| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Any ideas on how to name and shame non-paying agency? Thread poster: Lubosh Hanuska
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Hi all - apart from making a BlueBoard entry how do you name and shame a non-paying agency? I don;t think it is worth for me chasing the money as it is not a big amount ($80) and they are based in India so the bureaucracy would get the better of my efforts... However, I want to make sure others do not get caught in the same trap. Here is the brief history of what happened:
- they asked me to translate a text - saying it was urgent and could I give them my "best rate"
- I repli... See more Hi all - apart from making a BlueBoard entry how do you name and shame a non-paying agency? I don;t think it is worth for me chasing the money as it is not a big amount ($80) and they are based in India so the bureaucracy would get the better of my efforts... However, I want to make sure others do not get caught in the same trap. Here is the brief history of what happened:
- they asked me to translate a text - saying it was urgent and could I give them my "best rate"
- I replied with my best rate
- they said "sorry, we can only pay half of that"
- my response "OK, find someone who can do it for that"
- their response "but it is urgent, and we can't find anyone else"
- "OK, then you have to decide if you want me to do it or not, and pay my rate"
- they said "OK, do it then"
So as I was not busy on that day I completed the translation, sent it to them, with my invoice, payable in 14 days.
After 14 days I sent a reminder, then at 30 days I sent a request for the invoice to be paid or otherwise I will name them in public as non-payers. That is 6 weeks ago, and I had no other response, so I guess they are not going to pay...
I had a link here but had to remove it - if you're curious ask me via a direct message.
However, I should have known better, they have 4 ratings of 1 (Never would work with again)...
Any suggestions..? Just put it down as a learning experience?
[Edited at 2018-08-09 11:20 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Beijer 
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:49
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Always check and report offenders @ | Aug 9, 2018 |
| | | | | Put it down as a learning experience but also act... | Aug 9, 2018 |
| | | | | Other accounts | Aug 9, 2018 |
Try and see if the agency has a FB page and post on their FB profile page - just post a comment anywhere and be polite but very firm to show them u=you mean business. When an agency delayed paying me and did not answer my email reminders or phone calls, that is what I did and they were LIVID but the agency was not based in India. I got paid eventually but it was a very stressful time as they owed me over 1k€. Also post on LinkedIn pages or Name and Shame pages too. Did you try phoning them up?... See more Try and see if the agency has a FB page and post on their FB profile page - just post a comment anywhere and be polite but very firm to show them u=you mean business. When an agency delayed paying me and did not answer my email reminders or phone calls, that is what I did and they were LIVID but the agency was not based in India. I got paid eventually but it was a very stressful time as they owed me over 1k€. Also post on LinkedIn pages or Name and Shame pages too. Did you try phoning them up? Also Proz. com staff are very helpful, but I don't know if they will help out seeing you are not a paying member. ▲ Collapse
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 19:49
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| They're probably already here: | Aug 9, 2018 |
LinkedIn group called Unacceptable Translation Rates Naming & Shaming Group. Although yours hasn't paid, it's clear that they're a bottom-feeding bunch too.
There's also an outside chance that they're members of some translation organisation or other. They should know about the conduct of their members too.
(oops - link already given by Teresa)
[Edited at 2018-08-09 14:35 GMT]
| | | | Daniel Frisano
Italy
Local time: 20:49
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
| 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + etc. = ? | Aug 10, 2018 |
If a BlueBoard profile with several 1's doesn't help, I don't know what will.
These entities exist solely because somehow they always find someone willing to work for free. Whenever you accept a job from them, you become part of the problem.
| | | | Michael Newton
United States
Local time: 14:49
Japanese to English
+ ...
| Non-paying agency | Aug 11, 2018 |
Perform geographical due diligence before accepting a job.
In some countries, cheating is tolerated.
As for the BlueBloard, I notice some agencies with 12 LWA 1 in the last ten months are still permitted to post jobs. I don't understand this.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 19:49
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| It depends on the reason | Aug 11, 2018 |
Michael Newton wrote:
As for the BlueBloard, I notice some agencies with 12 LWA 1 in the last ten months are still permitted to post jobs. I don't understand this.
You can give a "1" rating simply because you absolutely would never work with them again and you're very angry about the way things went. Or you can accompany the "1" with a claim of non-payment. If there's no claim of non-payment or the claim for non-payment is removed because the supplier reports eventual payment, then the outsourcer can still post jobs on ProZ.com. It's "only" when there are - I believe - three active claims for non-payment that the outsourcer gets banned from posting further jobs.
(edited to correct typo)
[Edited at 2018-08-11 11:08 GMT]
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| "Best rates" are a joke | Oct 3, 2018 |
Lubosh Hanuska wrote: Hi all - apart from making a BlueBoard entry how do you name and shame a non-paying agency? I don;t think it is worth for me chasing the money as it is not a big amount ($80) and they are based in India so the bureaucracy would get the better of my efforts... However, I want to make sure others do not get caught in the same trap. Here is the brief history of what happened: - they asked me to translate a text - saying it was urgent and could I give them my "best rate" - I replied with my best rate - they said "sorry, we can only pay half of that" - my response "OK, find someone who can do it for that" - their response "but it is urgent, and we can't find anyone else" - "OK, then you have to decide if you want me to do it or not, and pay my rate" - they said "OK, do it then" So as I was not busy on that day I completed the translation, sent it to them, with my invoice, payable in 14 days. After 14 days I sent a reminder, then at 30 days I sent a request for the invoice to be paid or otherwise I will name them in public as non-payers. That is 6 weeks ago, and I had no other response, so I guess they are not going to pay... I had a link here but had to remove it - if you're curious ask me via a direct message. However, I should have known better, they have 4 ratings of 1 (Never would work with again)... Any suggestions..? Just put it down as a learning experience? [Edited at 2018-08-09 11:20 GMT]
About half of the time, when I see "give us your best rate," I don't bother to go further. That's the sign of a bottom feeder and one not really looking for negotiation. Granted, I'm financial secure for the moment, so I don't exactly NEED every last penny, but hopefully you are able to come to a point where you CAN turn those agencies down.
| | | | Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:49
Serbian to English
+ ...
| the missing [KEY] link | Oct 3, 2018 |
Lubosh Hanuska wrote: Hi all - apart from making a BlueBoard entry how do you name and shame a non-paying agency? I don;t think it is worth for me chasing the money as it is not a big amount ($80) and they are based in India so the bureaucracy would get the better of my efforts... However, I want to make sure others do not get caught in the same trap. Here is the brief history of what happened: - they asked me to translate a text - saying it was urgent and could I give them my "best rate" - I replied with my best rate - they said "sorry, we can only pay half of that" - my response "OK, find someone who can do it for that" - their response "but it is urgent, and we can't find anyone else" - "OK, then you have to decide if you want me to do it or not, and pay my rate" - they said "OK, do it then" So as I was not busy on that day I completed the translation, sent it to them, with my invoice, payable in 14 days. After 14 days I sent a reminder, then at 30 days I sent a request for the invoice to be paid or otherwise I will name them in public as non-payers. That is 6 weeks ago, and I had no other response, so I guess they are not going to pay... I had a link here but had to remove it - if you're curious ask me via a direct message. However, I should have known better, they have 4 ratings of 1 (Never would work with again)... Any suggestions..? Just put it down as a learning experience? [Edited at 2018-08-09 11:20 GMT]
- they asked me to translate a text - saying it was urgent and could I give them my "best rate"
- I replied with my best rate
- they said "sorry, we can only pay half of that"
- my response "OK, find someone who can do it for that"
- their response "but it is urgent, and we can't find anyone else"
- "OK, then you have to decide if you want me to do it or not, and pay my rate"
- they said "OK, do it then"
the missing link:
- will do - here are my bank details - translation will be delivered ONLY after the money is my account
- yes, but the text is urgent
- then arrange urgent payment"
Also, anyone telling me "sorry, we can only pay half of that" will have the phone unceremoniously slammed down / phone number and email blocked without further ado - you have to know when to stop wasting time.
We are translators - not bankers. Why would you have to accept such lousy credit risk? Even with a client from your own town you know there is a credit risk, but with an agency from another country that has bad reputation [they have 4 ratings of 1 (Never would work with again).] and you never worked with before - it's simply not worth the trouble.
In case it's not so obvious - "naming and shaming" is just a silly exercise in venting frustrations - learning from mistakes (preferably other people's mistakes) is what is useful.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:49
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Meghan Hirsh wrote:
..... when I see "give us your best rate," I don't bother to go further. .
Precisely.
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There's a naming and shaming group on Linkedin in which translators can give details of bad practices, including naming the agency concerned.
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Lubosh Hanuska
Australia
Local time: 04:49
Slovak to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | ProZ needs to step in to make things better | Oct 4, 2018 |
I think in the interest of the whole industry Proz needs to step in here:
1/ If an agency is given a rating of 1 or 2 they need to explain why, after all translators are the ones doing the work, without us the agencies would not have a business...
2/ If agencies constantly push translators to "bid" with the lowest rates then obviously this promotes work for those who are less competent and less likely to gain k any other way than by undercutting the going rates. Those k... See more I think in the interest of the whole industry Proz needs to step in here:
1/ If an agency is given a rating of 1 or 2 they need to explain why, after all translators are the ones doing the work, without us the agencies would not have a business...
2/ If agencies constantly push translators to "bid" with the lowest rates then obviously this promotes work for those who are less competent and less likely to gain k any other way than by undercutting the going rates. Those kinds of advertisements need to be banned. Similarly on eBay where people get ratings this indicates their trustworthiness.
3/ Proz should compile some guidelines for translation rates, whether they be based on language pairs, difficulty levels of source text, or a combination of things. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | | Lubosh Hanuska
Australia
Local time: 04:49
Slovak to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | This agency is still here !!! | Jun 26, 2019 |
The agency I got duped by is still here!
They have just got someone else to work for them who is Proz member as they could post a rating and my assumption is that same as with me the "..." agency just did not pay... Why is it that they are still permitted as members - even though they're banned from posting jobs they obviously are able to contact members with job offers. My suggestion to everyone is - if you get offered a job by an agency here first step is to check their rating and... See more The agency I got duped by is still here!
They have just got someone else to work for them who is Proz member as they could post a rating and my assumption is that same as with me the "..." agency just did not pay... Why is it that they are still permitted as members - even though they're banned from posting jobs they obviously are able to contact members with job offers. My suggestion to everyone is - if you get offered a job by an agency here first step is to check their rating and make your own judgement - if there is a series of "1s" you need to ask yourself why, most likely itis because they did not pay those freelancers and they are not going to pay you either...!!!
[Edited at 2019-06-26 07:34 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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