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I've always enjoyed your posts fatcat

Posted By: I'll pull up a stool! on 2009-07-23
In Reply to: MDIer - fatcat

If you were cooking, I'd certainly come to eat! I'm sorry to hear that it's so hard right now. I agree, you have always been the MDI diplomat, always had great things to say about the company, defended their honor over and over. I've been reading this board for years and you are one that I've always taken the time to read, even when it didn't especially relate to anything I needed to know personally.

I hope things start looking up, for you, for all of us.



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Whoops! I meant to address this TO fatcat, not FROM fatcat. Sorry Fatcat!
x
Yes, I've read several posts about SS
and will beware. Thanks. I've learned a lot just by reading all the posts here.
I've been reading these posts and
x
I've seen in-house job posts.
I would submit your resume to your local hospitals and call to check for open positions frequently. Good luck!
I've read the old posts
before I accepted a position with them and I am glad I ignored them. I find my line rate to be very fair compared to what I have seen advertised for other companies, no it isn't the 14 cpl that I used to get on my own but who would expect that now anyway :). I have never had any problems with them. Pay has always been on time, the QA and management are always quick to answer any questions I have and they leave you alone during the day. IM is only used for quick problems and I can count on 1 hand how many times they have IM'd me, other than my first 2 days to see how I was doing and if I needed anything. To each their own though, everyone will not be pleased with the same companies.
I know there are other posts, I've read them...sm
I'm strictly looking for people with good experiences with DSG, not problems with them. I know there are some MTs who work there who are happy, a friend of mine knows someone who loves this company, so it can't be all bad. Those are the people I'm asking to hear from. Thanks anyway:)
Thanks for your posts. I've been in the plan for several years...sm
So I am very curious about how this pans out. I'm 100% vested and never NOTICED anything odd, but after this long...i probably wouldn't. We've also changed carries several times (prudential, metlife, etc.), I think 4 times since I've been with them, so I'm surprised there haven't been more errors. Or maybe there have been...how would we know?
well I've read all your posts and responses and
no one has been ugly or attacked you at all


They've been around for years and the posts are always negative.
s
I've been following your posts for a couple of months now
and I advised you long ago this was not a reliable service - unless I am mistaken - and I could be.  And my biggest question - are you absolutely positive you will get insurance with them?  Last time I knew they hired ICs only.  Truthfully, I would go for the unemployment and find another job with another service.
I've recently seen posts that mention
salary vanish shortly after they're posted by the moderators. Maybe people think it's not worth the effort to complain about these companies when the moderators remove them.

To look at this board anymore you would think that everything is rosy. Well, it sure isn't. Depending when you look at this board, you would think no one has commented about the 5 and 6 cents a line that some of these companies are posting. They've commented plenty. But their comments vanish as if they never existed.
It was fine! What I enjoyed was...
...that in one of the transcription reports I had my favorite doc on the whole planet dictating. I recognized his voice - what were the chances that that would happen? I live in an area with about 50,000 people, and the hospital he dictates for is about mid-size. It was nice to hear him again.
Wow, I actually enjoyed working there...
and never really had a problem with QA. I was off of QA after a week (after asking them if I was ready and thought I should be off), and switched from 8 to 9 per line, and had made really good money with the overflow ER account. The only time I ever really heard anything back from QA was when I had a blank and needed feedback. I did notice, though, that the QA seemed to change from when I first was there, going from just checking your blank word to going to looking at the whole report and finding things, so I do think QA person changed. I normally didn't have blanks so really didn't hear anything from them. The owner bent over backwards to make me happy.

The work started to slow down and couldn't really stay because of that. They did have their lulls, but this one was really lasting long and I needed the money as it was my only full-time job. I had no problem with giving my 2-week schedule, that was totally fine.

All this other stuff here is so strange to me. And I hate picky QA people but didn't seem to have that problem there. I really hated leaving but needed to and am now happy at another company as an employee.

They are a nice place to work for, so I would give them a chance. I think if you prove you're a good MT, they would love to have you. They acknowledge you at holidays also! :-)
enjoyed your post!!
I know you were talking about an experience you had and giving good information but I had a really terrible day - my ripoff insurance in spite of raising my deductible also caused a huge hike in a medication cost and I was fit to be tied. So I really needed a laugh - your descriptive post, especially about the roaches possibly coming out of the keyboard just gave me a big laugh. I guess I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets utterly disgusted with things sometimes! P.S. I am from New Orleans originally and roaches rule there - big flying ones too!

If you've read the recent posts about them, how could you even think of applying? nm
s
I had a contact tell me they really enjoyed working there, but
s
I could have selected a better word than enjoyed
No, this was no meant to be smart alecky at all. I meant, they responded to your death in the family sympathetically and THIS touched you (not sure how else a company would respond any differently) Sorry I caused you grief by your misinterpretation of my post. Was not meant that way at all.

The response was meant just as I said, you really did not WORK for the company per se, so I did not feel it was a true experience, thus a true recommendation of any company.

But, I am surprised you can PICK your own speciality. What happens with me is they see my experience and just shove it all down my throat which can be good AND bad.
Please search the last 2 pgs. Plenty of neg. posts recently unless they've been deleted. nm
s
Please search the last 2 pgs. Plenty of neg. posts recently unless they've been deleted. nm
s
Sounds like you've been reading too many "Donna" posts, ROFLMAO nm
nm
I have read that, but wonder if anyone has enjoyed their work experience or.....
if anyone had any problems with the VNC connection as far as privacy issues??? Everything else seems great??
Fatcat correcting fatcat
I meant to say THEIR face, not THERE face. Have been up since early morning working and it shows. Sorry.
Fatcat
I do not do homework for others unless they want to pay me. I am too busy makin my lines, and apparently you could be makin more lines too by getting off your high horse on this board and spending more time making your lines!!! You are so funny....
Fatcat ......... sm

Not sure where you live, but my local YMCA offers kickboxing classes, free with membership.  Also, i just recently bought a Kathy Smith Kickboxing DVD for $2.99 from eBay.  I haven't tried it yet because I'm afraid I might destroy the apartment -- coordination is not my strong suit!  (ha)  The class at the Y is fun ... I'm sure you'd enjoy it!  Plus, if you're like me, after sitting all day, it is nice to get up and move the legs and get some circulation going.



Fatcat
She is a known troublemaker on this board. 
Well said, fatcat (NM)
.
Tell me where fatcat.

I need part-time, 24 to 32 hours per week.  No one wants to hire part-time.


I have applied at 15 or more places.  Pass every test, get offered a job for 7 cpl  or when I give my schedule, they say NOPE.


The stress is killing me.  I think I have an ulcer.  The migraines are back and I spend the better part of my shift crying.


Looking for Fatcat
I would like to ask you some questions through email.  Thanks.
fatcat
The first letter of the company i work for is T
To fatcat:
I'm just wondering if you could tell me anything about your company:  things you like/don't like, pay, platform, etc.  I am also interested in this company.  Thanks for any info you can give!
Thanks you so much, fatcat. It does seem
like most companies require you to have your own computer. I guess I worked for MQ too long....They provide the computer but too many other down sides to working for them. I think I will see if I can pick up a used computer to start with.

Thanks for the info about the statutory status, too! I was thinking it meant you were sort of on-call employee. I get it now. THANKS again!
Thanks to all and Fatcat ...

I awoke with basically the same feeling.  I work for a wonderful company, have a wonderful husband, kids and grand babies so I have a lot to be thankful for.  I know that there are many of our fellow MTs who are struggling out there right now, I wish with everything in me that I could change that for them but since I cannot, I was hoping that a positive post would help to uplift everyone at least someone.  Like you and probably most on this board, I have had some pretty horrible experiences but seem to be on the right path, which I hope continues.  Hopefully I have kissed the right frog this time, lolol.


For those of you out there who are struggling I wish you the very best and lots of luck! 


Fatcat

I'm not sure if this explains anything, but I remember a few weeks ago getting an email telling us they had a new account coming on and had hired about 30 MTs to cover it.  Unfortunately, the account didn't start when expected and those MTs were training on the other accounts.  I thought the account started last week, but I'm not 100% sure about that.


There was also a lot of talk in the last few months about adjusting our schedules to accommodate the evening/late night and early morning work flow.  They may have ended up hiring more MTs to cover if the work wasn't getting done.  Unfortunately, I think that SE/IC companies are forced to hire more MTs than needed sometimes because they can't enforce a work schedule like the employee status companies ('cept for MQ; they overhire and then send all the work overseas.  I think the Indians just like to watch the Americans scramble).


I think the work flow also ebbs and flows more in the summer months due to holidays, vacations, etc.  My accounts have been low also, but I don't really mind.  I like an unexpected day off.  I expect things to pick up again soon. 


Fatcat

After being brainwashed for so many years by the Q, MDI has been a breath of fresh air!  I wouldn't think of changing companies, either, and since I'm not the breadwinner in our house and I have a second income myself, I won't fight for the lines.  If the work is there when I'm available, so be it, but if not, then I don't worry about it.  I check back throughout the day, but I won't sit and wait for the work.  I know there are others not as fortunate and I'd really rather see them get the work. 


LOL, Fatcat!
Your friend had it rough too, lol! I'm about an hour north of Bakersfield, more in Fresno territory, but I certainly relate to his difficulties with that two years. I believe Fresno and Bakersfield are cut from the same cloth. I had to move back from this area from a gorgeous northern coastal town (Pacific Grove, if you're familiar with it), about 6 years as my mother was ill, and I think I'm still in the throes of culture shock!

I just don't understand what's going on with MDI-MD at all, Fatcat. Normally when one of their MTs reports having no work, they bend over backwards (and IMMEDIATELY) to rectify the situation. This time the pleas are met with silence. It arouses my suspicions that something is going on behind the scenes of which we are unaware.

I might be WAY off base here, but you know D pretty well. Do think there's any conceivable possibility that perhaps they're brokering a deal to sell MDI-MD? I hate to even think that it's just one of a few unpleasant possibilities that has crossed my mind during this disheartening time.


FATCAT...
Your email went to my spam folder. I found it and just now replied (and made sure to mark your emails as NOT spam, lol!).
Fatcat -
Grab those lines while you can, because I'm sure they'll mysteriously disappear VERY quickly!!!
Fatcat -
In the case of the Q, I do hope that is followed by the old addage:

The bigger they are...
The harder they fall.

And I truly hope MDI hasn't fallen into the evil clutches of the Q!!!
Fatcat, if it were me, I would definitely keep the second job. It would help my
peace of mind tremendously to know I had a second job to fill in the financial gaps if my workload dried up again.  As long as having both jobs doesn't overtax you, I'd definitely keep it, at the very least for a few months to see what the ebb and flow turns out to be at your MDI job.  Just my humble opinion.
Fatcat:
Yep, we actually do work together, in a manner of speaking. 
FATCAT?
Hey, has anyone heard from Fatcat lately? Unless I've missed her posts, she's been absent. I know her account had seemed to pick up, but then it apparently dried up again.

I'm an MDI-er too. I checked my account earlier and, again, only a handful of jobs availabe on there.

I've seen a few post that they've emailed D and the other powers-that-be at MDI.

Has anyone heard anything back?


I know what you mean, fatcat
With so many of us sitting with no work, I just can't understand why these new accounts aren't staffed by the current ICs and hire on new ones to train only a few days before the account goes live.  I'd gladly work a little extra to be sure the new accounts are properly staffed while judging the need for additional MTs on a live basis.  I guess what's worse is that there is no communication.  Just because we're ICs we still work our tails off when the need is there to keep the jobs within TAT.  But yet don't we deserve the decency of some communication so that we can make advance planning on what *we* need as well?  Isn't that what makes a company successful?  The happier the workers, the better the company runs...the more successful the company is.  At least that's the way I always looked at things.
FATCAT
Um, yeah, no kidding!

Wait until Transcend drops the ball in about 2-3 months (when everyone's comfortable, thinking there will be no changes) that they ARE going to VR, there WILL be massive paycuts, and they find themselves another statistic, just like those dedicated MTs over at MQ.

Sorry, but we were betrayed by MDI-MD. If not by the sell-out (hey, it's D's company, she can donate it to charity if she wants to).

IT WAS THE WAY THEIR LOYAL, DEDICATED MTS WERE TREATED AND ALLOWED TO UNDERGO ALL OF THE STRESS OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS WITH NO WORK.

And, I don't know about you, Fatcat, but my money says that's whwere all that work has been going, over to Transcend to be fed into their VR system in preparation. The reason you got that windfall of work one night (ONE WHOLE NIGHT, lol!) must have been because the Transcend system was down.

You and I were most assuredly on the right track a month ago, as discussed via our emails. We saw this coming. We KNOW what the end result will be.

While I applaud the loyalty of those trying to '15% isn't that much' and ATTEMPTING to remain loyal to MDI-MD at this point, I also pity them, because they are now ducks in a row, getting ready to be FORCED into VR, FORCED to take paycuts, FORCED to adhere to a RIGID schedule.

Their lives as they know them have just irreversibly changed and sadly I don't think the realization has sunk in for some of them.

I'd high-five you for you and I being SO on target (although our guess was 1 week off, it's still AMAZING how accurate we were), but sadly I don't feel it's time for a high-five. It's time for an MDI-MD group hug as we all part ways.


Fatcat -- I wonder...

I wonder if the rest of MDI mgmt supports this merge.  I know when everything went down at MQ, it seemed mgmt supported the changes at first, but then one by one, they began dropping like flies.  They just quietly left, not to be heard from again.  I wonder if this is how it will go with this merge. 


Another thing that cracks me up -- everything that was stated in the conference call was followed by the statement until January.  I don't think I'm going to stick around to find out what all that entails.


My husband and I have been discussing me returning to the real world for a full-time job for the last several months (since April or May when we got the first State of the Union address) and up until now, I've been very reticent to do so.  This seems to be a sign that maybe that would be the best option for us.  I have a few opportunities to pursue, outside of the world of MT.  It might be kind of nice to work a straight 8-4, M-F, holidays off, kind of job again. 


Wherever I end up, I wish you well.  This just feels all too similar to the way things went at the Q.  But this time, I'm not going to hang on as long.  I'm looking at this until January thing as my window to search other avenues of employment. 


You tell it Fatcat!!!!!!

Thanks fatcat!! sm
That sure is nice. If you were here I would take you up on it too!! It will be ok. I am ok right now and a job will come!
I think that's what fatcat was referring to (sm)
Notice how she capitalized the word YOUR for emphasis?
Fatcat is back
no newbies have responded at all. 
fatcat... you are one in a million.

I really do appreciate everything you have told me.  There are so many people on this board so quick to judge and then every now and again you come across a genuine, quality person such as yourself. 


I know my schedule is difficult to work with, but these companies never seem to give anyone a chance to explain them, not that it would really matter.  They expect 1200 lines a day for full-time, but I have always done that in part-time hours (5 to 6). 


To me, that is all that should matter.  They want 1200, I will give them that, but I cannot be put on a schedule for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. 


I have only had 2 transcription jobs in 13 years, the most current one with the Q for over 11.  I have always done well on testing, from what I am told my last test I took for a company was 99%. 


I just don't understand how all of you girls can comit to working every Saturday or every Sunday. 


Ok, I am done complaining.  I am hitting the job search full force again.  Thanks so much again for your kind words and thoughts.  You are in my prayers.


PS... I am probably way older than your daughter, I am going to be 39 in May.  :)


TO FATCAT: Apparently they are sm
not very big. Run by a husband and wife team. No HR department. Only person to talk to is the one MT who was suppose to be training me. We have communicated via e-mail. The e-mails have now stopped. I figure they either will let it go or they will send me a call tag and they will get their pedal back. I am not pursuing it anymore. Thanks for the good luck wishes.
I have to stand up for fatcat here

fatcat could be the person I hire to mediate a problem I have with someone else - not someone who puts someone else down.  There is a good question on the table:  Why not just drop it?