Pay with Dict8

[juju1507]

I have been working s/e with Dict8 for 3 years now and my payment by cheques are arriving later and later. My last cheque arrived 8 days after it was issued and I noticed they are now sending cheques second class. Does anyone else work for Dict8 on here and, if so, are you finding that your cheque is arriving much later than it used to? I have direct debits set up deliberately for the middle of the month in order that my cheque would have cleared in time but now I am worrying that even by 15th of each month the cheque will not have cleared. Sorry for the ramble but just curious if others have noticed this.

I know, I have been sat here since 7.30am and had one task

it's slow this morning.

with the typing I have been getting it does seem to be 75% one of my specialties with 25% the others, and one specialty that used to predominant there is still only one or two tasks a day, whereas before I used to spend literally hours typing that.

So while it does seem to be picking up a little, it is only a little, with just a few £s extra each day than previous weeks.

This is the slowest morning so far for me.......no tasks whatsoever

@Gally123: Like U I am about 40% of one, 40% of another & bits from one more; one speciality I used to type a lot of is missing since the pandemic... but I can understand the reasoning for that due to COVID. It really is not 2 Gr8 at the moment, just type as and when now really. Maximum effort for minimal wages and I am finding it very tedious. I have only typed 3 so far today and I really do not expect it to improve; so I will just log in and out and take advantage of the garden and the beautiful weather again today.

I only have two specialties which is really only one if you look at the Consultants' titles! This morning has been quite good with nine tasks and four of them over 30 lines which for my specialty is unusual. The problem is there are too many people trying to type them! I have never been able to get them to give me any additional specialties but I think mine has been given away many many times.

Not a lot of work this week again. Before all this slow down started I could work all morning with loads of tasks available. However, gradually even before the pandemic set in that was dwindling. I truly believe that the workload had not reduced too much pre-pandemic, but the simple thing is Dict8 took on more and more typists chasing work. I truly believe that post pandemic the situation won't change that much due to the sheer number of typists they have - somebody mentioned 4000 previously, not sure if that is true but it will be a huge number. I also think that is why it has been taking longer to get paid, with so many more cheques to process each month. I think they have truly p...... off so many of their typists especially those that have been with Dict8 for many years. Sure they don't care as they have no loyalty to their transcribers. That is borne out by how many of us only speak to "head office" when we absolutely have to as we receive no support or encouragement but disdain. Hopefully TPro will be hiring again as they sound a much more caring company to work for.

Sorry about venting - lock-down is getting to me!!!

@lucylizzie123: I believe available transcription was dwindling way before the Pandemic, around about Sept/Oct last year I found and, yes, I believe there are too many transcribers probably on the books. Clearly this has not helped with the pandemic which has had a natural downside to those of us working full-time, self-employed from home; deals being made (has affected the work load) and more people, who probably did Dict8 as a side-line, now working from home (typing more of Dict8 than they would usually in the daytime); as they are furloughed or have lost their daytime jobs. The increasing elements conspire against us I think making it more noticeable than pre-COVID. I could be wrong and I just keep hoping things will get better. Trying to be positive. We all need to earn a living and it is getting pretty tight now .

I gave up this week, couldn't be bothered, my time was better spent looking for other transcription work online. I agree with @Lucylizzy123 there is no loyalty or support for transcribers and the lack of communication is dire and to me this says a lot about their attitude towards transcribers. I can't believe that one of the directors is a caring NHS doctor !!! the way we get treated !!!!

I agree there was less available work prior to the pandemic and I worry that it may never pick up again, which I why I am a little hesitant over claiming the next lot of SEISS, as if the work does not pick up (or heaven's above, continues to decrease) HMRC will not view the situation favourably and may ask for it back. (I think the second grant is aimed towards people who work in the theatre, music industry- roadies etc, tour guides who cannot work even if holidays are allowed as if seems tours are still not permitted, only family trips etc). It is a worrying situation.

On the one hand DICT8 have so many typists they are keeping their client hospitals happy with a quick turnover time for the typing, but the typists are not happy as there not enough work to go around. I hope T-Pro do look to recruit again and if DICT8 lose a lot of their old experienced typists it may give them something to consider, esp if everyone migrates at approximately the same time.

I was accepted as a typist for Accuro about 4/5 years ago (maybe longer) but the work from Dict8 at that time, and working from home for 2 then 3 Consultants in the private sector over full-time, did not really give me the commitment to pursue that avenue. I might try with them again and see how it goes if things do not pick up soon. A letter from Dict8 would be very helpful in any decisions to be made. I am not eligible for next SEISS.

Hello everyone. I am also a frustrated Dict8 transcriber and have been following this thread for many weeks with a great deal of interest. I thought I'd chip in with my general impression of things. I started working for Dict8 in 2011 as a full time transcriber and for the first couple of years I could rely on getting in quite a good number of lines a day. As each year has passed I have found my daily average return reducing to the point where for the last year or so I've been doing less than half as much as my 2011 heyday, and pre-pandemic in January and February, about a quarter of my 2011 average despite still being full time. I too am finding the work very thin on the ground at the moment with nothing to keep me busy, rather just the odd task here and there. I might get a little flurry of excitement if a batch of 15 tasks or so appear at once, where I might manage to secure one or two, but there are hours between picking up any tasks. Not to mention the endless refreshing! How long can you sit by a screen waiting for something to happen? - but you worry you'll miss work if you don't. Pandemic aside, I agree much of the problem is that Dict8 are top heavy with transcribers because their primary interest is in getting the work back to their clients as quickly as possible. They can't ever be in a position where clients have to wait for work so I assume there's no reason why they wouldn't just continue to say 'yes' to anyone suitable who applies to type for them. Also, I agree that an update from HQ would be appreciated given the protracted period of deathly silence. We may not be employed by Dict8, but a lot of us depend on them.

@poppy379: in a nutshell well said. That is what we are all feeling. I understand the need for a certain amount of typists to be recruited online; however, it would seem that most of us are long term typists for Dict8 and when there was much work available there was plenty for everyone. Now, there seem to be more transcribers than work available and it is completely frustrating not to be able to earn a good living in what we do best.

Hi, I've also been following this thread for a while and just wanted to give my thoughts. I started working for DICT8 in 2014 and up until a couple of months before the pandemic, was quite happy with the amount of work. I only type for one specialty and have asked for more to be added, but this has not happened, despite always having positive feedback. I am struggling to get one or two tasks per day since the lockdown and get positively excited if 10 appear, but still only manage to secure one or two. I am not eligible for the self-employed grant as before the pandemic I was working one or two days a week at the hospital where I used to work, but the work here has dramatically reduced so they haven't needed me. I think when things do start to return to some form of normality, the clinics in hospitals will be run very differently and the typing may be reduced. It's a desperate situation and I really wish DICT8 would give us an update as to what they think the future holds.

Another grim morning for me.

Hey guys (I think I started in 2013/2014).
Well I have been at the computer since 8am. I have typed 6 tasks only and so my wages for the morning are averaging at £2.50/hr which is way less than the minimum wage ... Why do we keep doing this? As many of you have mentioned on here before COVID and during and after (whenever that is) I am not so sure that we will see the amount of work that we used to see (as AliKat points out)- times are definitely changing. BUT which direction to take before we are all in complete financial straits? Shall I 'jump ship now'? I''ll give it a while longer but my finances are not going to keep this going after another 2 months - I love this job - We need more support and info.

I suppose if you look at it from another point of view, they might be taking their equipment back this week and that maybe why it is soooooo slow. Also if they do gravitate to the NHS with their equipment - who gets the work the NHS secretaries or us? I presume it would be the cheaper option whoever that is.

I agree - another day sat clicking refresh. I have been sat at the computer on and off since 07.30am today and have managed to get 3 tasks - 46 lines. It is so frustrating. I refuse to try at the weekends because there's not really much point.

@meha5: do you know they are planning to take the equipment back this week. I don't see why that is making things slower this week? We are definitely the cheaper option I think ... regarding return of work - where I used to work at the hospital 3-5 days return was the target!

Unbelievably quiet today....

I had to go to my local hospital for a blood test earlier this week and it was so quiet. Where the path lab used to packed out, sometimes standing room only, there was just me. Even with the new appointment system there was no-one else. Outpatients was deserted. I walked passed the corridor where the surgical secretaries work and it was in darkness. I did see a few patients, nurses, porters etc, but it was very quiet.

Not seeing any tasks today....

Me neither. Can't see the 15% increase!

Seen just a handful of tasks today but only managed to pick up 2!! I don't think the 15% increase has been in my specialities (although I have had some reasonable weekends over the last 3 weeks ) but I spent a fair amount of time in the garden last week so I don't know. It is my birthday today .

@danblack87 happy birthday to you 🎁🎈

@Chrissols: Many thanks - lock-down birthdays are rather Sh**e but I will make the most of it. Having a Lazzzzzzzy day .... as I have not had another task yet since last post!!