I am fed up with emails like this from agencies
Thread poster: Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:00
English to Tamil
+ ...
In memoriam
Feb 8, 2006

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
Özden Arıkan  Identity Verified
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?


 
Elvira Stoianov
Elvira Stoianov  Identity Verified
Luxembourg
Local time: 00:30
German to Romanian
+ ...
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


 
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:00
English to Tamil
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
In memoriam
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?


 
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:00
English to Tamil
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
In memoriam
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
Nicole Maina  Identity Verified
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


 
Sara Freitas
Sara Freitas
France
Local time: 00:30
French to English
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


 
Sven Petersson
Sven Petersson  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 00:30
English to Swedish
+ ...
I get 2-3 per day Feb 8, 2006

Just report it as spam!

 
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:00
English to Tamil
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
In memoriam
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
Ford Prefect  Identity Verified
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
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
Gina W
United States
Local time: 19:30
Member (2003)
French to English
Hear, hear! Feb 11, 2006

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!;)


 
Irene N
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.


 
Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:00
English to Tamil
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
In memoriam
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

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »
Trados Business Manager Lite
Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio

Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.

More info »