Client who want to remain anonymous Thread poster: Jarnail Gill
|
|---|
Jarnail Gill 
India
Local time: 10:34
Member (2006)
English to Punjabi
+ ...
Dear all,
Yesterday I got one email from a hotmail ID. The sender asked me if I could translate 2500 words for them and they asked me to quote my rates. There was no name, address or telephone numbers in the email.
Since I have been cheated in the past, I asked them to communicate using their corporate email ID and provide their website address, phone numbers etc. I also told them that if they dont provide me these details, I will not work for them unless they pay my fu... See more Dear all,
Yesterday I got one email from a hotmail ID. The sender asked me if I could translate 2500 words for them and they asked me to quote my rates. There was no name, address or telephone numbers in the email.
Since I have been cheated in the past, I asked them to communicate using their corporate email ID and provide their website address, phone numbers etc. I also told them that if they dont provide me these details, I will not work for them unless they pay my full payment in advance via Paypal or Western Union Money Transfer.
They replied from same hotmail ID and again there was no name, address, website reference or phone number in the email. They said, they can send me bank draft within two days if I gave them my address. I thought it is a ploy to make me send them the file, and afterwards they will not be traceable to be forced to pay me.
So, I told them they can pay me via bank draft but till they identify themselves or till the bank draft reaches me and is realised, I will hold their file.
After that they stopped communicating with me and posted the same job on proz.com
Did I do the correct thing? How do you cope with such circumstances? ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Good morning,
Maybe I am overly cautious, but I would not even respond to such an email.
Red flags pop up all over the place. There is not one single element that gives me the slightest confidence.
Besides, I need to communicate with a client and know what their needs/expectations are. I don't work in a vacuum.
Responding seems to me a total waste of time.
Cheers,
Patricia
| | | |
jelly_gill wrote:
Did I do the correct thing?
I would have reacted exactly the same way, except that I would not accept any bank draft from someone who is already suspicious.
And I would use Moneybookers instead of Paypal (for safety reasons) and MoneyGram instead of Western Union (for cost reasons).
Harry
| | | | | THE CUSTOMER HAS NO INTENTION TO PAY | Aug 2, 2007 |
Dear friend,
the same happened to me last month.
I asked to be paid in advance ... Guess what happened ... No answer, no news ... nothing!
This kind of customer is not welcome!
Best wishes,
Michele Treves
| | |
|
|
|
Ken Cox
Local time: 07:04
German to English
+ ...
| I agree with the other posters... | Aug 2, 2007 |
IMO any party in a business relationship should be perfectly willing to provide the information you requested, or at least enough information to allow them to be identified and verified if so desired (e.g. via a chamber of commerce or the like). If they refuse, you can safely assume that their intentions are not honourable.
| | | | | Of course you did the right thing | Aug 2, 2007 |
I would even go at least one step further. If I get contacted by a person I do not know, I always require full details, business e-mail, address, phone number, web site etc. and I confirm with the company this person works for that the person is really working for them (via the contact given on their website).
Otherwise they have to pay in advance.
I cannot see, why I would want to work with someone who is not willing to go through this process. For my part I also prov... See more I would even go at least one step further. If I get contacted by a person I do not know, I always require full details, business e-mail, address, phone number, web site etc. and I confirm with the company this person works for that the person is really working for them (via the contact given on their website).
Otherwise they have to pay in advance.
I cannot see, why I would want to work with someone who is not willing to go through this process. For my part I also provide full details and e.g. had my ID verified on Proz.com. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Özden Arıkan
Germany
Local time: 07:04
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
| You were wrong, Jelly... | Aug 2, 2007 |
...at posting this to the Off topic forum as an off-topic thread. Therefore I moved it to Business Issues and made it on topic.
And, nothing to add to the above comments: you did the right thing not accepting the job. Do these guys think we are three-year olds or something? What legitimate reason would someone ha... See more ...at posting this to the Off topic forum as an off-topic thread. Therefore I moved it to Business Issues and made it on topic.
And, nothing to add to the above comments: you did the right thing not accepting the job. Do these guys think we are three-year olds or something? What legitimate reason would someone have for remaining anonymous in business, and which translator on earth would accept to work with someone under those circumstances? Of course, you did the right thing. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jarnail Gill
India
Local time: 10:34
Member (2006)
English to Punjabi
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | now its more irritating | Aug 2, 2007 |
After I refused the job, they have posted it on proz.com and now it irritates me even more because they may be able to trap few new transltors. They have again given the same email address for contacting purpose (which they used to contact me) and they have given their mailing address as if they are operating from an Asian country although I traced their emails to be originated from either Canada or USA.
| | |
|
|
|
jelly_gill wrote:
After I refused the job, they have posted it on proz.com and now it irritates me even more because they may be able to trap few new transltors. They have again given the same email address for contacting purpose (which they used to contact me) and they have given their mailing address as if they are operating from an Asian country although I traced their emails to be originated from either Canada or USA.
... you've alerted colleagues here. What they do from this point on is out of your hands.
You did the right thing.
Debs
| | | | Shaunna (X)
United States
Local time: 01:04
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Maybe post this story to the forums for the languages they are look for in this job? | Aug 2, 2007 |
-- if there is any?
This way you can probable alert more people that are "at risk".
jelly_gill wrote:
After I refused the job, they have posted it on proz.com and now it irritates me even more because they may be able to trap few new transltors. They have again given the same email address for contacting purpose (which they used to contact me) and they have given their mailing address as if they are operating from an Asian country although I traced their emails to be originated from either Canada or USA.
[Edited at 2007-08-02 13:26]
| | | | Rafa Lombardino
United States
Local time: 22:04
Member (2005)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| You did the right thing! | Aug 2, 2007 |
Whenever I get such requests from people trying to remain anonymous, using only a nickname and a free email account, or just an individual who identifies himself, but could disappear from the face of the Earth without giving me any reliable information for collection purposes, that's exactly what I do: PAY IN ADVANCE, OR LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE!
You'd be surprised how many people do actually pay in advance and then send you the material. I realized that sometimes they don't want you t... See more Whenever I get such requests from people trying to remain anonymous, using only a nickname and a free email account, or just an individual who identifies himself, but could disappear from the face of the Earth without giving me any reliable information for collection purposes, that's exactly what I do: PAY IN ADVANCE, OR LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE!
You'd be surprised how many people do actually pay in advance and then send you the material. I realized that sometimes they don't want you to know who they are because they need personal stuff translated, like letters to a boyfriend or girlfriend from another country. Some other times, it's confidential documents they don't want their companies looking into. And most of the times they're just regular individuals who need their personal documents translated and, instead of going to an agency, they come across freelancers and are not familiar with the way we work (invoice paid in 15, 30 days...)
Well, since you already established your rules (I don't know if you're a good client, so pay me in advance), all you have to do now is sit and wait. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ralf Lemster
Germany
Local time: 07:04
English to German
+ ...
| Contact details are mandatory for jobs posted (even though they may not be publicly visible) | Aug 2, 2007 |
Hi jelly_gill,
You quite rightly turned down the proposal - personally, I strictly refuse to do business with anyone unwilling to provide full business details. At the same time, I'm amazed at how many colleagues appear to be happy to do so...
jelly_gill wrote:
After I refused the job, they have posted it on proz.com and now it irritates me even more because they may be able to trap few new transltors. They have again given the same email address for contacting purpose (which they used to contact me) and they have given their mailing address as if they are operating from an Asian country although I traced their emails to be originated from either Canada or USA.
Full contact details are mandatory for posting jobs - Jobs/BB moderators reject job postings without these details. (Note that outsourcers may not wish to publicly show all details, but even so, they have to be provided, in which case they're visible to ProZ.com staff and moderators.)
What I would suggest - so we can check this - is to contact a Jobs/BB moderator (one at a time, please), indicating the URL of the job concerned. (Thanks for not mentioning specific details in the forum.)
Best regards,
Ralf
| | |
|
|
|
| Who do you invoice? | Aug 2, 2007 |
If you don't have information on your client, who are you going to invoice? How can you have a contract or an agreement if you can't name the parties bound by the contract?
No, my friends, there is no such thing as an anonymous client.
| | | | sandhya
Local time: 10:34
German to English
+ ...
| Your reply was right! | Aug 3, 2007 |
You were fully justified in demanding a live contact address. I receive several such (anonymous) inquiries. I merely use the very useful "Delete" button on my keyboard to get rid of them.
Don't be too upset or irritated, this is all part of the business!
cheers
Sandhya
jelly_gill wrote:
After I refused the job, they have posted it on proz.com and now it irritates me even more because they may be able to trap few new transltors. They have again given the same email address for contacting purpose (which they used to contact me) and they have given their mailing address as if they are operating from an Asian country although I traced their emails to be originated from either Canada or USA.
[Edited at 2007-08-03 00:42]
[Edited at 2007-08-03 00:42]
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Client who want to remain anonymous | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
