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Hi, just lately I spoke with a couple of companies who said they re-imbursed for telephone charges..

Posted By: CindiRI on 2007-10-25
In Reply to: Lots of places still offer accts using them, but you need to - pay your own long distance to do it. NM

or supplied "calling cards" for specific accounts -- myself, I am glad to be away from C-phones, I did not have a great fondness for them! Have a good one!


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There are a couple of companies who offer that to ICs, although
most accounts that pay that line rate have a heavy load of ESLs and they have to offer that to get anyone to even apply. 
I have 2 middle age couple friends. One couple became pregnant from condom failure.
This is not just "irresponsible" behavior! Both couples are "fixed" now, because for them, reliable birth control was NOT. But it's an error to assume this stuff happens to people who are unmarried or irresponsible. Both these couples are raising 2nd families, now, but it wasn't "irresponsibility" that did them in!
Spoke Way Too Soon
Well, I spoke too soon when talking about EMR impacting my job.  I just found out last week that as of September I'll be without a job.  Supposedly they didn't realize just how much of an impact EMR was going to make on the transcriptionists.  They offered us two months (July and August) of working in-house in the medical records department.  I really think that I'm getting out of the MT business.  I never thought I'd say that.  I'm most likely going to have to find a job outside and just work my part-time jobs at night from home.  I'm planning on staying with transcription though and just going the safer general or legal route. 
Spoke with them last week.
I also saw several posts on here that others have also spoken to them. Suggest to perhaps just hold onto the check.
Glad you spoke up
I worked at home and self-contracted before. MQ used to be where it was at - not any more - you don't have to be a man to think that way, industrious women do too, which is what I consider myself and you sound likewise. VERY few on this broad responded to requests about walk outs or union representation, so employee team work is not the way to go here.

I left my $40 to $45 an hour self contracting to eliminate dealing with tehnical problems, printing out letters and reports, outpicking up and dropping off, and the accounting work that comes with self employment for the $25-$30 an hour I was able to make at that time with smart expansion use but that does not work anymore. ASR took over for the expansions and now they are cutting our rates by 20% as we speak, cannot and will not accept it.
I spoke with them a few months ago SM
and they said they are getting a pool of resumes together to fill positions AS THEY BECOME OPEN.  So there is really no "position" there, they are just getting a bunch of them together to go to if they need to.
I got the call to and actually spoke to her..
She was looking for good experienced rad MTs for VA hospital accounts. All work is done via the internet..no extra equipment needed..pay is 7 cpl. Her first name was Lena and the website for the company is www.alsi-llc.com Don't know anything about her or the company itself but she seemed like a very nice lady and was willing to answer any questions


They have different platforms. Have never heard of one you spoke
zz
The recruiter I spoke with was a transcriptionist - sm
and I know for a fact that I make much more than her, and she supposedly has all this experience and knowledge. When it came down to it, my experience was almost on the same level as hers, just in less years.

All I know is that I will never interview again with a national service. I feel that my experience and my knowledge and my background definitely made me a candidate for the position posted. I truly believe it was my salary that "threatened" this recruiter (for lack of a better word). I think she felt it necessary to be condescending. I will just stick with the job I have. It's not a bad job, but I just wanted a change and a chance to grow even more.
TWice, I spoke to 2 different Vonage reps, and TWICE
they repeated my credit card number back to me incorrectly.  That made me very uncomfortable and therefore signed up with a different provider.  If you're gonna work and live in this country, LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH!
Spoke too soon. Only working on some pages, not all. nm
s
My folks spoke American as did

their folks as did their folks. My point is more and more ESL's are coming into our country and expecting us to learn their language. Would you like to die on the table because the American OR nurse misunderstood the ESL surgeon? I think not.


Furthermore, I think it's great that you are willing to help calm someone's nerves in a crisis, but just the fact that you had to only proves my point. I hope I am never in a situation where I'm being provided medical care in American hospital and feel the need to have a translator, only to find one is not available.


I spoke to the girl's father -
He then contacted the school but I haven't talked to him since then to find out what they told him.


She spoke at my graduation. A very impressive woman! nm
x
Telephone Number ...sm
The number you gave below for Detective Joe Rodriquez is not working...sounds like a fax line...please advise? TIA
Telephone ringing
nm
I had a telephone conversation come through once -
It may have been a walkie - I am pretty sure I saw the guy drive down the street in front of me talking on something - it was very brief, I think probably when he was in very direct range.  It was wierd!
Telephone solicitors from out of US?

This person who just called had an extremely thick accent and could not understand me, I had to repeat everything at least twice.  This person gave the name of "John Green". I asked if they were calling from the United States and he said "yes".  The phone number showed an area code in New York, does this assure he is calling from there or can they call from heaven-knows-where through another company's number? 


Telephone Solicitors from below

Found a way to stop Dell from calling us hourly for awhile anyway.


We have it set up to be able to view our account online with Dell. 


I hate Dell.  They have the worst customer service. They start calling 3-4 days BEFORE the payment is due and continue to call us every hour on the hour wanting us to pay check by phone.  NOT on your LIFE!


Last night, we went online and changed our telephone information on our account.  Instead of our phone number, they now have THEIR phone number.  Let them call themselves.  Wonder how long it will take them to figure that one out.


Telephone dictation for your clients

Anyone interested in offering toll free dial in dictation to their clients? I found a small company that is offering this service for $45/mo. It seems very reliable and they deliver my dictation files via FTP as a .wav file.


If interested reply back and I'll send you their contact info.


Non-compliance of telephone lines
Has anyone had any difficulty with the new SBC/AT&T?  I have been told I do not have many options other than a per minute plan.  I have seen a program called CallVantage.  Does anyone have any information on this plan?
I live in SC and have Verizon for telephone
and internet.  We could get Time Warner Cable also but chose Verizon instead.  We have a home phone which is Verizon also.  We do not have a long distance carrier such as AT&T since we use cell phones for long distance.
Telephone Record Adaptor
You might want to look into getting a telephone record adaptor that plugs into your laptop sound card.  Also would require audio capture software but then the files would be recorded onto your computer and from there you could transcribe them.
It looks similar to a telephone. You use it to dial

directly into the hospital system (usually, can also dial into MTSO system).  You have a foot pedal that controls the dictation.  You complete a report, sign it off and then get another one.  Unless you have an 800 # to dial into, you will need unlimited long distance and most companies that say they offer ULD have a 5000 minute limit, which may not cover you. 


You can Google C-phone and find a picture and get more info. 


Spoke too soon. Felt so much better yesterday I thought I was home free!
x
Broadband/Internet Telephone Service
Does anyone use a broadband/internet telephone service for transcription, such as Vonage, Covad, Lingo, SpeakEasy? I have a local long distance account and am looking into this type of service for a monthly flat fee for unlimited minute usage. Otherwise, the long distance fees would eat me alive. Any info on any company, good or bad, would help me tremendously in making my decision. I am researching several via the internet, but once again, any info would help.

Have a save and sane 4th of July!
Lillian
bellsouth - 2 telephone lines = $140/month
.
downloading dictation versus telephone
ive been transcribing 220-250 lines per hour using the following:  I dial into the telephone system using a Dictaphone to access the dictations and use Persona Client and Telnet software. It is all just straight typing, the dictation is waiting for me as I don't have to download nething.  I get paid by minutes dictated.  For example, if I transcribe 1 hour of dictation it would equal 600 lines.  600 lines at 8 cpl = 48.00.  I'm lookin elsewhere for employment, and I'm worried about the downloading of dictations (which seems most are doing now-a-days) slowing my daily production down.  Does anyone seem to be more/less productive as far as using a telephone to access dictations as opposed to downloading.  Also, is there a big difference between getting paid per 65 character line or by minutes dictated.  TY
magicjack with Lanier or telephone line - sm
The magicjack did not work with my Lanier, and my friend has dial-up and it would not work for her WITHOUT transcribing equipment, just regular calls. I sent mine back the same day.
Need Company that Turns Telephone Dictation into WAV/DSS Files

 


Hello,


Can anyone recommend a good company that will take my client's telephone dictation and convert them into WAV or DSS files that I can then access and transcribe?. A company that has good pricing and is reliable.  I probably won't have a huge volume to start.  Thank you.


Dave


deduct telephone, electric and portion of house payments.
Hope this helps!
Charges

I would really like to see the opinion of some of those who are so upset to see what they would do if they were running a MTSO and what they would charge to the client, pay the transcriptionist, pay for overhead, pay for QA and see what kind of a profit they would make.  I have only a small company and still have to take 30% plus type myself to make it worth while to cover the "non billable" hours that  I put it.  So if you are upset at getting only 9 cents per line what would you do if you ran the company?


 


 


charges

Tapes just switching to digital, depending on their volume 11.5 to 12.5 gross line.  I pick up and deliver, cut chart notes apart.  But great accounts and would not charge more as don't want to lose them.  Gross 55K per year with 6 docs.   Put in about 24 - 26 hours per week with delivery, printing, etc.  Pay on time, Christmas bonus, and have been with me for 5 to 15 years.


 


 


Charges

At least this company is being up front and telling you what they are charging the company and you do not have to wonder what they make off the account.  If you are making .975 per line that is pretty good pay for a sub/IC especially if you have the same account/docs, etc and can get down your shortcuts.   I am upfront with most of my subs/IC and tell them what portion I take for myself if they ask.  Don't hide anything.  You do not get rich off of having subs working for you when you pay a fair wage and that is why I expect good quality work.  


Patti


Charges

I have done seminars, interviews, and court proceedings as they use a tape recorder or a CD recorder now.  I charge a little more than my regular accounts as it is a one time shot but still charge 11 to 13 cents per gross line depending on the difficulty of the tapes/digital file.s


Patti


 


charges

Even though they pay most of your expenses, our cost of living has gone up.  It was hard for me to raise mine but I did and they did not say anything.  I try to figure out what I am making an hour and see how that goes.  But I hate raising 0.05 per line and so I usually do 1 cent every 2-3 years.   I have more expenses  that you but still like I said the cost of living still goes up and I am sure that they have raised their rates in the past two years.   But again, it all boils down to what you are making per hour and if that is okay with you then keep it and raise it if you are happy.   I still charge pretty low according the standards on this board but I make good money per hour and just cannot justify raising it to the 15 to 16 cpl if I am comfortable with what I am making per hour.   I am the one that I have to live with.


Patti


PA charges ..
I cannot tell you who might have the information, but I do know that the State of PA charges a tax for MT services.  You might want to call their Dept. of Revenue and inquire .. it would not be pleasant to get hit with it down the road and you know that you are then guilty without recourse save for paying!
charges

Lots of time with a speciality you will be able to set up a lot of templates, normals or wharevery you call them as they do the same thing or say the same thing over and over.  So with that in mind, I try to figure out what I need to make hourly and figure that out into a cpl.  It will be slower at first but as you get going you will make more since you will be used to the docs, etc.  I keep my charges lower than a lot but I make enough per hour to cover all my cost.  Out here in Oregon there are people charging .15 to .18 cpl but I am still at .115 to .12 cpl and I make good money and have good accounts.  But I am also gross line.  That is how I started out 18 years ago and have kept it that way and since two of my accounts have been with me for those 18 years they know no difference.    Again, look at the big picture and see what you need to make.  With all of the Expanders that we have now and the normals, etc.  especially for clinic notes and repetitive docs, you can make good money at 11 to 12 cpl.  Slower at first but it will get better.    Good luck.


 


Charges

Again more info is needed when asking this question. Need to know gross or character per line, margins, font used,tTAT, etc.  Are you contracting with a MTSO company or the insurance company?  Sometimes they let you know what they  will be paying you.   What type of reports?  Tapes or voice files?  Do you print or send back E-mail or what?    Are they interviews or finished reports?  You need to get samples of the work, ask a few more questions unless you know the above answers already.  But BALLPARK figure would be 0.12 to 0.14 per line but again depends on gross versus cpl and what type of reports.  I never quote a price without seeing what I will be typing.  Do a search as this subject has come up many, many times.    Patti


 


charges, TAT

Charge for pick up and delivery is in my cpl charge.  I do 24 hour TAT.  I have a locked briefcase I put the tapes in, in the trunk of the car if I stop anywhere.   Not many allow 48 TAT at least to my knowledge.  You pick up Friday's tape on Monday and return on Tues. 


 


Charges
I do daily pick up and delivery, print, cut apart chart notes on sticky paper, envelopes, and charge .125 cpl.  But this is Oregon and might be a little lower.  But I look more at what I am making per hour and I can average 400 to 500 lines per hour depending on how many consults, OPs, that I have.  If I suddenly went to .16 cpl I think that they would be looking for someone else.  Perhaps not.  But I make good money and cannot justify raising it right now.  But go for it all they can say is "no, we will look elsewhere".  But again figure out what you make per hour and see how that goes.   Never did like charging by the page.  Good luck, let us know what they say.
Charges
Can you get copies of the templates or a report to see how many lines there are or an approximate time to do a report.  Also will you have to retype the templates or will he give them to you?   Also you don't know how many he will make minor changes so that could be time consuming.  But I would probably do per page or report making sure that you equal out to $20 to $25 per hour.   When doing hourly they are always questioning if that time was spent and with page or report, there is no question.   But again without actually doing one, you are shooting in the dark for a price and be sure that he knows that the price could change if you find it is more work that it sounds.  Like I said, many templates are changed and sometimes that takes time and can screw up an entire report.    Good luck.  
Charges....sm
Be careful, when you go over bytes that they allow you, they usually charge a per byte used to connect to the internet......and it can get VERY expensive if you use the net a lot.
Line charges
I had this done to me as well. From experience 1) be aware she will dump you. 2) Look for another account. 3) Be the dumper instead of the dumpee. Just go along to get along and get rid of them.
How are other MTs doing phone charges?..sm

With AT&T/SBC telling some of us it will now be 3 or 5 cents per minute because we are a business, how are MTs being able to afford paying anywhere from 400 to 600 per month in phone charges?


How are others doing this?  I know i would literally have to take on more work just to pay that bill.


Any feedback on what others do....


Dot


Phone charges
I don't know what anyone else is doing, but I'm contacting Lisa Madigan, Dick Durbin, and Barack Obama. I was told by SBC's business office that I am not a business.
phone charges

But you are using it to generate  an income and they will consider that a business.  Sorry that is the way that they think -- you are not conducting personal matters but matters to generate  an income.  Do you deduct your phone charges on your income tax form?   This is not the way I think but they way that they think.  I do not use my phone anymore than a residential but because I am an independent contractor, I must register as a business and my Comcast cable Internet Provider, my phone line is double that of a residential person -- have been paying double for almost 20 years.   They will get every and any penny that they can. 


 


They were federal charges
go to a halfway house first, but I thought surely that the prison could tell me something, if that was the case?!  They just said he was out of custody and that's all they could tell me.  Thanks for the encouragement...it's appreciated!
AT&T/C-phone charges
My advice, get rid of AT&T, they suddenly, after taking over SBC, wanted to charge me 10 cents per telephone use while using my C-phone, said it was not considered a telephone call, but that data was being sent over line, so, another one bites the dust with them..am now with "WOW" for a 1/3 the cost and is great service.
Can I write off all my DSL charges
on taxes.  I assumed I could, but now somebody is telling me not if I use it for personal stuff that I would have to figure out how much I used it for personal, and how much I used it for work.  Of course I wouldn't have DSL if work did not require it, so why should I not be able to write off the whole cost. 
And do you know charges different according to where you live?
My rates for landline very high as compared to a person I know in smaller town, same thing, theirs was less than 20 and mine more than 40. Asked person at AT&T about this and waa told yes, it does make a difference in the charges.