Carolyn Bodley - Legal Verbatim Transcriptionist of Audio, Video & Digital Files

Services and BLOG

Home | About Me | Services and BLOG | Newsletters | Confidentiality | Value-Added Transcription Services | Contact Me | Fees | FAQs-Transcription | Links | Etc. and More
blog entries are strictly the opinion of Carolyn Bodley and may not reflect the opinion of others

(to see archived blog entries, click on the links to the right of the top blog)
blog.jpg

Friday, February 5, 2010

BLOG - A Simple Warning to Price Shoppers

I don't have a problem with price shoppers - USUALLY. However, when they are so stupid that they make call after call and keep no record of the names of people they have spoken to with price quotes, then I have a definite problem with them, especially when they call me two or three times and don't have any idea that I've already talked to them. Wake up people.windowshopping.jpg

The other night a man called needing a 4-hour hearing transcribed. He didn't seem to think that four hours was a large audio file. The audio was originally recorded on cassettes and he later copied to a CD. This point alone scared the bajeebies out of me. It first told me that the hearing (at least his audio) was not professionally recorded. What type of recorder was he using? Were there microphones set up to the recorder so that all parties could be heard clearly and equally well? Where was the recorder placed? Was he secretly recording the hearing?--meaning that he could have possibly had the recorder in his pants, for all I know!

I told him that not having heard the audio, that it could take anywhere from the low side of 12 hours (i.e., 3:1 = three hours to transcribe one hour of audio) onwards of 16 to 20 hours or more (4-5:1). After his heart attack gasp, he said, "well, it's not a solid four hours -- there are 30-45 seconds here and there where no one is talking." Believe me when I tell you that 30-45 seconds may not seem like much, but I still have to sit here and listen to the silence. Then, to try to save money, he tells me that he wants a certified, verbatim transcript, but wants to know if instead of typing the complete transcript, if I can only transcribe parts of the hearing. My certification states "true and complete" which means the hearing in its entirety is transcribed. He thanked me very much and said he was going to talk to the court and call me back.

The next day he calls and is completely oblivious that he has already talked to me. I interrupt him to say we discussed the transcript last night. Then he begins telling me that he has called several people and gotten prices all over the map -- and that one woman quoted an outrageous price of $XXX, although he talked to a woman in California that said she would do it for less than $200, and that she said the woman wanting $XXX was raping him. Since I was the woman that was raping him, I informed him that he had better get the woman in California because my quote had just jumped to $1,000.

The woman in California is going to soon find that she is the one getting raped by this man. No one in their right mind, that has been transcribing for any length of time, will put a $200 price tag on a 4-hour transcript. Furthermore, if someone is willing to pay the lowest fee quoted without questioning why it is the lowest fee, then you deserve everything you are paying for, and the consequences you will face in court by using Miss Low-Ball California.

Ask yourself why the differences in prices? Why does someone quote less than $200 to type something that is going to take a MINIMUM of 12 hours?--Why don't they place any more value on their time? Is the reason because they don't have the skills, experience, knowledge or expertise -- and $200 is really what THEIR transcript is worth? Why can I quote one of the most expensive rates?--because I am sure of myself and my skills. I am proud of my finished transcript(s). Heck, I've even been told I'm anal because I'm such a perfectionist. I know the value of my time and work product. My certified transcripts have been used in courts numerous times. I have not just appeared in the picture -- I've been self-employed offering transcription services since 1992. I just didn't recently sprout from under a rock because of the job market and the economy.

People trying to stay out of jail/prison have their choice of a public defender representing them or a $350/hr. experienced criminal attorney. Hiring my transcription services are no different -- I'm just not the public defender.

[end of blog]

1:00 pm mst 

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

BLOG - Ho Ho Ho to copyright thiefs and dirtbags

SafeIt has been a few months since posting. The lag is due to several factors -- fortunately, work has been good and I'm keeping busy.

Although I would like to say the only reason is my abundance of work, in actuality, I'm PO'd which you can probably tell from this blog title. For regulars, I'm sure you've seen the new logo at the bottom of each page about copy protection -- the reason? I discovered a woman that stole my identity and using it as her own -- no, not everything about me and my life, but my website. There are only so many ways to say I do transcription, I do this or I do that -- so it is common for similarities among colleagues and even competitors sites with a phrase and maybe even a sentence. However, this thief actually copied and pasted entire paragraphs and pages as though they were her own. I'm actually surprised she remembered to change my name and my photo. To have everything stolen that you've spent days, weeks, months and even years writing and designing is not a compliment.

For the past 2-1/2 months or so, I've been contemplating my options and I will be taking action after the first of the year.

To everyone except this lazy and worthless individual, I wish a happy and merry holiday.

Until 2010 ...
[end of blog]

8:31 pm mst 

Monday, September 28, 2009

BLOG - The duty to protect privacy and confidentiality
pie.jpgPrivacy and confidentiality are pretty sore subjects with me -- actually the boil comes to a head with the people that don't care anything about someone else's privacy and confidentiality.

In the business world (at least when it comes to the need for transcription services), some of the blame for the problem needs to be directed to the "client" desiring to contact with vendors at the lowest possible cost.

How many "clients" are aware of the fact that once they hand audio/video files off to a vendor, that the majority of the time, the files will be handed off to someone else -- possibly even a third or fourth "someone." I'm referring to a medical transcriptionist vendor that passed medical reports to a transcriptionist in Florida that passed the reports to a man in Texas that passed the reports to someone in Pakistan. The person in Pakistan that transcribed the information never got paid from the man in Texas. The Pakistani transcriptionist threatened to post the personal and confidential medical information/transcript to the Internet.

The original vendor claims "unbeknowest to her" that the information was passed on twice after she gave it to the Florida transcriptionist. A supporter of this woman claims that this happened as to "no fault of her own" (the vendor) and she went belly-up.

In my personal and business opinion, the original vendor entrusted with personal, private and confidential information owed a duty to her client, the medical center, and dropped the chain-of-command -- having absolutely no idea who had access to the medical center's personal, private and confidential information.

This is just one instance of "who will have access to my work product once it leaves my sight?" Even if the work is never passed on or passed on again and possibly again, will it remain on the transcriptionist's hard drive? Will hard (printed) copies end up sitting at the curb "unshredded" waiting for the trash truck to end up who knows where?

Once I am entrusted with your work, it is NEVER EVER given to a subcontractor or a sub-subcontactor. Your work never leaves my sight because I work with it from start to end. No other eyes or ears will ever have access to your work. The only thing that sits at the curb will be the remnants of "cross-shredded" paper. Nothing is left on my computer hard drive.

How does the security of other vendors stand up to my own security? Make sure you ask before you entrust them with your personal and confidential work.
[end of blog]
10:43 am mdt 

Saturday, September 26, 2009

BLOG - Disposable Society
Noway.jpgMy biggest business expense is my equipment -- it exceeds that of most of my clients.

Not one of my computers cost less than $2,000 and my color laser printer was over $3,000. Many of my clients purchase equipment on what I refer to as the "throw away" plan. Computers for somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 and printers in the range of $250-$500 -- not made to withstand any high volume usage, when it breaks in a year or so, they just turn around and buy another "cheapie" model.

My equipment is my business and I buy my equipment to last. My newest laser printer is two years old. It replaced my last laser printer that lasted roughly 13 years. Each of the printers cost $3,000. The old one was an HPIII -- my workhorse. I cried when it finally broke after hundreds of thousands of copies. My new laser probably didn't have to be color, but that's what I wanted and I felt both I and my business worthy  -- it takes five separate toner cartridges that average $150/each, but print 10,000 pages each. Yesterday I sent a document to print and was shocked to hear these crunchy sounds coming from it. I opened the printer up and found a rotating roller with this film on it. The film was all scrunched up.

I called HP to be informed that even though the printer is only two years old, they have discontinued the model. He went on to say that they no longer sell parts and I need to call another number. I know that one or more of HPs call centers are now located in India -- one of the reasons I love my Dell computers, but refuse to deal with them on the phone. I asked if this parts center was in India and he told me that it was in Costa Rica -- well, yeah, that's so much better! NOT. He told me to tell them what I needed. I asked for the part number and he said to just say it was such and such roller.

You have to understand that it is Friday afternoon and I'm swamped with projects that need to get out the door. The woman looks it up and says, quite matter of factly, that the part is back ordered and that she has no idea when the back order will be filled. This is when I found myself losing it. I spend good money on quality name-brand products and the part is on back order through HP. I explained to her that this is my business -- I mean it's not like I'm a dutiful little housewife that simply sits at the computer playing solitaire. She explained that she didn't know what to tell me, and the best she could do is give me a reseller's phone number. Yeah, here's the rub I thought -- now I'll get to deal with India.

I called the third number and found it to be a company in the UNITED STATES that didn't have any problem with my English nor me with their speech -- even though they were in Texas. The company has a branch in Denver and are growing into several other states. She looked up the part and told me that they didn't have one -- and my headache is really beginning to pound, but she told me to give her five minutes and she would find me one. Within three minutes, she called me back and said she found one in Minnesota and it would be shipped next business day -- I would get it on Monday and didn't even have to pay shipping !!! Besides that, HP wanted close to $300 for the roller and they wanted a little over $100. The part is brand new HP and not reconditioned.

Good-bye HP. I will continue purchasing HP products because I do think the quality is worthy of having your name on it -- however, you've lost getting any more of my money ordering through you directly -- ImageOne, this brand new wonderful company, that bent over backwards to find the part that God only knows how long will be on back order through you, will now be getting ALL of my money on parts and supplies.

Thank you Pam. You became my angel on Friday.
[end of blog]

3:18 pm mdt 

Thursday, September 24, 2009

BLOG - Court Reporters vs. Transcriptionists
courtreporter.jpgA court reporter's role is critical. They are responsible for ensuring a complete, accurate and secure legal record.

Hmmmmm, sounds exactly like what I do as an audio/video transcriptionist.

Electronic reporting uses audio equipment to record court or audio proceedings. The court reporter monitors the process, takes notes to identify speakers and listens to the recording to ensure clarity and quality. The recording equipment may be analog tape recorders or digital equipment.

My intention is not to take away from or diminish the importance of the court reporter. However, I believe when I transcribe a verbatim transcript -- be it from a video or audio source, my importance in ensuring an exact paper copy of every sound, utterance and spoken word, is no less critical than that of the court reporter.

So why is it then, that the "electronic reporting" court reporter keeps seventy five cents of every dollar and pays the transcriptionist only a quarter? I understand all about profit and why the court reporter doesn't split it 50/50. But what's wrong with 60/40?

A three-quarter to one-quarter split just doesn't seem right to me when looking at the responsibilities of both the "electronic reporting" court reporter and the transcriptionist. With that said, I don't anticipate court reporters filling my email "in" box with transcription requests -- more than likely I will be inundated with hate mail, which is fine -- I will continue transcribing police interviews, recorded witness statements and recorded phone conversations, earning substantially more than twenty-five cents on the dollar.
[end of blog]
1:22 pm mdt 

2010.02.01
2009.12.01
2009.09.01
2009.08.01
2009.07.01
2009.06.01
2009.05.01
2009.04.01
2009.03.01
2009.02.01
2009.01.01
2008.12.01
2008.11.01
2008.10.01
2008.09.01
2008.08.01
2008.07.01
2008.06.01
2008.05.01
2008.04.01
2008.03.01
2008.02.01
2008.01.01
2007.12.01
2007.11.01

Link to web log's RSS file

Servicesgummy.jpg

With a typing speed of 120 wpm, Carolyn Bodley began offering independent contractor/secretarial and transcription services to the Denver metro legal community in 1992.

I am not a court reporter or medical transcriptionist and I don't videotape depositions -- I'm strictly a legal transcriptionist which means putting spoken words on paper. All my transcripts contain a certification stating that to the best of my knowledge, belief and ability, the audio/video I received has not been altered in any way, and the transcript is true, accurate and complete. I have never been advised that a court rejected one of my audio or video transcripts. If my transcript is rejected by the court, you will be reimbursed in full for my services. Because I certify that the transcript is true and complete, the entire audio/video must be transcribed--I am unable to transcribe "just a portion" that you need. 

I guarantee that your transcripts will be typed confidentially, accurately and with attention to detail at a fair price.
 

  • Discovery is often turned over in a format other than hard copy. This discovery includes, but is not limited to, recorded telephone conversations, police interviews, depositions, investigations, witness statements, and more. The audio and video "words" need to be put to paper, and your already overworked legal staff often don't have the skills, equipment, the inclination or the time.
  • Discovery is often the deciding factor of whether a case goes to trial. Most of us hear, but do we listen? Recently I transcribed a video that had been viewed and listened to several times and by several people before I transcribed it. There was a one sentence statement that not one person caught -- this one sentence was not the only reason the case was dismissed one day before trial--however, it carried quite a bit of weight -- and I'm the only one that "heard" it. Had the video never been transcribed, how many other words would never have been heard?

Add-On Services:

  • laser color printing
  • laminating
  • spiral binding
  • proofreading/editing your work product

Your Documents are Your Reputation ...
Making Them Look Good is Mine!©1992-2009 Carolyn Bodley


Copyright ©2007, 2008, 2009 by Carolyn Bodley. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this website, or any portion of it, without first obtaining the express WRITTEN permission of CAROLYN BODLEY, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent under the law.

Copyright Infringement of a Website

Protected by Copyscape
                  plagiarism checker - duplicate content and unique article detection software.

This site  The Web

Hosting by Web.com