*** from *** not paying invoices (staff: \"Use the Blue Board\")

On 2002-07-17 09:02, Eva Breust wrote:

What can we do if agencies in non-EU-countries are not paying? Is there some collector we can tell to pass by and get the money for us?



This is also a warning for collegues, not to accept work for these people.





I had a similar very bad experience with a Czech company about 16 months ago; not really an agency, but they were the official outsourcers of a 8.000 UK £ job.

I know they got paid in full by the client (he informed me about this), but they never bothered to answer anyone or anything.

Have done anything possible, from lawyers to collection agencies, to sending someone there, and I did inform the Czech tax authorities in the end, as the amount they owed 6 translators (including me) was substantial.

Their company is no longer in existence (as far as I know).



Consider using the services of Intrum Justitia at http://www.intrum.com

They bought the collection activities of Dun & Bradstreet in the Czech Republic.

If Etrans is a normally listed company and you have substantial proof (most important: a Purchase Order), you should be successful. Unless they filed for bankrupcy, of course, or fled the country.



Such things do happen everywhere, unfortunately.

Another company (BTS Inc - US based) filed for bankrupcy only two weeks after I submitted a translation job. They were certainly aware of their terrible financial situation at that time, never told me anything and there was no way to know beforehand.

None of the available payment practices lists had any worrying info about this company, until it was too late.



In short, if a company doesn\'t pay, you should do whatever you can, but in the end don\'t be disappointed if all your efforts prove(d) useless.

Sometimes you may be lucky: about 6 years ago, an agency paid up after about one year, totally unexpected.

\'Temporary cash flow problems\' they called it.





Good luck anyway.


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On 2002-07-17 13:44, TService wrote:

Sure there is a special forum for complaining about problems with agencies.

I tried it - it\'s quite impossible to find the information you\'re seeking.



I find it a immense better idea to post that kind of warnings in the present form - until the blueboard is of real help.





The Blue Board is not perfect, but neither is it as useless as you suggest. If you have ideas for improvement, we will implement them.



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