The rumors are true; they will find a way not to pay you. The reason they gave not to pay me was that they couldn't verify I was at the correct location, though I followed the driving directions they provided to the letter. My town tends to have vague addresses like "Highway 92" or "SR166;" many times locations will list, say, "Marietta Highway" as their address, but "Marietta Highway" is also known as "Campbellton-Fairburn" or just "Highway 92."
Another shopper rebuts saying that it was not Marketforce but the client that was refusing to pay; this makes no difference. I don't work for the client; I worked for Marketforce, and Marketforce owes me for performing as agreed. I did what they said to do at the address they said to do it.
It is not my problem that they have the incorrect address listed on their shop, nor is it my problem that the semi-rural area in which I live apparently has difficulty being identified in directory assistance etc. I followed the directions to the location listed on Marketforce's website, there was a McDonald's there as expected. It is their job to obtain the correct address, not mine.
Additionally, since the store is not supposed to know that you are a mystery shopper, there is no way to confirm with employees you are at the correct store. Who asks a McDonald's cashier what their address is without raising suspicion? Please, but no. "I'd like a double cheeseburger, and can you confirm this store's physical address please?"
I have asked them to remove me from their list of independent contractors. I recommend you do the same.
Edie
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.