A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

I can't even make $10 an hour at TT with VR and straight typing. - Should I change companies or just give up? :(

Posted: Feb 06, 2010

Things come into play, how fast do you straight and - what kind of platform with

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your company? Are you doing mostly VR or half and half? People have said you do not have to be fast to do VR. What are your thoughts, yes, no?

I'm in the same boat at TT - sm

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Can't make any money, and work is low on my accounts. I'm trying really hard to hold on until summer when I'll have a little more financial wiggle room to switch to something else.... anything else. I used to work with my dad, who was a contractor, and I did really good drywall work. I'm wondering if I can do that? I'd certainly get some exercise!

We work in construction, as well. Drywall is in high demand and they are getting - mt68

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$60/hour for doing that kind of work. That is not big city, either, but rural Midwest.

Seriously? - drywall

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What the heck am I doing sitting in front of this computer? But, I can see I'll really have to sell to get someone to take on a middle-aged woman for drywall work. I actually loved doing construction with my dad, but outside of helping friends, doing volunteer stuff for Habitat, and working on my own house, I haven't done it for some time.

You'd be surprised. Our employees don't have the patience to do a good job - mt68

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with the sanding, and that is when we can get them to show up for work. A reliable employee is worth their weight in gold. You might be surprised how quickly you would get hired on or even build up your own business :)

Yes, work ethic is not what it used to be. - drywall

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My father hated all the sanding, too, which is probably why he taught me to do it. For me, I thought that hanging drywall, taping and sanding delivered a really fast improvement on a job. For days and days stuff goes on. But when the drywall goes up, the joints are taped and sanded, voila! Walls! And then you're only paint away from seeing a finished space. I liked that. Dad also taught me to do plaster repairs, and I just spent about a week fixing a hole in my living room ceiling... 100 year old horsehair plaster. Looks brand new now.

You've given me something to think about. I'll definitely give that a try. I'd love to be out working on jobs again. And I'm definitely the type of person that wants to do a good job and has pride in what I do.

Drywall? - tired MT

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Where at in rural Midwest are you? I live rural midwest and would much rather hang and finish drywall than type and I have a lot of experience doing it but there are no jobs around here.

I have made the decision to work my way out of transcription. I am at the $10/hr... - mt68

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range, too, and I have tried everything to make this work.

I would like to be able to switch accounts at TT because when they changed my platform, my account stopped working for me. However, I am finding there is not enough work in my backups to use as a backup let alone add a new MT. (I am really amazed they are still hiring???)

I have tried different companies part-time to test them out, and they have all run out of work and have even lower pay. To me, trying to change companies right now seems like it will only be worse - low pay AND no work AND learning new doctors.

I guess the final straw for me was when my nephew started a job last week as a cashier at the local gas station at a starting wage of almost $10/hr with benefits...plus he doesn't have to flex when it is slow and go back to work later in the day in order to keep his benefits - when did we all decide that was okay?

It is sad, but that is how it is. I thought I would be able to ride it out 2 more years before I would have to leave the industry, but that won't happen. At this point, I probably only have 2 more months before I just can't afford it anymore.

I am getting out too - NewAngle

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Working on getting a man to take care of me. Got him hooked, now just slowly reeling him in.

My friend and I had a talk about man taking care - of us, like you are saying

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Girl I went to school with years ago told me this past year she always thought a man was supposed to take care of her, woman's place in the home. I never thought I would find a man that would want to take care of me, thus I have worked all my life. Long story- this girl married one of our classmates, married years, 2 grown children, nice home, swimming pool, had nice trips, anything she wanted, he had a very good job and then he dropped dead 1 day. She had never worked, had no background for any work. She is now 67 and working at Payless. She got some money from insurance but when he died she was too young to start even drawing money from social security off her husband. I am so, so very thankful that I thought never would find that man. Oh, by the way, someone did come into my life that might take care of me but you never know so I just continue working.

You are so right - MDI/trans MT

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My father, while he was still alive, hated the fact that I went into this field, and felt I should have married someone who could provide well for me. Well, I never found that person, and I ended up with 4 children to raise, but I was an MT, and over the years it afforded me a way of taking care of my children, although times were lean, but I could work at home and not worry about traveling to work, until they were out of the house and I took jobs in doctor's office and hospitals. I loved being at home when my children came home from school. I worked 2 jobs, but still was never without work when others were losing their jobs. I told both of my daughters to develop skills that would take care of them, and never depend solely on a man to provide everything in your life, but be independent and have your own money. They both did that and are thankful for the advice. My brother dropped dead at 35 from a brain aneurysm, which left my SIL with 3 boys, a mortgage, and my brother had cashed in his life insurance 1 week before he died to pay for the new business he was starting. My SIL never had to work while she was married to my brother, and they both got married at 17. He had done well for himself and worked hard, but most of the money went into his new business. I am sure he didn't count on dying at 35, but it does happen. She had to start from the bottom and work her way up, making minimum wage.

Yep, marrying a man for his money and completely losing - your independence is much less stressful. nm

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nm

man with money - tired MT

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I sure wish i had a good man to take care of me. I need a long vacation!

There is no free lunch - Old and Tired MT

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You pay one way or the other. I need a long vacation, too, but when you depend on a man and his money, you are at HIS mercy. Nothing is ever free.

True that - my friend often regrets it - slave to his whims

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My friend went back to her ex. He spoils her rotten monitarily, but when she's not bragging about her latest perk, she often calls whining about his demands and wishing she could leave him - she found a porno, she thinks he's cheating, she wants him to change and he told her he won't. I have little sympathy - choosing to be a parasite has its price. I can't respect her choice - I'd rather live under a bridge in box that be enslaved by greed and laziness. If he drops dead tomorrow, she will be homeless with nothing, because she blows every cent he gives her and whines for more; and now her looks and health are gone so she's not going to find another sugar daddy after this one. Bad choices have been made there.

She chose the wrong man - they are not all like that

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There are lots of good give-and-take men out there. Two paychecks are better than one. Make the right choice and its a win-win for both.

that's not true. If he divorces her, she gets her share, and if he dies, she gets her share - no

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nm

They are not married - divorced years ago. - slave to his whims

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They had a stormy marriage, a bitter divorce, and now they are back together in an informal living arrangement - she has no legal rights whatever unless they get married again. She loves to use him and he loves to keep her under his thumb...but as I said, she's up a creek if he dies or suddenly decides to dump her.

I absolutely agree, VR is not worth it!! I am getting out as well! - Time for a change

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I know people working at the grocery store who are getting paid more than I am and also get a nice benefit package. IC is just not worth it anymore and by the time you pay for own insurance or add funds to pay for your family if you are employted, there is not a lot of money left. I actually think enough experienced people might leave the field that it might cause a problem a few years down the line for quality work, especially for those difficult docs. Time will tell!

There is always hope. - Moonchild

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I have been doing medical transcription at home for about 15 years. Have been working for a great company for 3 years doing only straight typing and earning $20-25/hr, sometimes more. One reason I have always had work is because I have always worked 3rd shift. Some of you might try that before you give up as there is always a need and you should make more money.

I would do one of a couple of things - Personally

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Your problem is either the company you are working for or your own skills.

If you already know the company is the problem, go elsewhere. $10 is not enough.

If nobody will hire you or you can't pass an employment test, and yes, there are jobs right now and people are passing tests and being hired, you might update your skills. Have someone look at your work and tell you if there is some reason they are taking you off accounts and not giving you new ones when they are hiring new people to fill those accounts. If there is nothing about your skills or your attitude that is keeping you from succeeding, it's your company, so fire them and move on.

There is always that third option of getting into something entirely different. That drywall idea sounds like a good one.

A new career - anon

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I had a friend who lost everything in Hurricane Andrew. She went from Miami to California with nothing but the clothes on her back. Long story short, she became a general contractor and is really reeling in the big bucks today. I had never met a female contractor before, but she was mighty good at what she did and her pocketbook showed it$$$$.

Thanks for this info, thought it was only me - GADeb

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I am in that same boat too, thanks for posting because I thought it was just me. I have tried and tried, but since being hired in september, have only met minimum line requirements twice due to running out of work.

I couldn't either, and I've changed companies. - cc

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It's too early to know if I'll be able to with the new company. The people here who love VR say it has a lot to do with the platform, so that may or may not be the problem for you. With me, I was barely making minimum wage, and I'm both a fast typist and a speed reader (I started reading when I was 3).

Yep, TT promises you the moon - Malnourished MT

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and delivers a small meteorite.

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