MysteryShopLink.com Total scam and complete rip-off! They just want your money! Ventura California

Isabel, no offense taken. I wasn't referring to you personally, or tossing a barb about implied lack of education. The comments I made on education referred to the other two negative entries on mysteryshoplink here in ripoffreport. Those individuals cited problems and frustration with correct spelling and grammar and accurate submission of entries in the shop forms, that if the forms weren't letter-perfect they'd be rejected and no payment would be made. Such perfection and detail demanded by the mystery shop companies does seem excessive when you consider how the leaders of our country speak and write.

I don't claim to be any kind of genius, but rather through extensive reading during my school years I've developed what can only be described as an instinctive feel for correct spelling and grammar. Reading tons and tons of books just beats it into you. Also, I have no faith in automated spell-checkers and/or grammar checkers. They may check for spelling of words and basic grammatical structure but don't catch context, nor do they catch if the word, although correctly spelled, is the right word for the situation.

Part of my primary job is proofreading weather forecast bulletins prior to website posting, and I've seen time and again mistakes go undetected by so-called spelling and grammar checkers. I apologize if I came across as magnanimous or condescending, that in no way was my intention. I probably should have submitted my response as a consumer comment versus a consumer suggestion. That way it wouldn't show as a rebuttal, which can appear as though I was singling someone out.

Okay, on to the mysteryshoplink issue. Has the BBB or FTC done anything for you? The fact that there are other complaints about mysteryshoplink in the same vein in ripoffreport and numerous internet forums should lend some impetus into an investigation on their activities. I had a problem with the Cricket cell phone people in 2003.

I submitted a complaint to the BBB and in two months Cricket coughed up my refund that they previously claimed to have misplaced/lost records on. As far as a solution on getting your money bank, I honestly can't provide one, other than recommending for future forays of this type to use a credit card account versus a bank account. Credit card companies have more consumer protection structure than a bank, plus they normally suspend the disputed amount - meaning you're not liable to pay on it - while they investigate the bad business.

With a bank, you're basically out of luck unless it's a premium type account or you get a sympathetic bank manager to reverse the automatic debits. It looks like you've already provided a permanent solution, just close the bank account and dare the companies to come after you. You have already established a documented trail of attempts at resolving the problem, which should cover you under consumer protection laws.

Lastly, I'm not an undercover supporter of mysteryshoplink. That would be devious and dishonest. I'm just a person who joined to make a few extra dollars and after a glacially slow start didn't find it all bad. I'm looking forward to doing my taxes next year as I may well be able to claim a percentage of my mortgage and utilities and automobile use as deductible business expenses. Isabel, thank you for the constructive comments.

Isabel, no offense taken. I wasn't referring to you personally, or tossing a barb about implied lack of education. The comments I made on education referred to the other two negative entries on mysteryshoplink here in ripoffreport. Those individuals cited problems and frustration with correct spelling and grammar and accurate submission of entries in the shop forms, that if the forms weren't letter-perfect they'd be rejected and no payment would be made. Such perfection and detail demanded by the mystery shop companies does seem excessive when you consider how the leaders of our country speak and write.

I don't claim to be any kind of genius, but rather through extensive reading during my school years I've developed what can only be described as an instinctive feel for correct spelling and grammar. Reading tons and tons of books just beats it into you. Also, I have no faith in automated spell-checkers and/or grammar checkers. They may check for spelling of words and basic grammatical structure but don't catch context, nor do they catch if the word, although correctly spelled, is the right word for the situation.

Part of my primary job is proofreading weather forecast bulletins prior to website posting, and I've seen time and again mistakes go undetected by so-called spelling and grammar checkers. I apologize if I came across as magnanimous or condescending, that in no way was my intention. I probably should have submitted my response as a consumer comment versus a consumer suggestion. That way it wouldn't show as a rebuttal, which can appear as though I was singling someone out.

Okay, on to the mysteryshoplink issue. Has the BBB or FTC done anything for you? The fact that there are other complaints about mysteryshoplink in the same vein in ripoffreport and numerous internet forums should lend some impetus into an investigation on their activities. I had a problem with the Cricket cell phone people in 2003.

I submitted a complaint to the BBB and in two months Cricket coughed up my refund that they previously claimed to have misplaced/lost records on. As far as a solution on getting your money bank, I honestly can't provide one, other than recommending for future forays of this type to use a credit card account versus a bank account. Credit card companies have more consumer protection structure than a bank, plus they normally suspend the disputed amount - meaning you're not liable to pay on it - while they investigate the bad business.

With a bank, you're basically out of luck unless it's a premium type account or you get a sympathetic bank manager to reverse the automatic debits. It looks like you've already provided a permanent solution, just close the bank account and dare the companies to come after you. You have already established a documented trail of attempts at resolving the problem, which should cover you under consumer protection laws.

Lastly, I'm not an undercover supporter of mysteryshoplink. That would be devious and dishonest. I'm just a person who joined to make a few extra dollars and after a glacially slow start didn't find it all bad. I'm looking forward to doing my taxes next year as I may well be able to claim a percentage of my mortgage and utilities and automobile use as deductible business expenses. Isabel, thank you for the constructive comments.

Isabel, no offense taken. I wasn't referring to you personally, or tossing a barb about implied lack of education. The comments I made on education referred to the other two negative entries on mysteryshoplink here in ripoffreport. Those individuals cited problems and frustration with correct spelling and grammar and accurate submission of entries in the shop forms, that if the forms weren't letter-perfect they'd be rejected and no payment would be made. Such perfection and detail demanded by the mystery shop companies does seem excessive when you consider how the leaders of our country speak and write.

I don't claim to be any kind of genius, but rather through extensive reading during my school years I've developed what can only be described as an instinctive feel for correct spelling and grammar. Reading tons and tons of books just beats it into you. Also, I have no faith in automated spell-checkers and/or grammar checkers. They may check for spelling of words and basic grammatical structure but don't catch context, nor do they catch if the word, although correctly spelled, is the right word for the situation.

Part of my primary job is proofreading weather forecast bulletins prior to website posting, and I've seen time and again mistakes go undetected by so-called spelling and grammar checkers. I apologize if I came across as magnanimous or condescending, that in no way was my intention. I probably should have submitted my response as a consumer comment versus a consumer suggestion. That way it wouldn't show as a rebuttal, which can appear as though I was singling someone out.

Okay, on to the mysteryshoplink issue. Has the BBB or FTC done anything for you? The fact that there are other complaints about mysteryshoplink in the same vein in ripoffreport and numerous internet forums should lend some impetus into an investigation on their activities. I had a problem with the Cricket cell phone people in 2003.

I submitted a complaint to the BBB and in two months Cricket coughed up my refund that they previously claimed to have misplaced/lost records on. As far as a solution on getting your money bank, I honestly can't provide one, other than recommending for future forays of this type to use a credit card account versus a bank account. Credit card companies have more consumer protection structure than a bank, plus they normally suspend the disputed amount - meaning you're not liable to pay on it - while they investigate the bad business.

With a bank, you're basically out of luck unless it's a premium type account or you get a sympathetic bank manager to reverse the automatic debits. It looks like you've already provided a permanent solution, just close the bank account and dare the companies to come after you. You have already established a documented trail of attempts at resolving the problem, which should cover you under consumer protection laws.

Lastly, I'm not an undercover supporter of mysteryshoplink. That would be devious and dishonest. I'm just a person who joined to make a few extra dollars and after a glacially slow start didn't find it all bad. I'm looking forward to doing my taxes next year as I may well be able to claim a percentage of my mortgage and utilities and automobile use as deductible business expenses. Isabel, thank you for the constructive comments.

Isabel, no offense taken. I wasn't referring to you personally, or tossing a barb about implied lack of education. The comments I made on education referred to the other two negative entries on mysteryshoplink here in ripoffreport. Those individuals cited problems and frustration with correct spelling and grammar and accurate submission of entries in the shop forms, that if the forms weren't letter-perfect they'd be rejected and no payment would be made. Such perfection and detail demanded by the mystery shop companies does seem excessive when you consider how the leaders of our country speak and write.

I don't claim to be any kind of genius, but rather through extensive reading during my school years I've developed what can only be described as an instinctive feel for correct spelling and grammar. Reading tons and tons of books just beats it into you. Also, I have no faith in automated spell-checkers and/or grammar checkers. They may check for spelling of words and basic grammatical structure but don't catch context, nor do they catch if the word, although correctly spelled, is the right word for the situation.

Part of my primary job is proofreading weather forecast bulletins prior to website posting, and I've seen time and again mistakes go undetected by so-called spelling and grammar checkers. I apologize if I came across as magnanimous or condescending, that in no way was my intention. I probably should have submitted my response as a consumer comment versus a consumer suggestion. That way it wouldn't show as a rebuttal, which can appear as though I was singling someone out.

Okay, on to the mysteryshoplink issue. Has the BBB or FTC done anything for you? The fact that there are other complaints about mysteryshoplink in the same vein in ripoffreport and numerous internet forums should lend some impetus into an investigation on their activities. I had a problem with the Cricket cell phone people in 2003.

I submitted a complaint to the BBB and in two months Cricket coughed up my refund that they previously claimed to have misplaced/lost records on. As far as a solution on getting your money bank, I honestly can't provide one, other than recommending for future forays of this type to use a credit card account versus a bank account. Credit card companies have more consumer protection structure than a bank, plus they normally suspend the disputed amount - meaning you're not liable to pay on it - while they investigate the bad business.

With a bank, you're basically out of luck unless it's a premium type account or you get a sympathetic bank manager to reverse the automatic debits. It looks like you've already provided a permanent solution, just close the bank account and dare the companies to come after you. You have already established a documented trail of attempts at resolving the problem, which should cover you under consumer protection laws.

Lastly, I'm not an undercover supporter of mysteryshoplink. That would be devious and dishonest. I'm just a person who joined to make a few extra dollars and after a glacially slow start didn't find it all bad. I'm looking forward to doing my taxes next year as I may well be able to claim a percentage of my mortgage and utilities and automobile use as deductible business expenses. Isabel, thank you for the constructive comments.

Stephen Thank you for your rebuttal but I have also tried to cut them off in their tracks from the get go, however, they did not stop the payments. I have tried to contact them in regards to it but there has been no success.

My main issue with them is that they will not contact me in regards to these monthly withdrawals that I have repeatedly contacted them about. I completely agree with the heavy positive spin and that it can be easily misconstrued. If you are consistent you can be successful, I have no doubt but lack of customer service is the issue here.

As for you building rapport with other companies, that is great for you. But I do not see how spelling and grammar issues are related to this issue. Nor do I see what a good education has to do with this particular issue.

By the sounds of it, it sounds as though you are implying that I do NOT have a good education and that I have issues with the English language. I wholeheartedly believe that a good education can open many doors for you but your statement and reference to them in your rebuttal only makes you sound like a degrading know-it-all, no offense.

Personal attacks are quite unbecoming and you should be careful of how you say things, especially when you are writing because people cannot tell your tone of voice and what emotions you might be trying to convey. And for all anyone knows you might just be a representative of mysteryshoplink that is trying to redeem the name they have created for themselves for their lack of good customer service amongst the secret shopper community.

If you are not an undercover rep, but you are just a good Samaritan spreading your word then that is great and thanks for your input. Although your comment might be helpful to some for future reference, in the end, you have helped in no way with coming up with a solution to this particular problem. Thanks anyway.

I saw their ad in our local newspaper on or about 1 Dec 06. I joined in 5 minutes over my cell phone, and they asked for a $99.95 annual membership which I paid for with my AMEX card. I use AMEX for a majority of my finances as they aggressively pursue bad business conducted with their cardmembers. I also received a number of telephone calls after initially joining mysteryshoplink, offers for gift and vacation clubs, discount gasoline services, health insurance, etc., with startup fees of $1 and monthly payments afterward. I stopped all of these in their tracks by either saying no, or by canceling them within the 30-day window upon receipt of materials in the mail. I did the obligatory two trial shops and took a battery of 20-plus shop category tests. A bunch of offers immediately showed up in my member inbox, but almost all were from affiliated companies requesting I register with them as well. I did all that, and since the second week of January I've been doing one or two shops a week on the average, all offers from the affiliated companies that contact me directly via my email, not via mystershoplink. When I haven't seen any shops in my mysteryshoplink box for a period of time, I email mysteryshoplink and they always respond. I've received payments this month for the shops I did through January, via check in the mail or PayPal payment. I've made back over twice what I paid initially, not much but it's a start. I will say that mysteryshoplink used a bit of trickery by putting a heavy positive spin on the earning potential. What they claim you can earn might be true if you were the only shopper in town, but not necessarily true if many people in one area join and take all the available shops. Overall, I've received nothing directly monetarily from mysteryshoplink, but on the other hand that $99.95 paid for membership with at least half a dozen other companies, as none of them charged me for registering through recognizing me as a mysteryshoplink member, and they offer me shops on a semi-regular basis. Equally important, I've done good quality shops and have built a good rapport with each of the other companies. I've never had a problem with spelling, grammar or data entry errors, a good education can guarantee that. In summary, the mysteryshoplink experience started very slow, and it was easy to perceive as a ripoff. But, if you watch yourself, cancel the b.s. club membership offers immediately, use a debit or credit card for memberships to reduce/eliminate loss liability, and wait a bit for shops to eventually come your way, it won't seem like much of a ripoff at all.