Pay with Dict8

[Chrissols]

Good Morning all Dict8 ladies

@Whitestar5 I think they can still cancel your contract if they wish, in fact it is probably easier for them, but I do know Tpro do not hold you to any minimum amount or I would be long gone 🤣🤣🤣

@Chrissols - TPro setting a good example of exploitation there then. Okay, it may be business, but it's annoying and just proves how little regard they have for their workers.

My previous post relates to TPro lowering their rates by the way.

@Whitestar5 to be fair, from what I can gather, I think they only reduced the rate as they are only recruiting proof readers (I think but I could be wrong), I was taken one when they were still taking typists hence got the higher rate.

I would want the higher rate for proofreading as it sounds just as tedious as transcription lol

@Chrissols - yes you are correct, TPro only taking on people to check VR and @Whitestar5 - it is just as time consuming as typing from scratch at times, the only benefit is when sometimes unfamiliar drugs etc are already typed but these still need to be checked as could be wrong. VR does some absolute rubbish sometimes. So the low pay is not really very good.

Yep transcription/VR work is totally misunderstood by managers isn't it. It's just soul sucking as far as I'm concerned though, I don't particularly enjoy it and constantly look at alternative SE opportunities, that would allow me to be more creative, just haven't found any I'm qualified for yet and transcription takes up all my time and energy.

Oh dear, think I need a break, just can't afford it lol

@Chrissols: I think 0.9 would be a reasonable rate (giving approx £45 -£ 50 per month extra). I am not sure I would wish to enter into a specific contract (being self-employed) as this may limit to who else (depending on Hospital) you can actually work for ?????

@whitestar: I don't agree with proof readers earning more than the transcriptionists at the end of the day we typists have to pick through the diabolical transcription in some cases and 'the proof reader' can just fill in the 'gaps' if necessary', if they can? ... which should be rare ??

@danblack87 I am like you, I would not want to enter into an employment contract now. I love the flexibility of being self employed and not having to 'ask' for time off.

To all: I will always prefer Dict8 as there are no deadlines (aside from the job you pick up) and that works fantastically for me as I could not commit to XXX amount of letters per day/month. I am very happy in the context of that (inability to type for long hours consistently). My only worry is that they will employee more people like me which obviously reduces the work available and, of course, you are battling against people doing this as a side line who, in fact, are not registered as self-employed. I believe that all outsourcing companies should insist, before taken on, that you do give a Self-employed registration number; and I know of more then ten people who do not.

@danblack87 gosh that shocks me, I do know I had to give Dict8 and Tpro a self employed registration number before being taken on, as when I applied to Dict8 way back then I was just embarking on self employment and had to wait form my number to come through the post before Dict8 would proceed. Yes, it is frustrating when some people are doing it as a sideline, when we actually need to do it for a living.

That's interesting, I have never been asked for my self-employed number although I am fully registered. Of course, anyone not declaring self-employed earnings are taking a risk. You are always someone else's expense and Dict8, or any other organisations like them, if they had an investigation by the Inland Revenue could well be asked for details of transcribers which they would be obliged to pass on.

@danblack87 - re proof readers earning more than typists - remember that the DICT8 proofreaders who send us all the 'polite' messages were, last I heard about 5 years ago, earning £26,000. That is a lot more than I earn as a SE typist.

I did know one lady who worked for DICT8 and was not registered as self-employed. She started the same time as I did, also working in our local hospital, but I don't think she continued it for very long. She also worked as a private secretary for 2 consultants and I doubt if she declared that either.

@Gally123 @danblack87 I would be too scared not to declare every penny I earn, plus how do they get away with it? It's easy to see what has been earned just by logging in

@danblack87 - I meant I would want to be paid the same for proofreading VR, not proofreading other people's transcription. I've never done proofreading of any kind though, but it sounds as monotonous as transcribing if it done over and over and over all day.

*it's

I quite like working for Dict8 and love the freedom of doing what I want and when (although a pay rise would be fantastic). I have noticed an increase in work over the weekend and today and hopefully it will continue - I'm hoping to just hold on and see what happens when we get back to near 'normal'.

With regards to people working on the side and not declaring - that is one risky business. You do not mess with HMRC and I certainly would never chance it (fully registered here) .

I also do online surveys and regular in-home product testing (not for cash though).

Well guy's I have to say that our earnings are limited, even more so with COVID, by people who work within NHS 18-40 hrs a week @Band 4), and can now work from home and +++ i,e ," my child is sick, can't come in today" [hence paid annual leave from NHS, do 6-7 hours paid by Dict8/other and no tax paid + add on private work @ £16+/hr WORSE, some of these people work for Consultants privately (off the radar), get all the benefits of NHS and work for companies like Dict8 who do not request a Unique self-employed number. !!! I am not a 'snitch' but right now the whole thing makes me seethe (angry) x

@danblack87 - I agree with everything you have just said and it probably does go on. I certainly think companies (including Dict8) should make sure that we are registered self-employed and be able to prove it - I like yourself am angry about this too - it is so unfair.

@flutterby18 how do you find out about product testing? I would love to do that

It is interesting how Tpro and Dict8 alter in their approach to transcribers. Dict8 are to put it bluntly rude and obstructive. During this whole pandemic there has been no email from them regarding this and the impact on their workers. They have offered no help viz a viz payments, still insisting on cheques which are more and more frequently going astray, leading to two to three weeks delay in payment. They stubbornly refuse to accept anything except hard copies of invoices, no emails. Who do we think we are suggesting such a thing??? Anybody would think this was 2021. They are completely oblivious to their workers, and their lack of communication over the last year is appalling.

TPro on the other hand obviously DD payments without delay. They are helpful in the extreme with queries and any feedback is given in a generous and contructive way. God forbid they even sign off their messages with a Thank You !! They are far more professional and understanding. During this pandemic where
the work is obviously a bit more limited they keep communication open and they encourage you to contact them if there is a lack of tasks so they can maybe distribute more and there seems a much more "holistic" approach to things.

I have worked for Dict8 for many, many years like a lot of the people on here and quite frankly their attitutde is absolutely appalling. They do not give a flying .. for their workers, they seem to be taking on more staff in a very difficult period and quite frankly we are just cannon fodder to them. I know we would all walk away if we could just by reading the comments from nearly all looking elsewhere for better work opportunities.

@Lucylizzy123 I have to agree that it seems very unfair that Dict8 are still recruiting when there is nowhere near enough work to go round with the existing transcribers

@Chrissols - Moneysavingexpert has a good thread on product testing and also search Facebook product testing sites. Just make sure you check out the company first to make sure it is legit and if possible stick to UK sites.