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Poll: Did you notice an increase in the number of non-paying clients in 2016?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Oct 3, 2016

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Did you notice an increase in the number of non-paying clients in 2016?".

This poll was originally submitted by Irène Guinez. View the poll results »



 
Ventnai
Ventnai  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 16:24
German to English
+ ...
More payment problems for some reason Oct 3, 2016

I have many problems with payments this year. I have three outstanding amounts which I have already chased up twice but still have not been paid. They have paid other months but the outstanding invoices happen to be larger amounts.

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 16:24
Spanish to English
+ ...
No Oct 3, 2016

However, I did have to translate the documents relating to bankruptcy proceedings for one of my clients. One of their contacts, who outsourced work to them occasionally, went bust owing my client money, as well as a long list of other creditors.

 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:24
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
No Oct 3, 2016

Admittedly, I check my clients out before I work for them at all... Or I know them well.

But it should be remembered that the vast majority of clients are simply looking for a translation, and expect to pay. There are swindlers, scammers and non-payers about, and it IS sometimes a disaster for a translator who is owed a lot of money, but non-payers are very much the exception rather than the rule.

Those who do not pay enough are a far greater problem. Whether it is beca
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Admittedly, I check my clients out before I work for them at all... Or I know them well.

But it should be remembered that the vast majority of clients are simply looking for a translation, and expect to pay. There are swindlers, scammers and non-payers about, and it IS sometimes a disaster for a translator who is owed a lot of money, but non-payers are very much the exception rather than the rule.

Those who do not pay enough are a far greater problem. Whether it is because they simply do not appreciate the work involved in translation, or whether they are pressed themselves, they pay honestly, but at rates that are too low.

This, IMHO, is where translators really need to make an effort to improve matters. Have a good (well-paid) week everyone!
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Michael Harris
Michael Harris  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:24
Member (2006)
German to English
Other Oct 3, 2016

Fortunately I do not have to keep a record about this (touch wood!!)

I do have a couple of "slow payers" but I know they will pay eventually and they are pleasant people.


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:24
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No Oct 3, 2016

This year so far, I had only one payment problem. I always check out new clients as thoroughly as I can (Payment Practices, Translation Payments, Hall of Fame, LWA) before I work for them and I never accept very large jobs from a new client (unless I get paid upfront) but even so, things happen…

 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:24
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Other Oct 3, 2016

I haven't suffered actual NON-payment this year, thank the Lord, but occasionally payment a few days to a week late.
However, I certainly have experienced much more haggling about rates (for both translating and proofreading) this year, even after everything has been agreed in advance and the work has been delivered. One particular client now argues over every single job, even for amounts as modest as €6.50 and even though she knows what rate I charge. Infuriating. I'm fed up with this a
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I haven't suffered actual NON-payment this year, thank the Lord, but occasionally payment a few days to a week late.
However, I certainly have experienced much more haggling about rates (for both translating and proofreading) this year, even after everything has been agreed in advance and the work has been delivered. One particular client now argues over every single job, even for amounts as modest as €6.50 and even though she knows what rate I charge. Infuriating. I'm fed up with this attitude and once she's paid the sum due to me for the last two months, I'll stop accepting work from her. Grrrr.
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Juan Arroyo Crejo (X)
Juan Arroyo Crejo (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:24
German to Spanish
+ ...
Agree Oct 3, 2016

Some situation here. So far so godd!

Finger's cross


Michael Harris wrote:

Fortunately I do not have to keep a record about this (touch wood!!)

I do have a couple of "slow payers" but I know they will pay eventually and they are pleasant people.


 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:24
English to Spanish
+ ...
About non-paying clients Oct 3, 2016

Complaining about a non-paying client when one hasn't done due diligence about that client is a waste of time and reflects on one's failure to do proper research.

Do we research our own clients? I do, especially when the client is an unknown entity to me.

I estimate that the urge to get a job from a client (who ends up not paying) sometimes trumps caution and the need to check that client's credentials or solvency.

Back to this, um, poll question, ho
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Complaining about a non-paying client when one hasn't done due diligence about that client is a waste of time and reflects on one's failure to do proper research.

Do we research our own clients? I do, especially when the client is an unknown entity to me.

I estimate that the urge to get a job from a client (who ends up not paying) sometimes trumps caution and the need to check that client's credentials or solvency.

Back to this, um, poll question, how would benefit us to know whether the number of non-paying clients has gone up or not in a given year? Are we auditors or accountants now?
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Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
No Oct 3, 2016

We've only had one non-payer in 23 years, and that was 30 quid.

Must be my mafia connections.


 
Mike Sadler (X)
Mike Sadler (X)  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:24
Spanish to English
+ ...
I've not had a bad debt this decade Oct 3, 2016

I have had some slow payers. When I've told them that if they want to continue using my services they will have to respect my payment terms, they've (every one of them) never replied to that message and never contacted me again, which suits me fine.
My current client roster is excellent.


 
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Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 11:24
English to Spanish
+ ...
Not a thief Oct 3, 2016

Gitte Hovedskov wrote:

I have no non-paying clients.
If somebody owed me money and didn't pay, I would consider them a thief!



A thief is one who takes something from you either by force or by breaking and entering.
You're talking about a fraudster or a conman. Different things.


 
Ana Vozone
Ana Vozone  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:24
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No! Oct 3, 2016

Why would/should that be the case?

 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 15:24
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Non-paying or slow-paying? Oct 3, 2016

Chris S wrote:
We've only had one non-payer in 23 years, and that was 30 quid.

Must be my mafia connections.

Or your due diligence in only working with those likely to pay . Of course that's the way it should be. I had two bankrupt EFL clients in quick succession many years ago and each took €400 of my money with them. Then I had a private individual in Israel who was willing but not able (for various complicated reasons) to pay the €12.50 she owed. That's enough for 20 years!

I'll be sending a reminder to Hong Kong tomorrow - only the second or third reminder I've had to send to a client this year. I guarantee he'll be mortified when re receives it and realises he's overlooked the invoice, and he'll pay within seconds by PayPal. Unless he's gone under a bus since we last spoke . It is just possible.


 
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Poll: Did you notice an increase in the number of non-paying clients in 2016?






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