Charging for additional (non-translation unusual) services
Thread poster: Natalya Zelikova
Natalya Zelikova
Natalya Zelikova  Identity Verified
Poland
Local time: 05:45
English to Russian
+ ...
Jan 15, 2007

A company interested in translation cooperation with me asked me if I could help them to find out some details about purchase and delivery of some goods from my country. Usually I am not interested in providing such services, but I'd just like to know how I can charge for this if I find this possible?

 
Christine Biloré
Christine Biloré  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 05:45
English to French
+ ...
hourly fee Jan 15, 2007

Hi Natalia,

I've just been ask for the same kind of service and I've decided to charge by the hour for the time I'll spend gathering information. Then I'll do as usual (per word) if the documentation I find has to be translated.

Regards,

Christine


 
Christiane Brüggemann
Christiane Brüggemann  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 05:45
Spanish to German
+ ...
charging the usual rate of a translation hour Jan 15, 2007

I would charge the usual rate of a translation hour.

Regards,
Christiane Brüggemann


 
Claudia Krysztofiak
Claudia Krysztofiak  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 05:45
English to German
+ ...
Contract? Jan 15, 2007


A company interested in translation cooperation with me ...


If you have not worked for them before, make sure you have some written agreement stating what they want you to do and how you are paid.

I would also be wary, since Christine wrote she has just been asked for the same kind of service. Have you been contacted by this company? Maybe they contacted both of you.
Try to find out as much about them as possible. I think it is very unusual to approach a translator for this kind of service since normally there are official institutions handling stuff like this for a fixed price (at least as far as I know).

Maybe I am just not well informed, but I think this very strange.


 
Lucinda Hollenberg
Lucinda Hollenberg  Identity Verified
Local time: 01:45
Dutch to English
+ ...
Depends on what kind of client it is. Jan 15, 2007

I have just finished researching some info (related to the education of her son, so definitely non-translation) for one of the contact people I work with in a company - it is a very good client. I spent about an hour doing it and wouldn't charge her/the company for it.

I often have to research (non-translation) related things for clients together with a particular translation. I just charge for the translation my usual fee and consider the other as part of doing research for tha
... See more
I have just finished researching some info (related to the education of her son, so definitely non-translation) for one of the contact people I work with in a company - it is a very good client. I spent about an hour doing it and wouldn't charge her/the company for it.

I often have to research (non-translation) related things for clients together with a particular translation. I just charge for the translation my usual fee and consider the other as part of doing research for that particulat translation. This research is then free of charge.

If it is very involved and taking a longer time, I would charge per hour, like the others suggested.

What I am trying to say is that it is a give and take. Keep in mind that doing some some non-translation work (such as researching products, small localization of a product, etc.) for free creates enormous goodwill with a long-standing, valued client.

Lucinda
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Jarnail Gill
Jarnail Gill  Identity Verified
India
Local time: 10:15
Member (2006)
English to Punjabi
+ ...
it seems suspicious Jan 15, 2007

Hi... in the era of internet, when you can buy everything online, and a simple google search can give you a list of providers of all type of services within seconds in every country; why on earth someone need a translator to do this type of job when they very well know that basically your job is translating documents?


I think there is some element of illegality in their job, that is why they are trying other than usual channels.


Be cautious.


 
Christine Biloré
Christine Biloré  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 05:45
English to French
+ ...
regular client in my case.... Jan 15, 2007

In my case, this job is for a regular client of mine and I have to translate part of the documents I'll find. One of his clients needs to fill an administrative file in France so he needs some information about it: basically, I had to give a few phone calls, to take notes and to translate these notes for the client. Then the same client wants to buy some services/product in France and so I'm asked to do a little research and to translate what might be relevant so he can then choose between sever... See more
In my case, this job is for a regular client of mine and I have to translate part of the documents I'll find. One of his clients needs to fill an administrative file in France so he needs some information about it: basically, I had to give a few phone calls, to take notes and to translate these notes for the client. Then the same client wants to buy some services/product in France and so I'm asked to do a little research and to translate what might be relevant so he can then choose between several options.

Of course, Natalia, if you provide this type of service for someone you don't know, be sure to have everything agreed and written before you start.

It's also quite unusual for me. I usually only translate but I guess my client offered me to do this just because I'm in France and have an easy access to the information he's looking for.


Christine
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GLENN MCBRIDE WITHENSHAW
GLENN MCBRIDE WITHENSHAW
Mexico
Local time: 22:45
Spanish to English
+ ...
Think outside of the box Jan 15, 2007

I not only accept these types of jobs, I promote them. I have many english speaking clients who need specific types of information found in Spanish speaking countries. Types of projects that I have recently done include:

Document retention times - I researched Mexican tax, customs, environmental, health and safety legislation to prepare a table with the retention times required by law for documents. I charge $150 dlls an hour.

I researched Mexican tariff classificatio
... See more
I not only accept these types of jobs, I promote them. I have many english speaking clients who need specific types of information found in Spanish speaking countries. Types of projects that I have recently done include:

Document retention times - I researched Mexican tax, customs, environmental, health and safety legislation to prepare a table with the retention times required by law for documents. I charge $150 dlls an hour.

I researched Mexican tariff classifications for anti-dumping restrictions for mushrooms imported into Mexico. I charged 200 dlls an hour, because I translated the descriptions of each of classifications into English.

These are the types of jobs that you can do because you speak another language. I do one or two of these jobs every week.
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Katerina Fragkiadaki
Katerina Fragkiadaki  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 06:45
German to Greek
+ ...
let's not be that suspicious... Jan 18, 2007



These are the types of jobs that you can do because you speak another language. I do one or two of these jobs every week.



I couldn't agree more with that. Furthermore, it sometimes is a good way of marketing and/or providingsome extra help to your regular client who normally appreciates it and appreciation normally gets paid sooner or later...

As for why they are not giving it to professionals: it would be much more expensive. Just think about it.

Have a nice day!


 
Natalya Zelikova
Natalya Zelikova  Identity Verified
Poland
Local time: 05:45
English to Russian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks to all Jan 18, 2007

The question is no longer relevant, since when I replied that I'll have to spend at least some time for calling or searching for info, the reply was that if I don't have an easy access to such information, they'll try to find another solution...

 


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Charging for additional (non-translation unusual) services







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