When questioned about their business practices, the Transam representative became flustered and accusatory of me for questioning them on their business practices.
See the following conversation that I had with them.
Recruiting Assistant: Hello! Thank you for contacting Transam's Live Support. How may I help you today?
Geneva: hello. I would like to reschedule my interview please.
Recruiting Assistant: Good afternoon
Recruiting Assistant: I'd be happy to talk with you about the job interview with our company.
Recruiting Assistant: Where are you in the application process? Did you transcribe a sample for us yet? And if so, have you heard back from the company?
Geneva: Yes. I have transcibed a sample and I have been accepted. I also heard back from the company and the company would like to move forward with an interview.
Recruiting Assistant: This is your job interview. This is a guaranteed job!
If you qualify, you work for and get paid by us.
This is hard work. Did you go to school for medical transcription?
What working experience have you had?
Tell me a little bit about your background.
Geneva: I have worked as an adminstrative assistant for 3 years. I have also worked in the medical insurance field for 3 years as well. I also have several years of customer service. I have not done straight transcribing before, but feel that my work in the medical insurance field - explaining to customers about their conditions and making sure that they understand how they are covered may help with my understanding the process of transcribing.
Recruiting Assistant: We will train you and bring you up to speed to the way we transcribe. We assign you your own personal trainer to do that. The trainer designs a program specifically for you. Based on your background, experience, and previous training. That way you don't have to repeat what you already know. Here's the guarantee: as soon as you are accurate in your transcription we move you over to 'live' work and you start getting paid right away by us. We pick up all the cost for training, your only investment is in the software itself.
Geneva: How much is the software?
Geneva: hello? are you still there?
Recruiting Assistant: You may not need any training at all.
Three exams are given in the beginning and if you pass, then you are put to work immediately and start getting paid right away. You only need to be accurate according to our standards.
I am sure you will do just fine.
Recruiting Assistant: The MT Professional is the total communication link between you and us. That's how you receive your work. That's how you send your work back to us. And that's how you talk to your personal trainer 'live' right in the program.
MT Professional utilizes state-of-the-art techniques to ensure patient confidentiality and to keep all of the transactions and operations in accordance with the HIPAA regulations and guidelines.
Let me briefly explain how this whole process works and then I will answer your questions.
- The special software is the MT Professional..
- It's $495 and you will need that for both the training and for the actual 'paid live' work.
- Are you in the position financially to purchase the software at this time?
http://www.mtprofessional.com/HOP_Pricing.asp
Geneva: No, unfortunately, I am not in a position to pay $495 at this time.
Geneva: Do you have a company intranet that I could log onto in lieu of purchasing the software?
Geneva: Are you still there?
Recruiting Assistant: We DO NOT expect you to have ALL the money right now. We will work with you.
The good news is that you can start your training today.
Recruiting Assistant: You may be wondering if we are a credible organization. Is this for real?
We are with the Chamber -- .and we are not just members of the Chamber of Commerce --- we are on the board of directors too. You can email the Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Member
Chamber Email:
[email protected]
You can also know that the state of Florida has 'certified' Transam Associates as a valid legitimate corporation.
Go to the Secretary of State for reassurance at this web site:
http://sunbiz.org/corinam.html and search for Transam Associates
We are listed with the Better Business Bureau and we are celebrating our 11th year in business. You are in good hands with us. We have over 200 transcriptionists all over the country. From Hawaii, Alaska, Canada and sprinkled all across the USA.
You are in good hands with us.
Geneva: It looks like Linda Loehr has been doing this for some time. So, how is it that you will be working with me on the price of this software?
Recruiting Assistant: We want you to start this month. This limited opportunity of tuition FREE training has been extended to 5:00 pm. EST on June 13, 2010...
- I don't want you to miss out on this opportunity. If you take advantage of this and sign up this month you won't miss out...
- We need you to start in the next week or so...
- Let me see what I can do.
- Hold on...
Recruiting Assistant: There are payment plans! You pay $260 and you can download the software and start today. The balance can be paid later ... at your convenience.
The balance can be paid in the next month or two..hopefully as soon as possible.
We will send you a reminder!
Click on this link and take a look:
http://www.mtprofessional.com/hop_210_pay.asp
Geneva: I see that you have control over the discount on the software, however, I am not in a position to pay $260.00. I've also noticed that payments go to the pinecrest address that you list. Is there anything else you can do to help with this? I prefer to work dept free.
Recruiting Assistant: There is another option. We have a "Lay Away Plan" which means that you will have complete access to the training department in case you have any questions and we will set aside your own personal copy of the MT Professional on terms which permit periodic payments for the software. Delivery is deferred until you pay the first $260. For example, you could pay $130 this month and then $130 next month. The remaining balance of $255 will need to be paid during your training before you begin your Group 2 practice files. Please note there are no refunds.
Please note: The minimum payment is $130.
I don't want you to miss out on this opportunity.
Click on this link and take a look: https://www.mtprofessional.com/layaway.asp
Geneva: I have been looking at the bbb site and how found numerous complaints against your company. What is your response to the complaints filed against you?
Recruiting Assistant: Rather than just relying on the ratings section that the BBB provides, we recommend that you scroll further down the page and read the details concerning the actual complaints. In reading this detail you will see that in almost all cases the BBB was satisfied with our response to the complaint.
Recruiting Assistant: There are always two sides and the BBB requires that a company address every complaint in detail. They then make their determination based on having both sides, hence they were satisfied that we provided a valid response and addressed all issues in the complaint. Just because a complaint is lodged does not mean it necessarily has merit.
Geneva: I also see that you are not accredited with the BBB. What is your response to this?
Geneva: Due to the number of complaints against you, your company has a C- rating. What is your response to this?
Recruiting Assistant: BBB accredited businesses PAY A FEE for accreditation to the Better Business Bureau.
BBB accreditation does not mean that the business’ products or services have been evaluated or endorsed by the BBB, or that the BBB has made a determination as to the business’ product quality or competency in performing services.
Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not PAID A FEE to the BBB.
Geneva: Due to the number of complaints against you, your company has a C- rating. What is your response to this?
Recruiting Assistant: The information above answers that question. We have responded to each and every complaint with the BBB and to the satisfaction of the BBB. Just because a complaint is lodged does not mean it necessarily has merit.
Geneva: There is something to be said about being accredited with the BBB. To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards. With a C- rating, would it not improve the image of the company and my possible employment if you improved your own situation by meeting their accreditation standards instead?
Geneva: Regardless of your history as shown above. I think that this deserves an answer independent of that.
Geneva: To gain accreditation you must:
Geneva: 1. build trust - establish and maintain a positive rating in the market place.
Geneva: 2. Advertise Honestly
Geneva: 3. tell the truth - honestly represent products and give adequate disclosures upfront
Recruiting Assistant: Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not PAID A FEE to the BBB. We have chosen not to pay the BBB to get a higher rating.
Recruiting Assistant: Hello! Thank you for contacting Transam's Live Support. How may I help you today?
Recruiting Assistant: It is certainly an admirable goal for an organization to give consumers insight into how a company does business, but at the same time, every company, no matter what industry they are part of, should be treated and rated by the same standards as any other company regardless of the industry. This is where the BBB fails. If you would like to see what other companies feel about this same issue you can visit the following websites: copy into your web browser, i, e, Internet Explorer.
http://www.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200804/ai_n25159929
/URL removed/
or /URL removed/
Geneva: I did search those already which is why I am asking the questions here.
Geneva: Which is also why I expect real answers; not canned ones.
Recruiting Assistant: Those sites will give you information on the BBB also. We as a company have made the decision not to pay for accreditation. As the BBB states accreditation does not mean the BBB endorses or is evaluating our company. You would need to look at more than just the rating to get an understanding that we have responded to all complaints and the BBB agree that we have complied with that.
Geneva: Let me quote you: "It is certainly an admirable goal for an organization to give consumers insight into how a company does business, but at the same time, every company, no matter what industry they are part of, should be treated and rated by the same standards as any other company regardless of the industry. This is where the BBB fails." and yet it applies the same standards to every company. Those were the standards that I began to list for you before you cut me off and got flustered. Why do you not feel obligated to align yourself with these standards that apply across the board to other companies? Because of a fee?
Geneva: and yet you ask me to pay a fee to be obligated to you?
Recruiting Assistant: Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation
Geneva: no obligation to be professional, be transparent, be honest, be upfront regarding the product costs, or to honor promises? all because of a fee?
Recruiting Assistant: We have given you all of the information regarding our company and any costs upfront.
Recruiting Assistant: You are taking the rating on the BBB and making it your sole decision on whether we are an upfront, honest, professional company without taking into consideration that we have responded to those complaints and to the satisfaction of the BBB.
Geneva: No, I am asking a question. Your perception of me making this personal is incorrect.
Recruiting Assistant: Please review all of the information we have provided you, only you can decide if this opportunity is right for you. We are not accreditated with the BBB and that is a choice that each company makes. It should not be a reflection on our company as even the BBB states that it is not endorsing or evaluating a company. It is merely providing the consumer with information.
Recruiting Assistant: I understand that this is a personal decision and you need to do what is best for you. We indeed welcome you with us if you decide to proceed. If your decision is not to proceed at this time, we wish for you success in the future.
Geneva: Being that your discussion with me has at times been accusatory and at other times flustered due to simple questioning about the company and its history of complaints, I choose to not be an employee of yours.
Geneva: Thank your for the heads up look into my future with your company. It is much appreciated.
