If I could count lines, I would know if they were cheating
Posted By: me or not. on 2006-02-03
In Reply to: It wouldn't surprise me that the co. didnt want to pay extra for something that helps me but coul - possible adversely affect them.
:+
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Still cheating lines, if that's they way - sm
a line is calculated, i.e., assigning a character a different value than what a characters intended value is: 1 character. If you were quoted a rate of $ 0.__ per 45, 55, 65, 75 or 85-character line - whatever - changing the value of that character is dishonest and cheating. It constitutes Theft of Service and is illegal. I won't even mince words here, such as manipulation of lines, creative line counting. It's downright fraud, end of story.
How does one count one's lines on DQS to make sure one's
can DQS be set up to count gross lines? nm
x
Do 1 space and count lines and then do 2
It really doesn't affect the line count that much to do the 1 space after punctuation. I agree 100% that they are trying to whittle our wages away wherever, but I don't think this particular issue is a big one. I get virtually the same lines whether 1 space or 2 after sentences. I'm more concerned about the virtual black line that would eliminate ALL spaces like AAMT (or whatever it's called now) is pushing than just a few spaces per report. This is why it's so important for all MTs to know and understand every crazy line-count method out there!
Depends on how you count lines
If you count the lines via Extext software, right away. If you use ichart it can take up to 1 hour, it says on the instructions. Depends how your company counts ExText software lines. Hope this helps.
Is it lines = character count/65 maybe?
me
Yes, but do you have an accurate way to count those lines? Has TT fixed
nm
You best not count those chickens (lines) before they hatch. You may end up editing
You may be backing up on saying you can do 2400 in an 8 hour day.
A steady diet of bad dictation I can bet won't afford you 2400 lines in an 8 hour day.
Think twice about Transcend. Overhire and not so great lines count
As far as the hospital job goes, that would be a better,stable choice. I know in our area the clerks obviously make less than the MTs, but it is way above minimum wage, not to mention you get shift/weekend/holiday differential. Find a company is this business that does that. NONE, at least that I have found. Best wishes on your job search.
You know, I never actually counted my lines myself, I just always figured my company's line count
Boy was I wrong! I just went through and totaled all of my lines, then compared them to the line counter, and guess what! It's wrong! Can you guess who I work for? SOFTSCRIPT!!! 
Puleeze! I heard that monthly for 2 years. I will believe it when I can count lines on it. nm
:+
Medware's IT dept. obviously doesn't work weekends.No lines count for 2 days. nm
not surprised
About the cheating QAs
cherry picked, pretended to have internet outages, took off work while still on the clock, etc. both of them have been fired because they continued to do this stuff after I told the supervisor. Heavy workload until she finds replacements but it was worth it. 
Sounds like someone is cheating!!
Like claiming time worked for no production????? That way, their "40" hours are in and they can get overtime on their next production load???
CLaim you work 8 hours but only work 6 of them perhaps? Then by the end of the week while you show 40 hours worked and get into overtime, you've only worked 30 hours???
If you make an average of $20 an hour, and you are coming up with $36K this year, you are working about 38 hours a week. Oh, wait, but you're stealing overtime, aren't you? Sorry - didn't take that into consideration.
You said yourself in your post: "...never work 8 hours in a day ... never work 40 hours a week ... work some overtime also ..." So you're cheating. That is the only way you can do that.
It's called theft. It's a crime. If you're caught, you'll do the time!
It's just one more way of cheating workers.
No lying, stealing, cheating at all.
And I am entitled to my opinion. I didn't say all MTSOs are ethical in their business operations but most are.
Seriously, if you read over the board, it looks like a few oldies who are bitter or newbies who cannot get their foot in the door. It doesn't sound like professionals with realistic complaints. It sounds like very withdrawn, angry individuals who do not come out of their shell except on anonymous boards. :)
For the MTSOs who are unethical ... I think they should absolutely be shut down.
Still yet, no one forces you to work for any company. It is entirely your choice. So, make a different one, please.
Be happy.
True. If they're cheating us on pay when we do
But not impossible.
Messing with the margins is cheating. Use macros.
nm
Cheating/verbal tests and cost per line.
I am sorry to hear this wonderful recruiter being called a cheater. I have been in this business for about 25 years, and I will take whatever help/advice I can get. Yes, I am in the transcription business to help people but I am also in it to help support my family. I'll take short cuts, macros, whatever it will take to increase my lines and if getting into a company that is willing to give a helping hand, a cue, a hint, whatever - I say thank you. In the end, if you do take pride in your work, the terminology will come to you in the actual report, and I bet the next time you hear those particular terms you have trouble with on the test, you will remember them. You will remember affect and effect. You will learn intra and inter because somebody's health may depend on it. Too bad for you.....
Is this a live count of lines paid for or same as CTRL I that we do not get paid for ?? nm
m
All compaines count lines different--with spaces, without spaces, headers or no headers, 65 characte
a line, 75 characters, etc. I would ask each of them how they count their lines. Sometimes the way lines are counted does not make a company worth working for.
In my Extext experience count was about 10% less than the Word count. nm
X
It means to double check what THEY say your count it. Count
uj
Are you aware of how they count your time?.. or don't count it i should say
nm
1800 lines is easily achieved. I average 300-340 lines per hour. nm
x
10 lines per minute = 1500 lines for 150 minutes - average. nm
x
I average 1200-1400 lines per day with a national, and am only getting around 600-800 lines per day.
It's been this way since the day before Thanksgiving. I've been doing this for almost 30 years now, and more often than from Thanksgiving until the new year is the slowest time of the year. I have some months where I am swamped with up to 2000 lines per day. I stash that little extra money, and take advantage of a handful of extremely slow days this time of the year to actually cook dinner, decorate for Christmas, or do Christmas shopping. I actually anticipate this slow time every year and have grown to enjoy the breathing time. Any time I have attempted to pick up extra work with another company to supplement these slow times, the minute I get adjusted to the new accounts, etc. I have no time to finish all of my work because my full time job with national gets slammed again. Hang in there if you can, and hopefully your work will pick up significantly around New Years.
They work with you to make sure you get the lines required or the amount of lines you want...
I have never had a problem getting more work
Minimum lines for FT used to be 60,000 keystrokes a day, about 925 lines. Pay was good. Just not a
s
Yes it is possible to double your lines. I cant type 460 lines an hour but I can get those with VR
x
WMX - line count. Was working along and noted line count accumulation (sm)
signed off the report I was typing. Those lines didn't add immediately, but sometimes they do that. What concerns me is that when I signed that job off and the next one came up, not only were the other lines not added in but they were LESS than they were before I signed off previous job.
I thought I noticed this happening the other day, but figured I just wasn't paying attention. Today I definitely noticed it. For some reason it changed it's mind and took 8 lines off my line count. What the heck?
Am not really ecstatic with the way things are going anyway and then this confuses me.
Please, someone have a realistic explanation so I don't feel paranoid and cheated here.
Regular lines, not weighted lines
was what I got paid for....
12K lines payperiod is 6K lines a week.
nm
0.8 x 1000 lines = $80.00 - 0.8 x 1500 lines = $120.
Then company should set line count per day with incentives for above that. If get line count done
:[
It's not 1600 lines -- it's 16,000 lines...and
I've got my contract right here and have already gotten 2 checks and YES, I am getting 9.5 cpl base rate.
I don't know what other people are getting. Don't really care. I work for MY paycheck. Gosh.
Why would they "fix" lines? The more lines you
transcribe, the more you make, the more you make, the more you make. It wouldn't profit any company to put a lid on line counts.
MP Count
Can anybody tell me where I can download MP Count? I cannot find it anywhere on the internet. I need to start billing the client and they want me to use MP Count. Any help would greatly be appreciated.
MP Count
Thanks! I just realized they are not giving out their free sample anymore. Do you have any idea how you charge 9 cents per line for a 65 character space line? Is it easy software? I just want to make sure before I purchase it. Thanks!
MP Count
Hi! Can anyone tell me if using MP Count is similar to the count in MS Word?
TIA!
MP count
I use MP count and I find it very accurate -- better than MS Word.
MP Count
Thanks so much for your replies! I have never used a line counting software and I wanted to be sure.
Count me 2
I also had experienced those problems with TT. I was told that because of my being able to do the bad dictators efficiently was the reason why I was getting so many of them. They say they don't cherry pick but instead they pool, route, and set up stats. I also know some others who never ever did progress notes and only only worked on OPs which is also in my opinion just another form of cherry picking. After the line count issues I moved on and now I see an ad for PT acute care at 10 cents a line, go figure.
Count me in!!!!! nm
nm
Count me in
And also on your list of MT companies who ONLY hire American MTs, add WebmedX. That is where I work and they are vehemently opposed to offshoring work. I am glad to see that we are finally taking action. You can e-mail me and we can keep in touch. I live in Texas and there are a lot of medical facilities here. I will find who I need to direct my information to, but by golly, I will do it! So far that's three states (and three BIG states!) Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas!
count me in
Excellent idea. Let me know if you are serious about this. Just email me.
Count me in too.
I want to participate. How about something like American Transcription or All American Transcription? Maybe even Transcribed in America. I am in Kansas. Please email me with details when you get a chance. Thanks!
Count me in
If you are looking for a Transcriptionist when you form your new company...count me in! I am just over the river in Jersey.
Count Me.....
...In!!! I have turned down 3 jobs in the past 2 weeks: (1) The first job actually wanted me to move to NY and work on site at a radiology office, contracted out through a transcription company....I live in TN! This company would not tell me what they were paying, and no moving expenses were being offered. (2) The second job wanted me to fly to NJ and spend 3 days training in their corporate office. They also would not tell me what the job paid....said it would depend upon testing and training. They reimburse travel expenses after 6 months....but, who knows if one would want to stay for that long....especially considering they will not disclose how much they are willing to pay. (3) The third job actually wanted me to work as an IC being PAID BY THE DICTATED MINUTE for RADIOLOGY....and, again, would not tell me what they were offering to pay!!! What a JOKE! I have never, EVER been tested at less than 98% and am always offered jobs, but am picky regarding benefits and line count. I have been stuck at 0.085 for the past 6 years (but with fairly good benefits) and have been told repeatedly that our company cannot afford to give raises. :( I am shopping for something better....and will only settle if I find a HIGHER PAYING JOB! Regarding all transcriptionists not settling for less than 0.085 per 65-character line.......I think this is a GREAT IDEA, but do not think the less experienced transcriptionists will adhere to this. There are too many people out there who have paid for fly-by-night MT schools and are willing to work cheap or free just to get the experience - trying to make the money they spent pay off one day. Best of luck in getting others to sign up for the idea. I am on board with you!!!
Count me in.
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Count me in
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