Poll: Do you accept payment after delivery when dealing with clients you have never worked for before? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you accept payment after delivery when dealing with clients you have never worked for before?".
This poll was originally submitted by Iulia Parvu. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 22:37
Spanish to English
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Unless the sum involved were exorbitant or I had good reason to doubt their honesty. Most of my new clients come to me by word-of-mouth recomendations from previous clients.
Trust begins at home.
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When I am contacted by a potential client, I start by searching the Internet in all the right places (BB, Hall of Fame and Shame, Payment Practices, LinkedIn groups, etc.), reading very carefully what my peers say (I do not work with companies - translation agencies or direct clients - with bad reviews) and trusting my gut feeling (over the years I developed a sixth sense when it comes to bad payers and scammers). When I can't really find anything about that potential client but it doesn't feel ... See more When I am contacted by a potential client, I start by searching the Internet in all the right places (BB, Hall of Fame and Shame, Payment Practices, LinkedIn groups, etc.), reading very carefully what my peers say (I do not work with companies - translation agencies or direct clients - with bad reviews) and trusting my gut feeling (over the years I developed a sixth sense when it comes to bad payers and scammers). When I can't really find anything about that potential client but it doesn't feel good, I don't proceed. Besides all that, I rarely accept long projects from new clients. In over 30 years, I was paid in advance only once (translation of a book). ▲ Collapse
| | | | Enrico Zoffoli 
Italy
Local time: 22:37
Member (2013)
German to Italian
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For a number of reasons: 1) If you ask for an upfront payment, you basically let the client know you dont' trust them; not the best way to start a potential cooperation; 2) The thing goes both ways: you never worked with that client but the client never worked with you either, so for pretty much the same reason it would be entirely reasonable for the client to demand that you get the money only after delivery; 3) Reality check: it's difficult to land new clients, it's even harder to make sure th... See more For a number of reasons: 1) If you ask for an upfront payment, you basically let the client know you dont' trust them; not the best way to start a potential cooperation; 2) The thing goes both ways: you never worked with that client but the client never worked with you either, so for pretty much the same reason it would be entirely reasonable for the client to demand that you get the money only after delivery; 3) Reality check: it's difficult to land new clients, it's even harder to make sure they pay on time, it's virtually impossible to find anyone willing to pay upfront; 4) Even if the client pays upfront, how can this be evidence of their willingness to abide by the terms in the future? Or are you going to demand upfront payments forever? ▲ Collapse
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Heather Oland
United States
Local time: 16:37
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
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It depends on the client. With translation agencies or other types of companies, I discuss and agree to payment terms in advance, and payment is made after delivery. With individuals who need personal documents translated, I get payment up front. For a very large personal assignment, I accept partial payment to confirm the assignment, and payment of the balance after delivery... but that is rare and definitely depends on my gut feeling/research about the client. In almost 20 years as a freelance... See more It depends on the client. With translation agencies or other types of companies, I discuss and agree to payment terms in advance, and payment is made after delivery. With individuals who need personal documents translated, I get payment up front. For a very large personal assignment, I accept partial payment to confirm the assignment, and payment of the balance after delivery... but that is rare and definitely depends on my gut feeling/research about the client. In almost 20 years as a freelancer, I've never *not* been paid. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 22:37
French to English
Like Teresa I check that the client is a bona fide company before I start working with them. Most new clients start me off on something small, so if they don't pay it's not that much of a big deal anyway.
There was one agency which started off sending me all sorts of stuff the very first month, and I was a little bit worried because they said to send one bill at the end of the month. However one of the first jobs was an urgent file I had to work on with another translator, and he r... See more Like Teresa I check that the client is a bona fide company before I start working with them. Most new clients start me off on something small, so if they don't pay it's not that much of a big deal anyway.
There was one agency which started off sending me all sorts of stuff the very first month, and I was a little bit worried because they said to send one bill at the end of the month. However one of the first jobs was an urgent file I had to work on with another translator, and he reassured me that they always paid promptly.
I have never had a client not pay me, so it seems that my trust is well placed.
There was one client who owed me for several small translations back in early 2020. Funnily enough they had paid for the bigger ones. When Covid hit I decided that it would be useless trying to chase them up for those bills, since they worked in events. However they contacted me last year for a translation. I told them there were bills outstanding, and they paid up straightaway, so I started working with them again. ▲ Collapse
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