| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Agency issue Thread poster: Stéphanie Denton (X)
|
|---|
| Major red flag | Jun 18, 2011 |
It is totally unreasonable to reduce a translator's pay by 25% (or any percent) because of a missing comma. It really irks me when I read stuff like this, yet I see many translators who are willing to accept such awful treatment. In my opinion, the comma issue was a major red flag. I don't say this to make you feel bad but to point out to others who might be tempted to accept similar treatment that docking 25% from a job because of a missing comma is just bizarre and (as another poster stated) u... See more It is totally unreasonable to reduce a translator's pay by 25% (or any percent) because of a missing comma. It really irks me when I read stuff like this, yet I see many translators who are willing to accept such awful treatment. In my opinion, the comma issue was a major red flag. I don't say this to make you feel bad but to point out to others who might be tempted to accept similar treatment that docking 25% from a job because of a missing comma is just bizarre and (as another poster stated) unethical. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Not the issue | Jun 18, 2011 |
Stéphanie Denton wrote: Caroline Grenache wrote:
Why wait until the end of the month to put a comment?
Don't you want other translators to be warned against this agency? Because that is when my invoice is due...
I think payment is only one of the issues here. Before accepting a first assignment with them, if you had read a negative comment on the Blue Board pertaining to 25% cuts for missing commas or hidden words, would you have accepted to work with this agency? Maybe, maybe not. What I'm referring to is bad business practices; non payment or late payment are another issue and might not deter a translator from accepting an assignment with an agency.
At this point, it seems rather obvious that you are not going to work for this agency again, as they have removed you from your database. I just think it would be appropriate to let other translators know about this agency, out of solidarity.
| | | | Phil Hand 
China
Local time: 07:22
Chinese to English
| Agencies get caught up in their own systems | Jun 18, 2011 |
I can see how this happens: it's much easier to police little technical faults than it is things like translation quality and real understanding. So sometimes agencies end up failing to see the wood for the trees. In Stephanie's case, I would wait before assuming its a scam or a conspiracy. It could easily just be bad management, over-reliance on software rather than people, and a poor business model.
Don't sweat it. If they're willing to talk to you, then talk and help them to chill out;... See more I can see how this happens: it's much easier to police little technical faults than it is things like translation quality and real understanding. So sometimes agencies end up failing to see the wood for the trees. In Stephanie's case, I would wait before assuming its a scam or a conspiracy. It could easily just be bad management, over-reliance on software rather than people, and a poor business model.
Don't sweat it. If they're willing to talk to you, then talk and help them to chill out; if they won't then move on! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Stéphanie Denton (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:22
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | My point exactly | Jun 18, 2011 |
Phil Hand wrote:
I can see how this happens: it's much easier to police little technical faults than it is things like translation quality and real understanding. So sometimes agencies end up failing to see the wood for the trees. In Stephanie's case, I would wait before assuming its a scam or a conspiracy. It could easily just be bad management, over-reliance on software rather than people, and a poor business model.
Don't sweat it. If they're willing to talk to you, then talk and help them to chill out; if they won't then move on!
I intend to wait until Monday, and speak to them directly at HQ instead of talkingh to the RUDE PM who put the phone down on me. If they won't talk, then I'll pursue it further. I don't want to work for them again, I just want to make sure I get paid (and fairly so!)!
| | |
|
|
|
XX789 (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 01:22
English to Dutch
+ ...
| No need to wait for 60 days | Jun 19, 2011 |
This agency has the word scam written all over them. They are crooks. There's no need to wait for 60 days until your invoice has been paid. The law says that if you have valid reason to believe your invoice will not be paid (and this is more than enough valid reason), you can send a debt collection agency right away. Do it. Now. You've lost them as a client already, so your one and only priority now should be to get your money, whatever it takes. This is war, and they are the enemy. Be swift, be... See more This agency has the word scam written all over them. They are crooks. There's no need to wait for 60 days until your invoice has been paid. The law says that if you have valid reason to believe your invoice will not be paid (and this is more than enough valid reason), you can send a debt collection agency right away. Do it. Now. You've lost them as a client already, so your one and only priority now should be to get your money, whatever it takes. This is war, and they are the enemy. Be swift, be merciless and kill them.
[Edited at 2011-06-19 16:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Stéphanie Denton (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:22
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Loek van Kooten wrote:
This agency has the word scam written all over them. They are crooks. There's no need to wait for 60 days until your invoice has been paid. The law says that if you have valid reason to believe your invoice will not be paid (and this is more than enough valid reason), you can send a debt collection agency right away. Do it. Now. You've lost them as a client already, so your one and only priority now should be to get your money, whatever it takes. This is war, and they are the enemy. Be swift, be merciless and kill them.
[Edited at 2011-06-19 16:42 GMT]
As much as your post made me smile (thank you, you made my day), you are correct. Where is the article concerning this "law"? And anyone know any good debt collectors in Luxemburg (not that I'm giving clues to which agency it is in the slightest...)?
P.S. I wouldn't want to get on your bad side!!!
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: User's request - http://www.proz.com/ticket/265676 | Stéphanie Denton (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:22
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | No offence... | Jun 19, 2011 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
Are you sure you are selecting your customers correctly and that they have a clear picture of your specialties and your natural language pair? Is it possible that they are asking you to do translations for which you don't have the exact ideal preparation?
...but I don't really appreciate that.
I am sure of my translations and my skill sets.
I know you probably didn't mean it offensively. But that wasn't the point of my post.
I've only had one agency not willing to pay, and he coughed up, and admitted his wrong doings. I have a translator who I regularly outsource work to, who is an excellent translator, and she has had no end of issues with agencies refusing to pay, for no reason whatsoever.
In my 9 years of translating for (some major) direct clients, and working in-house for a major lingerie company, I've not had a single complaint. I join ProZ and another translator based website, and it has happened twice.
I don't think the issue is with the translator (in this case, me), but with agencies being tight. Direct clients have never once done this to me.
I don't know if they're going to pay me or not, that isn't the issue (or not yet...), the issue is they way that I was dealt with.
I am reassured that this is not only happening to me, as numerous people have contacted me and asked me if it is a certain agency, including a ProZ moderator. Once again, I repeat, not an issue with the translator(s), but the agency themselves.
Yes, I'm new to agency work. But I'm far from dumb. I know my limitations, and I know what I'm good at.
If I've taken this in the wrong way, I apologise, as you've been very supportive in the past. But I feel like that was a slight attack on me and my skills...
| | |
|
|
|
| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: User's request - http://www.proz.com/ticket/265676 | Stéphanie Denton (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:22
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Tis ok, you're forgiven :p | Jun 19, 2011 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
No attack meant, honest. What I mean is that agencies can have all sorts of expectations and they often expect us to be able to translate from carrot farming to rocket fuel regulations, all in the same translator. When they find someone they enjoy dealing with, they naturally expect the person to do it all.
I reckon in some cases the "issues" they detect can be the result of not rejecting a risky job when they are too enthusiastic about what we can achieve, and transmit that enthusiasm to us. In these cases, we should be the ones analysing the job in a critical way before accepting it. That is what I was aiming at. Sorry if I was a bit blunt in the wording.
I didn't think you would do. Sorry, I'll get back off my high horse!
However, now at least peopl will know where I stand.
I do know what you're saying about this expectation agencies have. But I'm always clear. If an agency is really struggling to find someone, I will tell them I'll give something out of my comfort zone a shot, but will not be 100% sure of what I'm doing. Up to them to take the risk or not. I've not had an issue yet.
Maybe they see me as younger than I am, not wise to things and try and pull one over on me because I look so young...?
| | | | XX789 (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 01:22
English to Dutch
+ ...
| You don't even need the law | Jun 20, 2011 |
I don't have the specifics, but the fact that EU directive 2000/35/EC states that all invoices should be paid within 30 days (unless *specifically* agreed otherwise) and the fact that anyone can outsource debts straight away (i.e. after 1 day if needed) to for example factoring companies and/or debt traders (which often also operate as debt collection agencies), effectively means that you have lots of tools at your disposal!
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 01:22
French to German
+ ...
| Even more worrying... | Jun 20, 2011 |
apk12 wrote:
Vanishing entries from an online database is anyway an extremely alarming sign. I remember a similar case longer ago, where an agency was desperate to find a translator for a high fi marketing brochure (automotive), for a Fortune 500 Company as the end client... with a delivery date on E.a.s.t.e.r. M.o.n.d.a.y, although the company was based in (Western) Europe - Given that, and due to the communication style of the PM, I was quite sceptical what to expect from them. So, screenshots as precaution. And yes, similar case: after delivery of the translation - sudden manipulations of the database.
(.../...)
I find it even more worrying that agencies are going this way (databases and possible manipulations thereof).
Bottom line: I don't accept jobs from such agencies anymore, especially those calling on a Friday afternoon for a "sworn translation" which I cannot provide as I am not registered with the local court.
How come this wrong information found its way to their database?
| | |
|
|
|
apk12
Germany
Local time: 01:22
English to German
+ ...
| Risk of manipulations | Jun 20, 2011 |
Laurent KRAULAND wrote:
I find it even more worrying that agencies are going this way (databases and possible manipulations thereof).
It is worrying, indeed. Especially in cases where not only the tracking of done projects but also the entire payout process is made via the database - the risk is high. When suddenly the entire project vanishes, immediately after delivery, then you know something is extemely fishy here. (As an euphemism. My real words - what I really think about what happened there - would not be appropriate for a public forum). I do not know whether the PM in question was authorized for such extra income tricks or whether she was trying that for her own pocket. But this is a fact - when you have several people authorized to manipulate entries incl. projects, payment... - then manipulations can and do happen. It's important to be prepared for that, as a message to translators who find themselves in such a situation once: databases can be maniulated easily when dealing with an unreliable client, take precautions...
Bottom line: I don't accept jobs from such agencies anymore, especially those calling on a Friday afternoon for a "sworn translation" which I cannot provide as I am not registered with the local court.
How come this wrong information found its way to their database?
Thumbs up, Laurent, this is what we all struggle here for - to be and to stay in a position where we can carefully choose (i.e.: to have enough client requests in order to choose freely the right ones). As mentioned - the case was a bit longer ago - but I treat this as an experience that may be valuable enough to share it. Take precautions when dealing with databases with unknown access rights to edit and manipulate...
[Edited at 2011-06-20 11:36 GMT]
| | | | Stéphanie Denton (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:22
French to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
I rang the agency in Luxemburg this morning, and got directed through to France.
The PM who picked up put me straight onto the rude PM, who was worse this time than last. He insisted on caling me 'tu' in French, even after I had told him that that was impolite as we didn't know one another, and I wanted to be called 'vous', he kept interrupting me, was obviously not listening to me, and put the phone down again.
He said I'd get paid like all the other translators, after... See more I rang the agency in Luxemburg this morning, and got directed through to France.
The PM who picked up put me straight onto the rude PM, who was worse this time than last. He insisted on caling me 'tu' in French, even after I had told him that that was impolite as we didn't know one another, and I wanted to be called 'vous', he kept interrupting me, was obviously not listening to me, and put the phone down again.
He said I'd get paid like all the other translators, after 60 days, and that I had signed a contract (which I haven't), which outlined the reductions, etc. He said that my translations all had quality issues, when I asked why nobody had said anything, he had no answer.
I have e-mailed, requesting a copy of this signed contract, and also copies of the revised work which had the reductions, alongside my "corrected" work, I have had no reply as such.
I have also requested that I be paid now.
I can't get the details of the owner of the agency, as the e-mails all go directly to this PM, as do phone calls.
Any advice?
Can I go through a debt collection agency?
Thanks to everyone for their input. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Valerie35 (X)
Local time: 01:22
German to English
| Why not just do what was agreed upon? | Jun 20, 2011 |
If you knew about the 60-day payment delay, or agreed to it, why don't you wait 60 days for payment?
Did you agree to the 25% reductions? If not, dispute it in writing. Wait until payment is made (or not made) and then pursue it further if you feel you have to. If it's not very much money, consider it tuition for the Hard Knocks School of Life. Why the drama?
Otherwise, they probably don't want to work with you anymore and you don't want to work with them. So I don't th... See more If you knew about the 60-day payment delay, or agreed to it, why don't you wait 60 days for payment?
Did you agree to the 25% reductions? If not, dispute it in writing. Wait until payment is made (or not made) and then pursue it further if you feel you have to. If it's not very much money, consider it tuition for the Hard Knocks School of Life. Why the drama?
Otherwise, they probably don't want to work with you anymore and you don't want to work with them. So I don't think that's a problem either. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Agency issue | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
| | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
