a certain MSC is trying to evaluate how a shopper is handled after the credit check is run. Therefore, they want to know beforehand themselves what your score is. The posting I saw wanted shoppers in all FICO categories so they could run an accurate sampling.
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"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
But so far I have yet to see one of these where the shopper would be required to submit to a credit check. If no credit check will be run then the shopper's credit rating is no business of the MSC or the client. It is way too invasive of my privacy for a lousy $20. Some employers have been choosing to run credit checks for several years. You want to offer me a $40,000 to $50,000 a year job with benefits, then be my guest, otherwise you can forget about it. IMHO, there are far too many assignments which are asking shoppers to provide far too much personal information and the funny thing is they don't pay a damn bit better than many that do not.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I totally agree with LisaSTL on this. I took a pass on the assignments for the MSC that wanted to get a FICO from the shopper prior to the cell phone store visit, even though the pay was $40. I understand what they were trying to assess, but the pay is still not enough to justify it, at least for me.
I'd much rather do the traditional cell phone assignment at a lower rate of pay.
I'd much rather do the traditional cell phone assignment at a lower rate of pay.
_____________________________________________________________________________
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
strange--in my metro area these shops paid $35 per shop $70 for the pair. I only applied for one pair because too many hard credit inquiries can bring down your credit score--by only a few points, but still.
There was another phone shop I did where I had to get pre-qualified over the phone for a mortgage using a recorded line. Before I could be scheduled, I had to give my credit score to the scheduler ahead of time. I do not mind doing these occasionally, but not a lot all at once.
They got me hooked up with CreditKarma.com that lets you get your credit score any time free. I got an email alert from them when I had a hard credit inquiry. It is free.
There was another phone shop I did where I had to get pre-qualified over the phone for a mortgage using a recorded line. Before I could be scheduled, I had to give my credit score to the scheduler ahead of time. I do not mind doing these occasionally, but not a lot all at once.
They got me hooked up with CreditKarma.com that lets you get your credit score any time free. I got an email alert from them when I had a hard credit inquiry. It is free.
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Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
I like creditkarma.com very much.
has anyone experienced recorded phone shops using your cell phone?
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