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

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but is there anyone here going to sign with Mercedes? - nm

Posted: Sep 06, 2014

Not me -- insulted and disgusted. nm - Hope they reap what they sow

Signing with Mercedes? - SPP

[ In Reply To ..]
Nope. I think this was planned from the very beginning by Mercedes, not the sisters at OTI, to take their accounts to non-USA MT and ASR systems. I think the Mercedes team is solely interested in watching the bottom line, and MTs in their mindes are like a pencils or toilet paper--You shop around for the best price and make a purchase, and if you can get a similar product for less money--so much the better. I think Mercedes is arrogant and elistist. Here is a sentence from their web page, "We expect our name to embody a feeling of trust â�¦ and even luxury"...I think that means luxury for the founding partners of Mercedes and no one else, not their clients and definitely for the poor slobs who choose to work for them. They are truly impressed with themselves. They have not officially started business and note another line from their web site, "Mercedes Transcription is recognized throughout the industry as a high quality service provider. Hospitals and healthcare providers can trust Mercedes to document their patient stories accurately." I would like to know how an entity that is not up and running yet has established a reputation. Again, from their web page, note this sentence, "Think of us as your personal concierge..." I like to stay in high end hotels, but I am not well heeled enough to take advantage of the concierge service. And, for your reading pleasure, check this link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/17/idUS156379+17-Dec-2012+PRN20121217. It is a Reuters news story detailing a jury verdict against a hospital and a transcription company. The amount the jury awarded was $140 million because of a fatal medication error caused by sloppy transcription. The article states the error was caused by inaccurate transcription of a doctor's order (done by MTs in India) resulting in medication error resulting in the death of a patient. The hospital did not know their dictation was being sent to India. The hospital was told their work was being done by US MTs. The transcription company is the same company the COO of Mercedes worked for in the capacity of VP over sales. Long answer to a short question: No way I will work for Mercedes.

pay scale - dazed and confused

[ In Reply To ..]
Just wondering, as I missed the conference call, the contract says 6.5 cents per line but the FAQ says it will stay the same rate - can anyone shed light on this?

yes, FAQ does not match reality - shadow

[ In Reply To ..]
it also says -- paraphrase -- they will be introducing an new equitable pay plan which will be discussed with all prior to signing contract ... well, OBVIOUSLY that didn't happen .. and offering everyone the same (0.065 VBC ) rate is not an "equitable" nor a "pay plan" -- oh, and no, I'm pretty sure they didn't discuss any of this in the conference call I listened to.

Anyone else hear anything about an "equitable pay plan" ??

I got that too - dazed and confused

[ In Reply To ..]
and wondered, since they demanding contracts be signed by 9/10, when they planned to discuss pay rate with everyone. That's like a double decreased in pay - I mean, it's not like they just took CPL away but then also changed to VBC? It really sucks because all my accounts but 1 went with them and I really love my accounts, but that's a slap in the face to be nailed twice on the pay cut scale.

Guess I will have to be looking for yet another new job.

same boat - Shadow

[ In Reply To ..]
I'd love to stay with the sisters if new accounts are offered.

I have have only one account remaining with the sisters ... probably not enough to pay next month's mortgage payment.

But the idea of working on the "more challenging" of my old accounts for pennies (they weren't real money makers as it was) makes steam come out of my ears.

But maybe for a month, just as a stop gap ... but probably not. Must check out who's hiring and count my pennies.

If you read the FAQ, it talks about the pay SCHEDULE, - Does not say the pay will stay the same.

[ In Reply To ..]
d

Yes, meaning WHEN you get paid, not how much. - Unfortunately how much is in the contract.

[ In Reply To ..]
d

Please people, don't accept an offer - Irate MT

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like this!!! There are other jobs out there, better paying straight typing jobs. I've managed to find 2 of them in the past year. All I did was go on the "other" MT website and they have a list of every single MT company in the US. I started at the top of the list and started sending out resumes. Let's stop accepting garbage offers like this and take back our industry!!!! Support the small "mom and pop" MT companies instead!

What "other" MT website ? (nm) - sunny

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Nope, not going to accept it - No thanks

[ In Reply To ..]
I have only one account remaining with the sisters, but I need to live and I have bills to pay. The only way I could survive on 6-1/2 VBC is if I move to India or Pakistan, which is obviously not going to happen. I am updating my resume to begin on yet another new job search.

do not want to accept either - going broke

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I am going back and forth because I was always taught not to quit one job until I have another job but with their tight deadline fast approaching, I need to make a decision. This is my gut reaction:

So essentially then, we are taking a double pay cut if we choose to sign with Mercedes, because not only will I be losing 1 and 1.5 cents on my accounts, but now I no longer get paid for spaces either - so essentially instead of making 7.5 cpl, it will be more equivalent to 4.5 cpl. I don't understand why the drastic decrease in pay if you already have these accounts unless it's in preparation for taking the accounts overseas because let's you and I both face it, only Middle Easterners could afford to live on those type of wages.

It really saddens me that you have decided to use a double edged sword on us because I have been loyal and a team player with OTI for almost 3 years, though maybe not your largest producer, and I truly love the accounts I am on, but half the pay for the same amount of work is not something I am willing to do.

With that, I am respectfully declining your "exciting" offer.

But what if I do this and then I have 0 money coming in versus 1/2 the money I had?

What a slap in the face! - I would decline it, also

[ In Reply To ..]
The pay cut is bad enough, but when you factor in the VBC...insult to injury!

That sucks - sm

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I don't work for these people...I had to figure out what a VBC was....

As noted in the report "A Standard Unit of Measure for Transcribed Reports" from the American Health Information Management Association and Medical Transcription Industry Association Joint Task Force on Standards Development, a visible black character (VBC) count of transcribed documents yields about 30 percent fewer lines than a "standard" 65-character (with spaces) line count. Thus, for example, MT compensation at 9 cents per line (CPL) based on VBC is roughly equivalent to 6 CPL based on a "standard" line. (This will vary somewhat, depending on formatting, document type or other factors.) The VBC may be a reasonable way to compensate MTs--although not being paid for striking the space bar seems unfair to me--but the Task Force itself noted that calculations establishing VBC rates equivalent to "standard" rates ought to be done. Such calculations would show whether a particular VBC rate is a de facto reduction in pay for MTs. Recently, however, some medical transcription service organizations have been offering MTs VBC rates at the same CPL as at "standard line" rates. Any MT looking at such employers should be aware that any VBC rate offered is, in reality, about 30 percent less than what she might earn using the "standard line."

RA McSwain, PhD, CMT

Maybe they should see how the documents look without spaces. I spend a fair amount of time, back and forthing, to make sure there are the appropriate amount of spaces in different places. That is ridiculous.

Mercedes - Yorkiemom

[ In Reply To ..]
No way would I work for them! Can't believe they want us to do our same accounts with such a pay cut. I was going to join the discussions next week but I won't be wasting my time with them at all. I just hope the sisters have enough work for us.

I'm joining the discussions just to hear what I hope is - people ripping them apart!

[ In Reply To ..]
R

I'm not joining any of those discussions - I hope they hear nothing but crickets

[ In Reply To ..]
That old saying: What if they gave a party and nobody came?

I have no desire to listen to anything further they have to say. As a US MT, I cannot live on the equivalent of offshore wages, so there is absolutely nothing they could say to make me "excited" about joining their company.

You are right.....Changed my mind. I will not be joining either. - I do not think the will be surprised, though.

[ In Reply To ..]
d

When "good faith" is lost ... what's the point? - Nicole

[ In Reply To ..]
Since even their FAQ's don't hold up, why would anyone expect what's said over the telephone to do so?

To slash everyone's pay to the same very low rate without even a promise that -- say, after 4 weeks, pay will be renegotiated on an individual basis -- speaks volumes. They obviously do not care if we can pay our bills or have time for our family/outside life. See also giving us barely 10 days' notice.

IOW, even if they offered you 8 cents a VBC line ... you're still probably taking a significant pay cut and still working for people who treat their employees like unimportant cogs in their machine.

No, too much extending "good faith" where it's not warranted.

There's simply too much to suggest that we are part of their eventual off-shoring -- and, I suspect for those who stay, their employment will be temporary and consist entirely of the most difficult accounts, impossible for voice recognition and/or off-short transcription, not that that's new, but you will be training your off-short competition and/or VR operators by the sweat of your brow for 0.065 VBC line.

Just say no.

Wow, that equals to about 4.5 cpl for - straight typing.

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I haven't even seen that offered to newbies, never mind experienced MTs. That is horrible. What US MT can survive on that?

I guess they are trying to exclude - US MTs by offering that

[ In Reply To ..]
insult of a wage.

Surely not, because "We are strongly committed to keeping all of our work in the US." sm - Bah humbug

[ In Reply To ..]
I have no intention of signing with them or wasting my time at their town hall meeting, but I certainly hope someone blasts them over their incredibly awful wages offered. I would be ashamed to offer anyone such a wage and then try to present myself as trying to keep things in America. All I see them doing is trying to keep a Mercedes in their driveway.

Well Said - Mary Margaret

[ In Reply To ..]
Well Said!!! I just wish I had been smart enough to think of that--The part about their the Mercedes in their driveway.

But, here is the catch... - Mato. sm

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...when they are unable to hire enough US MTs due to those cruddy wages, they will "have no choice" but to hire overseas to "stay competitive" in the field. Many of us have seen this before.

Will you be allowed to speak in your - town hall meeting?

[ In Reply To ..]
At M*Moral, we aren't allowed to speak. Or are kept from speaking.

Yes, or so they say. The first 2 phone calls we were kept silent, sm - Bah humbug

[ In Reply To ..]
listening to someone read a script, but this is supposed to be small groups. I want no part of it. I am offended that they would think anyone would work for such pitiful wages. No wonder the sisters did not want to be in business with them anymore.

VBC - Cindy

[ In Reply To ..]
I think the VBC is fair when editing because you're reading the words, not the spaces, but not when straight typing. I think the one problem with line counts in general is there is much more than line count that contributes to pay. If I'm editing dictation with very few changes, I can do well with a low pay rate. Conversely, give me difficult dictation with a high line rate, and I may actually make less.

The line quoted was NOT for editing, but straight typing. sm - Disagree

[ In Reply To ..]
I do not know how the whole VBC nonsense got started (other than a way for the MTSO to make more money and the MT less), but it is NOT acceptable to me. And why accept a low pay rate at all? If I can do more, I shouldn't be penalized by slashing my salary so that I have to work twice as hard to get half as much. JMO

We have AAMT/AHDI to thank for VBC. no message - VBC is NOT good for MTs!

[ In Reply To ..]
no message

VBC is cheating, robbery, slavery - however you - RUSERIOUS

[ In Reply To ..]
want to classify it. Taking work from an employee without compensating them is not accepted in any other profession, why is okay in MT???? When you hit that space bar, it's no different than hitting any other letter in the alphabet, requires the same amount of time and effort. HOW IS THAT NOT CHEATING???? Why would anyone accept this???

I am disgusted to learn that I was working with such people. sm - Would rather starve

[ In Reply To ..]
What a selfish, self-serving bunch of low life creatures. They make Walmart look like Employer of the Year.

That last e-mail, another self-serving doozy - shadow

[ In Reply To ..]
It's (really really really) hard to believe that they (really really really) want to keep a 100% USA workforce at that line rate -- HOWEVER, I suspect that -- if they did -- it would be for their convenience -- avoiding the need to interface with and find a reliable offshore "partner" they would then have to PAY -- Hardly a matter of keeping you or me "employed" at bargain basement wages.

Then they insist will do whatever they can to keep our production levels maintained during this transition -- how caring, except it's BECAUSE our production is how they make their money!!! We don't work, they don't make money.

And while it's 'nice' their sales team is going to make sure we have all the work we could dream of, since we're all going to be having to produce at least 20% to 30% more lines to stay "even" -- yes, as others have said, we're digging our own graves.

Finally, again, by cutting our line rates, they are banking THAT MUCH MORE per line we produce ... doesn't that make you warm and fuzzy???

I can't think of a worse way to launch a new company and ensure that your established customers have a seamless "concierge quality experience" than to have much of your workforce decline to work for you ... I made more than that when I was a newbie almost 20 years ago working for a small local service -- and I had benefits and PTO and everything.

exactly - I agree

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't buy that all the contracts have come due at the same time so they were able to offer 8 cpl and 7.5 cpl for these accounts, but now can barely offer up 4.5 cpl. You can't tell me they weren't making a profit at those rates, so now they are doubling their profits - talk about American greed!

I think they are probably watching these boards closely in order to prepare for the attack they are no doubt going to receive at the "town hall" meetings. I just find it very disheartening that they feel the need to treat people this way without any regard for anyone else. Just goes to show the selfish nature of Corporate America.

I SO agree AND....... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I absolutely guarantee th "ideological differences" they had with the sisters were that the sisters were totally against going offshore. I've been with them for MANY years and the sisters have ALWAYS said they would never go offshore. I certainly trust them more than Mercedes!

exactly ... I suspect our pay cut is designed to cover the costs of the offshoring costs - shadow

[ In Reply To ..]
at least I suspect that's why the paycuts had to be SO BIG ... add it up ... either Mercedes keeps that 1-2-3 cents per line that we're not getting (but they're making) -- as we -- in theory up our lines and probably hours -- lucky we're ICs and get no overtime -- by 20-30% ... so the 40 hours a week easily becomes 50 JUST TO STAY EVEN ...

(Making learning a new account or working on those low-productivity accounts -- you know the ones I mean -- even more costly ... ) If time is money, ours just got significantly cheaper.

Oh yeah.

Open Mic Town Hall--Is anyone signed up? - Mary Margaret

[ In Reply To ..]
Now that the weekend has come and gone, has anyone decided to list to the town halls? At this moments I am not interested in working with Mercedes, but maybe it would be interesting to hear what they have to say, and even their rationale for their pay scale. Any thoughts?

Not me...and I don't plan to! - Annoyed

[ In Reply To ..]
This whole thing has just had me a wreck. Not one of my accounts has stayed with the sisters, so unless they can come up with something else for me, I guess I am moving on. I've worked for them for the last 9 years, so it's hearbreaking. I will not work for the pittance we're being offered on the other side, and from the way this whole rollout has gone, I have serious doubts that working for them would be a good thing. It doesn't sound like they have a whole lot of enthusiasm from the MTs. They may have to rethink their pay scale, and the way they handle people. But even so, it's nothing I'm interested in. Good luck to those who go that direction. I'm out.

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