I have contacted Marguerite and David every week for the last few weeks, each time emailing them a very polite email saying that I would greatly appreciate an update of when I would receive the $350 that I am owed from my two shops in March. I have yet to get a response from ANYONE. I just now sent yet another email saying that I really hope to get at least an email response of when I might receive the money, as I would really prefer to not have to take other actions to try to get paid. I did not want to get hostile but I am tired of them not responding to any of my emails.

@laloweryshops We're in the same boat!

I won't go into detail yet, but I have heard back from the client. It is encouraging because I was able to get connected with the contact/liaison at the client with Elite CXS. I'll post an update if I'm successful in getting a resolution, but this seems promising and legit.

@Okie wrote:

@laloweryshops We're in the same boat!

I won't go into detail yet, but I have heard back from the client. It is encouraging because I was able to get connected with the contact/liaison at the client with Elite CXS. I'll post an update if I'm successful in getting a resolution, but this seems promising and legit.

Wow! You contacted the client directly? I assume it's the same one (the upscale clothes store). PLEASE do let me know how that goes! I will definitely reach out to them if you are successful at getting the money! THANK YOU!

Update - Marguerite finally responded to me today saying that she will try to get the payment out next week. I will keep you posted!

"Will try...next week"
Whaaat???? From March they owe? Pffft.

@sestrahelena wrote:

"Will try...next week"
Whaaat???? From March they owe? Pffft.

I was just happy that someone finally responded after my weeks of emailing and getting nothing...

Anybody have updates on getting paid or not?

With each day, payment is looking less and less likely. I'm going to just write it off as a business expense on my taxes.

I filed my BBB claim during late July. After a couple of weeks with no response, I contacted the client. Instant response from the client, and within two days they followed-up with the contact info of the contact they work with at Elite CXS. Unfortunately, this was Marguerite Turner, who no longer responds to my emails.

Some days ago, I received a mass email from Marguerite Turner who is continuing to schedule shops for the same client. That irked me. The only satisfaction is now the shops aren't getting filled as quickly. (However, I'm not sure if this could somehow hurt me. I have a suspicion there is some kind of pyramid scheme, with insolvent cash flow, where future shops pay older shoppers who are still due for past services. I'm said robbed "Peter", in order to pay previous "Paul(s)".)

I sent a follow-up email to the client, thanking them for the quick response and getting me in touch with the right people. Also, I informed them of what is going on. The MSC not paying me and @laloweryshops for shops completed, and Marguerite Turner continuing to schedule shops. I told them the chances of me receiving my payment appear to be slim, but I asked them to reconsider their business relationship with Elite CXS going forward. The client made sure this would be communicated to the right people.

Also, I sent another email to everyone at Elite CXS - Marguerite Turner, David Hartley, Accounting. I told them that their non-response to my BBB claim, is them now knowingly and intentionally not choosing to pay me for an accepted shop and report performed back in January.

Anyways, I believe the 30 days for Elite CXS to respond to my initial BBB claim is coming up. If I hear anything, I'll post an update. However, after 30 days, it seems unlikely to collect payment. I'm hoping at least @laloweryshops gets paid. He patiently followed the process. I patiently followed the process, as well. However, towards the end of their promised late payment grace period, I got sick of their "%$£" and decided to expedite the process. At least, mail me a paper check, you mother "f#@%"ers!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2024 06:44PM by Okie.

I know everyone's experience may be different, but if I ever see the name David Hartley or Marguerite Turner resurface in the world of mystery shopping, I am going to run away ASAP. I will be the first to admit I have only been mystery shopping for five years now, and do not know all of the in's and out's.

But after seeing Elite CXS touting they are an Elite member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) like a badge of honor, I decided to reach out to MSPA Americas as another last resort. To no surprise, I received no response. After reading up on it some more, it appears to be nothing more than an "elite" paid membership for business development. Why am I not surprised...

Me being naive, I thought this was based on merit and serving shoppers with a high quality level of service. Ahaha...!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2024 07:33PM by Okie.

I too have not been paid, out about $200. I see they have posted the clothing shop with $175 reimbursement for my area. Marquerite responded to my email by saying she referred to accounting. Accounting sent an autoreply saying they are changing payment company.
Sorry but this sounds fishy since I see here problems have been going on since July. Your internal issues are not my problem. I suggest not doing their new home video shops, ice tea or clothing shops. You won't get paid anyways. Sad, I too have been a shopper with them for many years.

Oops shoppers not getting paid since March.

Reading their website, the below made me want to vomit.

@Elite CXS Website wrote:

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.

The bank client they have in my area has had, as far as I can tell, the same locations available since the end of June. The decent fee should have lured in suckers by now but no shoppers are biting. They've probably already been stiffed or are here on the forum. Thank you all for the warnings. I definitely would have done ALL of those branches and would have wasted my time on it. Worse than that is the frustration level of having no recourse.

To be an optimist, I guess you could give one location a try and see how it goes. However, I do like you and would not recommend that.

I had similar experiences with three other MSCs, where they were offering a number of bonused shops. There wasn't much feedback on the MSC. I guess sometimes no feedback is a good thing. However, I rolled the dice on all three, and I got paid as promised according to their payment terms and schedule. No issues with onboarding and setup of payment. Two entirely different MSCs proactively emailed me about scheduled pending incoming payments and to setup my payment.

That's why this whole experience with Elite CXS is so baffling and frustrating. Unfortunately, I got caught in the middle of this at the wrong time and place.

I guess my advice to others with new MSCs, is to tread lightly. Do one shop you wouldn't mind if you get stiffed on, and wait until after the first payment hits smoothly, and then go deeper.

Also, on the spreadsheet with the list of MSCs ... for Elite CXS, we need to update the pay schedule from "within 30 days of shop acceptance" to "at their discretion".

I have to laugh when I see an MSC tout their membership in MSPA as some sort of badge of honor.

Pay enough to a trade organization, and they'll declare you MSC of the year.

And they're acquiring new clients? An online gaming shop. Is that something new? They never had shops in my area before this year so I had not kept up on them before.

@sestrahelena wrote:

And they're acquiring new clients? An online gaming shop. Is that something new? They never had shops in my area before this year so I had not kept up on them before.

Don't Dewit Dooku!

I think I saw that pop up too. If it's for you and no purchase is required, you could try it. If it's for a child, for some reason, I'm now recalling the video game mature rating purchase shop, where someone had shared their child was distraught with potentially have gotten the employee in trouble. Anyways, if the child is going to play games anyway, might as well make some money off it.

Joining the ranks of all those getting stiffed by this company. Completed "pesky skeeter bugs be gone from your yard" in May. Have yet to be paid. Reached out countless times to "accounting," the scheduler, and Marguerite directly. It's been months with no response except for Miss Turner copying in the CEO who also never responded. Will be filing a complaint with the state attorney general.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2024 02:34AM by Momtreal.

Momtreal, sorry to hear. I was starting to think maybe it was only a specific shop/client recently that had these payment issues, but it seems like it's a systemic issue. I don't know how long they can keep scapegoating their accounting/payment system.

I was already kinda done with this msc because they determined the price I paid for service exceeded their reimbursement amount so even though I submitted the quote before the service from the client, AND submitted my receipt I didn't get the full reimbursement. I figured the pay sorta washed it so whatever. Now I sit and wait... I have an invoice. It's extremely frustrating because I'm out a LOT. Why copy in the CEO to my continuous chain of follow ups of if he's not going to help?

I have the same experience. This CEO dood is non-responsive and radio silent. That's why I thought the posts below from @Pjackson1129 were a little odd, in that 1) the guy actually responded and 2) in a hostile manner.

@Pjackson1129 wrote:

Hi everyone. I have a similar story. I'm owed over $350 dating back to October 2023. I kind of lost track and just realized over a month ago they still owed me. Had been sending emails for over a month with no reply. I finally included the CEO, David Hartley. I let them know I'll be filing complaints against them and engaging legal counsel. David respondes within hours. All BS with no apology, but it was a response. This is what he said:

"There is no need for all the threats and hostility. The last update I saw was that you had not completed your profile in our payment system therefore preventing payment from going out. Links to complete have been sent multiple times according to our team. Have you recently completed this and if not please advise when you will so you can be paid."

His follow up after I laid into him again

"Again with the threats. I can see that there are two accounts with the same name in the system. One is payable and one is not. That is as far as I can see today due to the system outage that is effecting us. I will have the accounting staff look into this further on Monday and get back to you with resolution.

If you continue to threaten myself or any member of our staff we will immediately cease all communication with you immediately."

Everyone spam this guy's email. Dhartley@elitecxs.com

Let him know this is unacceptable

@Pjackson1129 wrote:

Hey everyone - providing an update, I just finally got paid for my shops from last October and November. After over a month of no response I finally added in the CEO, David Hartley and threatened to file a complaint and lawsuit (see my post above). That was last Friday. Marguerite emailed me Sunday and let me know my payment would be processed the next day. Payment hit my account on Tuesday. I haven't been paid for my recent shop last month, but I will be sure to follow up once it has been 90 days. Anyone looking to get paid I'd suggest doing what I did. Once I looped in David and brought up BBB and lawsuits it took me 4 days until the money was in my bank account. Good luck everyone.

@Pjackson1129 wrote:

Also, for what it's worth - Marguerite, who's always been very nice in my interactions, did apologize for the delay. Provided no explanation, but she said sorry for the delay, which is more than the CEO was willing to do. The guy is a complete jerk with zero compassion or appreciation for the shoppers working for his company.

Also, where's their company forum rep when you need one?!

Send a demand letter via certified mail. That’s the first step before letting them know you are about to sue them. Let them know that they have two weeks to make good on payment.

Run a soft background check (should cost about $5 or so) to get addresses to their homes so you can send the certified letter there.

Personally, I would send an overnight letter so they’ll get on Saturday. It’ll give me them something to mull over during the Labor Day weekend, seeing as how they don’t respect the meaning of the holiday anyway.

@Indastruktable wrote:

It’ll give me them something to mull over during the Labor Day weekend, seeing as how they don’t respect the meaning of the holiday anyway.

Update:
I emailed Marguerite, David and accounting for the umpteenth time and notified them I have filed a complaint with the state attorney general for lack of pay and communication. Shockingly, David responded IMMEDIATELY. He spelled my name incorrectly, which is odd because it's literally my email and in my signature block on every correspondence. This was his reply:

Your payment is being processed for the next pay run.



Best Regards,

So I followed up:
This gives me no info whatsoever. You also spelled my name wrong. I want an EXACT DATE. For the record, I have already filed multiple complaints about your company. I also see I'm not alone in the payment issue. Clearly your organization is insolvent.


Funny that the notification generated from the state likely triggered a response. What is "the next pay run?" That is the most bogus non answer and now I'm even more motivated to make sure no one does any more jobs for them ever.

Momtreal, make sure to get your money first, and then give it to him some more.

For state attorney general, is this the correct site?
[www.myfloridalegal.com]

The payment continues to show in Tipalti as "in process" every day. I assume this means payment has not been remitted. I'll keep you posted if/when it ever arrives.

Okay, I'll provide an update on my experience. As I noted a few weeks ago, Marguerite had finally responded to me that she would try to get me paid by end of last week. That did not happen...I then emailed her again. She replied immediately: "I had hoped this would be resolved last week. I have now been told that payments are scheduled to go out this week, but end of the month."

It's the last day of the month and still no response, of course. I will email her again at the end of next week. Given that they continue to schedule shops, they still clearly are in business making money, and so I plan to continue contacting them until I eventually get my money (hopefully) and never do business with them again.

I will note that I have been shopping for this company for three years. And, for what it's worth, I had to contact them for EVERY SINGLE SHOP I ever did for them, as they never once paid me on time. Every time, I would email them a few months later and they would say, "woops - sorry about that - payment has been processed." So, I really should have known better to not continue shopping for them. No other company has ever forgotten to pay me more than one time, tops.

Anyway, I will definitely keep you posted if I ever get paid. I really appreciate this thread so that I can see that I am not alone here...

I got 3 elmIls today from David and how they are implementing new systems. They told I would be paid. However, i actually was paid for the 3 shops I did a few weeks ago.
Surely they are screwed up. I will not do another shop for them.