| User | Thread poster: rebeccalyne Terms and Conditions: Do any of you create your own? |
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rebeccalyne 
United States
French to English
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Hello,
I am wondering if any freelance translators out there have created their own terms and conditions for use with their freelance clients? I am contemplating doing this and incorporating it into my emails and all transactions and paperwork. What do you feel is the feasibility of this? Would it be effective?
Thanks,
Rebecca
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cniederalt
Germany
German to English
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I did it using a template provided by the BDÜ (German translators association) and modified it to my requirements. I had it checked by a lawyer. Now, I reference it in and attach it to every quote I send out and ask the customer to reference either my terms or my quote in their order. Works fine for me.
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Brandis
Germany
 Member (2003)
English to German
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rebeccalyne wrote:
Hello,
I am wondering if any freelance translators out there have created their own terms and conditions for use with their freelance clients? I am contemplating doing this and incorporating it into my emails and all transactions and paperwork. What do you feel is the feasibility of this? Would it be effective?
Thanks,
Rebecca
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Hans G. Liepert
Switzerland
Member (2002)
English to German
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| | How about inventing the wheel? | Jul 2 |
rebeccalyne wrote:
Would it be effective?
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Why would you do that? Generations of lawyers and business(wo)men have worked on this topic and there are a lot of good and waterproof solutions.
Unless you know some hidden secrets of law, stay away.
Best regards
Hans
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rebeccalyne
United States
French to English
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Hans,
So you don't use terms and conditions in your quotes and paperwork to protect your interests as a freelancer? Can you explain?
Thanks,
Rebecca
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José Henrique Lamensdorf
Brazil
 Partial member
English to Portuguese
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| | They make uninteresting clients walk away | Jul 2 |
My standard payment term is two weeks, and I don't take any job where the payment is set for beyond 30 days from delivery with invoice.
This makes some clients, mostly outsourcers who are trying to build cash flow at my expense, walk away. It's all right! According to my mission statement, I'm a translator, not a bank.
On the other hand, my extended satisfaction warranty often goes beyond the client's expectations. Now and then - after the job is finished, delivered, and fully paid - some clients candidly ask me "How much would it cost to...?". If it's minor work - and in most cases it actually is; the client just doesn't have the proper software or the knowledge to use it - my usual answer is "Nothing!"
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Jenny Forbes
United Kingdom
Member (2006)
French to English
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Yes, I include brief terms and conditions on my invoices concerning terms of payment (never more than 30 days net) and time limit for complaints (which I say must be verifiable, etc.).
I could send you these terms if you'd like to contact me personally, but they're nothing exceptional.
Does this equate to reinventing the wheel? I don't quite understand that allusion.
As to whether including terms and conditons makes any difference, I don't know, but it surely looks businesslike.
I suppose a dishonest client who had no intention of paying wouldn't give a damn about anyone's terms and conditions, but I believe such clients to be the minority.
Best wishes, Rebecca,
Jenny
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stephanie45
Canada
Partial member
English to French
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The same for me. I created my own terms and conditions, based on standard practices in British-Columbia (Canada) and had a lawyer look at them, to make sure everything was OK. All my clients have to sign an agreement. So far, I have never had a problem whatsoever.
All translators should have a document of this kind. Not only it is more professional, but it will help in case of dispute or non-payment.
Stephanie.
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