I'm feeling alone.
I accepted a four dollar Print Screen shop from Service Evaluation Concepts.
The instructions were to view and purchase seat cushion replacement covers on line. The Business Analysts were assured that their accounts would not be charged. I ordered four of these little buggers, at the amazing price of 4/19.95 plus the special deal of another two for an additional shipping charge. I was not able to access the "Print Screen". The next morning I call the project manager who assures me the account would not be charged. Two hours later I get a confirmation for my order $137.95. Called again, got the same response with an add one :"You are the only one this happened to". You guessed it! I was charged. I was assured that a credit would be issued Friday AM. Friday PM no credit. Get a phone call from the system designer who promises that credit was issued. I was asked to e-mail copies of the confirmation letter and the invoice. He does offer $100, Fed Ex for Saturday AM receipt. No delivery Sat. Checks bounced, bank gets overdraft fees. Monday I call everyone and get either no answers or voice mails!

The following Friday I get the world's cheesiest covers, sized to cover a mushroom cap! Sixteen mushroom cap covers I might add!

I'm disgusted as SEC was one of my faves. I took the job to show that I was still out there. Their blatant indifference to my credit rating is soooooooooo nasty and hurtful.

Am I really the only one?

That is awful, they should stand behind their word. I used to work for them when starting six years ago, but got sick of the P/R and left. They used to be a good company, but this says something else about them, you need to fight
this charge through your credit card company. They left you hanging, shame on them! Contact the client if possible.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That is awful, they should stand behind their
> word. I used to work for them when starting six
> years ago, but got sick of the P/R and left. They
> used to be a good company, but this says something
> else about them, you need to fight
> this charge through your credit card company. They
> left you hanging, shame on them! Contact the
> client if possible.

Right On Irene! Fight that Charge, OP

Thank you for the sympathy.
I had used my bank card with the credit option, which really means that the account would be debited after three days.
I've made repeated phone calls to SEC and I'm always transferred to the voice mail.That bothers me 'cause in the past I've done favors for these very same account managers.
All I need is for them to contact my bank, take responsibility and have the bank remove the ding from my credit rating. For me to tell the bank might be useless, SEC could deny it and pass the word that I've violated the IC agreement, non?

Hi I just joined and noticed this post on SEC. I have also worked for SEC in the past and was looking to do an assignment for them, as I am just getting back into the work. Were you able to resolve this issue?

I got myself a ding on my bank credit history since I bounced a check as a result of the pillow company charging approx $145 over the anticipated 30 something dollars I "ordered". Additionally, my rating has gone from an A to a B, probably because I did not complete the shop.

I don't know how passed is your past, but their computer system has become fussy. I did a shop today and can't submit the questionnaire. All those wonderful fifth av stores are no longer available. I still like getting my salon haircuts and thankfully those shops are still there.

Marij,

Do you really want to do any shops for them since they won't answer your calls ?

Better think that over. They've caused you financial problems - seems like you can't/shouldn't trust them anymore, don't you think?

I know what you mean, shoppinalong, but the hair was getting beyond control!Notice how I denied it as my ?
I look civilized tonight.

However, I am concerned because their system won't let me in. I've written/called the project manager. According to an earlier e-mail I have 72 hours. We'll see if they fix the glitch so that I can get in before the 72 hours are up.

I always remember the words of a wise friend/shrink: "You're not paranoid unless you're wrong!"
PS I love your name, is that as in shoppinalong Cassidy?

well if it is the weekend, good luck. Goodness , if you remember Hoppalong Cassiday you are as old as I am. Sent you a PM re what we were discussing.
Later,
Cindy

I've only heard of him. The fella I married, got a Hoppalong Cassidy outfit for Christmas and loves remembering the whole deal. It's a happy place for him and I'm glad for that. It's fun to see him light up when he talks about it, for ten seconds he's five again.

marijaldm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know what you mean, shoppinalong, but the hair
> was getting beyond control!Notice how I denied it
> as my ?
> I look civilized tonight.
>
> However, I am concerned because their system won't
> let me in. I've written/called the project
> manager. According to an earlier e-mail I have 72
> hours. We'll see if they fix the glitch so that I
> can get in before the 72 hours are up.
>
> I always remember the words of a wise
> friend/shrink: "You're not paranoid unless you're
> wrong!"
> PS I love your name, is that as in shoppinalong
> Cassidy?

OMG - the only good guy who wore a black hat !

no Marij, I never thought of that -

but I bet there'd be a lot less violence in this country if they were still
showing cowboy and Indian movies instead of the bloody violent stuff they are showing night after night. Of course Native Indians might be upset if the cowboy and Indian shows came back.

"Tonto, who was that masked man?"
Cheez, today, they'd be asking about a robbery (:

Are you telling me your grown up husband has a grown up Hopalong Cassidy outfit? course, if you live in Texas, nobody would notice

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2012 10:06PM by shoppinalong.

I applied to SEC at one point.

One of their questions is about secretly recording phone calls.

I live in one of the 12 States where the onoy way you can record is if you tell the other person first. Otherwise its illegal.

I emailed the scheduler telling her it would be illegal in my state, so she emailed me back, if I didn't agree to do secret recorded phone calls, they wouldn't use me.

I deleted them.

Not breaking the law and being left to hang out.

Seems to me the same thing applies about your financial situation with them.
They couldn't care less about your credit rating, bank charges etc.

Can you return the mushroom covers Marij and get your money back??

Hope you followed other people's advice and notified the credit dept part of your card that it was unauthorizwed charges -

marijaldm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The next morning I call the
> project manager who assures me the account would
> not be charged. Two hours later I get a
> confirmation for my order $137.95.
>
> I'm disgusted as SEC was one of my faves. I took
> the job to show that I was still out there. Their
> blatant indifference to my credit rating is
> soooooooooo nasty and hurtful.

no good $#%&*!'s.

dispute the credit card charge with your credit card company. the product/transaction was misrepresented by the MSC. be sure to tell the credit card company that the refund check bounced, and that the company is no longer accessable. the company is no longer responding to your contact attempts after the refund check bounced.

but don't tell the MSC about the credit card dispute. continue to demand a refund/reversal from the MSC.

then be satisfied with whatever is successful first.

i'd personally be threatening a lawsuit at this point, if there were any potential of an adverse effect on my credit score.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2012 12:03AM by vince.

No silleeeeeeeeeeee, he doesn't have an adult size Hoppalong Cassidy outfit! I bet that sometimes he wishes. We married and divorced. Tonight, I asked my new husband and golly gee didn't he get that same look!

One of the first TV shows I saw when first in the US was Sky King. It scared the bejesus outta me. I thought it as violent and Roy Rodgers and that Lone Ranger. All were! I'd leave the room until they sang "Happy trails to you"
Give me paper dolls any day.
PS I get "that" look too.

It is good to be aware of the laws pertaining to recording, but that is not always the whole story. Often employees give permission to be recorded. We don't want people to think that every MSC who utilizes audio and/or video shopping is breaking the law.

shoppinalong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I live in one of the 12 States where the onoy way
> you can record is if you tell the other person
> first. Otherwise its illegal.

I used to work for them a lot but abruptly stopped after I received a credit card I never applied for. I did shops for them that was to see how credit card reps sold the card. Each time I "applied" I gave a fake SSN and a password given to me by SEC that was supposed to be the trigger that the app would be discarded. Long story short, my credit had been pulled several, but not every, times. I asked the credit card company how I could have gotten a card using a fake SSN and the rep said had no idea. I spent MONTHS and countless hours unraveling the mess. Apparently it was not SEC's fault, but I still will not do these types of shops again. Too bad because they paid really well.

amie068 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I used to work for them a lot but abruptly stopped
> after I received a credit card I never applied
> for. I did shops for them that was to see how
> credit card reps sold the card. Each time I
> "applied" I gave a fake SSN and a password given
> to me by SEC that was supposed to be the trigger
> that the app would be discarded. Long story short,
> my credit had been pulled several, but not every,
> times. I asked the credit card company how I could
> have gotten a card using a fake SSN and the rep
> said had no idea. I spent MONTHS and countless
> hours unraveling the mess. Apparently it was not
> SEC's fault, but I still will not do these types
> of shops again. Too bad because they paid really
> well.

that sounds scary. :O

You got that right! To say I was furious is quite the understatement. I was really perturbed that SEC did nothing to help me get the situation resolved. They certainly knew how to get to the right people at the CC company and could have at least offered to help me with contact names, direct office numbers, etc. I spent hours and hours on the phone getting connected, on hold, transferred, oh wait...that person is not here today, call back or "we are actually a call center in India and the department you need in America is not open on weekends...Sorry for your inconvenience" (the latter of these happened after about an hour of holding, transferring, etc.). The fear of that ever happening again has made me turn my head at some of those $100 payouts for about 3 hours worth of work. Add in all, my time dealing with the mess of those shops and I am confident I am way in the hole when it comes to pay.

amie068 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You got that right! To say I was furious is quite
> the understatement. I was really perturbed that
> SEC did nothing to help me get the situation
> resolved. They certainly knew how to get to the
> right people at the CC company and could have at
> least offered to help me with contact names,
> direct office numbers, etc. I spent hours and
> hours on the phone getting connected, on hold,
> transferred, oh wait...that person is not here
> today, call back or "we are actually a call center
> in India and the department you need in America is
> not open on weekends...Sorry for your
> inconvenience" (the latter of these happened after
> about an hour of holding, transferring, etc.).
> The fear of that ever happening again has made me
> turn my head at some of those $100 payouts for
> about 3 hours worth of work. Add in all, my time
> dealing with the mess of those shops and I am
> confident I am way in the hole when it comes to
> pay.

have you obtained a recent credit report with a list of all credit inquiries?

I haven't read all the responses so if this has been stated, apologies. However, have you tried contacting your card company and offering them proof that your card was not supposed to be charged? The instructions and all those emails might help you get the fees reversed.

It might not work but you won't know if you don't try. You've got nothing to lose. Good luck.

Has anyone delt with the client directly to resolve these serious issues?
If so did the MSC find and did what?

No Vince, the credit card co ie my bank contributed to my rise in blood pressure. They kept saying that they couldn't give a credit until a debit was made. It was a nutty afternoon. I get crazy when I remember it. I shoed them the original invoice and they compared it to the real one, but as they said I'd have to prove that I didn't order more of them, etc etc etc.

It is sad that SEC obviously does not go out of its way to help the victimized shopper. I guess I am not alone, Amie got the treatment too.

I used a shipping shop from the naked ones and re-gifted the covers to my friend. She now has cushions seats with brand new clean covers.

Marij,

that is a terrible shane. $137 for mushroom covers and toadstools.

I'd write the Pres of the MSC company a letter and let him know how his schedulers are giving wrong instructions causing financial losses .

Better yet, You should change the title of this thread , you can do that you know, to : WORK for SEC AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Actually in my view they should be payng you back the money since they put you
up to the order. Tsk Tsk.

marijaldm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No silleeeeeeeeeeee, he doesn't have an adult size
> Hoppalong Cassidy outfit! I bet that sometimes he
> wishes. We married and divorced. Tonight, I asked
> my new husband and golly gee didn't he get that
> same look!
>
> One of the first TV shows I saw when first in the
> US was Sky King. It scared the bejesus outta me. I
> thought it as violent and Roy Rodgers and that
> Lone Ranger. All were! I'd leave the room until
> they sang "Happy trails to you"
> Give me paper dolls any day.
> PS I get "that" look too.

How could you divorce a man who wistfully still thinks about Hopalong Cassidy?

And where are you finding all these men?

'cause he liked Calamity Jane mo' than me and his 3 little cowpokes!

marijaldm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 'cause he liked Calamity Jane mo' than me and his
> 3 little cowpokes!




Maridj - you have a way with words fun

Re: SEC, I've called everyone that I thought could help. SEC, in my opinion, did not think that the charges would hit accounts. The programmer had assured them and SEC went with it.
This dummy accepted the shop, looked at the ad, ordered the merchandise, gave CC info but could not provide a screen scan so the next morning called SEC. Dummy was told all would be fine. Dummy gets invoices for approx 3 times the cost of ordered merchandise. Dummy calls SEC and is assured no charges to her account would follow and to please send SEC invoices. Dummy complies. Friday Dummy calls bank to confirm balance of debit/credit card. Agh it happened !The excess amount overdrew the account! Bank gets called , but can't issue credit until debit is issued.SEC gets called, messages are left. Dummy gets home and finds e-mails from SEC and Programmer, followed by a phone call from programmer. He "promises" that I'm the only one who's gotten charged and could I send copies of the invoices. He offers to FED-EX $100 cash for my troubles or a run like hell to deposit the cash. FED-EX arrives Monday and not Saturday as hoped. Monday, debit hits the bank plus a $35 overdraft fee. Hundred dollar deposit gets there after 2pm, so it is considered a Tuesday deposit. I have at this point called SEC and at least five times am connected to answering machines. Tuesday money gets credited. Thursday, the programmer's consolation prize arrives: 16 free pillow covers.I couldn't bring myself to contribute more trouble by calling anyone else.
My original question question was "am I really the only one?". Sadly, it sounds like Amy got treated poorly by SEC, I at least got pillow covers and unknowingly $100 hush money, so to speak, and a ding in my credit rating.