Pay with Dict8

[Chrissols]

Looking for people from the previous thread that closed as must of been full?

Good morning all.
I was contacted by T-Pro yesterday. I too had applied just before lock-down and they are now recruiting again. I am having a tutorial with them on Wednesday about their system so hopefully will be okay with that. Perhaps it is worth chasing them up now that they are hiring again? Can anyone who works for T-pro let me know how easy it is to use their system? Thanks.

I have had a busyish day so far today. I definitely see the work picking up, but again it is spread over the whole day which makes it a bit of a pain for planning your day etc as you are always hanging on the end of you computer. However, I really think things are picking up. I hope this is the case. Silly as it sounds I feel a bit of loyalty to DICT8 having worked for them for so long, even though they treat their transcribers like s....., and I am only looking elsewhere as a last resort. I guess I want it to be like the old days where you can do a block of two to three hours work as and when you want, and shut down for the day. Hope those times come back again soon.

Yes I received an email from T-Pro yesterday and have a tutorial with them on Thursday but really know nothing about them, pay, etc. I have only had one very small task today.

@Lucylizzy123 it is that long since I applied to T-Pro I really cannot remember anything. Do you have to work a set amount of hours with them do you know?

Hi Chrissols
Sorry, like you I am completey in the dark. I think I can recall someone saying on this thread previously they like a fair few hours done daily, which is absolutely fine with me and apparently they pay some sort of bonus for so many hours, but again can't remember too much. I too just did a very short typing test for them, but then lockdown came and all went quiet. I just hope their tutorial is okay - I am a bit of a technophobe!! Hopefully it shouldnt be too challenging though. We can compare notes at the end of the week!!

I too have loyalty to Dict8 and I have made no moves/decisions yet to find an ADDITIONAL form of income; keep hoping for things to pick up and I do love this forum where you can connect with people in the same situation as yourself. It's like an extra support system (especially during COVID) AND especially if you live on your own working self-employed and don't get out and about . I NEED MY DICT8 friends!!!! hahahaha

I do feel loyal to Dict8 so was hoping to do the two as need a decent income. If the work wasn't so hit and miss I would definitely not be looking elsewhere.

I too feel loyal to Dict8 and I have to agree that work seems to be picking up a bit. I also feel that hopefully we will be back to being able to work for a couple of hours and not sit at the computer all day waiting for work to appear.

I also love that we can chat and rant on here, as I also live alone and am fully self-employed. It's great to know there are others out there in a similar situation especially during these challenging time.

yep, me too, live alone and fully self-employed, not having a good week so far with DICT8, last week was not too brilliant either, but I did manage a half decent pay packet for July, but not sure about August.

As mentioned previously, I had started the process with T-Pro and as things start hope they get back in touch with me; I like with DICT8 that you can log in and log off as and when you want, whereas some other companies don't allow that. (One I tried with, people had to give their days and times of proposed working on the Friday before, so little allowances for computer problems, health issues etc. I know T-Pro do like people to give notice if you have any holiday booked).

@ Chrissols: I am thinking about doing the same thing but just planning what to do [many sleepless nights - the bills still keep coming]. (I could take on a private Consultant as I did before, the offers are there), but not sure I want that Extra Service requirement with phone calls, bookings, diary, calling, chasing unpaid invoices and all that, etc. (loyalty is one thing, paying the bills is another). I am still considering what to do (confused).

@danblack87 how did you go about working for a private consultant - I wouldn't even know where to look?

@Gally123 I have always been put off by the transcription companies who want you to state in advance when you will be available. It always struck me that if they wanted you to be available on a certain day for a certain period of time then surely you should be salaried. Also, what happens if you make yourself available but you don't see any work coming through? Are you supposed to just sit out your allotted availability? It might be excusable/understandable if there were only a handful of transcribers, but if you're just a small cog in a big wheel, I personally think it's a bit much.

I haven't had a task now for two hours so have no choice but to take work where it is sadly

Actually wondering if there is some sort of problem......usually see one or two in the afternoons, but there is absolutely nothing popping up....is everyone seeing tasks?

@Poppy379 - I know what you mean, companies want the benefits of having zero hours contract staff without any of the ties - they still say they do not guarantee work. The trouble is there are so many medical secretaries wanting work. One of our local hospitals sacked just about all their secretaries so they could send the work overseas for the cheaper options with it checked by lower grade staff on its return.

Another company I applied to, that did medical and legal work, sent me a legal letter as the typing test, wanting it set out as per court regulations. I declined. I told them I was not impressed with their professionalism if they could not send me a medical letter for a typing test, as that was what I had applied for.

I have only managed 6 tasks today. It doesn't seem to be picking up in my specialty at the moment

@Chrissols @Lucylizzy123 Good to hear you have had contact from T-Pro at last. They must have a decent amount of work coming in to be actively recruiting again. We will all be keen to hear how you get on.

@Gally123 Hopefully T-Pro will also be in touch with you soon to progress your application. As you say, there is a mad scramble for jobs (everywhere) at the moment. When I did my AMSPAR course our tutor told us 'when you're a medical secretary, you'll always be able to get a job'. Unfortunately she didn't foresee the advent of dictation being sent overseas or automatic transcription software. But there again that was in the late 80s!!

Feels like a bad day coming up. Absolutely nothing so far. Seems I have one good day and then one dire day.

Nothing for me yet either, despite an early start.

Nor me......

Same here, so sloooow. The late afternoon and evening seem to be busier for me lately. Hope it picks up soon.

Hi all, only just got to the PC to catch-up - sorting household bills and stuff all morning . I saw tasks yesterday but only managed about 12 of them. Missed out this morning - not too much from the comments .
When I got my AMSPAR certificate I was told the same thing re. medical secs will always have work available (mid - 80's) so dynamics have changed dramatically since then.
I'll get back to you @Chrissols re. working for private consultants - just need to do a few more things BUT I will come back to you on that first then a few more jobs.

So @Chrissols - finally to get back to your question.
Where I worked as a Med Sec to 2 consultants and their team: One consultant had a sec who worked for him for 5 or so years then he went private and offered her the option to work for him at home which she took and left NHS. I then worked for said Consultant in NHS and when his private secretary was on holiday I covered for her. One of the team I was with became a Consultant and one year in he started his private practice and asked me if I could do his private work (we agreed on an hourly rate and I did his private work (evenings) alongside my NHS position + Dict8 (+still covering 1 private sec on leave). Then My full time private Consultant had a mate in another Speciality (which I had no medical terminology in) and he recommended me to him and so I took that on privately. Then I left the NHS (all that private work is very exhausting and takes up most of the day). Then another member of the team I used work with became a Consultant and I agreed to take him on as well.

about time we had another DICT8 update, although I have noticed the more letters I'm doing the more face-to-face appts are being offered. IMO not sure how these doctors are supposed to practice their profession without seeing a patient !

Other options are to apply to work in a 'pool of typists' within a private hospital and take it from there, i.e. Nuffield, BUPA, BMI (whatever is available in your local area), from there you have a salaried job but can also obtain work for Consultants looking specifically for a private Sec working from home. Other option: apply to a University Medical School: they are always on the look-out for students needing CV's typed + other ad hoc. I typed two theses, created a couple of power points and typed a few CV's and applications for jobs in other areas.. It can be lucrative but depends how much time you have available. I chose the option not to work in a pool (but you can apply to any private hospital to be added to their waiting list of opening job vacancies) - from there,. a Consultant may approach you directly to work for them only on a private basis and then begins the negotiating process. Hope this is helpful.

So, @doingourbit - Done it, been there, worn the T-shirt, don't need hints as to what to do. Thank you very much .