I really need some advice

[HollyHobbie]

So I've doing transcription work for a little while now, and while I'm not super experienced, I do have a common sense approach when it comes to transcription. I'm certainly capable of transcribing a coherent and competent transcript. I'm currently working for a company that is paying nil, but I've considered it as a necessary evil to learn the ropes of transcription. They are super responsive and really easy to get along with so that's their redeeming value.

In an effort to bring on some extra cash, I made the decision to create a profile on one of the freelance sites. I put in the bid, won the bid and received my files to begin work. Terrific, right? Well, not entirely. Without getting into particulars, I'll essentially be paid $250 for about 70 hours worth of work. Each hour will take me at least five hours to do as the interviews are very technical in nature and require a copious amount of research. Remember I'm new to this, so I can't hammer out a transcript in three hours. Also, this person wants the transcripts audio proofed, edited and revised if needed.

I feel like I'm being taken advantage of big time! I'm ready to ask for more money and if they can't deliver...well then, I don't know. I've already made the decision to stay off the freelance sites as this appears to be the norm. How can anyone live on 4 bucks an hour, or less.

Would you finish the project or would you walk if they could not provide more money?

[MTHome]

Originally Posted by HollyHobbie

I put in the bid, won the bid

Would you finish the project or would you walk if they could not provide more money?

If it was me, I'd stick with my bid amount and call it experience. (But I'd not repeat the situation.)

As I recall, for my first 2 weeks of MT work (which included banging my head on the keyboard repeatedly), I was paid a grand total of $70, so you're doing better than I was. LOL

[aewtx]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you were the one to put in the bid amount, no? So I'm assuming you were aware of how many hours you were being paid to do?

If that is the case, the person can't be faulted as taking advantage of you. I'd chalk it up to experience. Maybe it'll help you learn to speed up and crank out transcriptions at a faster rate.

[HollyHobbie]

Originally Posted by aewtx

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you were the one to put in the bid amount, no? So I'm assuming you were aware of how many hours you were being paid to do?

If that is the case, the person can't be faulted as taking advantage of you. I'd chalk it up to experience. Maybe it'll help you learn to speed up and crank out transcriptions at a faster rate.

I'm canceling this project but I'll give you the back story.

OK. I put in my bid, then I received a counter offer. I was given a story about how it was charity and I, reluctantly, accepted the bid at the cut rate. As it is a violation of TOS of this site, I was unable to listen to the audio until I accepted the terms. Upon listening to the audio, it became clear to me that 25.00 per audio hour was an unacceptable rate for the amount of work involved. Then, I saw that the same job was awarded to two other people, and this "employer" just signed up yesterday. I listened to the files, and thought to myself, there is no way... and that's what led me here.

Believe me, I have huffed my way through many a transcript kicking myself for accepting something for such low pay, but this one has too many red flags written on it. I don't know this person from a can of paint, and I have a gut feeling I'm not going to get paid. She has asked me twice to upload what I have at the end of each day, with no pay. She said that the pay will come at the END of the entire project. All of this came in hindsight, kind of like buying a car only to find out it is a lemon.

I smell trouble.

[JoetteB]

I think your sniffer is right on the money. With the number of red flags raised there, I think I'd have cancelled the project, also.

[wahpugmama]

Lol, My first two weeks of work amounted to a $75 paycheck, and every invoice thereafter I doubled my fees. It can get better if you work hard and stick to it.

However, I think you were right to dump the project given all the red flags.

[MagiScript]

If it's Elance, you can listen to the audio first. I've done it several times before. I never ever accept the terms until I listen to the audio. I also don't start the job until escrow is funded.

You can cancel if no funds have been released from escrow.

I put a handful of my transcriptionists last year through a free telecourse on Elance and how I built my business on it, and they all got jobs within their first two weeks at an acceptable rate of pay for them. One was $45/AH for their first job and the other was $60/AH. One didn't really listen to my advice, ended up being talked down on price by the contractor, one worked up and is now taking work for more than $60/AH. The fourth did work for a very small rate and never did Elance again.

You'll find that the ones who talk you down in price are pretty much always the ones who are difficult to handle and/or the audio is bad.

From experience, my first job on Elance was for $15/AH that I thought I'd need to do in order to get my first job and some feedback. The job was a NIGHTMARE and swore I'd never do it again -- and I didn't.

Elance is really its own animal when it comes to transcription work. You have some people on there who are looking for someone to complete work for very cheap and some who are actually willing to pay a decent rate for excellent work. The key really is how to figure out who is who.

Let us know how it goes.

[HollyHobbie]

Humph, I thought that was against the TOS. Maybe I'm thinking about the writing samples.

Anyway, yes it is Elance, and yes it is it's own animal! I saw that job going to a very dark place so I opted not to do it. I've went back to look at the job and it looks like a nightmare. Now the have ten more people to do the same job.

I know with Escrow your funds are guaranteed, but I don't know; it just smelled funny. Don't get me wrong now, Elance is a great place to get started as long as your smart, and a bit street-wise. I think that's the way it is online period so...

Eventually, I would like to start my own transcription service, but I have to learn how to transcribe faster. It's not so much about the typing speed. It has more to do with organizing and making a cohesive transcript out of the disjointed, disconnected thoughts, which most people speak in. It's always nice to do a webinar or podcast, but for the love of all things good, please don't let it be a slow-thinking individual who cannot collect their thoughts in a timely manner. I find you have to be pretty adept to clean up the gibberish to make the transcript read like a Rhode's Scholar was speaking without rewriting the whole thing.

But back to the Elance. There are two other people who took this job and both of them are in dispute. I'm glad I got out when I did!