Poll: Would you agree to undergo a background/credit check to work for an agency? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Would you agree to undergo a background/credit check to work for an agency?".
This poll was originally submitted by Vladimir Dubisskiy. View the poll results »
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Why on earth would a client need a credit check from me? I’m not taking a loan, I’m providing a service and being paid for it, hopefully well and on time…
| | | | Daryo
Local time: 00:03
Serbian to English
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| Practically all agencies | May 20, 2025 |
expect translators and interpreters to be paid AFTER delivery, which in effect means that it's the translator that is actually giving credit to the agency. Add to that that a translation is always 'custom made to order', i.e. is not like a ton of bricks or a car or any generic good that you can take back from a bad payer and sell to someone else.
So if any 'undergoing a credit check' is to be included in the process, it should be happening the other way round, i.e. agencies ... See more expect translators and interpreters to be paid AFTER delivery, which in effect means that it's the translator that is actually giving credit to the agency. Add to that that a translation is always 'custom made to order', i.e. is not like a ton of bricks or a car or any generic good that you can take back from a bad payer and sell to someone else.
So if any 'undergoing a credit check' is to be included in the process, it should be happening the other way round, i.e. agencies should prove they can be trusted with unpaid goods.
I find it more and more amazing what translation agencies try to pass off as 'normal'! Try in any other business to order 'custom made goods' without paying in advance, or to argue with your plumber that you'll pay for only one installed tap as the other three are '100% repetitions' - or to argue with your lender that it's not you that should prove your creditworthiness, but the lender! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chávez
United States
Local time: 19:03
English to Spanish
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| Agencies and agencies | May 20, 2025 |
Some reputable agencies work for government agencies. If there is a background check requirement, it usually comes contractually because of that government agency.
There are different types of background checks and credit checks. I suppose the latter are more necessary and a business burden on the agency or translation operator to make sure vendors (translators, interpreters, etc.) are of good reputation, meet obligations, etc. Like I indicated in my response to the poll, I wouldn't... See more Some reputable agencies work for government agencies. If there is a background check requirement, it usually comes contractually because of that government agency.
There are different types of background checks and credit checks. I suppose the latter are more necessary and a business burden on the agency or translation operator to make sure vendors (translators, interpreters, etc.) are of good reputation, meet obligations, etc. Like I indicated in my response to the poll, I wouldn't object to a credit check as long as a) there is a good reason and I want to work for this particular agency and b) it's a soft credit check.
P.S. A soft credit check in the United States is a simple enquiry and does not affect your credit score. ▲ Collapse
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Background, yes, if they can give a good reason. In fact, I've just got myself a UK DBS check for other reasons so at this precise moment, it would seem both churlish and pointless to refuse
Credit, prima facie no, as I'm struggling to see what relevance that might have.
But ultimately no reasonable request is declined hereabouts, if the recompense (by which I mean money) makes it worthwhile.
| | | | Luca Adie
Germany
Local time: 01:03
German to English
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One agency in the US required a background check. Glad I did it too, as they have quite a lot of volume.
| | | | Liena V. 
Latvia
Local time: 02:03
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
| If it makes sense and is worth it | May 21, 2025 |
Work-related background checks, if justified, somehow bother me a lot less than certain governments having access to my data because I've been traveling to their countries or, say, tech companies constantly spying on me online.
I don't think any translation agency has ever asked me for a background check, but I've done some work for defense and government structures where it was required. As for the credit checks, what kind of agency would need them from translators? So far only my bank h... See more Work-related background checks, if justified, somehow bother me a lot less than certain governments having access to my data because I've been traveling to their countries or, say, tech companies constantly spying on me online.
I don't think any translation agency has ever asked me for a background check, but I've done some work for defense and government structures where it was required. As for the credit checks, what kind of agency would need them from translators? So far only my bank has been interested. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 01:03
English to French
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No idea why an agency would need this, the only thing that comes to mind is tender processes if they hire you as an agency. This doesn’t apply to me as I don’t get involved in tender projects with agencies, for a variety of reasons (lack of transparency, misusing my CV, etc.). The agency’s credit score needs to be good for tenders, but they add you as a liable supplier too, may sometimes ask this from you too (just a wild guess).
What a poll! How much cash we have on us, and n... See more No idea why an agency would need this, the only thing that comes to mind is tender processes if they hire you as an agency. This doesn’t apply to me as I don’t get involved in tender projects with agencies, for a variety of reasons (lack of transparency, misusing my CV, etc.). The agency’s credit score needs to be good for tenders, but they add you as a liable supplier too, may sometimes ask this from you too (just a wild guess).
What a poll! How much cash we have on us, and now about our credit score. Unbelievable. Has ProZ become a banking/finance market research associate?
[Edited at 2025-05-21 10:58 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Daryo
Local time: 00:03
Serbian to English
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| A background check is another story | May 22, 2025 |
Charlie Bavington wrote:
Background, yes, if they can give a good reason. In fact, I've just got myself a UK DBS check for other reasons so at this precise moment, it would seem both churlish and pointless to refuse
Credit, prima facie no, as I'm struggling to see what relevance that might have.
But ultimately no reasonable request is declined hereabouts, if the recompense (by which I mean money) makes it worthwhile.
A background check is another story - for some job jobs or some clients it would make sense. But a credit check???
| | | | | Not required so far | May 22, 2025 |
I never had to undergo a background check. I would have agreed when I got a job that was top-secret for both financial and political reasons. While I have no criminal record yet, I doubt whether I'd be allowed to enter the United States if they checked my social media.
Yeah, credit check is a weird question, but I guess in theory the agency could be worried that you'd go bankrupt while working on a long-term project, or that you could be vulnerable to criminal interference. I'm not ... See more I never had to undergo a background check. I would have agreed when I got a job that was top-secret for both financial and political reasons. While I have no criminal record yet, I doubt whether I'd be allowed to enter the United States if they checked my social media.
Yeah, credit check is a weird question, but I guess in theory the agency could be worried that you'd go bankrupt while working on a long-term project, or that you could be vulnerable to criminal interference. I'm not sure how that would even work for me; we don't have American-style credit ratings for every person here in the Netherlands. There's a debt register that's accessible for financial institutions only. ▲ Collapse
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