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ACL payment issues

March 13, 2018 07:13PM
Who to reach out to settle the issues? I signed up for the shop for ACL and before going I told scheduler it was closed when I called and checked their website but she told me to go regardless... I found out it was closed (spent 40 min driving)!
Now they refuse to pay me. They said I'd have to go to that location again in order to be paid for my first time.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2018 07:14PM by Vicky86.
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More About Payment
March 13, 2018 07:27PM
It seems very strange to be asked to visit a location at a time when it is closed. First, I have to ask: Why would the scheduler ask you to go when the location was not open for business? What prompted you to even ask that question? As a general rule, if I take an assignment, I am expected to learn their hours of operation well enough to only visit when they are, in fact open. Please provide a little more information.

Next, do you have the scheduler's directive in writing? Or an admission after the fact from the scheduler that you were directed to visit the location when it was closed. If not, there might be little point going up the ladder: It all sounds strange enough that you might struggle to be believed and you could put shopping with the company in the future at risk. However, if you do have the direction in writing to visit the location despite knowing it was closed, you should have a strong case and absolutely should pursue it. Just keep it professional.

As for a number, you could try: 888-446-5665

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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March 13, 2018 07:34PM
@MFJohnston wrote:

It seems very strange to be asked to visit a location at a time when it is closed. First, I have to ask: Why would the scheduler ask you to go when the location was not open for business? What prompted you to even ask that question? As a general rule, if I take an assignment, I am expected to learn their hours of operation well enough to only visit when they are, in fact open. Please provide a little more information.

Next, do you have the scheduler's directive in writing? Or an admission after the fact from the scheduler that you were directed to visit the location when it was closed. If not, there might be little point going up the ladder: It all sounds strange enough that you might struggle to be believed and you could put shopping with the company in the future at risk. However, if you do have the direction in writing to visit the location despite knowing it was closed, you should have a strong case and absolutely should pursue it. Just keep it professional.

As for a number, you could try: 888-446-5665

It was on a college campus and I decided to check their hours since they were not posted in guidelines. I found on the website that it said "closed". I also called. Then I told first scheduler about it and she said "here are the hours, they are open, we need to reschedule this visit because they are closed on weekends, please go there on Monday". When I went there, they were closed for spring break. I understand scheduler might not have known this, but whose job is it to find out? I already did my part (and saw it was closed), and she still told me to go. I wasted time and gas.

I have forwarded that correspondence with the scheduler (who told me to go) to a person who informed me by email that I will only be paid for my first visit if I go again. After that I have not heard from them. It does not seem like ACL because they always seem to be reasonable.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2018 07:37PM by Vicky86.
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March 13, 2018 07:42PM
Edited as you clarified your post.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2018 07:43PM by MFJohnston.
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March 13, 2018 07:52PM
Overall, it is shopper’s job to confirm hours, you may have a difficult argument. However, the scheduler should not have directly told you to go on a specific day either.

It might be worthwhile if you can reach the project manger and seeing what s/he has to say. You might be able to get a modest bonus added to the shop if you agree to try again.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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March 13, 2018 07:59PM
I disagree. Modest bonus schmonus. The shopper was told to visit a location known to be closed. Due the full fee.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
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March 13, 2018 08:08PM
I'd be more inclined to say "yes" to re-shop this location if I was told I'd be paid for the last time I completed the shop. They are putting me in a situation where I have to go there again and complete the shop, in order to be paid for the first visit (I included photos as a proof of visit and that location is closed and their note "closed for spring break"). If this location was not such a PITA to get to including travel time, then finding parking and walking, I would have no issue to go again.
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March 13, 2018 08:18PM
My reading of the scenario was that neither the shopper nor the scheduler knew that the location was closed on Monday - due to spring break- when the visit took place.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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March 13, 2018 09:14PM
@MFJohnston wrote:

My reading of the scenario was that neither the shopper nor the scheduler knew that the location was closed on Monday - due to spring break- when the visit took place.
I initially thought the location was closed (after doing my research), then the scheduler sent me the screenshot of the hours and informed me it is open, so I trusted the scheduler.
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March 13, 2018 09:35PM
That changes everything.
You should be paid for your initial trip.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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March 14, 2018 01:26AM
You absolutely should be paid the full fee. The msc told you to go, that is proof. If they don't pay you, that is another black eye for them.
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March 14, 2018 02:54AM
"before going I told scheduler it was closed when I called and checked their website but she told me to go regardless... " This is from the very first post. It was clear the shopper knew the location was closed. The scheduler chose not to believe her and didn't bother to check for herself.

@MFJohnston wrote:

My reading of the scenario was that neither the shopper nor the scheduler knew that the location was closed on Monday - due to spring break- when the visit took place.

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.
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March 15, 2018 03:15AM
I agree, in this instance, i believe the shopper should be paid. The fact they seem to be holding your payment hostage until you complete the shop seems to be not good business and a bit dishonest.
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March 15, 2018 03:18AM
Thank you for all your replies. I had to email two more people about this and the issue is still not resolved. I will let you know how it goes.
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March 15, 2018 05:13PM
This is a black and white issue and the msc has taken too long to approve you the full fee. The scheduler told u to do the shop and you did. They must pay you or their credibility is at stake.
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March 15, 2018 06:35PM
Credibility is not an issue for them They will find another shopper willing to do the same. Don't forget this is the same company that piggybacks one unpopular shop with a popular one. Neither company is related but they resort to such..... Not really fair for either company IMO.
but yet again they will find a shopper.

uote=7star]
This is a black and white issue and the msc has taken too long to approve you the full fee. The scheduler told u to do the shop and you did. They must pay you or their credibility is at stake.[/quote]
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March 15, 2018 07:02PM
I say credibility, from the eyes of a responsible shopper, is at stake. Would i want to work with this msc in the future if they don't honor their word? The scheduler represents the company. The scheduler told the shopper to perform the shop. The shopper did it correctly and should be paid. If the msc doesn't pay, then they are not credible. How could i trust them again?
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March 16, 2018 12:05AM
The issue was solved by a person who I called in the general line for ACL, she was able to contact the right people who told me I will be paid for going to location (yay).

It should not have taken this long and with involvement of 5 people to solve. If only the first editor who contacted me was able to solve this better and more efficiently: 1) it took her whole 4 business days after my submitted report to contact me back, 2) she did not reply me for 2 business days, after I sent her screenshots proving my correspondence with the scheduler who told me to go 3) she forwarded me the email where she asked the scheduler to send her the correspondence with me (as if she did not believe the screenshots I sent her?). 4) The report from my visit included photos of closed location and all screenshots of correspondence with the scheduler, so she must have omitted or ignored those, because she asked me for those again...

All that hassle for measly $10. ACL, you need to do better!!
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March 16, 2018 12:08AM
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

Credibility is not an issue for them They will find another shopper willing to do the same. Don't forget this is the same company that piggybacks one unpopular shop with a popular one. Neither company is related but they resort to such..... Not really fair for either company IMO.
but yet again they will find a shopper.

The shop is still open (haha).
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March 16, 2018 02:47PM
Great you are going to get paid. The original scheduler should have been your main point of contact and fixed it for you. If it was me i'd probably stay away from that scheduler unless it was a good paying shop.
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March 16, 2018 05:43PM
So what should happen in this scenario:
I am called and virtually begged to pick up a shop, I call the location and the call (Unbeknownst to me) is routed to another location where they inform me that yes, they are open, and give me their hours. I travel.
The site is closed...the phone number is live, but clearly, is picked up by another location....and the MSC tells me I am getting $3 instead of $15 (well, because the site was closed!).. I didn't apply for this shop, I was begged to do it! I drove 50 miles round trip and got er' done, and was lucky to knock off a couple of errands on the way home....still, frustrating
Anyone? Should I insist on full payment?
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March 16, 2018 05:51PM
Based on other shoppers experiences with them, insisting full payment could affect your status with them. Only you can gauge whether it's worth it to be possibly deactivated, maybe not now but shortly later.

I recently had a bonus shop being closed when I got there so I only got the closed fee too. It stinks but I'll make it up on some other shop.
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March 20, 2018 02:08AM
I will no longer work for ACL after they refused to pay me for a mistake they made. Their loss.
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March 20, 2018 02:35AM
I also no longer work for ACL for the same reason.
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March 20, 2018 06:20AM
@ShopperSavvy wrote:

I will no longer work for ACL after they refused to pay me for a mistake they made. Their loss.

You might want to look at the follow up comments to your other post.
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March 20, 2018 02:49PM
Can you be specific about why you think you are out $50? Usually the shop instructions say what the fee is, if any, and what is eligible for reimbursement.



quote=ShopperSavvy]
I will no longer work for ACL after they refused to pay me for a mistake they made. Their loss.[/quote]
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March 20, 2018 10:15PM
Sounds as if the MSC is on the decline. Being told to go by the scheduler and then rejected? Even if it were nearby, one should not have to go again. Pay the shopper ACL.
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