Mystery Shopping Legislation Update

by Helen Pelletier
May, 2001

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) is currently seeking amendments to the Private Investigator Laws in Three states: Arizona, Nevada and Illinois. These amendments will allow mystery shops to operate without a Private Investigator (P.I.) License.

MSPA members have been utilizing an e-mail campaign to educate legislators in all three states on why mystery shopping should be exempt from P.I. licensing. MRA has been supporting MSPA's efforts with "Call to Action" e-mail notices, as well as requests to MRA mystery shopping researchers to send letters to each state's legislators.

Meanwhile, the MRA Capital Network Volunteers are recruiting MRA members and related businesses to represent our concerns at each state's legislative committee hearings.

The MSPA supports the need for a P.I. License. for "integrity based" shops. If an employee could be prosecuted or terminated from employment because of the mystery shop results, then MSPA endorses the P.I. License. requirement.

When notified by MRA Headquarters of a "Call to Action," we urge members to take a few minutes to help support MSPA. Both associations' members need to be diligent in communicating with their states' legislators to make our opinion count. We still need everyone's active support. The requirement of a P.I. License., if enacted, will cost mystery shopping researchers money, or subject them to a fine.

Re-printed with permission from Marketing Research Association.

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