Dreaded Tax

TheCyclingProgrammer

Just realised that this thread is a year old - I do wish people wouldn't resurrect old threads.

caroline54

Hadenoff wrote: »

Hi all, I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to ask those of you who work for Dict8 - are you still paid at a rate of 8 pence per line? I have been paid at this rate for years, a rise would be nice wouldn't it!

Yes I am still getting 8 pence per line. How much per hour do you find you earn at this rate?

medsec_222

Hi Hadenuff - I have been working for dict8 for just over a year now. The rate for me is also 8p a line. I was hoping I might be offered an increase after I had been working for them for twelve months, but no luck! I enjoy the work but you do need to be very meticulous, and I feel that perhaps 8p is a little low for the standard of work.

caroline54

I agree 8p per line is far too low, as you say, the high standard required means that it is extremely time consuming particularly when the English of some of the dictators is very bad and hard to understand.

Emma1976432

I have been working for Dict8 for 9 years now and still on 8p per line. Sometimes I can earn £15 an hour, other times only £6, depending on the quality of the dictation.
Would be interested to know if anyone earns any higher from them?!

caroline54

Yes they are still paying 8p a line

purdyoaten

caroline54 wrote: »

Yes they are still paying 8p an hour

Just under the minimum wage then!

Pennycress

At 8p per line I'm surprised Emma1976432 can reach £15 per hour! My best is about half that much. Perhaps some specialties are easier than others.

A considerable percentage of the dictation now comes from foreign doctors. In many cases not only is the speech unclear (particularly problematic when dealing with drug names and doses), the standard of grammar is poor and more time than is justified by the level of pay has to be spent on producing intelligible text. This is not just typing - it's editing.

My typing speed (recently tested accurate speed, not including mistakes) is 75 wpm and I have many years of experience as a medical secretary. Perhaps I'm too fussy about checking everything but Dict8 is quick to fire off critical e-mails. Typing a patient's date of birth/hospital number in the order a doctor dictates them and not in the order Dict8 decrees is enough to trigger one off.

If those doing the transcription continue to tackle tasks that pay peanuts, the rate will never rise.

EllBee

Pennycress wrote: »

At 8p per line I'm surprised Emma1976432 can reach £15 per hour! My best is about half that much. Perhaps some specialties are easier than others.

A considerable percentage of the dictation now comes from foreign doctors. In many cases not only is the speech unclear (particularly problematic when dealing with drug names and doses), the standard of grammar is poor and more time than is justified by the level of pay has to be spent on producing intelligible text. This is not just typing - it's editing.

My typing speed (recently tested accurate speed, not including mistakes) is 75 wpm and I have many years of experience as a medical secretary. Perhaps I'm too fussy about checking everything but Dict8 is quick to fire off critical e-mails. Typing a patient's date of birth/hospital number in the order a doctor dictates them and not in the order Dict8 decrees is enough to trigger one off.

If those doing the transcription continue to tackle tasks that pay peanuts, the rate will never rise.

I totally agree with everything you say. I've worked for Dict8 for 8 years now and am still on the rate of 8p per line. I now only pick up work that I can understand and, therefore, type without rewinding the dictation and straining to understand or hear it.


Something else which annoys me is the fact that we are paid by cheque, which I've noticed is now sent out by 2nd class post. I can't understand why they don't pay by BACS.


Fortunately, at the beginning of this year, I started working for another transcription company which pays at the beginning of the month by BACS. I started off on 6p per line and within 3 months this increased to 7p per line, hopefully, increasing again after a year to 8p, so still in line with Dict8 but with the possibility of another increase. As I am solely self-employed my income comes in below the tax threshold but I do pay NI.

alexandgraciesmummy

EllBee wrote: »

I totally agree with everything you say. I've worked for Dict8 for 8 years now and am still on the rate of 8p per line. I now only pick up work that I can understand and, therefore, type without rewinding the dictation and straining to understand or hear it.


Something else which annoys me is the fact that we are paid by cheque, which I've noticed is now sent out by 2nd class post. I can't understand why they don't pay by BACS.


Fortunately, at the beginning of this year, I started working for another transcription company which pays at the beginning of the month by BACS. I started off on 6p per line and within 3 months this increased to 7p per line, hopefully, increasing again after a year to 8p, so still in line with Dict8 but with the possibility of another increase. As I am solely self-employed my income comes in below the tax threshold but I do pay NI.

Can I ask who the other company is?