I am fed up with emails like this from agencies Thread poster: Narasimhan Raghavan
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Today, I got this email from an agency for the purpose of enriching its database "XXX, a leading translation agency, seeks translators - native speakers of Englis! h with experience in translation of legal texts and/or texts concerning the European integration (minimum experience: 1500 standard pages or 1.5-year full time work as a legal translator) into German and/ or French. Candidates are requested to fill in the form to be found... See more Today, I got this email from an agency for the purpose of enriching its database "XXX, a leading translation agency, seeks translators - native speakers of Englis! h with experience in translation of legal texts and/or texts concerning the European integration (minimum experience: 1500 standard pages or 1.5-year full time work as a legal translator) into German and/ or French. Candidates are requested to fill in the form to be found at http://www.aaa.bbb.doc and send it to [email protected] together with scans of their diplomas, certificates, references, copies of invoices etc. documenting their translation experience. Sample translations welcome." How is that such an agency demands experience in translating into German or French from native speakers of English? And they want scans of my diplomas, certificates, references, copies of invoices etc. documenting my translation experience. Sample translations welcome. Presumably not compulsory, these sample translations. Thanks for small mercies! Another agency wanted me to sign an agreement, whereby I should be available at their beck and call, not refuse their assignment on account of any other prior commitments lest I should pay a fine. I am supposed to wait for 3 calendar months for a payment after which I am free to take legal redress. Thanks again. Naturally they are not in a position to guarantee me a definite amount of income over a given period, no sir, I have to be reasonable, I guess. How will it look if I were to ask them for scans of their financial solvency, letters from translators satisfied with their prompt payments, their commercial registration, previous bankruptcy proceedings if any, et al? Lest somebody should say that I am free to ignore such mails, I hasten to add that I am only amused by naive assumptions of such agencies and I wonder how good they will be in business. Regards, N.Raghavan
[Edited at 2006-02-08 12:31]
[Edited at 2006-02-09 04:39] ▲ Collapse | | | Özden Arıkan Germany Local time: 00:30 Member English to Turkish + ... Don't forget to ask for test payment ;-) | Feb 8, 2006 |
Narasimhan wrote: How will it look if I were to ask them for scans of their financial solvency, letters from translators satisfied with their prompt payments, their commercial registration, previous bankruptcy proceedings if any, et al? | | | I have a hunch ... | Feb 8, 2006 |
that when they are asking for copies of diplomas, invoices to prove your references, etc., they are actually preparing a file to bid for an EU tender. However, there was a discussion on the forum that some agencies include your papers in the bid and then outsource the work (if they win the bid) to cheaper translators. Personally, I have stopped answering to those offers, especially when I got 5 or 6 mails in my inbox from different agencies that were obviously concenring the same bid (agencies u... See more that when they are asking for copies of diplomas, invoices to prove your references, etc., they are actually preparing a file to bid for an EU tender. However, there was a discussion on the forum that some agencies include your papers in the bid and then outsource the work (if they win the bid) to cheaper translators. Personally, I have stopped answering to those offers, especially when I got 5 or 6 mails in my inbox from different agencies that were obviously concenring the same bid (agencies usually all send the same "list" of requirements, probably taken directly from the relevant EU site). ▲ Collapse | | | Test payment! That's a good one | Feb 8, 2006 |
Thanks for making me laugh out loud. But as I was laughing, my wife and daughter were sliding unobtrusively away from me. Regards, N.Raghavan Xola wrote: Narasimhan wrote: How will it look if I were to ask them for scans of their financial solvency, letters from translators satisfied with their prompt payments, their commercial registration, previous bankruptcy proceedings if any, et al? | |
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Elvira, I too remember having read such a topic | Feb 8, 2006 |
But I am not able to get the link to the same. Regards, N.Raghavan Elvira Stoianov wrote: that when they are asking for copies of diplomas, invoices to prove your references, etc., they are actually preparing a file to bid for an EU tender. However, there was a discussion on the forum that some agencies include your papers in the bid and then outsource the work (if they win the bid) to cheaper translators. Personally, I have stopped answering to those offers, especially when I got 5 or 6 mails in my inbox from different agencies that were obviously concenring the same bid (agencies usually all send the same "list" of requirements, probably taken directly from the relevant EU site). | | | Nicole Maina Italy Local time: 00:30 German to Italian + ... you are absolutely great! | Feb 8, 2006 |
Narasimhan Raghavan wrote: How will it look if I were to ask them for scans of their financial solvency, letters from translators satisfied with their prompt payments, their commercial registration, previous bankruptcy proceedings if any, et al? nicole | | | Especially when it's the agency approaching you... | Feb 8, 2006 |
...and not the other way around. I am frequently contacted by agencies that want me to jump through a bunch of hoops that feel suspiciously like a job application process (I am not looking for a salaried position and I don't even have a CV anymore) even before I do any work for them and even before they know if I am qualified/interested. Crazy, isn't it! Now I can understand having to compile an extensive file when you are the one choosing to bid on a proje... See more ...and not the other way around. I am frequently contacted by agencies that want me to jump through a bunch of hoops that feel suspiciously like a job application process (I am not looking for a salaried position and I don't even have a CV anymore) even before I do any work for them and even before they know if I am qualified/interested. Crazy, isn't it! Now I can understand having to compile an extensive file when you are the one choosing to bid on a project, but to ask for all that even before finding out if you interested... I think you should reply asking them for said proof of financial solvency and good payment practices with their suppliers. That is truly a great idea. In the meantime, just try to ignore them. And try not to scare your family members! Sara ▲ Collapse | | | I get 2-3 per day | Feb 8, 2006 |
Just report it as spam! | |
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You are quite right Swen | Feb 8, 2006 |
I just copied, pasted the mail here and deleted the personal references. I trashed the mail afterwards. But I am curious to see their faces when we start writing to them for their documents and even test payments as one iof our colleagues remarked above. Regards, N.Raghavan Sven Petersson wrote: Just report it as spam!
[Edited at 2006-02-09 04:40] | | | Ford Prefect Burkina Faso Local time: 23:30 German to English + ... Love the test payments | Feb 8, 2006 |
I'm going to try that one out on the next agency that asks me to take a test translation. | | | Samir Sami Qatar Local time: 02:30 Arabic to English + ... Me too! It seems that I am not alone here! | Feb 9, 2006 |
Me too. I used to receive mails (about twice a week) from comapnies asking me to fill in certain forms. I couldn't figure out the significance by then, but now I CAN. Thanks to everyone participating in this topic. Next time, I will take care. | | | Gina W United States Local time: 19:30 Member (2003) French to English
Sara Freitas-Maltaverne wrote: I think you should reply asking them for said proof of financial solvency and good payment practices with their suppliers. That is truly a great idea. I agree that is a BRILLIANT idea. I would love to be a fly on the wall to see the person's reaction reading that reply email, lol!;) | |
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Irene N United States Local time: 18:30 English to Russian + ... I get nothing like that via Proz | Feb 11, 2006 |
I believe for one simple reason - I have my rates displayed. My Russian colleagues who don't or didn't receive tons of "1 cent per book" offers from "non-Western" outsourcers (if I may put it this way). One of my colleagues confirmed my suspicions - the moment he displayed his higher-end rates all that cr... had stopped. Please draw your own conclusions. | | | This did not come from Proz either | Feb 11, 2006 |
But from another tranalation portal, whose name is not in issue here. Quite a respectable portal, that. Regards, N.Raghavan | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » I am fed up with emails like this from agencies TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
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