Service Measure Mystery Shopping Quest - Service Measure The service that just doesn't measure up - for mystery shoppers, Internet

I signed up to Service Measure a few months ago and completed a number of assignments for them and none paid - many containing large reimbursements for expensive hotel visits I had made. All of the shops were good; no complaints and I had full access to all of their jobs - the best of them included to select from. The staff I contacted - when I could get hold of them, which was rare, exept by e-mail - Gary and Lorna seemed nice and friendly and I though trustworthy too and payment would not be an issue. But I now realise that they were only nice on the surface - all the time they didn't have to pay you and you didn't seem to ask for it either.

The problem started when I requested payments for work I had successfully completed so far - going back 2-3 months. The director, Gary, said that he would pay me soon. Then, when I had to submit an evaluation on my latest assignment the computer uploading report system mysteriously failed to work. I reported it and there was no resolution. So I completed the evaluation via other means and sent that off instead. Gary just got back to me claiming the issue was now fixed and I should spend all my time uploading the answers again - and would not accept the report I had already submitted. I flatly refused, claiming I had spent long enough on it already - all for a 10 payment. You must be kidding! I said he must pay me more or do it himself. He promptly issued a fine of 5 from my pay to pay off the person who would complete the report even though he already had the answers.

Then I was paid - for what I supposed was the first 2-3 jobs I had completed. It did not come to the right sum. There was a shortfall of several pounds. Then he started making a fuss about an invoice that I had not sent him - claiming that he could not read it. When I threatened him with a letter for action he just ignored it and claimed he would still honour payment - as long as I resent the invoice to him. Then, he mysteriously decided that he could open the attachment after all - even though I had sent the darned thing weeks ago and again this morning, by forwarding just the original e-mail attachment, not by re-attaching it.

He also continued to send me e-mails that ignored the conditions of communication - via his solicitor from now on to cover this and other payments due + late payment interest - and to strictly confine his correspondence to hard copy and to agree to dispute the invoice final figure listing all jobs to date + 8 per cent interest for late payment and cheerfully treated me as if I had not sent it and said he would transfer the latest assignment amount exactly - as would have been the case if I had not sent this last letter for action invoice. Again, I told him not to communicate by e-mail, blocked his address and he promptly sent me a cheery e-mail via another address. This is harassment.

The guy has a serious personality disorder, so it seems. He dismisses MS as if they are dirt; plays games, holds up payments and treats you with contempt. Steer well clear.