DICT8 Plus (new November 2022)

[Whitestar55]

Hi, Here we go again, anyone else set up a new thread yet? Hope to find everyone 🙂

Tpro are definitely nicer, I just could get on with the work but everyone else likes them. I was never told I had to do a certain amount either.

@carosel2 Thanks, but it's transcription work in general I've had enough of, so looking for something different and will keep DICT8 as a backup, can't bear the thought of putting time and energy into another transcription company to be in the same boat, I need to focus on getting something else.

Been applying a few different places and haven’t heard back from anyone. I have tried Accuro and Rev. Tpro aren’t recruiting again until February. I have heard that Way With Words are good but again, aren’t looking for anyone at the moment. Is it usually as difficult to get started?

Happy New Year everyone.

To all of you wondering - this msg has been sent to Dict8: I await a reply

'I was wondering whether Dict8 are planning to pay more than 0.08p per line (which has stayed at that payment rate for over 14 years).
Due to the cost of living crisis those of us working from home are now finding it more difficult to pay our bills,
Working from home obviously means using more gas and electricity during the winter period.
We are are working already for Dict8 below the minimum wage.
There have been no communications/msgs at all from Dict8 (which frankly, is poor) this year regarding the current crisis and a News Letter would be very much appreciated.
Clinics are not running in a consistent manner due to strikes and it is of great concern to those self-employed
Kind regards

Happy New Year everyone
@danblack87 way to go! I've not had the heart to type anything yet and i've been away for over 3 weeks.

@danblack87 - Happy New Year! 👍😊go for it! You're very brave! Unfortunately ive been struck down with virus (that isnt Covid) but knocked me off my feet for 4 weeks so not done much at all if any, just got penicillin as ears throat and chest all now infected. But keep us posted. You are so right in your question how they are going to respond, I will be very interested. Good luck!

@danblack87 It was brave but the cynic in me thinks it'll be a standard bs response. I couldn't keep up to trying to type enough to cover bills and study at same time so I quit my course and am back full time in my old Trust job. At least I'll not have to stress about how much is there. Awful the way things are going for everyone.

@danblack87 well done! It echos exactly how we all feel. Unfortunately I suspect you will get the usual response. I've asked 3 times over the years and each time the same nasty reply from you know who. Keep us posted please.

@danblack87 Happy New Year. That was a good well thought out email that you sent. I wonder how long it will take for them to reply.

@danblack87 Happy New Year. I hope you get a reply to your email. No doubt they will come up with the same reasons that they always do as to why a better rate of pay is not possible, plus under current laws they are allowed to operative by contracting 'freelancers' which releases them from any obligations to provide work/payment that would equate to minimum wage . I don't suppose they'll consider a bonus scheme like Tpro do either. One area though that I think they are on thin ice with is the typing of messages for free in the note box, as this is blatantly expecting us to use our time and effort for no reward, and they know someone will type it eventually, but no one wants to or should have to work for nothing. That's pure exploitation. Could you imagine if they asked their staff to do overtime unpaid?

Thanks for approaching them and let's hope for a reply of some sort.

Everyone has concerns and particularly following COVID (clinics reduced), now cost of living crisis and since then Nurses striking all of which affect the amount of work available. I am not 'brave'; I hear what you all say. I just think it would be very appropriate if we could have a 'round-robin' response in order that those who need to may make alternative arrangements for the future. As I have always said I am happy working for Dict8 alone but this year, particularly now moving forward into 2023, things are very much different for all. Everyone is struggling. Action/communication is far better than ...............

It's bloody freezing my house today - refuse to put the heating on (prices so extortionate). Obviously I have to have the electric on!!! Difficult to type when your fingers refuse to cooperate due to the 'cold' (practically dyslexic fingers LOL). I had family over xmas and 'jokingly' asked each to pay £2 towards the gas and electric 'on entrance' .. course I didn't expect them to pay that was 'just my sense of humour' LOL

@danblack87 I have a small heater on as cannot type with freezing cold hands, I find it impossible.

One further thing: due to the postal strikes I received my cheque from Dict8 on 7th December which I duly processed through the post office on 8th December .. my cheque did not reach my bank account/processed and 'cleared' until 5th January .. Bloody postal strikes on top of everything else!!! Good job I had some other money to use 'savings' to get me through xmas.

@Chrissols my daughter bought me a small hot water bottle -- my feet are on it under my desk ,,,, cheaper than electric ... next is ordering fingerless thermal gloves LOL

@Chrissols It's like something from Dickens (the dark ages ... please may I have more coal and an extra candle so that I may work) --- yes, but we will take it out of your wages! Bloody government full of millionaires don't give a shit!! AND NOW they want it unlawful to 'strike' I piss myself laughing in the face of adversity.

@danblack87 I have thought about fingerless gloves in the past but cant type in them either. If we went on strike they would only take on more transcribers lol, we really are in a no win situation with Dict8 until sometime in the future something is done, which I have not doubt it will be - just way in the future.....

I type in fingerless gloves, I found them bulky and awkward at first, but now I'm used to them. I wear two pairs of socks, one pair wool blend, the other not and multiple layers of clothing/dressing gown and a woolly hat. I look ridiculous, but who cares, my dog doesn't 😂

Anyway, the million/billionaires' bubble has got to burst soon, they can't piss everyone else off forever!

@TypoQueen1 Did you get a response from this?

@YellowBellyLola I didn't send to Dict8, just put on here for info. They would only have wriggled out of it I suspect 🤨

That's the problem I have with DICT8, you have to work full time hours for a part time wage and it leaves you knackered with no time to do, or look for anything else. The poverty pay trap!

@joewe41 What were you studying by the way? It's a shame you had to give up on it.

@Whitestar55 radiography. It wasn't the only factor that contributed to my decision but it was a large one. Between typing and that was still up at 1 and 2 in morning sometimes. Wasn't sustainable but as you say poverty trap. It's getting more and more like bygone days were university is for those with money. For more mature students with responsibility and not many resources it's very much a struggle.

Our boiler started playing up just after Christmas our plumber fixed it for £40 by New Year's day it had cut out again, we waited for the bank holiday call-out fees to pass and tried him again with no response - found he was sick at the time. Got another boiler company to run a full diagnostic for £72 of our depleting savings and recommended a new part for the future. The plumber called us back a day after apologising and went through what the engineer had told us and said he would do a flush first in case of a blockage as the part is cheap to buy but heavy on the hourly rate. Gave us links on eBay to find appropriate parts that may be playing up going forward but still, it all meant no typing much last week.

It's not worth me plugging in a heater for the money I earn, so I got days where I was warm and got lucky with the work, now I'm sat with a lovely thick bed jacket on which is toasty warm but with freezing thighs, and its that or the onesie and I'm not opening the door looking like a toddler in a large romper suit, I mean, it hasn't even got cat ears 😛