Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  11/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  11/08/23 I was schedule to participate in a focus group in *********** on 11/08/23. I woke up with a sore throat and fever. The recruiter call me up asking why I was not there. I told him, he asked if I was feeling ill prior. I told him no this happened this morning. Then he started in on people call ahead of time. I told him how could I have and I hung up.After that he sent me a text stating to be honest you did not sound sick. He also mentioned that he would stick with a competitors brand jump starter I *********** of a *** based jump starter brand His response was unprofessional and not warranted

  Business response

  11/09/2023

  I had a telephone conversation with ***** S after his communication with our recruiter.

  It was communicated to ***** that this matter would be handled internally and it was.

  Respectfully,

  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  07/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On July 7, 2022 I responded to a request from Nationwide Research Recruiters for focus group participants in my area for a program on July 19, 2022. ********************* of Nationwide called me the same day and screened me for participation. I was approved and accepted for the event on July 19, 2022 in ************, ********. ********************* noted that I would receive $250 for participating and $125 if they no longer needed my participation. I also received a confirmation email with details about the focus group. In the email, it clearly states, "If you are otherwise dismissed due to over-recruit or any other reason before the research begins, you will be paid $125 for your time and will be excused before the research begins." There is no mention as to ANY "qualifiers or exceptions" to that statement. Nationwide Research Recruiters subsequently cancelled the focus group and I asked when the $1235 would be paid. The owner, *************************, left me a voicemail stating that they would not pay since the event was canceled. He tried to claim the email "implied" that I would not be paid for a cancellation. I informed him that his confirmation of my participation did not have any qualifiers or exceptions and he made it seem like I was trying to take advantage of them. I emailed him and noted that I was required to change my schedule based on their offer and my acceptance and that this included scheduling the time off (for which I could not reclaim the time with my employer). I simply asked for them to live up to their word as a business. ************************* refused to do that.

  Business response

  07/16/2022

  This person was recruited to participate on a project that was scheduled for July 19th.  The day after he was recruited the project canceled. Two weeks prior to the group. Our invitation states that if participants are released prior to the group they will be paid $125 and released. ******************* is trying to be paid the $125 that only applies to people released on the day of the recruit.  " If you are otherwise dismissed due to over-recruit or any other reason before the research begins, you will be paid $125 for your time and will be excused before the research begins.

   

  The recruit, ************* is also Executive Director of a Non Profit.  He took the day off and as Executive Director he can get it back. I spoke with numerous Ex. Directors of non-profits yesterday who all stated that they could reclaim the day they took off since they are the Boss. ************* is trying to claim he couldn't get the day back which we believe is not true. 

   

  We have been recruiting for paid focus groups for 13 years and have recruited well over ****** people to participate in that time. This is the only time that a person has tried to be paid when a group is canceled more than a week before the scheduled  group. In fact this was closer to two weeks.

  *************************, Partner

  Nationwide Research Recruiters

  ************

   

  Tell us why here...

  Customer response

  07/17/2022

  Mr. ******* offered $125 if participation was canceled "for any reason". Those were his words as owner. He is now trying to make excuses as to what he really meant. He certainly was paid by the company hiring him for the time he spent on the focus group, even though it was canceled. Why would he not expect that participants should be paid also as promised. How dare he presume what our company policies are regarding getting vacation time back. Whether or not I am the boss, I still follow Board approved policy because I set the example for my staff. He certainly did not talk to "several other executive directors or they would have stated that they do not put themselves above their staff teams. If he did talk to anyone who said otherwise, than they are poor examples of directors...and perhaps that explains why he makes false promises. At the end of the day, his excuses mean nothing. The fact remains that he made a promise of payment if cancelation was made "for any reason". Those are in writing and undisputed per his email confirmation. If he chooses to make up stories and excuses, then I will post his business practices on the appropriate websites and look at other options. This is less about the promised payment and more about his character. At best, he made a promise that was exceedingly poorly written and he knows it. At worst, he just wants to get out of payment because his client canceled midway. Either way, it cost me time and a day of work.

  Business response

  07/17/2022

  We have asked Mr. ***** to call us and he has not.  WE have emailed him twice to call us and I have left two or three messages and he doesn't call us.

   

  We have also asked ************** to show proof that as Executive Director of a Non Profit that he cannot get the day he took off, two weeks before the group back. In our message to him we asked him to provide that information. Again we have not heard from him.

   

  If he doesn't personally contact me there is nothing we can do.

   

  So that we can have full transparency in this matter he has been cc'd on this email.

   

  *************************, Partner

  Nationwide Research Recruiters

  ************

   

  Tell us why here...

  Customer response

  07/19/2022

  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  *******************
  
  
   
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩