Update: I finally received my final payment from them. All my shops fees were eaten up by the interest I had to pay on the credit cards while waiting for the payment. So I made no money on those shops. I will not take on any shops with Regal anymore. For those who want to, again, if you can pay off the credit card charge while you wait for the payment, it might be worth it. Thank you for everyone's input and support

I sense another round of conversation about Regal Hospitality to be incoming in 3...2...1...

Yeah, I received an email this morning. I was surprised it referenced a "Shopper Forum."

Well, here's the gist of it:
"At Regal Hospitality, we deeply value the trust and feedback of our customers and as well as our Independent Contractors. Recently, we became aware of a series of negative reviews posted online that were written by some shoppers within the Mystery Shopping Industry, which include some inaccurate information and misunderstandings regarding our Company as well as our payment policies for secret shoppers.

As part of our Independent Contractor (IC) agreements, we explicitly outline that payments for services rendered are typically processed within 90 days and in most cases, processed much earlier than expectation. While we make every effort to process all payments in a timely manner, some delays occur due to circumstances beyond our control. However, payments and or reimbursements have “always” been made for all services properly performed."

I got the email too.

Here are some facts:

They don’t update instructions. Some locations haven’t been corrected in years.

Reversals are not always automatic, as promised.

They often pay later than promised or not at all unless the shopper initiates contact.

@BayShopper22 wrote:

I got the email too.

Here are some facts:

They don’t update instructions. Some locations haven’t been corrected in years.

Reversals are not always automatic, as promised.

They often pay later than promised or not at all unless the shopper initiates contact.

You forgot...unresponsive to emails

I actually find Regal very responsive to emails. I've never had an email take longer than a day to be responded to and most of the time, it was done within a few hours. In my experience, they're no different than any other MSC in terms of email response.

I have found problems with the instructions. I find they're a bit vague in exactly what they want. The written examples are somewhat helpful, but the editor for the past while, Wendy, can be a bit difficult. She'll dock a point off here and there for things that are nonsensical and she'll miss whole parts of your narratives and then send them back for clarification when what she wanted was already clearly written. Her grading system seems completely arbitrary.

I've never had a late payment with this MSC and they've always paid within their 90-day turnaround time, but I have noticed that checks are dated weeks before they're sent out. I wouldn't suggest taking a Regal shop unless you have the cash to pay off the bill yourself. Interest on these shops will kill you if you don't have that kind of free cash to let sit.

Generally speaking, I don't take a Regal shop unless I've got a specific reason to be in that particular place and it's going to save me money by taking the gig. I don't see that changing in the future, but I certainly wouldn't do it for the money. It's not worth the hassle.

LOL - Regal : "We deeply value the trust of our IC"
Also Regal, in September: "I cannot sign the check for the late payment because my colleague is on a trip and I don't know when he's coming back"
Also, Regal, a month later, you receive a check signed by that same person.
Also, Regal, "Patience is a virtue" - you, shopper, should wait way beyond our pay policy because patience or something.

They should do politics, not mystery shopping

@Okie wrote:

Yeah, I received an email this morning. I was surprised it referenced a "Shopper Forum."

Well, here's the gist of it:
"At Regal Hospitality, we deeply value the trust and feedback of our customers and as well as our Independent Contractors. Recently, we became aware of a series of negative reviews posted online that were written by some shoppers within the Mystery Shopping Industry, which include some inaccurate information and misunderstandings regarding our Company as well as our payment policies for secret shoppers.

As part of our Independent Contractor (IC) agreements, we explicitly outline that payments for services rendered are typically processed within 90 days and in most cases, processed much earlier than expectation. While we make every effort to process all payments in a timely manner, some delays occur due to circumstances beyond our control. However, payments and or reimbursements have “always” been made for all services properly performed."

They seriously put "always" in quotes?

They are using shopper's money as interest free 90 day loans.

I didn't notice that earlier, but they did! The use of quotes around the word always makes it appear ambiguous and insincere. Maybe bold or underline formatting or all caps would have instilled greater confidence and certainty with shoppers.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Okie wrote:

Yeah, I received an email this morning. I was surprised it referenced a "Shopper Forum."

Well, here's the gist of it:
"At Regal Hospitality, we deeply value the trust and feedback of our customers and as well as our Independent Contractors. Recently, we became aware of a series of negative reviews posted online that were written by some shoppers within the Mystery Shopping Industry, which include some inaccurate information and misunderstandings regarding our Company as well as our payment policies for secret shoppers.

As part of our Independent Contractor (IC) agreements, we explicitly outline that payments for services rendered are typically processed within 90 days and in most cases, processed much earlier than expectation. While we make every effort to process all payments in a timely manner, some delays occur due to circumstances beyond our control. However, payments and or reimbursements have “always” been made for all services properly performed."

They seriously put "always" in quotes?

Thank you! Wendy is the only person I have had issues with regarding this company! I am almost considering not doing any more shops for them because of her.

@MissyC2022 wrote:

Thank you! Wendy is the only person I have had issues with regarding this company! I am almost considering not doing any more shops for them because of her.

Same. I went back and found my emails. She was the editor. I'll never shop for them again. I guarantee it. They could post "Lunch with Jesus" $1000 fee. I still would delete it. I should just deactivate them.

I dislike this company but would def take the lunch with Jesus with $1000 fee! I love seafood.

@EnglishMorning wrote:

I dislike this company but would def take the lunch with Jesus with $1000 fee! I love seafood.

I would do it for the wine! You only get 1 drink per meal with this company, but with Jesus there.....

I worked successfully with them for several years until the payment issue. (I received partial payment for my REIMBURSEMENT and had to wait an additional month for the rest). I was also docked! I was turned off enough not to work with them again. I admit it’s great that they are paying people, but late and partial payments do not instill confidence among shoppers. That is how it starts. I.e The Freeman Group, Restaurant Evaluators, and countless others,

@aonebtd wrote:

I actually find Regal very responsive to emails. I've never had an email take longer than a day to be responded to and most of the time, it was done within a few hours. In my experience, they're no different than any other MSC in terms of email response.

I have found problems with the instructions. I find they're a bit vague in exactly what they want.

Agree with this. I guess I'm lucky; I've never had payment issues with Regal, but they do pay closer to the 90 days frequently. I can totally see how this is a problem for some with the cash outlay. The reports don't bother me much anymore, although the style took some adjustment. When I send emails asking questions about the instructions, I've always found the responses to be helpful.