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Yes, I got the same letter from Embarq..even after I explained (sm)

Posted By: Another Ohio MT on 2008-01-07
In Reply to: Help - KS/ATT long distance (sm) - mt

to them what I needed the unlimited LD for.  I finally switched to a digital line from our local cable provider (Time-Warner) and pay $39 a month now, no matter how much long distance I use.  I also work for Keystrokes.


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Re: ULD with Embarq (Sprint) sm.
I have run into this also.  My home ULD runs about $17 a month.  Embarq has a small-business ULD that runs $25 (plus taxes, etc.).  I am going to change to this and reconnect my business line, so I don't have to worry.  The small business is really unlimited, and I feel like I need the second line anyway.  You might want to check into this.  I live in Kansas.
After just being informed by Embarq that I was using my (sm)
unlimited long distance too much (they knew why I needed it when I signed up for it), I just called my digital provider and had it installed on my second line which will save me about $50 a month.  And they said there were no restrictions! 
This is how it's explained,,
A 65 printable characters equals a line-----which we know means no spaces. 
Never been explained
Nope, honestly no one has ever explained this to me.  I recently started questioning it though because I am now seeking new employment and I'm not sure if I would qualify for unemployment temporarily until I find something new or not.  I have not quit my current job yet but believe me, I am going to and I'm sure once people knew my reasoning, they would probably do the same thing.
well you just explained yourself! sm
you are limiting yourself to clinic work. Any MT who is limited to what he/she can or will do is going to have a hard time. I don't know what you do or how much you do, but 10 cpl if you are typing 200-300 lph is pretty darn good money. Not many jobs where you can stay home and make 20 bucks an hour.

Limit yourself to clinic work and maybe you will have that 9-5 job. But don't complain when there is no work and you can't or won't do anything but clinic work because it cuts into your lifstyle.

Obviously you haven't been in the position of really having to have a paycheck or you would be willing to work when the work is there. Can you do or have you done anything besides clinic work? Why limit yourself?

Go apply for a day job in a MR department of a hospital and do acute care (if you can find one). I am getting the picture now. you didn't give the whole situation before, clinic only....hmmmmmmmmm!
Now that you explained it..
That sounds absolutely HYSTERICAL!!!! I would have done that for my next conference call with the Q, but oops, I quit! YAY! ;)
Benefits explained
I was glad I called Cymed HR to ask them about their new benefit package. I found out I could go to another option package with a different deductible and my rate did not change, in fact went down $8. The dental, vision and disability are really low cost and help a lot. I was really glad I called to get more information because it was easier to get answers then trying to figure it out myself.
You explained that perfectly! sm
Bingo! This job is very isolating and most of the jobs are found via Internet, so there is no personal (face to face) contact. This board helps network other MTs. Sorry that some people don't seem to understand.
It was also explained to me that 7 cpl was the pay rate...
As they were adding benefits into the mix, and that was directly from the VP of Transcription Services. If that has changed, I would be very interested in purusing it.
You just explained the universe
Was with OSi very briefly and quit, 1 reason because I worked so hard but saw very low line counts. I couldn't figure it out.
I'm so sorry. You just explained how a lot of people SM
feel. I feel sorry for so many of us. Those poor MT's at JLG.

I'm old, so I just have a few years left to work. If I were younger, I would really consider something different. I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do and please believe you are capable of achieving anything you want. Anyone capable of being MT is capable of anything. Hmm, they may have come out poorly. :)

Anyway, go for it.
Now you explained it. I always thought
that dark shadow was night coming on or at least my husband's beard growing, now I know it is the indians descending.
They explained to me as just a little "extra" they thought they could do sm
for the people that work for them.  I am working part-time for them, so not sure how it will work, but I thought it was a nice idea.  They seem to be great people to work with. 
Ok. I could handle once as a mistake if explained promptly and fixed. Twice? I would run sm
as fast as I could. Twice in two months? What if you never get paid at all? You would be better going with a national while getting your own so that you have benefits and a steady paycheck. Start your own accounts slowly so that you start right.
the reason for the discrepancy has been explained by the owner of the company already - nm
nm
ironic, since OP specifically explained about board answers.
nm
I'm not that poster. Unreal. She has explained herself half a dozen times by now.
It seems not.
Okay, here is how a recruiter who is a friend of mine explained verbal tests to me.

Verbal tests are to give the recruiter a feel of what that MT knows off the top of their head.  Not all people get nervous at verbal tests but a good recruiter has the insight to know if a wrong answer or lack of an answer is from not knowing or is from just being nervous.  A verbal test is done just to get a feel for the the off the top knowledge of an MT plus you know that MT is taking it.  This recruiter is also an MT and having gone through so many tests the long hard way decided this was the lesser of the evils.  She did tell me though if she felt that MT knew their stuff and just could not respond because of nervousness that she noted that and just by a general conversation based on experience would not flunk someone like that.  Lenghty tests prove very little except that an MT has been working for companies that all have different ways of style and that she felt that was not right to an MT; as well having to take tests that are hours long after an MT has been working long hours is also not fair to the MT.  And my friend told me that in many cases there are MTs that literally have other MTs take their testing for them and you would not know it until that person starts the job.  It depends on the recruiter and their knowledge of the industry.  Each recruiter or company has their own way and usually they find the way that works best for them.  I personally find that many recruiters just have no knowledge of the industry (inside knowledge) and it annoys me that someone like that is allowed to even have the opportunity to interview and test me.  I can remember one with a company up north and their idea of punctuation was way too much.  It should not have been an issue unless it changed the meaning of the report but had they gone by the Book of Style they would not have added those 20 or so commas throughout the 4 reports that they had me transcribe.  I passed but when you have been in this industry for over 15 years and are being judged by someone that has not and who has not been in your MT dancing shoes then something about that just does not seem right.  Anyway I doubt there really is a best way to do anything, but if I had my choice, I would prefer the way that is the shortest. Time is precious and for the rates they pay nowadays those tests are just too lengthy to go through that for a whopping 7 cents a line.  No thank you.  I'll chance my nerves over all that. 


RE: Not MQ-Letter

I have to agree with you on this--why does everyone need to be called personally and I never thought about that, was the call being recorded?? But would they not have to tell you that??


 


Something just does not feel right about this. The packet is coming out in Oct, our all the packets different,after you get the packet will you have to sign something to agree to that pay rate to continue with your job, and is all this heading to a merger with Spheris at the first of the year. When I was called , there were no answers to any of my questions and honestly I think the person on the phone was not prepared for any questions, just to ask you if you got the packet.


 


Some of the offices that have been closed so far have surprised me, especially Warminster and Atlanta, and now Houston and an office in Ohio is closing. I hope it is not the one in Columbus, that is a great office.


 


Where is this all going???  And all I want to do is work, if there was any!!!


yes really. it was in my letter.
under 'highlights of the plan':
#6: "opportunity for paid time off for part-time employees and PTO of up to 18 days per year for full-time employees.."
Next letter
Y
Anyone else get this letter ?

Got letter in mail --  inquiry about 'opportunity' for my service to hire on 50+ MTs including dictation platform - something about an MTSO losing 98% of its hospital business in November and wanting to place these MTs.  ?  I'm wondering if these poor MTs even know about it yet ??


Letter
I received this letter today, and I don't even work for SPI.  I did work for Cymed (long before the merge), but have been gone from there for 2 years now.  I wonder if it's anything I need to worry about.   
Did anybody get a letter from SPI

I am a former SPI employee and got a letter from the company who did our paychecks today saying an SPI employee had left a laptop on a plane that had our personal info such as SSI#, bank info, etc. and the laptop had not been recovered.  They are supposed to have a 1-year free deal with Equifax for a credit watch.  This is really scary to me. Was wondering if anyone else got this letter.


Letter
Yes, I also received one today.  There is a thread below that was started about this, and I posted to that.  I have actually never worked for SPI, but I did work for Cymed 2 years ago.  It's so scary to think that my personal information might be at risk.  I think it might be best to enroll in the coverage now.   
SPI letter
I also recieved the letter. I worked for Cymed. My sister used to work for an insurance company and recieved the same letter. She has been monitoring her credit report but has had somebody try and change the address on a few of her credit cards. What next and how incompetent are people.
letter
Does anyone have any samples of a letter that you would send out to doc's to get their business.
I got the same letter
My letter said I had to become an employee because of state regulations - I assume this is for Massachusetts where Focus is located? That doesn't seem to make sense to me since we are located all over (I am in Kansas). I've been an IC with Focus for a year and haven't had too many problems but do get updated account specs just about everyday. I can only keep up with 1 account assigned to me bec. I can't remember everything for 3 accounts. I am content with staying at Focus but only if I can pick my shifts and days to work.
letter
Wow! Well written. I posted here last week and was called a suck-up, but I still think you are right. I do my own share of griping, but having been an IC, I know what you say is true. I'm much happier being an employee. MUCH less stress. Try working for a federal prison and not getting their work back - I never had the guts to be late, even though they were at times late with the tapes and my paycheck. I only went to being an employee within a company because of a severe, chronic illness in my son. This works best for me now, staying at home and being here for him, not running around picking up tapes and delivering sticky progress notes. By the way, what does MTSO mean? My guess is MT service organization, but I'm actually clueless.
This letter should be followed up by a letter to
*
No letter here! nm

Can we talk - about this MQ letter!

The first sentence that sent me tossing my cookies was "...we would like to thank you for your continued service and support.  we know the key to our success is the people who work so hard for our customers every day".


 


PLEEZE......I have not had one centilla of a raise in over 5 years!  So we know what that sentence was all above.  Your thanks and $1.25 will get me a bad cup of coffee at Huddle House.


 


Next - that's the whole reason for this letter if you ask me - the little ditty from WINSTON AND STRAWN, attorneys at law.


 


They wanted MQ employees to cough up DOCUMENTS (document preservation).  Of course the attorneys for the MTs' class action suite are also searching out those very same documents.   How quaint.


 


And that graph about "over the past several months with your help and input we have been working on developing a pay plan and comprehensive benefit program that will enable us to set the standard in the industry."  Nowhere in that whole paragraph did it mention statutory MTs.  It addressed them in the salutation of the letter, but never in the paragraph about the pay plan of benefits if you notice.  and lord help us if MQ is going to set the STANDARD for the industry (which they have single-handedly devastated all by themselves).  They did not make profit through solid  business means, they made their profit off the BENEFITS we as MTs made previously and which they through smoke and mirrors merely shifted over to their profit column.  That didn't take a genius - just underhanded business.  I could do that too, take what used to be benefits and change it to the profit monies. 


 


And in this letter they further have the nerve to claim:  "While we believe that the claims raised by the three transcriptionists appear to lack merit..."  How about the thousands of other MTs who also believe it to be so, and the hospitals that back them up?


 


I have to go pour me a drink. 


No. The only letter I have received is the
September 2nd letter announcing the upcoming Rewards Plan.

Yes, if ASR pay is being reduced that is a pay cut. It is A pay cut. The above post made implication that there was a pay cut across the board, "... the pay cut ...".

I just don't see a need to be careless with that kind of assumption.

I have received nothing about the ASR reduction. However, I do not do ASR and it may have only gone to those MTs.

Watch out. SBC just sent me a letter saying
they were switching me from unlimited LD to 10 cents a minute.  So I called and canceled my LD with them.  Back to onesuite.com for now.
Isn't there some way an "anonymous" letter
Let the doctors and clinics know where their work is being sent--to a country with no HIPAA regulations. Let them know that the people who have faithfully worked for them for years just got shafted BIG TIME.
Trying to Advertise my letter...
in the Toledo Blade myself. They told me that the advertising managers will have to review my article and decide if they will let me do it. I don't know what it will cost to do it, but I am sure going to try!!!!

I will send it to Lou Dobbs now.
Medware QA boo-boo letter
So, did you all get the QA email that was intended for QA staff dealing with the India work?  and then the email stating, oh, disregard that email . . . Well, there is the proof that MW offshores and is looking to do more and more at our ultimate expense. 
SPI/Ceridian Letter

Wondering if any SPI employees have accessed the enrollment for the 1 year free credit monitoring with Equivax due to a supposed breech of security with their payroll service, Ceridian.  I am wondering if this is legit or if it is the typical scam where after the first year free you are automatically enrolled into the service at a charge and it is your responsibility to cancel.  I would hate to think they have stooped so low as to be profiting off of their employee mailing list.  Guess I am feeling a little cynical today.


I second that emotion..to the letter!
nm
LETTER TO CONGRESS
Here's a copy of what I sent. I encourage us all to write more letters to save our jobs. Feel free to copy any parts and use to send to them.

Please stop the outsourcing of our medical records to third world
countries for cheap labor to be done by people that cannot fully speak the
English language and are not qualified to transcribe the health
information that may be outsourced to them. This is done solely because
the american company that is outsourcing is cheap and saving money at the
cost of the patient's health due to the inconsistency and inaccuracy of
their ability to accurately transcribe the English language and are just
transcribing anything that they think might be the proper English or
medical term. This puts the patient's health in jeopardy and high risk of
having the inaccurate information such as inaccurate medicines, inaccurate
medical conditions and the obvious accessibility of the patient's full
name, address, social security number and other very private information
at the hands of the unscrupulous overseas companies with no laws governing
their privacy laws and no punishable by law of any misuse of this
information that could be for sale to any one and by anyone in the third
world countries that have access to the information. There is no
remediation ability for any illegal use of any of the information that is
transmitted via electronic voice, computer or fax machine to these
overseas companies and therefore the very use of this kind of service by
an overseas company should be highly illegal and should not be allowed
considering that there are many American companies that do have to adhere
to the HIPPA privacy law and all the legal ramifications for protecting
every patient's private information and medical information.

This is a very serious matter and affects every American as there are many
unscrupulous businesses operating on the very information that we as
American companies are held of the highest regard to protect all patient
information and are held responsible for any misconduct that may occur
with the releasing of any of the patient's information whether it be
social security numbers, health information or personal information that
can be gleened from any medical record.

We Americans take pride in our work and we hold the patient's medical
record to the utmost respect and privacy. There is no way to control the
overseas companies and they cannot be held responsible for selling any
patient information.

Thank you.


The name is Axolotl. The last letter is an L, not an I.

Refusal letter
May I borrow this when needed. It says everything that needs to be!!!
She would have found it with or without the letter! (nm)
That's what!
yep demand letter already sent
and will probably end up there but I don't care as I deserve to be paid for my services. And the entire way this person handled this entire matter was so immature. Wish I could copy and paste some of the e-mails that went back and forth. Very childish and immature!!
Cover letter
I have been offered 7 jobs in the past year so take my advice for what you will.

The sentence: Please consider this letter as my formal application presenting my background, education, and experience. I would take it out. Your resume outlines your background, education, etc. This sentence is just fluff.

Rather than saying over 4 years, make it 5 years. Lots of companies want 5 years, and if it is only a matter of months difference, it won't matter.

I would include more types of imaging and take out some of the medical terminology, labwork, etc. They are more interested in your radiology background and expect you to know anatomy, etc.

This sentence: I am highLY self-motivated and produce excellent work, both in quality and quantity. Anybody can say that, and it sounds liked canned text. Do you have a QA score to back it up? How many reports do you average an hour? More specifics than a general statement.

This sentence: May I arrange an interview to further discuss my qualifications? Don't ask. Tell them I am very interested in this position and look forward to hearing from you. Then give them a phone number and email to contact you.

Good luck



You really don't need a cover letter.
Send your resume. We are smart enough to figure out the rest. Most times a cover letter heads straight for the trash. Who has time to read it? Unless a company specifically asks for a cover letter, don't bother.
FOLLOW-UP LETTER
I took a test for a company on 1 week ago, Sept 24.  I know I nailed it.  Still haven't heard anything.  How do I write a follow-up email to see if I can get any info on my status?  Any help is appreciated!  Thanks.
open letter

You could not said it any  better.!!!!


AHDI's letter
No, thanks. AHDI has a long history of selling out the American transcriptionist. If they told me the sun was shining, I would walk outside and look at the sky to be sure. I refuse to support AHDI in any way whatsoever.
Does it begin with the letter
nm
I think you should print this letter out and
-- and maybe a newspaper or a TV station or two. The reason these people are getting away with ducking the law is that they think no one can see them do it. (And we're all 'nobodys', so we don't count). If this post just stays on this forum, only other MTs will read it. This needs to be read by the general public, and some of our lawmakers, as well.

This was an excellent post, and needs to be read by as many people as possible.

PS: My company pulls this one on us, too. Only instead of asking for overtime, since they know they'd have to pay us, they raise the number of minimum lines per day we have to do, and tell us to work harder, work faster. But then they throw a trip line into the works by tweeking the software to the point where it's as slow as molasses, or by giving us accounts with heavy ESLs and no samples or normals to work from.

I think all these folks need to spend some time in a cell with Bernie Madhoff.