whydowork.com

[kristisha]

I just wanted to pass a word around to those who are considering working for TranSam company. If you are a trained MT seeking entry-level work as a medical transcriptionist, please by all means STAY AWAY from this company. The will do no more than rip you off money by making you buy their MT software and never putting peole into real work situations. The only thing they care for is for your MONEY from your purchase of their equipment(total of $490). This is obviously a SCAM. They want the money upfront and they offer NO refunds for any circumstances.
They make their program especially attractive by offering live chats with representatives who answer your questions on line and they tempt you to buy their software as soon as possible. They have no other contact phone number aside from the main number of their company, so you can't talk to someone on the phone.


Bottom line is.. you should NOT pay someone money in order to get the job. The equipment itself(which is nothing more than audio player to play files on) is itself not worth $490! Needless to say, they would not even consider waiving their requirement for training for those who've already been trained and clearly are qualified to start the job. No special placement tests are given for those who want to prove their skills. It is really unfair to those with a strong medical background or those who've already had 2 yrs of experience as MT and want to move into home-based work!

With all this said, if you are a person who wants to find a real home-based opportunity, consider other options like joing AAMT group or finding an interniship with some company, but don't fall into TranSam bull and waisting your time and money into buying their software. You'll be like in a dead end,stuck in their training forever.
Good luck to all MTs out there who are reading this message.

[ladybug]

The problem I have with TransAm, or at least the main problem, is the fact that yes, there's no training fee BUT they charge you $400 or $500 for questionable software that you can probably buy someplace else for about $300 or even get free. That to me means they are more interested in selling the software than actually training properly OR they are trying to undercut actual schools that are accredited and therefore cost more. A mechanic told me once never get your car fixed at a place that sells automotive parts and I think this is very similar. Buying your software from a place that is offering training I think sends out a bad message.

The question you have to ask yourself is: Do you want to risk spending the $500 on the software and go through this training and even if it does work out you will probably only be able to work for them because nobody else will recognize them OR do you want to spend $3,000 or $4,000 and go to a school approved by the MT Association and be able to have your pick of jobs?

THAT's what's important here in my opinion.

[ladybug]

I don't know a lot about MT companies. I do know that there are several very good forums though and transcriptionessentials is one of the better ones http://www.transcriptionessentials.com

I'm not sure if we have any members who are MT's.

[ladybug]

Many community colleges do offer MT training. The MT association has a list of recommended courses they support. Visit www.transcriptionessentials.com for lots of help with that. It's a forum for general/medical/legal transcriptionists and you can get lots of help there.

[ladybug]

Here is the list from the association site:

http://www.ahdionline.org/EducationTrai ... fault.aspx

That's not say there aren't more. I took mine at http://www.Meditec.com and I know some people from there who have done quite well. They offer a paid internship for students who do I think it's 92% or better at the end of their training.

[rescue]

COME ON PEOPLE, THE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF TRANSAM ARE THE ONES WHO ARE RUNNING THIS SCHEME.......

[Irishviolet]

I checked this company out on Better Busines Beauro and they rate a C- mostlly due to software malfunction and the length of time it takes to actually start work, but the BBB also stated that this company has resolved some of the issues as well as consumers not being satified. I came here to look and see if this company is legitamite, and I see mixed results. I am however confused by lady bug she has several posts downing the company but also has one stating that she is wrong and if you just stick with it then you can begin to make money. So I was wondering which one is it, a scam or a legitamite company? I was also wondering how many people have had formal training before they start the program? I have discovered while I was in school that there is more than one format for transcribing a document. It should be universal but it is not. I also learned in school that a transcription is a legal document so one has to make sure everything is done correctly to cover their A** es in case of a lawsuit.

[ladybug]

but also has one stating that she is wrong and if you just stick with it then you can begin to make money.

I don't believe I ever said anywhere that I was wrong, but maybe you could point it out to me. I did say that two other people (out of hundreds) claim to have been paid, that's all. I only know from my own experience. When they offered me the free training and then told me I would have to pay the $$ I told them to blow it out their ear.

The rest I've learned from 10 years of reading postings by people who have direct experience with them. I post my experience and my opinions only. Nobody is forced to listen or to read or to take my advice. Plain and simple.

I have discovered while I was in school that there is more than one format for transcribing a document.

From my experience medical documents are pretty much a standard format. In general/legal you will find some differences. I'd like to hear from a medical transcriptionst on this.

[ladybug]

Hello-

Okay, I have to say this. In August I was contacted by Transam Associates. After purchasing the software, I came across this site that reports them as a "scam". But, recently I have discovered otherwise and they are not a scam at all. I just passed my first test with them and will be getting my second one soon. The trainer I have is outstanding and always answers my emails immediately.

Yes, the process is slow and time consuming with all the practice files but, in the end it pays off.

So for those of you who claim it is a scam, it can't be further from the truth. Maybe you were unable to pass the tests. Maybe you didn't apply yourselves the way you should have. I don't know what the reasons are or may be but, they are not a scam.

So you passed a couple of tests. From what I've heard nobody ever fails, but have you actually been paid anything yet? This is the question.

I'd like nothing else than to be able to say, wow, what a great opportunity. I'd like to know exactly what this secret software is and if it's transferrable to any other company because if it's a decent product and can play audio AND video files then maybe I'd say do it. Go for it, I have nothing personal against this company and no hidden agenda here but where are all the people who are actually working for them and getting paid by them?

On the plus side, I went to their website and I notice that they now inform people of the fact that there is a charge for the software although they don't say how much, so that's a positive step as far as I'm concerned. When I took their test I wasn't informed of it until AFTER I had gone through the testing and they explain their course as an internship program as well.

I also Googled them and found an updated forum post:

You do have to buy the software in order to do the transcription. BUT: remember that anyone who is a contractor or working from the 'convenience' of their own home must have the proper tools to succeed. Yes, I did buy the software. Yes, it was almost $500 for the program. I consider it an investment. The software will work for various other transcription programs/companies as well. Yes, I did buy a foot pedal: from another transcription equipment company for a lot less and it works great. I still need to purchase a good set of headphones, and I have bought the Stedman's Medical Spellchecker to assist in correctly spelling the more difficult medical terms and drugs. It's an investment. Even if this doesn't work out, I've gained valuable experience.


$500 is a lot for software. I just bought Start/Stop for $300. Express Scribe is free.

[jcochran292]

ladybug...
are you at liberty to share the two companies that you work for and how you obtained employment with them? You mention that youv'e posted sites with ligitimate work @ home MT opps. I don't see them anywhere on this string? Is it perhaps on another string?
Thx. jcochran292

[ladybug]

The companies I work for are Canadian. One I found by answering an ad in my local newspaper and the other I got through a friend who subcontracts work to me. A US typist would be at a disadvantage working for them because of the difference in the dollar -- you will lose money.

The list I posted can be found here but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what's really out there.

please-post-names-transcription-companies-here-t12545.html

If you're seriously interested in doing transcription from home I would suggest you visit http://www.transcriptionessentials.com

[ksr81]

Hi

I just received an email from Transam associates. And i have transcibed the file and sent them the email.
Good that i have googled about this company before taking any further step.

Let me see what they reply to my email.

Ladybug, I am actually intrested in legimate and real work from home opportunities. (without asking any money in advance) can you please give the list of companies offering those as you have told in your previous post.

[ladybug]

There is a partial list here please-post-names-transcription-companies-here-t12545.html and there is another list I believe somewhere else in the forum. There are many, many more companies that offer transcription opportunities but in order to do medical transcription you will have to have formal training.

[humarif]

I have been doing research on this school for quite sometime now. I have done Mt course from a correspondence school and Aced it. I did it so I could work from Home. It has been 4 years since I have opened those books. I Need some revision with some help, so I found Transam Associates, but after reading all these reviews, I am confused now. But how after so many bad reviews, this company is still doing business. I went TO BBB site also and they had 51 complaints from this business. Now I want to start working from home is there any company which can help me and build my confidence. Please if any body has some solutions, please let me know, I want to start ASAP. Thank you

Okay, two things about that post:



One:

If you are a trained MT seeking entry-level work as a medical transcriptionist, please by all means STAY AWAY from this company.

Trained or not, stay away from these guys. They have a bad track record for not paying their people. You just stay in training mode forever apparently.

Second:

you should NOT pay someone money in order to get the job

In this case you aren't paying for a job, you are paying for software that is specific to this company. My problem with this is, transcription should be universal which in my opinion puts these people not in the transcription but in the software business -- that's where they're making their money, from the sales of their transcription software which is exclusive to them and them alone.

And further:

It is really unfair to those with a strong medical background or those who've already had 2 yrs of experience as MT and want to move into home-based work!

Knowing that TransAm is mostly interested in trainees, why would an experienced MT even LOOK at them when there are so many other legitimate companies out there? TransAm Associates is well known by just everybody in the transcription world. They offer a test that is passable by anybody because they don't allow anybody to fail it.

[mamabear]

People change. Maybe there had been negative feedback before, but maybe, yes, again, maybe those negative feedback which were published before woke them up to the reality that if they have to survive as a company they should tow the line and build a more reputable reputation.

It can also happen that some companies erroneously hire the wrong people, maybe they did! And have replaced them now with better people.