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

Important Question - anymus

Posted: Oct 21, 2012

I am asking for opinions and suggestions only...no bashing, please.

I "worked" for a client as an IC for a total of one week, two dictations, equalling about MAYBE $40 in pay. I have not actually counted lines, so I don't know. This "client" and I did not see eye to eye on MANY things and I decided it was not in my best interest to continue working for her, so I gave notice that I was "done." She continues to email me even though I have stated in no uncertain terms that I was done, and now she is stating that my "invoice" is due, since she only does invoicing on the weekends, so my "invoice" is due today! The only thing is, is that she is "dictating" a "specific name" of software I HAVE to use in order to bill her, as supposedly it is the ONLY software billing the physician will accept. I do not use that type of line counting/invoicing software and I do not feel I should have to download a specific type of software just to bill her. An invoice is an invoice, no matter what software produced it! She will not pay me what she owes me unless I use the software she has dictated that I use. Is this unreasonable? Is this even legal?? I have never, ever known a "company" to dictate what invoice program a subcontractor HAS to use in order to invoice them. I have contacted my attorney, but unfortunately he will not receive the message until tomorrow, and she is "dictating" that I HAVE to have my invoice in today or she will not pay. Is this worth all of the harassment just for less than $40 worth of pay? What would any of you do? I am so frustrated with this woman, it is pathetic! I think this is what she has wanted all along....free work! TIA for any help or suggestions.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. - LeonaG

[ In Reply To ..]
I'd be tempted to tell her, sorry, you expected any such mandatory requirements spelled out in the original agreement (whether written or oral).

The fact remains that she owes you $40, you did the work, she isn't disputing that you did it, and she can either pay you, or you can post her emails publicly on Facebook and in a blog so no one will ever, ever work for her again.

As an IC, you can also make a report to the credit reporting agencies about her ;-).

I know that some of this isn't "professional," but I betcha you aren't the first person she has tried to rip off and won't be the last. Get so tired of these slimeballs getting away with stealing.

thank you! You give some good ideas! - anymus

[ In Reply To ..]
and I will follow through with them. I "know" that she does not want to pay me, even though I did the work, and I know she already has somebody else lined up as her "next victim." It won't be long before that victim is posting on here too! I am anxious to hear what my attorney has to say, as well. :-)

I NEVER said I would not pay. I stated invoices were due tonight - me

[ In Reply To ..]
I stated her invoice is due tonight. The work has not even been billed to the client, and it is in the middle of the pay period. I am paying her out of my own money despite instructing her from the beginning when invoices are issued and the billing cycles. She JUST transcribed this report, one I told her not to do after all and had so many mistakes in it, it had to be completely redone, including a fatal error on a narcotic that could have killed the patient. Then, I have all these emails from her about her psychological depression, etc.

Just goes to show that there are always at least 2 sides to every story. - Rashomon

[ In Reply To ..]
Kind of funny to see how everybody was so quick to jump on the OP's bandwagon without knowing the whole story. It appears that the software is a free download?

Exactly. Many here feel MT is always right, doesnt matter if they - know the facts. To them, MTSO always wrong. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Thank you... not big MTSO but small and always more than fair - me

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you.

Unfortunately, one QA note sent her reeling....

Yes, free download - typingfor$

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, it is a free download, one report line count and 1 report page count.

If you hired a plumber, would you type out his invoice? LOL. Then, you have to hire another to fix the flooded home, i.e. errors.

Read all the posts to follow above. Not one is true. Now she claims she lost all her jobs to EMR instead of being fired.

so sorry - Honestly

[ In Reply To ..]
Her story and antics are well known. No I don't have tracking isp software, just frequent this board and another and there are tell tale "hints". too bad there isn't a board for MTSO who can be warned about people like her. I'm not an MTSO, just an MT so tired of people like her giving us a bad name.

You're right, it wouldn't be professional. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The employer said she does invoices on weekends, not this weekend only and will never do them again. If the OP doesn't get the invoice in this week, it can be submitted next week. No big deal.

She can't bill the client until you invoice her, correct? - FBL

[ In Reply To ..]
I would send her my regular invoice with a cover letter saying since it will be the only one and you don't have the software she is asking for, this is it. Would also tell her how you came up with your numbers, and "dictate" to her when you expect to have your money. Good luck.

she will probably bill the client saying SHE did the work... - anymus

[ In Reply To ..]
and then pay me herself. I don't think the actual "client" knows she is subcontracting.

If MTSO has to fix 90% errors, she DID to the work - herself. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Oops. Meant % to be +. nm - nm

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x

Invoices-report with 93 errors is 2 pages - me

[ In Reply To ..]
It is easy. One report that had the 93 errors is billed as page count, as stated on the directions you never read and also listed on the log sheet returned to you, 2 pages; not 3. The other report is line count, which can be run through the line count software also stated, which again can be downloaded for free. Then you put your address on it.

I stated I only do invoicing and cut checks on weekends and not that I would not pay.

Hope that answers your questions.

wow. - kinda sums it up - NM

[ In Reply To ..]
but it is appropriate s/he put her address on it, you know, in case the IRS actually audits you. I assume you are referring to the invoice and not the actual report itself. There is no excuse for 93 errors, but that has to be near the total number of words in the report. If the IC was that incompetent, why didn't you know that before hiring her/him?

Not "me," but I can answer your question... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
"Me" didn't know of the MT's incompetence because there are just so many "experienced" MTs out there who appear on their resumes to be qualified, but simply aren't. I've worked with many such MTs. I personally know MTs who have 20+ years of acute care experience but still don't know the difference between codeine and Coumadin, or perineal and peritoneal, etc. Why do you think MTSOs require such extensive testing before they'll even look at a resume. Hmh? I've worked for several small clinics and none tested me beforehand, but did evaluate my work immediately upon delivery, and if they were satisfied, I got to keep working for them, and they ALWAYS paid me for the work I did.

Yes, actual invoice sm - me

[ In Reply To ..]
That is why I need an original invoice from the MT, in case of audit, which I never received, which is not hard for 2 reports, stating responsibilities in the first place.

If someone who is 63 years old states several years of ortho experience and the doctor speaks extremely clear English (not to mention most of report is templated), you would not in your wildest dreams think there would be this many errors, especially with numerous samples sent, instructions, etc. Wow.... I only wished I had this easy of work assigned to me when working for nationals and pay. I am extremely fortunate with these dictators, whom I know personally and insist they dictate on a land line.

However, the most important issue is when I brought to her attention the critical errors (just a few out of numerous) not to mention the file was not even named correctly, I receive ranting and raving emails several pages long on, including how to run my business, this coming from somebody who stated was fired from several jobs in the last 1-2 weeks. Wow..... It is clearly evident why.

Never received the invoice, no doubt purposely, so she could rant and rave how she was supposedly cheated. Instead, she posts on and on about the injustice of her providing her own invoice, which took me 20 seconds. She even complained she did not have to test. LOL. Most complaints from MTs are due to long testing.

Definitely taught me a few lessons....

93 errors? How is that literally possible? - was it still in English?

[ In Reply To ..]
Just amazed and curious.

OP response - anymus

[ In Reply To ..]
First off, I was never "tested," and never sent her a resume with any statements of "experience." She "hired" me from this site because she "felt sorry for my sad story", contacting me through my email from a posting on here. I never solicited her for work, ever. She said she needed help and I said I would do what I could to help her. Secondly, the report with the alleged 93 errors was my very first report, a 50 minute dictation which took three hours to do. I was "in training" as it was a new specialty for me. She said, and I quote, "you did great!" upon receipt of the dictation. There were no 93 errors, either. Thirdly, it took her seven days to send me anymore work. When she did, I had been sick all day, was not "waiting" by my computer for her to send work, and had no idea that she had at all. She expected the work back within two hours of receipt, but never bothered to contact me whatsoever and got upset when the work was not returned within 2 hours, and started bashing me on this site because of it. I did the work then at 9:30 at night, still sick, still "in training," as it was my second report only for this lady, a new doctor, new specs, etc. I admit that I did not read the specs very well, just wanted her to get the report and stop bashing me on this site because the "report was late." There were allegedly more errors on that one, which I will admit to. I never put my name on any report...just my "initials" at the bottom....next to hers, which were part of the specs. I have all emails documenting everything she said about invoicing etc. Sometimes there are more than "two sides" to every story and not everybody knows the "facts" about anything. I told her I was "done." and I am. Don't be too quick to take the client's side, either, when not all the facts are known.

So you got job through your sad story, posted here. Now it is MTSO - fault that again you have a sad story SM

[ In Reply To ..]
that you are indignant about and posting here. Starting to see a pattern here.

Sad story..... - anymus

[ In Reply To ..]
was that jobs had been lost to EMR..not so different than anybody elses story on this board. Never "expected" to hear from anybody offering work and asking for help, never asked for work from anyone on this site, but there are others who are asking for work. No pattern here.

Then why did you email asking for work? - me

[ In Reply To ..]
If you did not expect to hear from anybody, why did you send the email asking for work and stating you did have orthopedic experience?

You were hired for overflow office transcription only, as clearly stated. You did not follow one single direction for the first report or the second. Not one. The rest of my workload is operative reports and procedure notes, out of your skill range, TAT, and mostly templated, which requires following directions and correct drug doses.

Professional tip: If you get back something from QA, do not email clients or employers ranting and raving several pages long, especially on major errors. Take note and/or fix report and move on, especially when that error could have killed the patient.

End of story. Drop it.

Oh no she didn't! - OMG

[ In Reply To ..]
Seriously? Lucky YOU didn't lose that account because of her.

"Professional tip: If you get back something from QA, do not email clients or employers ranting and raving several pages long, especially on major errors. Take note and/or fix report and move on, especially when that error could have killed the patient."

That makes no sense to me. - flmt

[ In Reply To ..]
Why would an MTSO solicit work from someone with no idea whether they can even transcribe? Just because it is said here does not mean it is true. Just one's word against another. I would not hire someone that had no experience for important work. Maybe though she was planning on training, but it just all sounds fishy to me.

Yes. Another interesting angle. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

OP - anymus

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't know why she contacted me either, but I still have that email, as well. I even asked her straight out why she contacted ME, when there were so many others needing work just as much as me. It STILL "sounds fishy" to me, and I am truly sorry I ever got "involved." It will never happen again. The only "training" involved was sending samples and "instructions." I truly don't think that any MTSO, individual client, or whatever, would expect totally no errors on the first or even second of any dictations. There is always a training period and learning curve with new doctors and specialties. But, at any rate, I am done with this conversation.

You made serious errors, you sent unprofessional responses, you got fired - me

[ In Reply To ..]
End of story.

let it go - notworthit

[ In Reply To ..]
Just tell her to cease and desist from any further discussion as you wish to no longer be involved with her. For forty dollars it seems you are putting far too much effort into this. I would rather "tear up her check" than waste my valuable time. Be rid of this account and eat the loss. It will be worth it to get rid of her. Sounds like a deadbeat.

see message - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I know what you are saying and I decided that very thing last night, but then got up this morn to find all the stuff she posted again and it angered me once more. There are lies being told, and not mine, but I am tired of "defending" myself and you are right, for $40, it is not even worth it. I have "blocked" her emails and really do not want any more contact with/from her. I appreciate your advice and I am taking it. Thanks! :-)

Yes, clear English-speaking with samples/templates - me

[ In Reply To ..]
The file was not even named correctly (no patient name), incorrect date of exam, INCORRECT NARCOTIC DOSE, dictation did not match transcription in several places, template normals erased when that was what he was dictating to keep in, etc. This doctor spoke clear English. Not one direction was followed. Clueless. This was a 2-page report. Then, when I point out the file was named wrong, DOE was wrong, and the narcotic dose was mcg instead of mg, I get numerous long emails ranting and raving as well as telling me how to run my business instead of "I will pay more attention next time" or "oops sorry." She had after all instructed me to tell her what mistakes she makes, so she can fix them. The narcotic dose could kill the patient (let alone the account if I turned something like that in). Then I am instructed she was to "transcribe and get paid for" practice dictation and not live dictation, as that is what employers do. I am not an employer. That does not even make sense. Why would I pay to transcribe practice dictation? I am not a school.

That same somebody is posting blatant untruths, stating I was not even telling the client I was subcontracting but calling it my own or implying I am doing something behind their backs? Her name was typed right there on the log sheets I sent to the client (hello, the clients do know I subcontract US MTs when I need it) as well as other untruths.

It is clearly apparent to me why she has been fired from several jobs recently. Scary.

There are Actually 3 sides to every story - her side, my side, then the Truth

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Unprofessional - Me

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't intend to take sides because I don't feel I have all of the facts so I will simply state that bickering in public, on this board, is making both sides look very unprofessional. I feel like I am back in grade school.

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