Escalating Non-Payment

I’ve done in-person and online focus groups as beer money for a few years. Lately, some market research companies I’ve done studies for are finding more creative ways to deny payment. One example: three days of online bulletin work for $350 denied because the company did not like the responses. The fit the criteria but the responses were not to their liking.

My current study involved two days of online work and a three hour Zoom conference call for $250. After completing the online portion, I joined the Zoom call five minutes late and got denied. The company now says the homework compensation is contingent on the Zoom conference call/focus group.

Normally I’d cut my losses but I am fed up. Every ten or so focus groups, there will be a smaller market research company who will deny compensation for the most asinine reasons. One egregious example I’ve seen is a participant getting denied for not speaking Spaniard Spanish. The woman was Puerto Rican and the focus group asked for general Spanish speakers. I spoke on her behalf to the facility manager but the company would not budge.

I’m pissed. I want to file a complaint with the appropriate state agency in Illinois and send a demand letter for payment. What’s the best course of action for this?

submitted by /u/Berrymorerue
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/beermoney/comments/hc4w4g/escalating_nonpayment/