| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Compared to two years ago, agencies/clients are currently paying you... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Compared to two years ago, agencies/clients are currently paying you...".
This poll was originally submitted by Mark Nathan. View the poll results »
| | | | | Shed the slow payers | Jun 27, 2013 |
This is the same as shedding those who won't let you put your rate up. Get a new, higher and faster paying client established and lose the other one.
That's the theory anyway. I've been pretty lucky.
I actually prefer a low payer to a late payer, because the latter causes greater cash flow problems. And the worst is an unpredictable/unreliable payer of course since then you have to spend time chasing the money. You have to factor in everything involved here!
| | | | Suzan Hamer 
Netherlands
Local time: 21:14
English
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| Other: Don't work with | Jun 27, 2013 |
agencies....
| | | | Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 21:14
Member (2002)
French to English
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But surely you work with "clients"?
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Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 21:14
Member (2002)
French to English
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| Perhaps I am deluding myself... | Jun 27, 2013 |
I suggested this poll because, touch wood, people seem to be paying me more promptly.
Could this be a change in the marketplace, with agencies in particular learning that prompt payment leads to more enthusiastic translators, and perhaps even better quality?
Or is it that over the years I have developed a nose for being more selective about who I work for?
Probably a bit of both. I like to think there is some sort of positive evolution!
| | | | | At the same speed! | Jun 27, 2013 |
No difference so far: one very dear customer pays the day after receiving my invoice, most of the others at 30 days, one or two at 60 days. I have been quite lucky (have I also developed a nose for being selective?) as in more than 30 years I only had 5 payment problems (4 agencies and 1 direct client): all solved but for 2 of them I needed a lawyer...
PS Any positive change will be more than welcome!
| | | | Mike Sadler (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:14
Spanish to English
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| Ditch the slow payers | Jun 27, 2013 |
Noni Gilbert wrote:
This is the same as shedding those who won't let you put your rate up. Get a new, higher and faster paying client established and lose the other one.
That's the theory anyway. I've been pretty lucky.
I actually prefer a low payer to a late payer, because the latter causes greater cash flow problems. And the worst is an unpredictable/unreliable payer of course since then you have to spend time chasing the money. You have to factor in everything involved here!
Spot on, Noni!
I'm paid faster than I was 2 years ago, largely because I've got rid of the slow payers (who were mostly low payers too)
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I've definitely noticed an improvement.
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| Cause and effect | Jun 27, 2013 |
Mark Nathan wrote:
I suggested this poll because, touch wood, people seem to be paying me more promptly.
Could this be a change in the marketplace, with agencies in particular learning that prompt payment leads to more enthusiastic translators, and perhaps even better quality?
Or is it that over the years I have developed a nose for being more selective about who I work for?
Probably a bit of both. I like to think there is some sort of positive evolution!
I don't think slow-paying clients care for enthusiastic translators, since their slow payment shows a certain lack of enthusiasm. Enthusiastic agencies want to stamp "case closed" (which includes payment) on one job, so they can move on to the next challenge.
All translation clients want better quality, otherwise they'd be using free online machine translation. The issue is that not all of them are willing to offer something worthwhile in exchange.
The original question is somewhat dubious, i.e. does it mean:
a) adopting/accepting shorter payment terms? ... or
b) paying on (or before) the agreed date?
If it's (a), I've set up a system whereby clients with shorter payment terms get higher priority. This has worked very well, as those slower payers who always need everything translated in a rush don't stand a chance to get prompt - or any - service from me when I'm mildly busy. Bottom line is that the average payment term from the clients that actually do get service from me has decreased sharply.
If it's (b), come to think of it, yes, the frequency of clients paying 1-7 days late has increased dramatically, enough to be considered a trend. They always sound very apologetic, often blame their accounting staff, but they don't meet their payment deadline on the dot as often as they used to do.
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My main clients now are all good (i.e. not bargain basement) German agencies, who all pay in less than 30 days, in some cases within a couple of days! I'm happy with that.
Steve K.
| | | | Emma Goldsmith
Spain
Local time: 21:14
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
| Spot on, Mike! | Jun 27, 2013 |
Mike Sadler wrote:
I'm paid faster than I was 2 years ago, largely because I've got rid of the slow payers (who were mostly low payers too)
You took the words out of my mouth.
| | | | | Legislation? | Jun 27, 2013 |
Mark Nathan wrote:
I suggested this poll because, touch wood, people seem to be paying me more promptly.
Me too. Couple of direct clients and one agency have changed in the last year or so to paying very promptly (hurrah!). They are in France, and I am aware that new rules appear from time to time to try to get the default (as it were) to 30 days. I have been assuming I am seeing the benefit of that.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 21:14
Member (2009)
English to German
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Emma Goldsmith wrote: Mike Sadler wrote:
I'm paid faster than I was 2 years ago, largely because I've got rid of the slow payers (who were mostly low payers too) You took the words out of my mouth.
You both spoke my mind.
| | | | EvaVer (X)
Local time: 21:14
Czech to French
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| Slower, because... | Jun 27, 2013 |
they aren't the same agencies. Two years ago, I mainly worked with direct clients, seldom with agencies, and only in my own country; now I found some foreign clients and it takes longer - both as a result of their "due date" habits and of international payment procedures.
| | | | Mark Thompson
Brazil
Local time: 16:14
Member
Portuguese to English
I agree with other posts referring to the fact that as translators get more experienced and established in the market with a good name, they can pick and choose clients, whether direct or agencies - I certainly list payment timeframe in the top 3 factors when I'm deciding whether or not to provide services to a client.
30 days is the acceptable maximum for me, but I have a number of clients who pay within 2 - 3 days, which a couple of years ago I didn't. This is nice when you as a ... See more I agree with other posts referring to the fact that as translators get more experienced and established in the market with a good name, they can pick and choose clients, whether direct or agencies - I certainly list payment timeframe in the top 3 factors when I'm deciding whether or not to provide services to a client.
30 days is the acceptable maximum for me, but I have a number of clients who pay within 2 - 3 days, which a couple of years ago I didn't. This is nice when you as a translator make efforts and spend the time to get a good translation back to them urgently. ▲ Collapse
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