whydowork.com

[stormyweather648]

Ladybug- Look what I found aboout "ripoff report"..esxtortion is a pretty serious offense, wouldn't you say? Also, slander/libel/defamation aren't funnRipOffReport.com Background

Ripoff Report has been described as the "National Enquirer antidote to the Better Business Bureau", created as a platform to allow consumers to air their gripes, complaints, and allegations about a business. Unfortunately, Ripoff Report appears to have been created for purely a money making scam that has left numerous businesses and individuals tarnished with an unjustified poor reputation that goes without merit.

What's the solution if you find yourself on RipOffReport.com? Well, unless you have deep pockets, unfortunately there isn't much that you can do. There are reports that the website is nothing more than an extortion scheme. This may be true as the founder and owner, Ed Magedson, is a convicted criminal with charges ranging from check fraud to assault and battery. Refer to our Ed Magedson page to learn more about the man behind the operation.

"RipOff Report's high search engine visibility has lead many companies and individuals to be left victimized and embarassed due to complaints that typically don't have any merit" RipOff Report's high search engine visibility has led many companies and individuals to become victimized and embarrassed due to complaints that typically don't have any merit. We've read case after case in which people claim that competitors are simply abusing the authenticity of RipOffReports by placing falsified reports on the website. Allowing people to post anonymously is reason for suspect alone, and once a post has gone live on RipOffReports.com there is no way to remove it.

Ripoff Report allows individuals to post unconfirmed complaints and allegations against other individuals. Aggrieved individuals can submit their complaints against other individuals, and after being screened for curse words, have their complaints posted online publicly without any other checks for the validity of their claims. The individual which is being accused typically has their full identity revealed, including their address, phone number, and other personal information. All the while the accusers identify is left anonymous. This has caused accusations to occur of willful negligence on the part of Magedson and Ripoff Report for "falling short of what a reasonable person would do to protect another individual from foreseeable risks of harm". It is also claimed that the lack of verification practices actually encourages false claims and slander.

"Aggrieved individuals can submit their complaints against other individuals, and after being screened for curse words, have their complaints posted online publically without any other checks for the validity of their claims." All businesses and individuals are free to be reported on, except, of course, Ed Magedson and RipOffReports. They do not allow complaints about its own service and/or owner. Not at all surprising as RipOffReports is dedicated to keeping their operation afloat.




The Corporate Customer Extortion Program
Extortion is a common topic when searching for additional information on RipOff Reports, all of which Ed Magedson admits to in his deposition in the case of Federated Financial Services, Inc vs Xcentric Ventures LLC.

RipOffReport is nothing more than an operation to use falsified claims against other companies and individuals as an opportunity to perform extortion to remove such claims and pages as if they had never existed in the first place. The Corporate Customer Advocacy Program is the front that allows for those that have been tarnished to 'work' with RipOffReports to remove all negative reports if the price is right. Otherwise, if you can't afford to negotiate the removal of a page, you can pay to have the editor make rebuttals for you all courtesy of a monthly maintenance fee. Hy Cite was another company that has felt the abuse of such attempts of extortion first hand. Here is the email correspondence with Ed and Hy Cite requesting $40,000 and a monthly retainer of $1,500!

Examples of Extortion

•Mini Vacations - $50,00 - Email Correspondence
•Hy Cite - $40,000
•Federated Financial - $2,500
•Second Florida Company - Checks


RipOffReport's Rebuttal Denials
Individuals and business owners that have been slandered by RipOffReports should have the ability to defend themselves. Since RipOffReports submissions need to be reviewed prior to being posted on the website, the editors have the final decision as to whether or not something can get posted. We've seen many examples of RipOffReports not posting rebuttals from those that have been defamed.

International Creative Artists was not only a victim of an extortion attempt, but was an example of what happens when they decided not to pay. Their rebuttals were deleted and all those waiting in the cue were denied.

Examples of RipOffReports Rebuttal Denials

•International Creative Artists - Email CorrespondenceFor those that do end up footing the bill, there have been examples of changes in posts, the deletion of certain reviews, and other editorial reviews after payment was made. SMS.ac, a San Diego based company, paid Ed Magedson and RipOffReport to modify certain negative reviews about their company. Kevin Jones, Deputy General Counsel for SMS.ac, in an email correspondence, told bad-business-rip-off.com how RipOffReport is currently under investigation by the FBI. SMS.ac had paid Ed and suddenly the information found on RipOffReport feels like an advertisement for SMS.ac. Magedson was found updating titles, post content, and other user based review information that now "exemplifies corporate integrity" (i.e. the company paid the extortion bill).

Examples of Updated Reviews, Titles, and Other Post Information

•SMS.ac - Screencap of changes

For information on RipOffReport.com owner Ed Magedson, please visit RRO's full background investigation found here.
Take Action!
Contact Us


RRO's Quick Links




RipOffReport Owner InvestigationRipOffReport Lawsuit HistoryExtortion VictimsWSVN RipOffReport.com Investigation Phoenix New Times InterviewRipOffExtortion Deposition Admission



Home | About RRO | The Bad | RipOffReport.com | FAQ | Take Action | Contact Us

y either and actually, thats all I see on these scam sites:

[ladybug]

I agree 100% that Ripoff Report isn't your best source for information about anything, but you can't knock the number of posts in legitimate forums from people who have joined TransAm. I wasn't impressed with them when I applied. They are pushing that software like there's no tomorrow. There is NO other company that I know of out there or have heard of out there that requires you to purchase their own specialized software before you can work for them. That's a joke. And so is that post from Workplacelikehome. TransAm offered those people training opportunities when the samples they sent back weren't even legitimate samples. Even if they had been legitimate, I can't believe that anybody would have offered to train people with such poor skills.

Every cheesy employment site on the internet is jam packed full of recruitment ads from their company -- sites that no other transcription will touch because they don't have to, they have people knocking down their door to work for them. Can Trans Am say that? I doubt it.

You can try to convince me as much as you like but it won't work. LIke I said, I've dealt with them and I didn't like they're high-pressure sales pitch for me to fork out $350 US for something I didn't need. If you're supposedly happy with them then more power to you. Maybe you'd like to go to WorkplacelikeHome.com and try to convince them


DISCLAIMER: The contents of this post are the sole opinion of the author and not a reflection of WhyDoWork.

[ladybug]

Hah hah, here's another good one from MT Stars forum:


Transam associates - Bizarre incidence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ Post a Reply ] [ View Follow Ups ] [ Company Board ]
Posted By: Confused MT on 2008-09-03

I received an offer from Transam associates and tested with their sample dictation (I thought it was weird because I could not use my foot pedal but write what I heard on paper and type it down). Before realizing my mistake, I accidentally pasted my confidentiality email footer and sent it. My clipboard messed up and I pasted the wrong thing (scatterbrained I know). A few minutes later I receive an email that I did great on the test and it was a true representation of my work. What in the world? Is this just an automated response to everyone. Are they a scam?

And another:

Posted By: Fun with Transam on 2008-09-04
In Reply to: Transam associates - Bizarre incidence - Confused MT

sent a mexican rice recipe to that address that you send the sample dictation. I got that same job offer e-mail afterwards. It's all automated, all a scam. I went on live chat and pointed this out, and they disconnected the chat after a short while. Oh well, I feel good knowing the time they wasted on me they weren't taking anyone's money (mine or someone else's).


Surprising enough, I did actually find 2 (out of about 50) posts from people who actually are working for them.

[stormyweather648]

Just so my point is clear lady bug, I'm not the 1 making things up. Point being you don't know about a company until you try it. People are able to say just about anything they care too whether it is fact or fiction. Like I stated I haven't had any trouble with Transam, the only "trouble" I have had is with sites such as this and conflicting comments. The BBB is not all cut out to be what they claim to be either. If you are a member or should I say accredited by the BBB you will receive a higher rating than if you were not.

Let's face it, people will say what they will and it doesn't take much for something to "snowball" into something bigger than it actually is. All it takes is one individual who was not satisfied about one thing or another and then you have " a mountain made out of a molehill" and thats all I am about to say on this matter

[ladybug]

I believe you. You and Oilersgirl are probably two of the few happy employees they have. My point is, if they are such a legitimate company, and it is actually possible to be trained and to work for them, why are there not more people coming forward to defend them? Where are all the other happy people? There are exceptions to everything and maybe you and Oilersgirl are the exception.

(Granted Oilersgirl probably lives in Edmonton and I used to live in Calgary so I don't think I can comment on her -- Canadians will appreciate that one I think )

I dealt with them. I didn't take their training because I wasn't going to fork out money for an End User licence for software that any decent company would automatically provide. I work for two companies right now -- didn't cost me a penny and I think that's one of the things that has people's knickers in a knot. What happens to that software after you leave the company? Basically you're SOL.

[albatross101]

stormy,

I can believe you have had an aggreable experience so far, but does your experience to this point include any form of getting paid?

[figgy328]

What I have learned in my research of MT training programs is that TransAm Associates Inc. does not charge any tuition or training fee for their program; what they require instead is the purchase of the software that you will receive your training from which is $495. If you successfully complete the training, then you can work for TransAm. I suppose they could market their product differently if they said it was $495 for the tuition and then the software is included in the tuition. However, they market their software and give you the training for free... I have researched a number of other online MT training courses and their tuition runs anywhere from $1495 to $4495 and they include the software with the tuition fee. Once any of these courses are purchased, from any company out there ...it is up to the student to be successful and complete the work.... if you don't complete the work....then no program will work for you.

[ladybug]

TransAm Associates Inc. does not charge any tuition or training fee for their program; what they require instead is the purchase of the software that you will receive your training from which is $495

No, they don't charge a training fee -- they offer you something free and make you pay to run it like showing you a great looking car on the lot and then after you've bought saying, oh, by the way the tires are extra.

If something is free then it should be FREE, no strings attached. This company is sucking in desperate people on the notion that they're getting something for free and then once they're in they're transferred over to some high-pressure sales people. I know, I've spoken to them myself. NOBODY ever fails their initial typing test. One woman sent in a Mexican recipe in place of her test and STILL GOT ACCEPTED because it's all automated.

Then their training goes on and on until THEY think you deserve to be paid. Well, you know what? Anybody who does work after a certain period deserves to be paid even if it's at a reduced rate but I've read where people have gone for a long time and never seen a nickel and IMO that's just a way they've found to get their work done for free.

I took a test once from a company who sent me 10 pages to transcribe -- not likely. I sent two full pages back and told them they could have the rest when they hired me. Obviously they didn't and I don't care because I wouldn't have wanted to work for them anyway. They found a way to get their work done for them at no cost.

AND, $400 US for software? You can get a multi-use transcription software package for half that price or less. You can get ExpressScribe for FREE and use it with any company you work for.

Maybe there are a few exceptions out there but from what I've seen and read, they're exactly that -- exceptions.

[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.