Unreliable freelancers-what to do?

Ralf Lemster wrote:

Hi Julie,
Managing your risks is crucial - for me, this means the following:

- I only work with a carefully selected group of freelancers.
- I never entrust someone I don't know with a critical project.
- I actively keep communicating during the project, ensuring that all those working on it know what they're supposed to do.
- Last but not least, our prices ensure that we only work with true professionals. (I actually turn down cheap offers, unless I am convinced that a freelancer is underselling him/herself, in which case I raise the price.)

Based on this risk-mitigating strategy, I have had only a handful of situations where the work delivered was sub-standard. In these cases, I substantiate what was wrong (usually by providing an edited version and/or a document comparison, with added comments where necessary). I also quantify the extra cost incurred, together with a suggestion to reduce the invoice accordingly. I only had one case in ten years where this was not accepted - in which case I paid the invoice in full and terminated the relationship.

Best regards,
Ralf

What you suggest is what I generally do, but what about when the person has worked for you before and produce decent quality?

Julie Allison wrote:
Are we obliged to pay these people? There should be a Blue Board for unreliable freelancers as well as just agencies.

Ralf Lemster wrote:

- I actively keep communicating during the project, ensuring that all those working on it know what they're supposed to do.

... who promised better rates for the next project and "Huge" projects for top money next time!

I became sick and tired of losing money in bank transfers (and I mean losing about 40% of my earnings sometimes!!!)and being promised projects that never materialised... I was asked for quality work for ridiculous rates and deadlines were always for the next day! I was sent Purchase Orders too but failed to receive agreed amounts...

... Sorry, but I feel that if you are offering low rates these could be the reasons for you being let down...

Daniel Bird wrote:



This is so important, yet we who are in the communications business after all, so often fail to do it. It also gives us translators a chance to kick ideas around. Take one recent job: the agent wasn't wholly familiar with the content, but knew what his client needed. I had no idea that the client was most interested in aspect x which I knew happened to fall towards the end of the text. Had we not talked - yes, on the phone - the client could easily have sat waiting for the vital parts for his presentation; instead we re-scheduled the order in which the work was completed and kept everyone, me, the agent and the client working near capacity with a better result.

Before or during any job I would rather pick up the phone to an agent if at all possible. It enhances the human aspect of this difficult and down-to-earth business, the only business I've ever worked in where the phone is so neglected. I know that time zones sometimes work against us for instance, and we all need to sleep etc, but there are times when projects need that extra effort.

Be good everyone
DB

TraductionsKHA wrote:

Hi everyone, I've read all your comments and can only say that we all make choices we sometimes live to regret! This is one experience I wouldn't wish on anyone so I was just trying to warn other translators not to fall for promises of any kind. I'm sure you all made mistakes when you started out and that's what happened to me I suppose. We learn through our mistakes don't we?

Peter Bouillon wrote:

TraductionsKHA wrote:



Well, the line I have for that one is: Since this translation is well below xxxxx words, I can only do it for my standard rate, I'm afraid; but I'm willing to discount it retroactively when the huge, huge offer materializes as promised.


Well, it seems to have worked ... from the vantage point of the agency ... hasn't it? This is how some people from some places make their money!

P.