FAQs

How long does it take to transcribe one hour of recorded speech?

In general, we speak four to five times faster than even the most experienced typist can transcribe the words. To give you an idea of the time involved, the industry standard allows 60 minutes to transcribe 15 minutes of clearly recorded speech. Consequently, a one hour recorded audio file could take four or five hours to transcribe. An equal period of time of the recording duration should be allowed for proofreading, printing, and posting the transcription, (if these are requirements).

Accordingly, a clear recording of an hour in length could require four or five hours of work (especially with three or more speakers) . If the recording is garbled, damaged, or has a lot of background noise, it will take more time to transcribe, as the transcriber will have to go over the recording several times to produce a coherent transcript. However, we will inform you as soon as possible if the recording is proving difficult – so as to prevent you incurring additional charges.

Why do our clients stay with Totally Typing?

Calls to our offices are FREE.  Minimal charge for hard copies. There are none of the extra costs to our clients associated with hiring an employee. No PAYE. No maternity, holiday or sickness pay to consider. No Agency fees. No training costs. No overheads. No tax. No pension payments. You only pay for the length of your file. You can focus on your business and leave the typing to us.

Working with Totally Typing offers the ultimate in flexibility. You only contact us when you have work available. We are ready to help out when you are dealing with illness among your employees, holiday times or when you need some extra help to meet a deadline.

It’s cost-effective, since you will only be charged for the service we provide.

We can help ease the stress of outstanding administrative issues so that you are able to concentrate on the more important things in your business.

By offering a high quality service that is tailored to your individual needs – you may only require our services for a single project, or we can offer you a typing service on a daily, monthly or on-going basis.

Totally Typing offers a ‘Large Volume Discount’ for clients who have an account with us.

What size jobs can the team at Totally Typing take on?

We are capable of handling almost any size transcription project. Please contact Joanne Jarrett, or Louise Hunt on 0208 761 5045 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it regarding your requirements for very large files, or work over a long duration to obtain a quote and agreed time frame.

How do I know that the details of my project will be kept confidential?

At Totally Typing we are familiar with the requirement for absolute confidentiality and would be prepared to sign a Non-Disclosure or Confidentiality Agreement on request. We are also registered with the Information Commissioners' Office.

Can I arrange a personal meeting to discuss my requirements?

Most of the time, the team at Totally Typing can work effectively without actually meeting the client. In the case of a large project however, it may be a good idea to set up an appointment so that we have a clear understanding of what you need from us. If you feel you would benefit from this, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0208 761 5045.

What are our normal business hours?

We are open for business Monday to Friday, between 9.00 am & 5.00 pm and on Saturdays between 9.00am & 1.00pm.

Do you work over weekends and Bank Holidays?

Yes we can accommodate requests for urgent completions if a client needs us to work on transcripts outside of normal office hours, on a Sunday or a Bank Holiday. In this case, we would add an extra 25% 'Urgent Turnaround Surcharge’ fee.

What information do you need from a client before starting work?

If you are a new client, we will discuss the exact nature of the assignment and what you expect from us. Our regular clients are able to forward files electronically to our secure upload facility with their instructions. We will only contact them if we need clarification on an instruction.

We require all clients to sign a Client Agreement form, which includes our Terms and Conditions before we start working on an assignment.

Do you keep backup copies of your work?

Yes, all work is backed up externally daily to protect your completed documents and deleted from our system after six months.

What equipment and software are you familiar with?

At Totally Typing we use Express Scribe Digital Audio Transcription Software. We choose this option because of its compatibility with Microsoft Office Suite, as well as a range of audio formats including .dss, .wav, .mp3 and .wma and many other file formats.

What safeguards to you have in place to guard against computer viruses?

Our computers and mail server run anti-virus software to ensure that PC viruses are not passed on and our network is protected by a firewall to guard against unwelcome prying.

I am concerned that I won't be able to forward a large file to Totally Typing. How can I get large audio files to you?

Large files can be sent through our secure file upload facility. It is designed to accommodate files, which would normally be blocked by standard email systems.

How do I receive the completed transcript?

All completed work will be returned to you via email. However, you can request to have the finished documentation sent back to you via any method that is most convenient to you, or your business; that is hardcopies printed out and sent to you via Royal Mail (First Class Post, or Special Delivery). Work or files saved onto other electronic devices e.g. CD’s, USB sticks. Printed documents can be sent to you by courier; if you choose this delivery option - there is a charge for this.

Occasionally, some businesses may require an emailed copy of the file for approval, and once they have seen it, we can then post/email the document directly onto a third party client.

What format will the electronic documents take?

We typically use Microsoft Word or, if you prefer, Adobe's Portable Document format (.pdf). To view a document in this format, download a free copy of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe.com web site.