scallions Japan Local time: 08:44 Member (2008) English to Japanese + ...
Nov 30, 2010
It's may be an old story but still happening.
Almost a year ago, one client I worked through an outsourcer (who are new to me so I confirmed they had no bad record with Blue Board ) refused to pay saying that the entire translation of 5,000 words (no reference provided in advance) was unusable. The outsourcer forwarded a few lines of "comments" made by the client's internal staff - I cannot identify who this "authority" is but must be native of target language with some knowledge of the source language. One of comments is like this: the translator must add corporate profile (which is not in the source, though) when a company name appears - it's quite weird and unreasonable. I wondered if this staff knew how to handle translation project, or did they just try "eat & run"? I can tell, from the contents, that the client is one of the internationally well-known brands.
I understand there is no such thing as "perfect translation" so I'm happy to make changes based on the feedback from client without extra charges. I offered the same to this client but they refused to further communicate and decided not to pay, then gone!
I had already issued my invoice based on the PO from the outsourcer but the outsourcer forwarded the e-mail from the client to me (including the person's name and email address!) as a proof to show they were not able to chase the client because they were not happy with the translation. In addition, the outsourcer told me that they decided not to work with this client anymore because they were "rude" - no news from them since. The project remains unpaid on my side.
Any good remedies to make me feel better?
scallions
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
Riadh Muslih Canada Local time: 16:44 Arabic to English + ...
No remedy
Nov 30, 2010
... unless the outsourcer is within reach of the laws of your location. Unfortunately this is the realty of work over the internet. It's a sword of two edges, as the saying goes. It allows for more exposure and work, but it also gives rise to situations like yours.
Medium and big jobs need some kind of downpayment. We also need to insist on an outsourcer that in fact our position is that of a sub-contractor and its position being the main contractor. We deal with the outsourcer, and submit completed work (and invoice) to the outsourcer who is in a position of being our client. If the outsourcer did not get paid, or having trouble with its client, that's not our concern. We may help a little out of keeping the good business relation, but it is the contractor's responsibility to know the clients it deals with. It's not our responsibility being the subcontractors.
In turn, our responsibility to ourselves and our own business is to make sure, as much as feasibly possible, that we deal and accept work from someone we are confident of.
I will not contact, argue or bargain with the main client, as I technically have no contractual relationship with, or responsibility to, that client. That's the role of the outsourcer who is taking a cut of my work, or adding its own fees to it, and should bare the sole responsibility of getting paid or not.
This is how it is done in all other professions.
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
I will not contact, argue or bargain with the main client, as I technically have no contractual relationship with, or responsibility to, that client. That's the role of the outsourcer who is taking a cut of my work, or adding its own fees to it, and should bare the sole responsibility of getting paid or not.
This is how it is done in all other professions.
I support this idea. Internet makes us work better but sometimes we met with extraordinary events!
Soonthon Lupkitaro
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
scallions Japan Local time: 08:44 Member (2008) English to Japanese + ...
TOPIC STARTER
Reality
Nov 30, 2010
Riadh and Soonthon, thank you for your postings.
I'm supposed to know how the world works.
This experience makes me a better translator, I hope.
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
xxxR.C. Italy Local time: 01:44 English to Italian + ...
see also my forum post
Nov 30, 2010
these things happen, I was just wondering what I posted a few minutes ago, it might help.
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
Paola Slajmer Italy Local time: 01:44 Partial member (2011) English to Italian + ...
Deal it with the outsurcer
Nov 30, 2010
Your have to deal it with the outsurcer, since you issued the PO to him/her and not to the final client.
What's the point of being an agency/outsurcer if you don't have any associated risk?
The outsurcer takes part of the money, and what do they give you in exchange?
Then it's the outsurcer that has to deal with the final client to get paid, but the final client is none of your business.
It's the outsurcer that has to provide proof of the correctness of your job to the client in order to get paid. To me, the outsurcer should suggest the client to name another translator to check you work, since nor the final client nor the outsurcer know the meaning of "translation".
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
Heinrich Pesch Finland Local time: 02:44 Member (2003) Finnish to German + ...
Make sure your translation is not used
Nov 30, 2010
As long as you are not paid the rights for the translation are yours. So I would remind the end-client (if you know them) that your translation may not be used in any form, not even edited.
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
scallions Japan Local time: 08:44 Member (2008) English to Japanese + ...
TOPIC STARTER
Next time, if any
Nov 30, 2010
Heinrich Pesch wrote:
As long as you are not paid the rights for the translation are yours. So I would remind the end-client (if you know them) that your translation may not be used in any form, not even edited.
They have already used the translation for sure.
I shall do so next time (hoping not it happens again, but...)
Subject:
Comment:
The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)
To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
A fully featured online CAT tool and TMS, with no installation required, and a simple, intuitive interface. Maximize linguistic assets by sharing in real time as you collaborate with colleagues. Make use of next generation, cloud-based translation technol
The translation workplace 
Translation news