Ambient Planet hired me at the end of August to execute a Quizno's campaign. Colleen McGovern wanted me to sign a contract, however I renegotiated terms as theirs were not acceptable.
I began with project 1 in Oakville. The first day my partner was a no show. I did it myself. Then Colleen asked me if I knew anyone. I brought in a partner named Karen. We did two more days of the project and the following Wednesday our cheque arrived.
The following Friday we did a project for Quizno's in Whitby, ON which was a 45 minute drive. We executed beyond expectation and then Colleen asked us to do a project in Hamilton the following week. I agreed, however the distance was close to an hour away and Karen and I agreed with a $25.00 gas stipend.
That was the first week of September. Over two weeks ago I inquired about payment. It took Colleen a week to get back to me. That is where the run around started. I then started researching finding that they have done this many times on the Quizno's promotion. Through craigslist I found two other women in my area who had been taken. One still hadn't been paid since May.
Knowing this, I emailed Colleen and then the typical stories you read on Rip Off Report started to emerge. Each story very similar to the rest. It seems their troubles really started toward the end of August. "London will pay you." "I will look into it." I gave them a deadline of Friday and was told that the time difference wouldn't allow them to get back to me. I then gave a firm deadline of Monday. Colleen told me they would be in touch, however as of noon today here in Toronto, as the business day drew to a close in London, I was certain it wasn't going to happen.
I am filing with the RCMP and am just filling out the form for the Better Business Bureau. I also contacted the Marketing Director of Quizno's here in Toronto and left a voice message. No return call. From what I am researching, Quizno's is aware of these issues and therefore is complicit as we are executing a project that benefits them and therefore they are liable. I am certain this is going to be a fight as I read multiple other complaints all very much the same. Colleen McGovern and Ernie Zambrano are also complicit and are named in multiple complaints. They only run up bills of 300 ish with each party too which seems to make payment insignificant to them.