No, not R. Just someone else who was burned by Focus.
Posted By: SM on 2008-08-06
In Reply to: Is that... - qa
There's a lot of us out there.
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Burned out
Take a break, take some vacation time. It happens to all of us at one time or another.
I have a particular issue with this comment - Quality - HA! It is a tool used to keep MTs down mostly, even when it starts out as a tool to help MTs. You are not fooling anybody. This is about money, it is about QA making more money than the MT who is doing all the actual work...
This is not true. I do QA and I can assure you nothing I do is down to put anybody down. I feel that it is my responsibility to educate, not to put down. Yet many people like yourself do not take it like that. I can assure you I am not making the money MTs used to make. Honey, I used to make anywhere from $25-$28/hr typing back in the good ole days, do you think they pay QA anywhere close to that? MTs are still by far making more money. I cannot type now due to a physical condition. If not for that I would be typing just like everybody else. If you don't like where you are now, move on. These jobs are a dime a dozen, no sense in suffering. If you don't want to move, talk to your manager, your QA, or maybe even someone who can be a support to you. Calm down and see what you can do to make your life or your job better. We are all experiencing these changes together, you are not alone. If you don't mind me asking where are you now that is causing you so much stress? You don't have to answer here if you don't want to, send me an email.
Must be why we keep getting burned.:)
xxx
Just got burned and quit...
after many months of no pay. Not worth it!
I too got burned by this company
She owes me 2 paychecks also and that was 2 months ago...I know I'll never see that money :'( She is very unprofessional and yes she never returns any messages, unless she wants to tell you off, which she does quite often to a lot of people. That's okay that company is going down, she's already lost a major money making account and it won't be long, I'm sure, before she loses the rest of her accounts and then she'll get what she deserves and is coming to her!!!
No, I have not been burned. I have been with same company SM
for many years. Not MQ. I have every reason to believe all the excited TTs around here are recruiters. If you were MTs, you would be working away on your accounts. Also, strange that former TT people posting literally anything negative are promptly put down. If company is so great, why must you resort to that behavior?
I have never worked for TT and have nothing to do with it. I am just an observer and what I observe about Transtech posts is people saying exactly the same thing all the time. Robotic, if you will. No offense, please and, do not attack me, as I am not attacking your or TT, but of course you will take it as such.
Re: Burned to a crisp
I dealt with it by GETTING OUT. It isn't going to get better, only worse. I started a business which I'm enjoying. An MT friend got out and took a job as photographer for a small newspaper. Life is short.......too short to waste being miserable.
burned to a crisp
I am completely with you. Been doing this for 30 years. Making $800 less a month than when I worked at the hospital and doctor's offices. Where do these MTs work that are making $50, 000/year?. I would really like to know.
Your 1st paragraph should be burned into
THIS PARAGRAPH SAYS IT ALL:
I also questioned line rates for a handful of MTSOs and flat out said too low of a rate for me. I have 20+ years of experience. They'd be getting my 100% effort and 100% knowledge, but only want to pay for about 50% of what that's worth.
In a nutshell, this is EXACTLY the problem with the MT field. We should all burn this paragraph into our brains, carve in into our desks, write it on our forearms in indelible ink.
The MTSO's should memorize this paragraph, as well. Maybe we should print it out in flowery Gothic script, and put in on their desks when we go for job interviews.
If you reward a worker with fair pay and decent treatment, they'll put out 110-120% in effort. Pay the worker only half of what they're worth, and that's all you're going to receive from them.
LOW WAGES BREED DISGRUNTLED CLOCK-WATCHERS AND CHEATERS!
Same thing here. Tired of 24/7. Burned out
and going back to QA.
If I am burned out, it is by this attitude inside...
I think MTs should actually take a professional attitude to heart. All of the message boards are full of the most hateful, catty, snotty, judgemental, whining people but they want to be recognized as professionals. We don't appear to be a professional group because we are not acting that way, speaking that way...
Then, We have to learn to adapt, change, and make ourselves necessary for the future. Doing the swollen chest/head routine won't get it. Complaining won't get it. Threatening to quit or unionize won't get it. Making a dedicated effort to be better at our work, difficult dictators and all, WILL get it.
That is belittling, to incorporate all MTs as complainers, whiners, unable to change or adapt.
Mostly I see QA whining and complaining about MTs -
I also do not care to be called burned-out because I have certain opinions...that is condenscending (Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude).
Where I work there are mostly (or used to be as they are now transitioning to the trends of utilizing QA to lower pay/benefits) awesome QA, who keep their comments to themselves and are 'professional.'
I have, however, been subject to comments over the years from people who appear sadistic when they approach MTs. Unfortunately, these more than outweigh the people who keep it business and to the point.
Constructive criticism? You bet I welcome it, and appreciate it, and learn from it, as do most MTs I believe. What is difficult is to get comments like above, and the general attitude than can infiltrate throughout a company that the MT is not professional or worthy.
The divide is wrong. QA should be no better than an MT, and my comments about MTs - bottom line, QA would not have jobs without us, period. What would you have to critique?
How easy it is to sit through and listen to an already typed report, and make corrections. That does not even take a lot of skill, if you ask me. Even re-reading my own reports I can find minor errors every time. That is why I try to quickly do a once-over before I send a report, if time allows and I am not pressed to get my lines or hours in so that I do not lose my benefits...
Maybe it is different where you work, and it used to be where I work, but it is quickly changing.
Another one burned by Four Seasons Transcription
I was a current employee of Robin Hall's that still hung on thinking and believing she would pay me. My paycheck was 5 weeks late when I finally said enough is enough. I told her I quit as of 02/01/08. Since that time she does not show online, does't answer her home phone, cell phone, or e-mail. This woman is a very very good con artist and apparently has been operating this way for a long time. I even called on her business number listed on her business webpage... guess what... that number has been disconnected with no forwarding number. I still have yet to be paid and she owes me over $800. The part I feel the worst about, I referred a friend to her shortly after I started. She owes my friend over $900 and can't get a hold of Robin either. I know there's probably not much I can do about what she did to me but I hate that fact that she will continue to cheat honest, hard working MT's. I've posted on just about every site I can think of from Guru (where she found me) to Freelance.com. If anyone can think of any other sites I'll post on them too. I can't stress enough, please before you accept a position IC or employee status with ANY company..... check them out in any way possible.
Becka
I've been burned so many times
I don't understand what is happening in the MT world today. I've worked as an IC for years, paid my own health insurance, paid my own taxes. I've chosen to work as an IC because I want the flexibility to decide my own schedule. It has always worked for me in the past. Today, however, that is not happening. Companies today who hire ICs as well as employee status are requiring that an IC commit to working a 5-day schedule, Tuesday through Saturday or Sunday through Thursday, specific shift hours, something without doubt beyond the limits of IRS guidelines. If I wanted a schedule such as mentioned, I would sign on as employee status. Let the employee status MTs commit to their shifts. If I make my 1000 or 1200 lines per day, the days I do it, the hours I do it are totally my decision, but I am receiving contracts that require me to work a schedule on a company's dictates, or I am turning down offers as IC status because in the interviewing process I am asked to commit to a schedule as mentioned when the entire purpose of my being an IC is flexibility. Why are they producing these contracts that are totally against IRS guidelines in order to work for them? Sure, they need to know what I will produce, but as an IC, they cannot dictate when and how I will do that.
TIA for your comments. I know I cannot be the only one who is scratching their heads, wondering why be an IC today if the IRS guidelines are ignored. Of course, I don't have to sign any contract, but I'm telling you, this is happening over and over again.
I hear ya about being burned, cant be too careful. nm
xxx
Then go with TT...you will be just as burned out at KS trying to get a decent check. (nm)
xxx
I too was pretty burned out. A couple sm
years ago my mom got very sick and I had to take time off to take care of her until she died. After that I didn't work for about 18 months, (I know everybody can't do that) and I found that when I did go back it was like starting fresh! So a long vacation away from MT (don't even go in your office during that time) probably will help tremendously.
Also I don't know of any other profession where I can have the freedom I have and make the hourly salary I do (even with wages being lower) so I choose to stay in MT. Have at least 10 more years to work anyway.
Good luck.
A good MT leaving with no burned bridges, will likely
x
Pretty funny. OSI gripers burned up the board with sm
their complaints. None of the posts match when you click into them.
Focus, focus, focus on your work. It's amazing what you can do! nm
x
Lots of people have been burned by them..be careful, very careful. NM
xx
Focus. sm
I worked for Focus doing editing and was not happy with the company. I applied for a transcription postion and was hired on the spot for an editing position. Little did I know that I was editing work from India, which did not sit well with me. I was using the Netcare platform and hated it. I could not work for this company knowing that they were sending their work overseas and taking away our US jobs - but I had many good laughs while editing of what was actually dicated from the doctors and what was transcribed by the people in India. 
Focus
No, I did not until I was hired. I live in Mass and their offices are also in Mass. I applied through an ad in the local paper. When I met with them at their offices, I was told I would be transcribing for a local hospital account and also doing some editing, which was not the case when all was said and done. I never did do any transcribing and lasted only a short time doing editing. I agree that the line counts differ from your own and is something to be careful with when working for this company.
Focus
I have worked in transcription for 8 years at local offices and just have started working with Focus. I have trouble not having jobs available during the hours that I agreed to work. I was given the impression I was taking an editing position but so far have only done transcription. Please give me names of good companies to work for.
Focus
If you visit their website, it says they are based in Mass with offices all over the US. I could not find anything about India anywhere on their website. They may be Indian, but I was hard pressed to find that info. Also, if you Google them you will get negative posts about them being an Indian company (all from this site), but I have yet to see anyone actually back that up with concrete evidence. I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself. They wouldn't be the only company that is Indian anyway. There are companies that advertise on this site that outsource.
FOCUS, RUN AWAY
I worked for them and most of the office staff is Indian and they treat their employees horribly. They cut the all the editors pay. Most of the accounts are have horrible dictators. You can't make any money. They don't respect the MTs/editors.
RUN AWAY FROM FOCUS
They treat their employees terribly. The office staff is mostly Indian and they have no respect for their employees. I would not recommend working there. I know, I USED to work for them.
Focus
They currently pay .08 cpl for transcription and .04 cpl for VR editing. You can either be IC or employee status. I currently work for Focus Infomatics as an Independent Contractor and love it. I do not do VR editing. I have worked there for approximately three months. Everyone has been very kind and helpful. The account I work on keeps me very busy and I am making very good money. They did mention VR editing to me when I was hired, but I have not been set up to do that yet. It will be my decision to do that though. They do offer benefits if you are employee status and they have direct deposit. So far I have no complaints whatsoever!
FOCUS
Anybody out there who works for Focus doing editing on voice rec, can you tell me what the average lines per hour are that you are able to achieve. Thanks a bunch for any info.
Focus
I am so glad to hear somebody else out there has the same problem I have.
Focus
The same thing happened to me at Focus. I am at another company working on the same platform and make alot more money as well. There is something going on with the way they count lines.
Focus
I started with Focus a couple weeks ago and love editing. Only drawback right now is running out of work but supposedly more accounts are coming on board soon so hopefully it will pick up then. I have no complaints other than low workload.
Focus
I worked for them last year and loved editing, but I had the same problem with running out of work.
Focus
I currently work for Focus and I am very happy there. There have been some changes made within the company lately including a new QA manager, which was greatly needed. I have plenty of work and make a good line rate. No complaints.
Focus
Yeah, and I see they have an ad today about needing MT/editors immediately! What's up with that? I have no work to do but yet they need them immediately!
Focus
I currently work for Focus (about 2 weeks now) and have run out of work almost every day. I love editing, but when there's no work, it doesn't pay the bills. I see today they have an ad to hire again.
Focus
I have been hired by Focus and I am supposed to start Oct. 9th. After reading some of the posts, I have really thought twice. I work P/T now and make about 400 every two weeks. Will I get that working P/T for Focus? Also, do they offer direct deposit to P/T or just F/T? Thanks!
Anybody know anything about FOCUS
Focus
You will never ever get an increase out of this company. Also, really, really poor response to concerns and hard to understand tech support and supervisors.
NAH, bet it is Focus. nm
Most frustrating and underpaying company I ever had the misfortune to almost donate my time to. Got out quick. There are other Escription companies that may give the same cpl but man do you get more lines and make more - telling you just how dishonest Focus really is.
Isn't that the new name for Focus? If so, run away! nm
s
Are they still Focus?
I saw all the stuff about Focus but nothing recent about Acetera.
The did NOT used to be Focus...sm
I just talked to them regarding a position and that is one of the questions I asked. They are an independent 2 year old company that is NOT a part of Focus Infomatic. They have done some work for them, but are not affiliated in any way. I was also offered a position, as they found my resume information on Monster.com, and being curious asked. FYI.
Focus
Thanks for the information. I will be running as I am an IC and work privately for a group in town that has outsourched to India and I have lost 4 Drs because of this and I am now down to 1. I cannot believe this outsourching to India for a cheaper rate and all jobs are being lost here in the US. I am going back to school for my coding CPC as I have done billing for 12 years and I feel transcription is going to the birds.
Thanks Again. 
Focus
They are in India, I have seen pictures of where they work. They have mostly men doing their transcription. Stay away.
Pay at Focus
What percentage of your 2000.00 per pay period is editing and transcription? Thanks. Do you work on more than one account?
Focus
I applied with them and took the time for the entire test. You have to pass the first 2 parts to go on to the transcription. I thought I did well on the transcription, but just received an email that I did not pass. No phone call, no score, nothing....Then I read on this site many negatives. Maybe a blessing that the door did not open....
Focus
I had worked for Focus for a little over a year and finally just got out and got a job with DRC. I did speech recognition editing and as far as doubling your line counts, forget it. There were so many mistakes, it would have been faster to type the report from scratch. As far as an incentive program goes, there is one in place but it is extremely difficult to meet. Just to make 9 cents a line, you would have to do 2000 lines a day if you worked five days a week. Even though DRC pays by the keystroke, I was STARTED at what equals out to be more than 9 cents a line.
Focus
I worked for Focus for about a year and a half and really had no complaints. Yes, your supervisor will be in India, although I really only talked to him over instant messenger. I never had any problems with them harassing me about how much work I did, and my quality was good so that wasn't a problem either. My pay was always on time direct deposit and I was an IC so I could work whenever I wanted as long as I got my account done. I was the only one doing this particular account so I wasn't in a pool or anything. I did not like the voice recognition editing that I did. There were so many mistakes, I felt like it would be quicker to just type the report from scratch but that could have been the particular account I was doing it on. Not a bad place to start out I don't think.
Focus
The replies are still down there and they are not all negative. I like working for them. My account has a combination of standard transcription and voice recogn. editing. I just started a couple of months ago PT and I am making more the longer I work and get better at the editing. The only problem is a language barrier with the Indian staff but personally it hasn't been a problem for me yet.
focus
Focus Infomatics?
Focus
Anyone out there know anything about Focus Infomatics? TIA
Focus
Truth be known, I've had my doubts and complaints about Focus. However, believe me, I've experienced worse. In less than 2 years of experience, I have met some really bad companies. Some pay as little as 5.5 cents per line for straight transcription. Right now, Focus is offering me the best pay rate of all (for night shift, 10 cents/line transcription and 5 cents/line editing) on a user-friendly platform (EditScript). So, for now, I'm happy enough. It's not for everybody. But, as in all other aspects of life, everything is point of view, and I wish that I hadn't wasted so much time trying to find greener pastures; as I haven't found any yet.
This is obviously my opinion and I own it. I realize that you may not share the same opinion and I do understand your concerns and respect your differing opinions.
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