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What do you think of Mercedes? - OTI or Mercedes?

Posted: Oct 01, 2014

How has the first few hours with Mercedes been? Should I request a contract with them?

Why would you want to work for 6.5 cpl VBC, equating to 5 cpl or less? sm - I do not understand

[ In Reply To ..]
Target is hiring. At least you would get benefits and a reliable paycheck.

Just wondering who joined Mercedes - anonymous

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I was inquiring because they stated "exciting" in their advance e-mails. I was curious what, if anything, they had to offer to compensate for decreased rate of pay. Also, I was curious if they in fact got MTs to do their work. I am nose I guess--Do you think they are getting the work out at Mercedes?

I have no way of knowing. I would hope that everyone turned them down. sm - I do not understand

[ In Reply To ..]
The only thing exciting was perhaps their excitement at the prospect of making more and more money while stiffing the MTs. Let them send it to India, which I think is what they wanted to do in the first place. Work in general at OTI has been kinda dry over the last few weeks, so I have no idea what the future will bring.

I suspect people plagued by NJA and bills to pay NOW... - raven

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There were a lot of people complaining that they plain weren't getting jobs to type regardless of the rate. I'm guessing some of them may well be making more at 0.065 than they were with NJA before. For folks who only need to make a few hundred dollars a week and who don't have a lot of experience doing production, having steady work might look like a god-send in getting ready for a applying for their next job.
... and, as we all know, it's only temporary. (I recall working several years when I was a newbie (on the job trained) before I was able to convince TPTB to let me do op reports. Similarly, job seekers who've only done clinic notes really need to broaden their experience, etc.).
I'm guessing some more experienced people may also have signed on in hopes of "career advancement" which was also mentioned
That's my guess.

If they just want pin money, they should go to Walmart or somewhere. sm - JMO

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Accepting those crap wages just drives the pay lower and lower. I understand about having bills to pay, but I would think a minimum wage job would pay just as well as 5 cpl.

It's the same old story -- those with small children, who paid $$$ for training... - raven

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Are not going to just give up and go work for Walmart which they can't afford to do because child care, transportation, work wardrobe, etc.

This sort of thing has been driving down wages for the last 25-30 years ... but it doesn't compare to off-shoring or doctors who no longer actually take the time to read or sign their reports -- because they don't have to -- because it's all about through-put (or TAT) and getting the billing completed.

And that is how this became looked upon as a "Mommy" field of work sm - I hope the company goes belly up

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instead of being respected like other professions. People want to stay at home and rock the babies and take any kind of pittance offered, while the rest of us suffer the consequences. I did not start working at home until long after my children were grown, but the women I knew who worked at home and had children and did well actually sent them to daycare or worked different shifts than their spouses so that they watched the children. It does not matter what I think, though. This has been happening for awhile now. The threat of India started it all -- "we can send it to India cheaper" and so everyone started accepting lower and lower wages, thinking they had no choice. There is always a choice.

No doubt I will get a gazillion dislikes, but I do not care. It is my opinion. I kick myself for not getting out of this profession sooner but I was short-sighted and just enjoyed the great pay and the respect I was given by the people I worked with. I am shocked now when I read there are still people paying to get into this profession -- that's like paying money to learn how to train to be a travel agent, mail carrier, bank teller, or any other dying profession.

Oh, you want EXCITING? Come on over to the Nuance board sm - acuteMLS

[ In Reply To ..]
We've got "exciting" coming out of our ears. "Exciting" is a code word for LOW PAY and lots of B.S. We can hardly contain ourselves at Nuance these days.

EXCITING - Do what I do...

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I use a different corporate buzzword for drinking games. Today's word is EXCITING!!

In the world of medical transcription, any - communication that contains - SM

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the word "exciting" may be happy news for the sender, but usually spells impending disaster for the MT.

Actually, 6.5 VBC is equal to about 4 cpl - sm

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I found an article from AHIMA/AAMT that said VBC results in a 31.6% pay decrease for the MT.

So applying the math and comparing to a 65 character line with spaces, 6.5 VBC is equal to 3.96 cpl.

Maybe an offshore MT can live off 4 cpl, but not a US MT. Depending on how many lines per hour you can type, it's probably not even minimum wage.

Did they name it Mercedes because that's the owner drives one? nm - meh

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xx

And the employees drive Yugos. nm - LOL

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pfft

I didn't sign a contract with them, and yet - sm

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I still received a call this afternoon requesting for help with some stats on one of my old accounts! What does that tell you? Day one and already they're calling. And I don't even work for them! I suspected as much, when this morning we could still see the workload in BayScribe and all of my accounts that went to them were loaded with tons of jobs. It's gonna be interesting!!!

working for MTI - momoney

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For those of you in a position to quit, I understand why you did. But for those saying "why did you stay?" Let me tell you why I did. I have been working from home for the last 8 years and it works well for me. I also am in the process of going through a divorce and have 3 kids to support and take care of. For those saying "just go to walmart," I live in an area so rural that the closest department store like that is 50 miles away. Figure up 100 miles a day at today's gas prices, wear and tear on my vehicle, and childcare for 3 kids (all 12 and under) - I would be PAYING to work. So, while it may be so easy for you all to say "just quit" at least I am making SOMETHING with them. Granted, I am not thrilled over the pay cut, but beggars really cannot be choosers.

For those asking, VBC is not implemented yet (that's when I will quit) as their system does not accommodate that. That is where I draw the line!

Sorry, but accepting that rate of pay makes you part of the problem sm - driving down wages

[ In Reply To ..]
Regardless of how you justify it, accepting that wage says that you agree that this job is only worth a pittance. I just accepted a job paying 9 cpl -- there are still companies that pay a decent wage, but they do not just come and knock on your door to find you. You have to go looking and draw some line in the sand and say "I will not work for ____." I sympathize with your situation, but I am tired of people willing to accept anything, causing more and more MTSOs to lower their wages. Good luck to you. The "vibe" I got from the Mercedes side is they want to say that they do not want to offshore, but they want to pay offshore wages and if they drive enough American MTs away with their crap wages, then they can justify shipping it overseas. If my understanding is correct, they will then not be able to use the Bayscribe platform.

well goodie for you - 9cpl

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That's great you got a job paying 9 cpl, but just as you said they don't come knocking on your door, they are also few and far between PERIOD. I work 4 jobs right now just to pay my bills and even that, on occasion, doesn't cover it. So if I have to work for 6.5 CPL until I can knock on the door of someone willing to pay 9 CPL, then I have to do what I have to do, and honestly, your opinion of MY choice is of no consequence since YOU are not feeding MY kids or paying MY bills.

Which equates to 4-5 cpl, so if you do 200 lph, you make $8-10. nm - Other jobs out there

[ In Reply To ..]
As long as people accept crap wages for whatever reason, wages will continue to go down.

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