Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can become a Mystery Shopper?
2. What does each Mystery Shopping visit involve?
3. How will I be offered visits?
4. Do visits have to be completed at a certain time on a certain date?
5. When do I have to submit my results?
6. What should I do if there are problems with my visit?
7. Do I need to ask for a receipt?
8. How much will I get paid?
9. Am I employed by TNS Research International?
10. How do you use my personal information?

 

1.  Who can become a Mystery Shopper?

As long as you are 18 years or older, a British or Irish citizen and have Internet access you can become a  TNS Research International (TNS RI) Mystery Shopper. Click here to apply now.

2.  What does each Mystery Shopping visit involve?

When you conduct a Mystery Shopping assessment, you are acting as an ambassador for all of the other customers whose voices are rarely heard. Your role is to observe and to report. Mystery shopping is always done covertly in order that the staff you will encounter act completely naturally…as if they were dealing with a typical customer.

By taking on the role of a typical customer, you will need to be unbiased and objective, simply recording what you observe as you interact with any members of staff you meet. You may be making an enquiry or even making a purchase which you may be allowed to keep, for which you will be reimbursed.

3.  How will I be offered visits?

Upon receiving confirmation that your application to become a TNS RI Mystery Shopper has been accepted you will be supplied with your own personal login details for accessing the Online Booking System (OBS). Via the OBS you are able to self allocate visits you are interested in. It will be up to you how many/few visits you self allocate, though please remember to only allocate those visits you know you can complete.

From time to time a member of the TNS RI Mystery Shopping team may also contact you (by email or phone) advising that there is an urgent or exciting visit available, so please provide us with the most up to date telephone number and email address you wish to be contacted on.

4.  Do visits have to be completed at a certain time on a certain date?

Yes - visits should be carried out on the date and time as detailed on the OBS. If, after accepting a visit, you discover that you are no longer able to complete it please contact the TNS RI Mystery Shopping team as soon as possible to ensure that we are able to reallocate the visit to someone else. Please note that if you complete a visit outside of the specified dates, it may not be valid, and we may not be able to pay you.

5.  When do I have to submit my results?

We operate a web-based system whereby we can send and receive data very quickly. Our clients expect us to be able to produce their reports within days of the visits taking place. This is key to the level of service that we offer. In order for us to be able to complete our processes internally, it is vital that you submit your reports within the deadline specified in the briefing notes, or 24 hours if no deadline is specified, after the visit has taken place. If you are delayed for any reason you must contact the TNS RI Mystery Shopping team; if we do not hear from you and our attempts to contact you fail, then we will re-allocate the visit and you may not get paid.

6.  What should I do if there are problems with my visit?

Prior to each visit you will be supplied with briefing notes which outline the requirements for that visit. If, upon receipt, you discover that you are unable to complete the visit please contact the TNS RI Mystery Shopping team immediately. If during the visit you encounter problems, please continue and complete the visit to the best of your abilities, then contact us immediately to discuss the issues.

7.  Do I need to ask for a receipt?

If requested within the briefing notes, receipts and its details must be provided. If you have lost your receipt please contact the TNS RI Mystery Shopping team immediately, even before completing the results, as this may result in the visit needing to be re-shopped, as some clients require proof that the visit has taken place.

8.  How much will I get paid?

The payment for each visit will vary depending on its length and complexity. Typically fees range between £5 & £10 per visit plus expenses towards any purchases that are not to be returned. There may also be additional travel expense cover for some visits. All fee details are clearly outlined on the OBS along with the other key visit details.

Payment is by BACS transfer on the last Friday in the month. Any visit(s) carried out before the cut off date around the 14th of each month will be paid at the end of that month, any visit(s) carried out after the cut off date will be paid at the end of the following month

9. Am I employed by TNS RI?

No – you are not employed by TNS RI. We will not make any deductions from the fee for tax or National Insurance contributions. You are responsible for all tax and National Insurance contributions which are payable in respect of the fee. For your information, if so requested by the Inland Revenue, we are required to supply details of all fees and expenses paid to you during the relevant tax year.

10. How do you use my personal information?

Personal data will never be divulged to any 3rd parties, and will be kept in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Please refer to our Privacy Policy  for more information on how we keep and use your personal data.