| Stran v tématu: < [1 2 3 4 5 6] | My agency won't pay me because the client declined my work Autor vlákna: Gali Shapira
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| Exactly my thoughts | Jun 9, 2015 |
John Dawson wrote:
It's important to know one's own limitations and work within them.
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I would simply accept whatever compensation they offer and vow to remember this as a painful but useful lesson.
Exactly my thoughts. In my opinion, the situation ticks all of the boxes of incoming trouble: topic outside one's expertise, urgency, desperation on the part of the agency, and genuine but naïve willingness to help on the part of the translator.
I am sure we have all fallen in this kind of pitfall when we were unexperienced, and that it taught us a very good lesson: only accept a job when you are absolutely certain that you can deliver good results.
Personally I would apologise for the trouble caused (even if it was them who insisted on you taking this job despite your lack of expertise on the matter) and would take it as a key lesson in every translator's career, would count my blessings that the agency is willing to pay part of the job, and would hope that the good relationship with the agency is not lost.
| | | | | Unacceptable behaviour | Jun 9, 2015 |
finnword1 wrote:
Tell the agency that you are not making any derogatory remarks whatsoever about them, you are simply stating the facts: The job was completed, they did not pay. They then have the option to give their side of the story on the Blue Board if they wish.
Personally I would not consider this a professional attitude. As professionals, we have to be aware of when we bit more than we could chew. Putting all the blame on others when we fail to honour expectations is clearly not the way to go and does not speak well of the profession as a whole.
| | | | | Job was done and delivered | Jun 9, 2015 |
Tomás, normally I would agree with you, but in this case the translator has the word of two separate reviewers that her translation was fine. The agency, on the other hand, has yet to provide proof to back their accusation. Therefore all that matters is that the translator did the job she was asked to do and the agency is refusing to pay. There's absolutely no reason to back down in this case.
| | | | | Hurry hurry hurry hurry | Jun 9, 2015 |
This all started because things were done too fast too soon.
The original job was a weekend rush job.
No sooner was a second opinion suggested on Friday, then wham, one was obtained by Sunday afternoon.
And now another second opinion already. Fast work indeed.
I assume the actual comments, attributed to named individuals, have been forwarded to the agency with permission to forward them to the end client?
(Not just an email saying "I've had it reviewed and... See more This all started because things were done too fast too soon.
The original job was a weekend rush job.
No sooner was a second opinion suggested on Friday, then wham, one was obtained by Sunday afternoon.
And now another second opinion already. Fast work indeed.
I assume the actual comments, attributed to named individuals, have been forwarded to the agency with permission to forward them to the end client?
(Not just an email saying "I've had it reviewed and the reviewer says it's fine".)
It has also been suggested on previous pages that the OP's expectations in terms of speed of response might be a little.... optimistic. By all means keep emailing, calling, try and keep a dialogue going, even if it seems more like a monologue. Squeaky wheels get the grease, and all that. But we cannot, in all honesty, start bandying around terms like non-payment until at least some time (I would suggest 30 days as a ball-park for W. Europe) has passed after invoicing. And, while this whole affair no doubt looms large on the OP's professional horizon at the moment, it is quite possibly less significant for the other parties involved, and will be prioritized accordingly. ▲ Collapse
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Niina Lahokoski 
Finsko
Local time: 23:04
Člen (2008)
angličtina -> finština
+ ...
| Examples of mistakes | Jun 9, 2015 |
It certainly looks like the OP is in the right here. The client certainly needs to justify their inacceptance in some way.
It's understandable that it might take some time to provide a full review. But if the client has already decided that the translation is unacceptable, that means someone at their end (who knows the target language) has read it at least once. So it shouldn't be too much to ask for at least a few examples of the alleged mistakes... See more It certainly looks like the OP is in the right here. The client certainly needs to justify their inacceptance in some way.
It's understandable that it might take some time to provide a full review. But if the client has already decided that the translation is unacceptable, that means someone at their end (who knows the target language) has read it at least once. So it shouldn't be too much to ask for at least a few examples of the alleged mistakes. In my opinion, such examples should always be provided with the original complaint, and in general the translator should be given the chance to correct their work if at all possible. ▲ Collapse
| | | | 2GT
Itálie
Local time: 22:04
angličtina -> italština
+ ...
| Your translation is your property until been paid | Jun 9, 2015 |
Remember that your translation remains your property until the client pays you.
So, just have a look around the Web or wherever you think it could be used or published, to see if someone is using it against the law.
Cheers
Gianni
| | | | Denali
Local time: 16:04
angličtina -> francouzština
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| I am just going through the same problem but the root cause is slightly different | Jun 17, 2015 |
A major translation agency I have been working for over 6 years is refusing to pay me a recent job and is asking me to accept a 100% discount on my PO.
However, I did not translate any of the documents. Due to a tight deadline and heavy word count (about 21000 words), the agency decided to allocate 5 translators to the job.
They asked me if I could do the proofreading on 11 000 words in one day and I accepted.
I did a good job. The first document was well translated, th... See more A major translation agency I have been working for over 6 years is refusing to pay me a recent job and is asking me to accept a 100% discount on my PO.
However, I did not translate any of the documents. Due to a tight deadline and heavy word count (about 21000 words), the agency decided to allocate 5 translators to the job.
They asked me if I could do the proofreading on 11 000 words in one day and I accepted.
I did a good job. The first document was well translated, the second document was below average in French and I mentioned it to the PM, and the third document was average, which I also mentioned to the PM.
I did my job in the time allotted.
Now, how do I go about "fighting" them to get paid when we're talking about a major international translation agency?
Also, why are they asking me to confirm? I suspect this is a quite illegal request and they need the freelancers to confirm they accept the discount to cover their a...
Any input/insight on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Valerie ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas
Velká Británie
Local time: 21:04
Člen (2014)
japonština -> angličtina
Denali wrote:
A major translation agency I have been working for over 6 years is refusing to pay me a recent job
On what grounds are they refusing to pay? With which branch of the company are you dealing and where is that branch based?
Regards
Dan
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Gali Shapira
Velká Británie
Local time: 21:04
angličtina -> hebrejština
+ ...
AUTOR TÉMATU | Non paying agency | Jun 17, 2015 |
Valerie, My initial answer is I don't know what can be done at this stage as I'm still researching legal avenues myself. I will let you know as soon as I'll find out. There is the European Small Claims Procedure which might help you? Please let me know how you got on. I don't believe that these things should just be forgotten and don't believe in some of the "high and mighty" opinions I have seen in this thread about a translator/proof reader must always be word perfect under any circumstances a... See more Valerie, My initial answer is I don't know what can be done at this stage as I'm still researching legal avenues myself. I will let you know as soon as I'll find out. There is the European Small Claims Procedure which might help you? Please let me know how you got on. I don't believe that these things should just be forgotten and don't believe in some of the "high and mighty" opinions I have seen in this thread about a translator/proof reader must always be word perfect under any circumstances and the agency doesn't even have to justify itself. We know when we done a good job. The agency have to have a very good reason why they have requested you to given them a 100% discount. You should first of all demand their feedback! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Want a perfect job?! – pay a perfect rate! | Jun 25, 2015 |
To ensure a so called perfect quality there has to be a translator with knowledge and experience in the particular field, a separate editor, a separate proofreader and, if you are striving for perfection – a final proofreader who reads the final version on paper.
All different people with specialised knowledge. And a generous deadline, of course.
This is how you get closer to a so called perfect translation. However, please show me the agencies which are following this modu... See more To ensure a so called perfect quality there has to be a translator with knowledge and experience in the particular field, a separate editor, a separate proofreader and, if you are striving for perfection – a final proofreader who reads the final version on paper.
All different people with specialised knowledge. And a generous deadline, of course.
This is how you get closer to a so called perfect translation. However, please show me the agencies which are following this modus operandi at a price of 0.05 eur/usd with an impossible deadline which is later violated by the agency itself.
IMO, the agency got what it paid for and shouldn’t put all the blame on the translator.
Regarding the translator.
The translator in general should try to avoid work outside his/her speciality, however, this is also relative, since every text and situation is different, and needs to be evaluated before making any final decline/accept decisions. Making such claims as perfect quality is a must, don’t work in fields you don’t specialise in is not sound without taking into consideration other relevant factors. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 16:04
španělština -> angličtina
+ ...
I am gobsmacked! It has taken nearly nine years, but I finally agree with something you've written.
Samuel Murray wrote:
If you charge extra for something because it is more difficult or because the deadline is shorter, then I think the client can assume that the higher fee neutralises the relevance of the difficulty or the deadline.
[Edited at 2015-06-25 16:50 GMT]
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Yes, but only up to a point. More pay is already justified by more effort, not necessarily a guarantee of success.
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