Pay with Dict8

[Chrissols]

Good Morning all Dict8 ladies

Well that's my little invoice done, cant see me getting any more tasks between now and next week, never get any over the weekend (although I did get a solitary one last week)

Hello. Just found the new thread.

I have been working for Tpro for six months now. I really like the variety of work. Things are a bit quiet right now because of lockdown but still manage to keep busy most days. I would say I am earning double what I was with Dict8 in the good old days. I like VR as it does help with the accents I still do the odd Dict8 work but there is so little now that I don’t bother too much.

@Lucylizzy123 glad you found the thread. I have finally got used to TPro (was on the verge of throwing the towel in), and yes, there is always a good flow of work, I have never logged on and not had plenty. However, I have to say I do prefer Dict8 work.....when it’s there

to fill in spare time when no work I sometimes do online surveys - just done one (while having lunch) about employment - it seems the government is looking into zero hours contracts, self-employed people who are not really self-employed with no sick or holiday pay etc, no guaranteed work or pay, looking to 'force' companies to give such employers a permanent/proper job contract after 12 months.

I meant giving employees a proper contract!

@Gally123 how would that work though if we work for more than one? We wouldn't be able to have holiday pay from more than one company would we?

It could possibly be worse if transcription companies considered us as employees, can you imagine the pressure we would be under to produce X amount of work an hour/day for minimum wages.

.....NHS band 3 transcriptionists full time earn £81 a day if at the top rate of band 3 pay.

@Whitestar5 - I know, with the quality of some of the dictations currently - I don't expect there would be any facility to reject the dreadful ones.

@Chrissols - you might only be able to work for one company.

No more slipping out into the garden when the weather is nice.

I think, however it may be if they go ahead with such things that it would be voluntary if people accepted a contract, but they are looking at ways I think to ensure that people earn a decent wage, which we are not at the moment. Very little on DICT8 today and TPro was slow of the mark again, nothing until 9.30-10ish.

@Whitestar5 @Gally123 they couldn't do it could they as some days there is barely any work available. Although I have to say, today is really busy for me in Dict8 and TPro. I could only work for just one company if there was enough work as need to earn so much due to mortgage etc.

Transcription companies survive on exploitation and have to make a profit for the middle man, I don't think they'll ever be able to provide a decent wage for the transcriptionists.

@Chrissols - if you had a contract the company would have to pay you even if there was no work. However, they might make you type specialties you were not familiar with (and then I can imagine the feedback from the proofreaders).

@Gally123 I still cannot imagine it working as there would not be enough work a lot of the time, hence the company would be making a loss if paying us for doing nothing. The only way would be for them to hire people 'on bank' I guess, although I really don't see anything changing for years to come, do you?

@Gally123@Whitestar5 I do think it is time they put our rates up though, this is one thing the government should help with, a decent yearly increase

I agree, I doubt the companies would survive, we would have a situation like they do in the USA where employees are absolutely flogged for a low rate.

@Chrissols - to make it work if people like DICT8 had to pay a decent wage with holiday pay and sick pay, they would have to cancel the contracts of a lot of the typists.

If it was made voluntary as to whether staff took up the offer of a permanent contract, if firms like DICT8 made it more favourable to stay on a zero hours contract they could up the pay rate and then the workers might be happy to stay on 'an as and when' basis.

@Chrissols Absolutely we need a rise. How hard do we have to work just to earn much less than NHS band 3 med secs, especially considering most of us have band 4 experience too.

@Gally123, Do you get paid for doing the surveys?

I have just come across this thread about Dict8 and I must say it's really interesting because I have worked for Dict8 since 2006, initially as a supplement to other medical secretarial work, but in recent months more full time (ha ha if only) as the other work has completely gone. Since 2006 I have been paid 8p per line and I have asked about three times over the years if it was possible they could increase the rate, but each time they have given me the same answer that 'they are not currently increasing anyone's rate' and they were pretty ungracious about it too! I had originally thought that everyone would be on different rates but reading through all your posts it seems we are all in the same boat and over the same barrel. I see some of you work for TPro which I am considering. Am I correct that they expect a certain amount of transcription per week? If so, that is where Dict8 wins I guess because you can do it or not and no come back. All the other transcription companies I have looked at seem to want a regular commitment and some years ago I did work for Outsec, but they were on my back constantly and I gave it up after about a month. However, I did earn more from them in a month than I ever have from Dict8. It's just a shame the work is so sparse with Dict8 at the moment. I'm hoping it's going to pick up as more patients start being seen in the NHS.

@Whitestar5 - yes, but not cash as that would be taxed, it is all by vouchers. I normally take mine as Amazon vouchers. It takes a lot of time to build up. Last year I earned about £100 but it helps towards Christmas shopping, presents etc. I used to belong to 4 survey groups but now just two - I-say and Valued Opinions (with valued opinions, however there is a lot of messing about answering questions with no rewards). Generally for a short survey of 10 mins you might earn 25p, longer surveys of 20-30 mins pay 75p-£1 etc. I have also done product testing once and occasionally there are quite big rewards - I missed out on a £20 one as I was due to go on holiday.

Hi @Lovemydaxie TPro do state a certain amount but don't hold you to it. I have never reached the amount stated and don't think I ever will as I prefer Dict8, but they seem to be fine with it. There is always plenty of work with them, although I do know they decreased their rates which I do not think are very lucrative, @Gally123 knows the current rates, I was fortunate in joining them just before the decrease in pay.

@Gally123 Thanks for the detailed explanation. Think I'll give them a miss however, enough time is spent staring at a screen doing this transcription larky lol

Regarding the companies specifying you have to do a certain amount of work, I don't see how they can hold you to that when you are doing it SE, and I think they know that too.

Might apply to TPro if they don't get too fussed if you don't reach the target. Would definitely be a welcome extra workwise.