code of conduct of translation agency (extract)... what do you think about that ?

Jeff Whittaker wrote:

Unfortunately what many of the companies with these penalty schemes fail to realize is that most of the time these errors, especially the minor ones, are not the result of the translator's incompetence, but rather a result of the lack of proper time given to the translator to complete the job. How many times would you have to read, re-read and edit a 20,000 word project in order to make sure that there are less than 3 mistakes and would the client be willing to wait that long?

I think this is a scheme to get lower rates since only the uninitiated and the easily intimidated would agree to work under these conditions.

Mark Hamlen wrote:

And where is the definition of a "minor" error?

This could be punctuation. And this is a debatable topic in English.

This could be style or word choice, which again is debatable and an issue of taste.

I would never accept this.

Tom in London wrote:




For instance if Mark's post (above) were a translation, I could identify at least 6 "errors" in his English, and refuse to pay for them.

They're not errors at all, just nuances of style that wouldn't quite fit with my own style. So who's to say what an "error" is?



[Edited at 2012-12-20 09:41 GMT]

Marie Hélène AFONSO wrote:

I was in a rush due to problems with PC and software and was late in delivering the file. They told me it was urgent, that the file had to be revised imediately so I sent a translation that was unsatisfactory to my own eyes.

neilmac wrote:



My thoughts exactly.

Marie Hélène AFONSO wrote:

Hello everyone,
here's an extract of the code of conduct of a translation agency I have worked with :


Quality based penalties

Type of error
Penalty deduction
No errors and/or less than 3 minor errors 0%
3--‐5 minor errors and/or less than 2 serious errors 15--‐25%
3--‐7 minor errors and/or less than 3 serious errors 25--‐50%
4 or more minor errors and/or 3 or more serious errors and/or any critical error 50--‐100%

Payment deductions will be made at our discretion and adjusted

Critical errors make the copy not fit for purpose.
Serious errors of a lesser severity than a critical one, altering the meaning of the sentence.
They correspond to errors in accuracy, compliance, content or terminology.
Minor Errors that do not compromise the meaning and accuracy of the target text, when in comparison with the original source.



Here is the context:
I was in a rush due to problems with PC and software and was late in delivering the file. They told me it was urgent, that the file had to be revised imediately so I sent a translation that was unsatisfactory to my own eyes. I expected a prompt feedback asking me to rework on the file for the same rate (this option is mentioned in the code of conduct) and I would have agreed. Yet, no news and one month and a half after the delivery (also day of payment), I receive a mail telling me that due to a quality issue, I would be paid later, that the file was currently being revised (one month and a half later ? while they had told me it was urgent ?)
I ask them to send me the detailed feedback and I receive it six days later (I had less time to do the translation) with a discount request... Well, according to their code of conduct, I might as well have worked for free (50-100% penalty for 3 or more serious errors) which clearly means they have the right to refuse to pay.
Tell me what you think of this code of conduct. Have a nice evening !

[Edited at 2012-12-19 18:29 GMT]