Transam the Scam, Part Two

by Hava Lyon | More from this Blogger

14 May 2007 12:30 PM

This blog is part of a series on transcription. If you haven't read the other blogs in this series, make sure to check out the summary page for a listing of all transcription blogs. If you missed part one of Transam the Scam, check it out here.

So we've established that Transam is a scam because they charge you $400 to work for them and train with them. They don't stop with that though; they also tell you that since they are a hands-on learning company, they will give you feedback and help you get better, but until your work meets their standards, they will not pay you for it. On the surface, that sounds reasonable (after all, why should they pay for subpar work?) except you can work there for years and never be good enough for them. An MT with 30 experience wouldn't be able to transcribe to their level of expectations, and you want to know why? Not because the experienced MT doesn't know what she's doing, not because there are actual mistakes in the transcript (although of course they'll make some up) but because they have no intention of ever paying you.

I have a friend who I met because he was attending Career Step. I found out that he had originally "worked" for Transam. He worked there for three years, and never got paid once. He didn't give up all that time--he just kept trying, because he thought that for sure someday he was going to be good enough for them. He finally realized that that day was never going to come, and he quit. He couldn't get a job anywhere else because no employer will hire you with only Transam schooling (it's worthless, surprise, surprise) and so he had to go back to school at Career Step. That kind of story breaks my heart.

At TransScam, they get the work done for free (which they then send to the doctor and charge full price for, of course, because there was absolutely nothing wrong with the work done) and they don't have to pay you, the MT, one red cent. They get all of their MT work done for free (which is every businessman's dream come true--free product!) but even better, they charge $400 to work for them! They have their cake and are eating it too, and aren't sharing one crumb with any employees or "students."

What really gets me is the high emphasis they put on the Christian aspect in their dealings. They want to help woman stay home and support their families and raise their children. They send newsletters out constantly talking about how they are a Christian organization and how much they care for all of their employees/students. They are flat-out lying, and I hate seeing people fall for it time and time again. I usually hesitate to call a company a scam, but in this case, I have no such reservations. Transam is 100% scam, no way around it. If you truly do want to become a medical transcriptionist, go check out Andrews, Career Step, or M-TEC, and get a real education. There are no shortcuts in life, and sadly enough, the medical transcription field is no different.

Have any of my readers been caught up in the Transam scam? Leave your thoughts and feedback below!

Learn more about Hava Lyon

Hello, my name is Hava or Havs (depending on my mood and yours!) I am a freelance writer who writes for several blogs, both paid ones such as this one, and personal blogs.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

KANWI (5) 18 May 2007 01:57 PM

Thank u for telling me this...I have received several emails from Transam. I am a SAHM of 8 years trying to re-enter the workforce. So now I know to delete the emails.

Hava Lyon (1545) 21 May 2007 10:15 AM

I'm really glad these blogs helped you out. Anything to keep people from falling for this over and over again. It makes me so mad that they are still in business, still scamming people, because it is usually the desperate, the ones without any money and in real need to make some, that will fall for it. Makes me want to walk up to Transam and just kick 'em in the shins, but barring that :P writing these blogs was the best idea I had for keeping them from scamming yet more people.

Hava

RDR (15) 24 May 2007 02:21 PM

I have been contacted by Transam also they almost had me convinced but I didn't go for it. As I have also heard that you shouldn't have to pay sombody to work for them. Was also wondering if you heard of Med Trans. There you also have pay to take their courses before you can work for them. I talked to the recruiter and explained to her that I have already took the courses and graduated but she said I will still have to take their courses.

Hava Lyon (1545) 24 May 2007 02:28 PM

That name doesn't ring a bell right off the top of my head, but I would encourage you to e-mail me at Hava L {at} Families dot com, and I'll send you some links of places to do a search about them. On the surface, they sound extremely fishy.

I have never been fond of schools hiring their own graduates to work as MTs for them. They don't have to be good - their students can be horrid and still be hired by the school, obviously. It takes an outsider hiring to say if a school can produce good graduates or not. And if the school cannot, even if you get a job working for the school, what happens when you want to move on to another MT company? No one will hire you. You have to go to a good school.

Stay away from schools whose main focus is to produce graduates to work for affiliated MT companies or for the school itself. Schools and companies should not be interrelated like that.

Hava