ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | I have to admit...

Gianni Pastore — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Gianni Pastore
Post title: I have to admit...

[quote]Textklick wrote:

Can't you have some members of the family gently explain to them that it is nothing personal - only business?

Bacio le mani ;-)
Chris [/quote]

...that yes, it crossed my mind. I think I am gonna make them an offer they just can refuse :)

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Demand respect

Textklick — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:59:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Textklick
Post title: Demand respect

[quote]Gianni Pastore wrote:

[quote]Textklick wrote:

If they misbehave: fire them!

[/quote]
I actually fired them, but unfortunately they still owe me about 3.000 euros which, given the law and the near-to-zero rights we freelance have in Italy, I will never ever see again. Gone for good.
[/quote]

Can't you have some members of the family gently explain to them that it is nothing personal - only business?

Bacio le mani ;-)
Chris

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | You can't help disliking people, but hating is cultivating your dislike...

Christine Andersen — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:40:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: You can't help disliking people, but hating is cultivating your dislike...

Some people are just easier to like than others. Some get on your nerves, irritate, make you angry etc.

We're all human.

I voted 'I don't "hate" anyone' - you can't be too categorical in a poll like this and "hate" was in inverted commas.

For me hating is sitting sulking and planning revenge when people irritate you. Not trying to solve the problem or avoid it by refusing to work for clients. Hate is when you are deliberately unpleasant yourself.

But hate varies in intensity. "I hate rice pudding."
I dislike intensely when I'm dead tired and a client sends 100 extra words from that job I finished two days ago, to be sent by return mail. At times I really hate that.

I hate when my husband zaps about while I'm listening to the language used in some boring political discussion on TV... Never mind what they say, I'm totally, professionally, absorbed in how they say it!!!

But I do try not to hate people.

:-) :-) :-)

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | As language professionals, we should realize the power of words

Chanda Danley — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Chanda Danley
Post title: As language professionals, we should realize the power of words

I am not suggesting that feeling upset or angry about late payments, etc. is not human or even unprofessional. Of course it is. But, I believe using the word 'hate', from a native English speaker's perspective, is unprofessional. It's all about wording the poll correctly. I find the wording unprofessional and offensive actually.

[Edited at 2007-02-23 12:52]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | And we live in a perfect world

Gianni Pastore — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:54:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Gianni Pastore
Post title: And we live in a perfect world

[quote]Chanda Danley wrote:

I think this poll question is really very unprofessional and makes all of us look bad just being associated with it.

I'm disappointed that Proz.com/the moderators have allowed this poll question. [/quote]

We are human being, and "hate" is just one of the many feeling we are supposed to experience. I agree with you that life would be better without the word "hate", but this is not gonna happen.

Why do you think is unprofessional? Am I supposed to smile and be cheerful when some "so called professional" refuse to pay me with no reason whatsoever? Gimme a break.

And, by the way, I don't give a xxxx if someone sees my name associated with this poll. At least they will know that I don't take prisoners. I used to, but they took advantage of it. Now it's my turn.

[Edited at 2007-02-23 12:10]

[Edited at 2007-02-23 12:39]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Oh, really?

Gianni Pastore — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:37:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Gianni Pastore
Post title: Oh, really?

[quote]Textklick wrote:

If they misbehave: fire them!

[/quote]

I actually fired them, but unfortunatly they still owe me about 3.000 euros which, given the law and the near-to-zero rights we freelance have in Italy, I will never ever see again. Gone for good.

Now, considering all the time I've spent working basically for free, considering the lack of income for not having done other jobs, considering the stomach burns, considering the troubles with bills I went through and the sleepless nights, considering they made my life miserable...can I hate them? Of course I can. And believe me, you'd do the same.

[Edited at 2007-02-23 12:07]

[Edited at 2007-02-23 12:08]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Very Disappointed with this Poll Question

Chanda Danley — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:28:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Chanda Danley
Post title: Very Disappointed with this Poll Question

[quote]Patricia Rosas wrote:

I'm all for some light-hearted polls, but given that we are supposed to be a group that is both professional and "language-sensitive," I would hope that in the future the language used in asking a survey question would be selected with greater care, and that some consideration be given to how these polls might make us look to the outside world. [/quote]

This is exactly what I was thinking. There has been mention in this thread that 'hate' is not so bad...but really from an English native perspective, 'hate' is really a horrible word and carries a very harsh and disrespectful connotation as far as I'm concerned. Why do you think so many horrendous acts are called 'hate crimes'?

I think this poll question is really very unprofessional and makes all of us look bad just being associated with it.

I'm disappointed that Proz.com/the moderators have allowed this poll question.

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Don't hate them but I'd never work with them either

Ritu Bhanot — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Ritu Bhanot
Post title: Don't hate them but I'd never work with them either

Hi,

Well, there was one person from what appears to be a reputed agency... a very small job.

Time of Delivery: 18h00 IST

Delivered on time to the two e-mail ids.

Received a phone call b/w 2 to 3 a.m. IST... I was asleep. And this person was telling me that he hadn't received the translation.

I was really angry.

I mean, was he sleeping for 8 hours? Even if the work was delayed I would have written to him or if he hadn't received it he should have written to me. But no... and if he could wait till 3 a.m. why not another couple of hours when I'd be fully awake?

And when I told him that he should have called earlier, he was quite rude and wanted the translation immediately.

I sent it.

Anyways, that was the first and last time I worked for that agency.

I've received more proposals but I've decided that I won't work with them, at least I deserve sound sleep at night. Right?

And no, I don't work 24x7x365 simply because I'm human ;-)

Ritu

[Edited at 2007-02-23 06:54]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | My clients...

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:55:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
Post title: My clients...

...are for the vast majority agencies, and they are really all lovely. If it wasn't too strong to say: "I LOVE'em", then I would say it...

Sometimes I hate some jobs, or my profession, or the PC, or some programs (I cannot mention them, but I bet most of you know what I am referring to!), but I never hated my clients. If I don't like somebody I don't have to work with them...

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | You shouldn't "hate" your customers - Just quit

belitrix — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:11:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: belitrix
Post title: You shouldn't "hate" your customers - Just quit

I don't agree about "hating" customers. But there are certain persons arguing about their own situation, not willing to pay anything and asking you to translate and arguing again about the price of the translation.

I've had a client with whom I had to discuss several times for at least half an hour about the translation on the phone. Although I didn't take this into account in my bill, he wanted to reduce the price for the translation based on the "words-counting" - and this was also the theme my translations had to do with - with the persons he shared a condominium with.

I told him that I was no longer interested in this relationship and that was it. And I'm not sorry about this decision.

Most of my clients are nice people and I'm sometimes very sorry for them because they have so many problems to procure documents for administration purposes.

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | To "hate" is a harsh word

Viktoria Gimbe — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Viktoria Gimbe
Post title: To "hate" is a harsh word

I answered "other".

I don't hate anyone, because hating pretty much comes down to wishing ill. I would never wish anybody ill unless I didn't have the choice - in this case, I do.

When a client gets annoying and it looks like they will be like that forever, I end the business relationship. It's much the same as calling it quits with a boyfriend before going so low as to cheat on him :D I never cheat because by the time it comes to that, the relationship is not worth being kept alive anymore. Same thing with clients. If I ever came to "hate" a client, it would mean I have no reason to collaborate with them anymore. So, I simply drop the contact before it gets as far as "hating".

Main categories that are good candidates for ending a relationship with:
- a client who keeps nagging me to bring my rates down
- a client who keeps asking for more than they paid for
- a client who displays patronizing behaviour, i.e. they make it clear that I have to do everything they want, no questions asked, and be available when they want me to regardless of my personal life, allowing themselves to be rude as soon as they come across the tiniest error, under pain of not getting paid for my work

But no, I don't hate any of my clients. Before they sink low enough for me to hate them, I get rid of them.

[Edited at 2007-02-22 19:51]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | And how professional does all of this look?

Patricia Rosas — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:24:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Patricia Rosas
Post title: And how professional does all of this look?

[quote]IreneN wrote:

I hate people who bring feelings like love (not THAT love:-)) and hate into business relationships and work environment. Keep it inside your kitchen, please:-).

After giving me a sufficient reason for disrespect the "eventually to be hated" client disappears from my contact list long before possible complications. Period.
[/quote]

I also agree with Irene, and it got me to thinking about something --

For all of those who posted their annoyance with clients: do you realize that this is easily visible to current or future clients? Those who drop in at ProZ can see this thread. Others who might someday search on your name using an engine could find this thread.

I'm all for some light-hearted polls, but given that we are supposed to be a group that is both professional and "language-sensitive," I would hope that in the future the language used in asking a survey question would be selected with greater care, and that some consideration be given to how these polls might make us look to the outside world.

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | On a serious note:-)

Irene N — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:38:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Irene N
Post title: On a serious note:-)

I hate people who bring feelings like love (not THAT love:-)) and hate into business relationships and work environment. Keep it inside your kitchen, please:-).

After giving me a sufficient reason for disrespect the "eventually to be hated" client disappears from my contact list long before possible complications. Period.

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | LOVE my clients

Patricia Rosas — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:03:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Patricia Rosas
Post title: LOVE my clients

[quote]Textklick wrote:

If you are working with people that you dislike - or even "hate", then my advice is to become a freelancer. ;-)

Reason? You are in charge.

Cultivate a sound - but not too large - clientele. Take on new clients when appropriate as backup. If they misbehave: fire them!

My partners in business can be taxing at times, but that's because they don't know what I have on my plate until I explain to them.

All in all, I see them as "good mates".

Chris [/quote]

Ditto with what Chris has just said!

Sure, people can be difficult (me, included), but for the most part, most of the time, my clients are delightful, supportive, and pay on time. They treat me as a colleague not an employee. When something goes wrong, there is usually a very clear reason why (not simply that the client was being a jerk).

I really do not like it that this poll used the word "hate" ... if you "hate" someone (or even just hate their habits), get away from them--that's the strongest, sanest, sweetest message to send...

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | It's more like avoiding...

Anne Wosnitza — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:59:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Anne Wosnitza
Post title: It's more like avoiding...

I have two clients who really drove me mad in the past months. One had a very tight deadline set for a certain project (which also made me learn never ever to agree to do a translation anymore that would actually take two weeks but had to be done within six days - silly me!) and the other had such a bad source text that I was glad I could make the translation understandable at all ... One kept ringing me up again and again during the project and the other told me that my translation was far too free and, therewith, useless.

It's not that I hate them but ... I will avoid to ever work with them again.

[Bearbeitet am 2007-02-22 17:00]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Anyone here in the wrong job?

Textklick — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Textklick
Post title: Anyone here in the wrong job?

If you are working with people that you dislike - or even "hate", then my advice is to become a freelancer. ;-)

Reason? You are in charge.

Cultivate a sound - but not too large - clientele. Take on new clients when appropriate as backup. If they misbehave: fire them!

My partners in business can be taxing at times, but that's because they don't know what I have on my plate until I explain to them.

All in all, I see them as "good mates".

Chris

Sorry Sanmar - seems I overlooked your top post as I gently scrolled down, otherwise I would have just pasted it in and said "Agree". :-)

[Edited at 2007-02-22 17:00]

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | I'm not alone in this situation (mal de muchos...)

Claudia Aguero — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:51:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Claudia Aguero
Post title: I'm not alone in this situation (mal de muchos...)

[quote]Weronika Sobita wrote:

I hate working for individuals, so I just stopped doing it some time ago. People who need just one of two pages translated think they are the most important clients in the world, so I should drop everything I'm doing to translate for them a diploma or a birth certificate. They call early mornings, late evenings, holidays and weekends, they are late, they come too early, the price is too high and my pace of work is too slow. They are impossible to please and they always complain about everything, so I just send them to those of my colleagues who have more patience... [/quote]

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who receives calls or visits at the most inappropriate times. I can never forget an individual who called me very late at night asking for an urgent translation. When I told him about how late it was, he just say, "but you have all the night to do it. It can be ready tomorrow at 8:00." I'm still shocked about it.

I would also add, those individuals who ask for an urgent job and never appear for the job. I have a drawer full of original authenticated legal documents, waiting and waiting, as we say in Spanish: "durmiendo el sueño de los justos"

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Hate is a pretty strong word...

Amy Duncan (X) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:42:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Amy Duncan (X)
Post title: Hate is a pretty strong word...

We may be human, and dislike some people, but I think of "hate" as being a very strong word. I can't honestly think of one single person that I hate, and I'm sure many others feel the same. I also find that as time goes on, I dislike fewer and fewer people. I have to admit, though, that I have been making some effort over the years to follow the good advice "Love thy neighbor." :)

Amy

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Yes!

Maria Diaconu — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:32:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Maria Diaconu
Post title: Yes!

Can't wait to tell them!
Nice poll, Gianni, keep'em comin' :wink:
I'm surprised to see that about 48% answered "I don't hate anyone" - to hate is human and we are all humans, aren't we? :D

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | individuals

Weronika Sobita — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:45:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Weronika Sobita
Post title: individuals

I hate working for individuals, so I just stopped doing it some time ago. People who need just one of two pages translated think they are the most important clients in the world, so I should drop everything I'm doing to translate for them a diploma or a birth certificate. They call early mornings, late evenings, holidays and weekends, they are late, they come too early, the price is too high and my pace of work is too slow. They are impossible to please and they always complain about everything, so I just send them to those of my colleagues who have more patience...

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Just the one

Els Spin — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:24:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Els Spin
Post title: Just the one

I answered yes: since two weeks I absolutely detest one of my clients who dared to accuse me and two freelance translators of having used a computer translation and a bit of editing to come up with an unprofessional translation.
She commented on virtually every single word and sentence. It was in fact beautifully translated, and she didn't have a clue. She admitted as much, but never even apologised.

I am so glad to see the back of her!

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Made me laugh anyway

Claire Titchmarsh (X) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:09:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Claire Titchmarsh (X)
Post title: Made me laugh anyway

Thanks Gianni, this is the kind of irreverent and childish question that I would have liked to ask, you beat me to it. :)

I answered yes, just for the hell of it, but I don't hate them, I just hate their annoying habits of phoning me every five seconds and inability to remember a payment deadline.

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients? | Would not want such clients

Sanmar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:23:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: Sanmar
Post title: Would not want such clients

If I really felt that strong about a client, I would "dump" them!

In fact, I like my current clients just fine and some are absolutely brilliant. I have had the occasional awkward client in the past but I can now afford to choose not to work with people like that anymore.

Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?

ProZ.com Staff — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:53:01 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Do you hate some of your clients?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you hate some of your clients?".

This poll was originally submitted by Gianni Pastore

View the poll here

A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: [url removed]