Has anyone worked as a mystery shopper or online survey taker?

[used2bthin]

I'm looking for something I can do for a bit of extra cash but very limited with hours I could work. I looked into cold calling for a charity but think it may be commission based and would prefer something with a set income each month. This only needs to be about £50 though.

I know that mystery shopping and oline survey taking wouldnt be set incomes but am trying to look at my options a bit. just almost signed up to an agency for mystery shopping but it wanted a joining fee and I was a bt suspicious. Any other ideas gratefully recieved! Thanks!

[nappyzonecantrunfortoffee]

I do mystery shopping but its not an income more a perk you get stuff for free. It is with a company called focus sales marketing and we pay no sign up fee. Dh does it for another company - will ask name but he mainly does mail order type things like arco and likes.

[IdrisTheDragon]

I do mystery shopping for grassroots. I seem to be doing quite a few banking ones at the moment - you get paid for going to banks, doing some transactions and then completing questionnaires about it. Have made about £100 in the past 6 weeks which is good.

I have looked at some other ones but one was wanting you to do some sort of test to accredit yourself and which you needed to pay for so I didn't go any further with that one.

I also do online surveys - I do ones for lightspeed and valued opinions. They don't pay much but it is nice to get a bit of paypal or amazon voucher every now and again.

[used2bthin]

Thank you I will look into all of those companies thats great. I take it you can choose your hours and fit it in with having a child/children ok?

[Hulababy]

I did mystery shopping for Lush for a while. You didn't get paid in cash though - was £25 worth of Lush vouchers per shop IIRR.

Had done some online surveys but they pay very poorly.

[IdrisTheDragon]

When I do the bank ones I generally do them when DD is at pre-school. I could take her with me though. You get to say when you can do them within reason.

[used2bthin]

Thanks maybe I should wait till DD in pre school in january. I am worried about tax credits confusion if its different amounts all the time too. Is that a problem for anyone else? Would I be doing tax credit paperwork every time I made £10 or does it not work like that?