I strongly prefer to fill out my reports on a computer as opposed to my phone. Most of the shops I do (aside from video() require narratives and my old fingers write much better on a proper keyboard than on my phone. :)
On my iPhone8, the button on the app for the ticket system is the fifth one down in the center column. On the website, it's on the top banner on the main page.
I am signed up with about 130 companies and have done work for about 50 of them. I frequently do 20 shops in a week and have done as many as 32 in a day. I have organized bookmarks in my internet browser for each MSC. I keep a detailed spreadsheet with assigned shops, MSC, pay due, etc. on my laptop. I never, therefore, "forget" shops, always know if I have been paid, and track when payments are due (or late) to me.
I am signed up with about 130 companies and have done work for about 50 of them. I frequently do 20 shops in a week and have done as many as 32 in a day. I have organized bookmarks in my internet browser for each MSC. I keep a detailed spreadsheet with assigned shops, MSC, pay due, etc. on my laptop. I never, therefore, "forget" shops, always know if I have been paid, and track when payments are due (or late) to me.
You adjust the area for the job search function on the job board to the zip codes of wherever you are going and request the shops just as you would normally.
I self-assign most of my shops. However, if I had to apply and wait for a scheduler, I'd also send an email to the scheduler letting them know that I was on the road and hoped to pick up the shop during my travels.
You never know how quickly schedulers will reply - each scheduler and each MSC is different. There are times I hear back from schedulers within a few minutes of emailing them and there are times I never hear back When I am on a tight time frame, I will send a message "high priority" and say "today" in the subject line. For shops I want for the same day, however, it is definitely best to have self-assign abilities. ... There are a number of schedulers with whom I have developed decent rapport and I have their cell numbers. I'll text them for last-minute needs.
If you want a huge list of companies, check out the MysteryShopForum. They have a list of about 200 MSC's linked at the bottom of their forum pages.
The most free information compiled anywhere is on the MysteryShopForum. (Google it.) A link on the bottom of the forum pages there will give you contact (and sign up) information for better than 200 companies.
I am not new to the world of mystery shopping.
I am yet to see any proof that any MSC has submitted a report to a client after having rejected the shopper's report. I know of situations where the report was rejected in error (and later corrected), but never one in which there was any evidence that the MSC made the unethical move of trying to get paid for it themselves. Of course, nobody can say with certainty that it hasn't happened. I would suggest that it is very rare.
Out of thousands of shops I have done, I have had one rejection. And, it was my fault.
I have seen many, many accusations by angry shoppers after shops have been rejected. However, after asking a few questions, it has been clear that the shopper screwed up the shop and deserved to have it rejected. This is very, very common. I have also made quite a bit of money doing last-minute shops that other shoppers have had rejected and which, therefore, the MSC's have needed to re-shop.
As for your apartment MSC, I have almost certainly shopped for them and have not had that problem.