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I've worked there several years, and have never had a late paycheck nm

Posted By: employee on 2007-09-12
In Reply to: has anyone else get late paychecks from Meridian or is the negative just from one sour pus - no name

nm


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I worked on site for many years. I've been doing this for 10 years... sm
I've worked on site, at home, for small MTSOs, for nationals, for hospitals. I've been paid per line, per minute, and per hour. I've been an MT and a QA. I have ALWAYS worked weekends and ALWAYS worked nights for the shift differential because MTs can't survive on 6 or 7 cents a line. At least I can't and I type 105 wpm.

I've BEEN dedicated from day 1, sister, so you are barking up the wrong tree.
I've worked for MDI-MD for several years and no,
my liason either.  But that's okay. 
I've worked on the DOS system for 4 years
and have never had a problem with it; however, I've never worked for anyone else as an MT and consequently never worked on any other system than DOS. I'm making good money in my opinion and support myself and my daughter just fine on my income.
I've made $35,000 for the years I worked there. SM

I would have to kill myself for $50,000 and I don't choose to do that.  I give you credit if you were able to achieve it. 


The pay rate has been lowered there now, due to SR.   The rate of pay at MQ has always been higher, but this field is dying out where ever one goes. 


I disagree. I've worked at home for 10 years
and have enjoyed plentiful work the whole time. I work not to supplement DH's income but my income matches his. I make much more at home than I did working in-house at a hospital. I'm viewed as a professional by my clients and act like one. Most MTs who work in-house (in my experiencey ONLY) do far, far less in the same amount of time that I do at home. Which is great for me. There are pros and cons ot every job and I appreciate every line I earn and every minute of dictation I'm given, especially in this economy. :-)
I think getting a paycheck 5 days late qualifies as a problem. nm
nm
I've worked there 7 years and had what I thought was a problem with my check, but that was

due to MY mistake. I accidentally counted lines typed after midnight on the last day of the pay period and thought I would get paid for them. It was when I first started. They actually cut me a check for those lines that day. Glad I work close to the office.


Just to clarify for you, Grace does the paychecks on site. If there is a problem with your check, call the 1-800 number and ask for Grace or email Grace@medwaremt.com. She will check the problem and fix it right then and there. Don't go to the team leader, go to the person who does the checks. Her office is also right next to the Flannery's so it not a big thing to get them signed.


I've worked for Ubiqus for 2 years now and I get paid every two weeks.
I really enjoy the work because it's advisory board meetings, round table discussions, and big conferences of all fields of medicine.  I started with them right after I graduated and I've never done any of the doctor dictation, I like this work better.
I've also worked there over 4 years and I have noticed the work drop
Whatever left is the crap. Also, check your line count some time. I swear that they have manipulated that also. I can now do over 2 pages and it comes up with like 50 lines. I used to be able to make a living there but can't anymore. I'll be quitting.
Not sure what you mean. I've worked at home for 18 years. Just fyi: legitamite is incorrect. Spel
xx
I worked for 2 wks and when paycheck was not there
I did not more work until I got check, which did not happen until 3 months later. I hear it is still the same. The people were great in the office but to have to go through what you do in order to be paid, that is ridiculous. I found the account I did to be pretty good. It was out there in the valley near LA and I would have loved to continue working for them, but when I am new with someone, I will not go on a limb and continue working if the pay does not happen. There were always excuses by them as to why they did not pay and all were unwritten rules. Again, I did get paid but waiting for 3 months was a bit much. I don't like to be a day late much less that far down the road. A year later they called me and asked if I would come back and I said no. lol
I've never had a problem with the paychecks being late at all. sm
What I do have an issue with is the tech person, who's very nasty, the nasty and threatening VP e-mails and the line counts are really fishy. Other than that, I don't have a problem. I just ignore the nasty e-mails and reject jobs because the tech guy won't fix my sound.
Too late for your reaction..you've been forgotten...
BTW, maybe you can't make $5000/MONTH AS AN IC CONSISTENTLY because you don't know how to read lol. You might as well stop while you're behind--YOU HAVE NOTHING ON ME LOL. PEACE HATER LOL.
You are years too late for that. nm

It is too late for unions. It never would have worked.
bebe
I am not putting my paycheck into someone else's hands. I worked for a company that had non-Ameri
QA staff doing your QA audits and you were docked accordingly. No thanks. I quit that job when I realized that I was putting my check in their hands. As you noted, there is always a debate and inconsistency even among QA so why take a chance.
No, my check has been late 2 times in 3 years, PO fault, not StatIQ's.
I don't think you have to worry in the least that they are not paying you. I guarantee it has been lost in the mail. Please do call them. The times mine has been late, I have called and always been told if it is a week late to tell them and they will re-write a check and send it. They want to know if you don't receive it.
What the heck? I've never heard that in the 8 yrs I've worked here. sm
Go back to your STM or over his or her head.
I worked for a temp agency for 3 years..LOVED it. Just worked. No counts, no hassels, GREAT pay..
No benefits at the time.  I even learned pathology while temping (8 months on that assigment).  I loved the variety, the ability to say I'm not available such and such time.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I didn't need benefits.
I've been a QA 15 years and I've never heard
of any company only paying for the actual Keystrokes of the blank. You would literally make less than minimum wage that way. Waaay less.
Before someone hops on and say "why are you living paycheck to paycheck (inside)
I had a great saving account this time last year when the company I had been with 2 years took me off my primary (never would tell me why, just said me being shut out was a glitch in the hospital's system) floated me around (not telling me anything of course) because they were getting a Meditech account and wanted me on it (you wouldn't put someone not very experienced on it would you?). It did not take a rocket scientist to realize as soon as I got the C-phone what had happened. Also 80% ESLs. I spent the whole year supplementing my salary until it was gone and have been trying to find a decent company since. That is why I am living paycheck to paycheck and I hate it. I have 20 years in this business and it is getting worse. Speech is great but not for the money. It just does not justify being paid half. You cannot retrain doctors and I don't think management telling them they need to be considerate to us is going to work. Telling them we are making half just does not move them. They still rumble through files, change sentences, have long pauses we are not paid for, speech leaves out words or sentences so tell me why we are paid half? Also, I usually seach a company before I come on and ask for opinions, it saves a lot of space. I know I sound grouchy but I am tired and scared.
I'm just SO tired of living from paycheck to paycheck, and always (nm)
.
Personally, I live paycheck to paycheck because...
I enjoy the constant worry about how to pay my bills and always getting to say I have some lines to make up so I won't be there. Social lives are overrated. I like getting up at 3:00 a.m. and jumping online so I can wrestle a few more jobs out of the system. I don't mind hearing that my supervisor is on vacation again because I know I will be able to use my PTO to make up for my downtime. It's kind of the same thing. I think Ramen noodles aren't just for college students, and one pair of jeans is all you really need for 3 years. I believe very strongly that all the recruiters and managers in the transcription business are taking wage cuts every year, too, so I don't want to feel like I am asking for more than my share.

Living paycheck to paycheck...it's my right darn it.

I've been doing it for 4 years now. There are many

options available.   Lots of campgrounds have some type of connection.  Sometimes they just have a central jack for dial-up, sometimes they have connections at each site, though there may only be xx number of lines for the entire campground so that you are still limited with on-line time.  I found that even in this day of technology some dial-up speeds are really, really slow and it may take 4 hours to download a day of work.   A lot of campgrounds now are going to WiFi, especially in the bigger cities.   If you have a wireless card and the campground is a hot spot you can access their network (usually for a fee) and get high-speed access from your RV.   You can use your cell phone, which I have done in a pinch, but we often traveled where there was absolutely no signal of any kind like in the Black Mountains of SD.    There are wireless cards called air cards and this will allow you to access an open hot spot while doing down the road, though most hot spots are not open networks so you can't rely on that 100%.  Places like B&N and Starbucks are hot spots for a few.  You could access them from the parking lot so if you are traveling from point A to point B, you could just stop to rest or have a coffee and download at the same time.  You can also use satellite.  With satellite as long as you have a clear view of the southern sky you can get access, even in the middle of a field with no electricity (as long as you have a generator/inverter).   You can get a system similar to what you would have in a residential situation and set it up every time you move or you can have a system installed on your roof that makes it much easier for about ($5000 and $99/mo).  Downloads are not always high-speed and if weather conditions are severe you might not be able to get a signal or keep it, and uploads are much slower than downloads.   We have utilized all of the above at some time or other.  I had Earthlink as my ISP and they have lots of local access numbers and an 800#.  Only twice in the 9 months we lived on the road full-time was I not able to get a signal of some type (before we got out satellite).


I recommend getting a campground directly from Trailer Life.  You can find it at probably any parts/service center or dealership for campers and may find it at B&N.   The don't list all campgrounds, because you have to pay for a listing, but there are campgrounds all over the U.S. listed and they list amenities, such as if pets are allowed, if they have internet access and what type of access, etc.   This will help you make decisions about where to stay.  You can also go on-line before leaving and print out a list of B&N and Starbucks and the like that have hot spots to use in a pinch.  KOA campgrounds should all have some type of access, but they are more expensive and I don't think they are as nice a campground as some others.


If you don't already, you will want direct deposit setup and have all your bills setup to be viewed on-line, so that if you don't have to worry about having your mail forwarded so often or about paying bills on-time.  I had all regular payments automatically drafted and bills like credit cards I paid on-line.


Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.


 


I've been an MT for over 20 years now.

Others who have seen me type say they've never seen anybody type so fast in their life.  My typing speed has been described as truly amazing by others.  There's no question that I have true natural ability when it comes to being an MT, so my knowledge or abilities are definitely NOT the issue here. 


For years now, I have purposely worked for many of the companies out there in order to evaluate differences between line counts.  I've done every kind of work there is too (Basic 4, ER, radiology, etc...).  I'm a very well rounded MT.


I've found that MDI gives the absolute lowest line counts.  I was able to average anywhere from 250-400 lph with all the other companies I worked for and this was after only 1-2 weeks of working with them as compared to working for MDI for years and knowing the account up, down and sideways!!  So when I see people like you posting they average 300-350 at MDI, I really question this???  Also, I never had to pay long distance for anybody else either.  Most other companies offer an 800 number or went internet files a long time ago. 


I'm sorry you can't stomach the many negativities your company has, but in my experience, there's way better out there and I'm entitled to my opinion.


Merry Christmas :)


I've been doing this 20 years and still need
reference books and need to research.   If you are putting out a poor quality product and you know you are there is no excuse.   You should be proofing your reports or going back and relistening.    I'm sorry life is rough, but that is no excuse for poor quality work.   I don't work for KS, but I think you are wrong in putting the blame on them. 
I've been an IC for 13-1/2 years and it's
bites me in the ass, it's the social security tax.
I've been an IC for years, While it has its sm
drawbacks, it also has its advantages.

A drawback is having to buy my own health insurance and having no other company benefits such as paid time off. Any time I'm not pounding the keys when I'm supposed to, I'm not making any money.

The main advantage is that I can draw up a contract with a company for hours/production that realistically fit ME! The easiest thing to do after this is stick to my commitment and schedule and things usually balance out.

Another advantage is being able to deduct expenses, reference books, computer, at-home office, some utilities, phone, gas/car if you pick up and deliver, etc. This means extra tax forms which cost$, but that's part of having your own business.

Don't forget, though, to stash away the taxes that the company would have matched for social security, etc. This is the self-employment tax.

And don't forget to save receipts for any business-related items, income coming in, etc.

As another poster said, gauge your taxes on what you made the year before if that is typical of what you usually do.

Don't be late with your quarterly estimated taxes as that will bite you in the buttocks as a late fee come tax prep time. By this, I mean that by January 15/16 (the date of the fourth quarterly payment for the year before), you should have sent in all you think you owe for that year.

Talk to a tax specialist and get the best advice. It's a bit complicated, but that's THEIR job. You just need to transcribe, pay your estimated taxes on time, keep track of expenses, and save receipts for tax day.

I find it helpful to keep a folder for the year and just plop IC-related receipts, etc., in it as they occur.



not the OP, but I've been there 4.5 years
nm
I've been with them for 4 years..
and I'm very happy there.  They've gone through some management changes recently, but I think it's for the better.  They've changed their pay structure also which has meant an increase for some people - in all honesty, though, not for everyone.  I did take a pay cut because of the way my particular account was set up but I'm making it up pretty easily.  The benefits are great.  Next year on my 5th anniversary I'll be getting 3 weeks vacation.  That's separate from personal and sick time by the way.  I love my account and make good money with it.  I posted below (or by now on the previous page!) with more detail, and so did a Transolutions supervisor.  If you have any specific questions, I'll be glad to see if I can answer them.  Otherwise our recruiter will be glad to speak with you.  Good luck!
I've been doing it for 7 years. No

different that using a desktop.   I do use an external keyboard the majority of the time. 


I've been there almost 2 years now and

 (guess I shouldn't call myself newer TT'r any more?) I haven't run out of work very often, or for very long. Oh, sure, over the holiday it was a little low, so I just took some much needed time off.


Other than that, the work has been as plentiful as when I started. I have a primary and 4 secondary accounts, but I'm rarely on my 1st seconday very much, and forget the other 3. I haven't seen a report from them for months! My primary keeps me very busy.


 


 


If you've been at this 20 years you (sm)

should know by now that in order to get the real skinny you're not going to get it from the recruiter, but rather the wounded.  Yes, some may simply be disgruntled, but those are usually easy to weed out.  When there is a pattern, you have to take some of that information into account when making your informed decision. 


A recruiter is nothing more than the car salesman.  His/her livelihood depends on bringing that MT in and unfortunately in some cases, he/she will do anything to accomplish that.  To a recruiter, the MT is just a piece of their paycheck.  Where is the incentive to tell the truth and answer honestly?  Heck, they probably feel like many MTs do, disrespected and underpaid.  I'd think after 20 years you'd summize that? 


I've been doing this for 15+ years

that the same thing is said over and over and over again about this business.  I do it in my spare time now and if I had to do it over I would NEVER have become an MT.  There are MTs on this board who have been in the profession alot longer than me and they cannot believe the amount of pay ( OR LACK OF MONEY) to be made and how things are going downhill.  MTSOs want more of our time for less money.  Of course, I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know.


 


 


I've done that for quite a few years

I have 2 resumes; one for MT and one for regular jobs. I list my MT skills first, equipment/programs I know how to operate, and only jobs pertaining to MT, plus my education. It doesn't go over 1 page.


My second one, I leave off all the MT info. References are available upon request, but I do not include them with the resume.


If you have a lot of companies on the resume, I would suggest only listing them with the starting and ending month and year. Your skills/work types should be in the skill section. It's not necessary to repeat it.


I used to be a resume writer and my clients all had good luck landing the jobs they wanted, but that was a problem. They got the job they wanted, so I was essentially cutting my own throat. He-he-he.


 


I've been there 2 years myself
...and I'm never going anywhere else! The BEST MT company ever!
I've been there for 10 years sm

Although the pay is low, the platform is super easy and no one bugs you; they just let you work.  They have been through a lot of changes in 10 years, but I have also  and they have always been willing to work with me.  


I find the dictators super easy for the most part; however, I have worked on some of them for 10 years so I know what they are going to say before they even say it.  There are a couple of ESLs that are a challenge and one who is American that is worse than the ESLs.  There seems to be plenty of work on my account during the day but I do type mainly the ESL pool.  The people in the office are very nice to deal with as is the owner.  Obviously, I think they are great because I have been there for a LONG time.  :o)  Hope this helps.


I've been an MT for 40 years and
I have done this dance before. Here is what you do:
1. Inform your MTSO that your pay is not contingent upon when SHE gets paid. Your agreement is with HER and not her creditors. 2. Tell her that if you are not paid within five (5) days of this request you will do the following: A. Put it in the hands of your attorney for action and collection. B. Notify the Fraud Division and Small Business Division of your State's Attorney General. Ask her if she does, in fact, have a valid business license. C. Tell her you will make a written report to the Better Business Bureau and any other consumer-service bureaus that exist in your area. I have see all too many MTs get sc***ed only because they allow it. Remember the old saying, YOU DESERVE THE KIND OF TREATMENT YOU WILL ACCEPT. Meanwhile, do not transcribe one more line. Further, you should warn her that this needs to be a one-time event and if it occurs again, you will quit. I trust you have a written contract or memorandum of understanding with her. If not, send her one, including a clause that states your pay dates are not dependent upon her getting paid by her client(s). You are not helpless. Start advocating for yourself. You can do it.
I've been there 3 years and I think they might have sent (sm)
a notice once...but the other 2 times I had to call or e-mail the person in HR and ask them. 
I've been an MT for 36-1/2 years,
and never bothered with certification--until I went to work for a company that actually rewards the credential--1/2 cent per line raise for passing the RMT, and another 1/2 cent for the CMT. They also have free prep courses for both exams, AND they reimburse the cost of sitting for the exam if you pass it. So what's not to like? I took the RMT the first moment I could, passed it, got my raise (and my reimbursement) and in a few months I will join the study group for the CMT, and go for that as soon as I am eligible.

But for the first 36 years I had no use whatsoever for the credential. If one is not rewarded for it as we are at my company, what's the point?
I've been there nearly 3 years now and like it a lot (sm)
Try to get a backup account when you are first hired, unless there is absolutely a ton of work on your primary.  I went through quite a dry spell with my primary account being very, very low.  I finally got a good backup account.  But even when things were bad there I knew they would work with me to get me more work so I hung in there and stayed with it and now I have plenty of work.  They are one of the best companies out there.  Good Luck!
I've been with them a little more than two years.
It has never been less than a wonderful place to work. The accounts are easy, for the most part (there is the rare exception, as with any place). The platforms are easy (I work on two different platforms and like them both). The owners have been more than accommodating when I have had emergencies and, as a matter of fact, have bent over backward for me more than once. I have always been paid on time, and the one time when my pay was off because I worked on an account I normally don't work, I simply notified the owner, and I had a check in my hands within 3 days. I've never had a problem getting hold of them. I was trained, and the trainer/QA person is available nearly instantly for any questions I may have, and it is probably THE MOST PLEASANT work atmosphere I have been in for a very, very long time.

I've worked other places, and the last place I worked was given absolute hell. I'll stick with Landmark. No employer is perfect, but they're pretty darned close.
I've been with them for over 10 years (sm)
have seen lots of management come and go, wish the latest batch would go soon. They used to be pretty flexible, right now are in a very militant mode as far as hours, production, etc. Not sure how many platforms they have, but the one I'm on requires a lot of mousing and very slow to change screens (patient info to document screen, etc), my production has dropped a lot as a result. Hoping things will turn around again somehow!
I've worked for both.
I prefer MDI-FL of the two. It also depends on what you're looking for out of a company. MDI-FL was far more flexible with regard to account assignment, work schedule, and line commitment. You've read the archives. There are pros and cons to each employer. My personal opinion is that MDI-FL is the better of the two. I'd go back there if I hadn't found my current position. Medware, never.
I've never actually worked for her, but she's
a very nice person.
I've worked for them before....
Usually that happens when they are waiting for the account to actually start up.  Just send her an email asking her about the status of the account/your start date.
I've never worked anywhere but MQ

until recently, but if you like the DocQScribe platform, you might want to look into DSG.  I tested and interviewed with them and was offered a decent pay of 9 cpl.  I originally accepted a position with them but ended up turning them down b/c they wanted more of a schedule commitment from me than I wanted to give.  For the short while that I was on their communication roster, they seemed to have a lot of work available in DSG-II and they offered bonuses almost every weekend to work extra that were paid back to the first line that you typed for the day it was offered. 


The people I spoke with there seemed pretty nice.  Like I said, I never actually worked for them, but had I not wanted the true IC status, I would have.  I really liked the idea of working on DQS, especially since I'm not familiar with any of the other platforms out there (until now).


Good luck in whatever you decide.  There are a lot of archives on here for Keystrokes if you check.  Don't really know anything about Transcend other than the constant jobs they post.  That would kind of make me wonder, but maybe they've hit a growth spurt.  If you do end up at DSG, please email me and let me know what they're like.  If things don't work out with my new job, I may try them again.  The recruiter was open to that idea.


I've never worked for them, but -
I'd call (or at least email the recruiter) and find out if there's a problem, or if they've simply forgotten. As I indicated, I've never worked for them, but if I were waiting to start a job, I'd be shaking somebody's tree to find out the reason for hold up.

Good luck :-)
I've worked there....sm
and would have to say ditto on the other posters comments. Very nice people, pay up front, good communication, and I had pretty productive accounts with them. The pay is indeed low, but if the productivity is good and you like the company, that may all even out for you.
I've never worked for them

but if I had not decided to stay retired that is where I would have gone because I know someone who works for them (I trained her myself).  She's been there a number of years and all-in-all says she is quite happy.  Her pay is way above average although I didn't ask her if she knew what the starting rate is now.  One thing I did ask her is whether they ran out of work and she said almost never.  AND she doesn't do VR.  I didn't ask whether they have VR or not.


As I said a few days ago, this is second hand information and I have no first hand knowledge.  Probably not much help but I would suggest at least talking with them.  You never know until you try it for yourself. 


Good luck!


Well, gee whiz. I've been at this for many years SM

know my terminology and even build my own computers.  Is that literate enough?  What young whippersnapper can do that! 


I wouldn't work for someone like that.