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

Who protects the MT? - MTinsane

Posted: Apr 29, 2010

I need help, I am being harrassed by my former company with threats of not receiving my last paycheck because of equipment they are saying I did not return. I sent back all their materials, software, etc, but they are saying, I did not. I have a return receipt, but they say, I did not include everything and I have kept their materials, etc. Oh Please, I am so tired of this crap. Who protects the MTs these days and what the holy crap do I do. They said I did not, and I will not receive my paycheck. This is a load of crap!!!!

File a complaint with the Dept of Labor - just me

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are an employee of the company, contact your the dept of labor and file a complaint for unpaid wages.

If you are an IC, you'll have to take them to small claims court.

Good thing you kept the return receipt. Unfortunately, return receipts don't itemize what was returned. It's your word against theirs, but I would bet the DOL on their butt would get you paid.

In answer to your question -- the MT has to protect him/herself. No one else looks out for us.

Curious - RLee

[ In Reply To ..]
When you became an employee did you sign anything regarding equipment you were going to receive pertaining to employment and that upon departure you would need to return this equipment?? If not they need to prove they sent it in the first place. When I got fired from Transcend - I received something from FEDEX with a return address stamp to Transcend's Tech Support. When I inquired about it they stated it was normal protocol to send those out in case I had any equipment they owned, which I did not. But, I had never signed anything to begin with pertaining to equipment I had received so they should have had that on record. I would contact the Better Business Bureau and inquire as to what you can do.

MTInsane - Silent Mom

[ In Reply To ..]
Just curious--were you working for MQ? The same thing happened to me. They threatened to sue me. (I had returned their equipment and had a signed receipt for it.) I wrote back and told them that I had returned their equipment, that I had a signed receipt, and if I heard one more word from them, the matter would go to my lawyer for his action. I never heard from them again.

How about your state Attorney General? They - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
have helped me twice with situations. And they get things done fast, too.

Cannot help you now, but for future reference - Good Luck

[ In Reply To ..]

I had the same thing happen to me once. After that, I documented EVERYTHING.

First, I kept the box(es) that were sent to me. I actually cut out the label(s) from the box(es) that showed the tracking number when I first got the equipment. I then got as much information as I could from the carrier regarding the box – especially the weight.

When I returned the equipment, I used the same box (if it was not too old and still useable) and took a picture (outside and inside the box) of everything I sent back. Then, even though I had a prepaid return label and could have just called UPS to pick up the box, I took it down to a place that could weigh it, and had it weighed. I Xeroxed a copy of the return label, and then wrote down the weight. I even had the guy at the UPS place sign it to verify that the weight was done by him (after some explanation of being harassed the last time, he finally gave in and signed the paper). The weight was within a couple of ounces.

Although I never had a company harass me again, I could have just taken all that information to an arbitrator. If I had the signed receipt from delivery and the box(es) weighed approximately the same, there is no way they could claim I kept anything (maybe a binder or something like that). Since the weight of the box coming in and the weight of the box going back was almost the same, it would be really hard for them to claim I did not return EVERYTHING.

Hope they realize soon that they got back everything you had. I really do not see why they waste their time. With how cheap old, used equipment is now, they probably waste more money in Personnel time calling you than if they just bought the items again.

Good luck to you.

Department of Labor Board I would guess, they will contact company - darlene

[ In Reply To ..]
This stuff is just plain scary tactics these companies keep pulling.
I'm really sick of reading recurring type of theme with MTs. No checks, late checks. So sorry this is happening.

Inform them via email, this issue does not seem to be resolving, perhaps mediation with the the State Labor Board will help resolve the issue regarding my payroll check. (look in yellow pages in your state and also THEIR State). Include as sending a copy --the name address of the State Labor Boards at the bottom of the email

It IS sort of your word against their word. You do have a receipt (but as you say, they said not all returned)

It's illegal... - jm0405

[ In Reply To ..]
I had a company pull that stunt and I simply turned them in to the Labor Board. Why? Their issue about materials being sent back is a small claims issue - they have to take you to court. Withholding your paycheck is illegal. The company that was threatening me - I didn't have any of their equipment!! It was all 100% mine!!!! They lost the paperwork and were threatening me. It quit when DOL told them about themselves.

Similar Messages:

Nov 10, 2009

NM ...