| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Comment about horrible agency... Thread poster: Katarina Andersson
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Hello All,
even though this Italian agency has been commented upon a hundred times before, I just saw that the specific agency right now is posting jobs here on proz.com again. The agency has been discussed several times before, fellow translators have been screwed by them, but somehow the translators end up being on the faulty side while the agency continuously sails off with the good image also here on proz.com.
Me together with some other translators posted negative ... See more Hello All,
even though this Italian agency has been commented upon a hundred times before, I just saw that the specific agency right now is posting jobs here on proz.com again. The agency has been discussed several times before, fellow translators have been screwed by them, but somehow the translators end up being on the faulty side while the agency continuously sails off with the good image also here on proz.com.
Me together with some other translators posted negative comments about them, and ended up being hanged falsely as bad translators being the reason to this agency's loss of customers etc. Never a comment about that they screwed us on lots of money.
Anyway, as no names can be put, and as there is no point in trying to ban them at proz.com as that has already been attempted in the past without any success, I just wanted to say I think it is amazing translators will still qote on their offers, probably work for them and after some time discover that they start paying less and less frequently until they stop paying, and start inventing lies about the translators abilities just to not need to pay etc.
They also have the policy to threaten you if you tell them you will put a negative grading on the Blueboard, due to their non paying habits, and in the end they also write emails telling you that they will never pay unless you remove your negative gradings etc.
A quite nice agency....:-o
Katarina. ▲ Collapse
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| I sympathise with you, Peter, but... | Jun 25, 2009 |
I don't really think that is what is happening with Blueboard, I just think the system isn't working.
I had a similar problem with a client who ripped me off for $5,000, but she was in California and the moderator somewhere in Europe, I honestly don't think there was any corruption, despite the fact that in general I had the impression that the moderator was inclined to put more credence in what the outsourcer said, than in my word.
But at the moment the system is hea... See more I don't really think that is what is happening with Blueboard, I just think the system isn't working.
I had a similar problem with a client who ripped me off for $5,000, but she was in California and the moderator somewhere in Europe, I honestly don't think there was any corruption, despite the fact that in general I had the impression that the moderator was inclined to put more credence in what the outsourcer said, than in my word.
But at the moment the system is heavily weighted in favor of the agencies and that may not be good for the agencies, either, in the end. Surely it is in their interest as much as anyone else's to have a reliable reporting mechanism. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Comment about horrible agency | Jun 25, 2009 |
The more I read posts like yours, the more I'm assured that we should avoid agencies at any cost. My 25 years+ working experience (German into Spanish) tells me that. I have known just one agency (in Berlin) that is worthwhile working with. The rest have been mainly a PITA.
Why should they make money with your hard work?
Do you employ an agency in order to choose your doctor or your car repairing shop? No. Why do companies hire LSPs? In our networked world it should be easy to... See more The more I read posts like yours, the more I'm assured that we should avoid agencies at any cost. My 25 years+ working experience (German into Spanish) tells me that. I have known just one agency (in Berlin) that is worthwhile working with. The rest have been mainly a PITA.
Why should they make money with your hard work?
Do you employ an agency in order to choose your doctor or your car repairing shop? No. Why do companies hire LSPs? In our networked world it should be easy to find the proper professional.
One main issue here is that translators simply don't stick together. If you refuse a job that is simple degrading, another translator will come and take it.
BTW Will someone attend this year's BDU conference in Berlin. It sounds promising (well, I should start another topic for this one).
Michael ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X) 
France
Local time: 06:01
French to German
+ ...
| Good communication skills | Jun 25, 2009 |
lampedus wrote:
even though this Italian agency has been commented upon a hundred times before, I just saw that the specific agency right now is posting jobs here on proz.com again. The agency has been discussed several times before, fellow translators have been screwed by them, but somehow the translators end up being on the faulty side while the agency continuously sails off with the good image also here on proz.com.
Obviously the managers of this agency have good communication skills and know how to put their image in the right light, thus avoiding any in-depth search/examination of facts. Sad enough! Although I would not say that the BB system doesn't work, I think it is only a basic tool which, as far as I could see from other posts in the fora, is not likely to be changed.
But can we live with a rating system that revolves around the "your word against mine" way of thinking?
[Edited at 2009-06-25 13:17 GMT]
| | | | Barbara Toffolon (X)
Italy
Local time: 06:01
Italian to English
+ ...
| risks of this business | Jun 25, 2009 |
I simpathize with all those people that have been ripped off by agencies without scruples, however that is part of the risks of working online. You don't deal with "real" people and so there is no guarantee that the person assigning the commission will actually come over in the end....like there is no guarantee that a linguist will actually provide a decent finished product and maybe cause the agency to loose a customer or having to have the work redone by another translator and in the end loos... See more I simpathize with all those people that have been ripped off by agencies without scruples, however that is part of the risks of working online. You don't deal with "real" people and so there is no guarantee that the person assigning the commission will actually come over in the end....like there is no guarantee that a linguist will actually provide a decent finished product and maybe cause the agency to loose a customer or having to have the work redone by another translator and in the end loose money to save face. No work should be accepted from an agency without a regular signed Word Order indicating the agreed upon amount, signed and sent in pdf format, so that there is no posibility of altering the contents. Most of the agencies I work for always back up their request with a work order and I have never had any difficulties.
I must admit that some agencies are looking for trouble when they commission a project to the lowest bidder.... not always is less best. If you don't pay a decent price the linguist cannot afford to dedicate an infinite amount of time to researching and proofreading.... it means loosing out on more profitable translations. So for both agencies and linguists I suggest honest prices. Honesty pays. Just my personal view, I wish you all a great day. ▲ Collapse
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| One more reason to post a bad comment in the Blue Board | Jun 25, 2009 |
lampedus wrote:
They also have the policy to threaten you if you tell them you will put a negative grading on the Blueboard, due to their non paying habits, and in the end they also write emails telling you that they will never pay unless you remove your negative gradings etc.
Then let them have it. Your sacrifice in money will help others be safe from this agency. If I was in this situation, I would issue a credit note for the invoice (just not to pay taxes on it) and would post the comment in the Blue Board. If that's what they want, let them have it!
| | | | | The Blue Board! | Jun 25, 2009 |
[quote]Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
Then let them have it. Your sacrifice in money will help others be safe from this agency. If I was in this situation, I would issue a credit note for the invoice (just not to pay taxes on it) and would post the comment in the Blue Board. If that's what they want, let them have it!
Yes, I think this would be the right thing to do. Just write that you are even required to cancel negative comments in the BB, and maybe somebody else will understand why there are few....
However, just for info I had the same kind of experience with "real people", unfortunately bad experience is not limited to online acquaintances:-(
Manuela
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 06:01
French to German
+ ...
| Right, Manuela | Jun 25, 2009 |
Manuela Dal Castello wrote:
However, just for info I had the same kind of experience with "real people", unfortunately bad experience is not limited to online acquaintances:-(
Manuela
Same here - so the excuse that "Internet perverts (otherwise *very* nice) people" never had a standing ground as far as I am concerned.
Laurent
| | | | Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 06:01
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| Proz is not the only reference | Jun 25, 2009 |
If the Proz BlueBoard is not reflecing the bad payment practices you experienced (maybe they have thousands of translators and only problems with a few...) there are other sources on Internet where translators can find out if potential clients are OK.
For large jobs with new clients I alway check and double check....
Ed
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conejo
United States
Local time: 23:01
Japanese to English
+ ...
| Other sources | Jun 25, 2009 |
Edward Vreeburg wrote:
If the Proz BlueBoard is not reflecing the bad payment practices you experienced (maybe they have thousands of translators and only problems with a few...) there are other sources on Internet where translators can find out if potential clients are OK.
For large jobs with new clients I alway check and double check....
Ed
Like what other sources?
| | | | Laurent KRAULAND (X)
France
Local time: 06:01
French to German
+ ...
| Sources available | Jun 25, 2009 |
conejo wrote: Edward Vreeburg wrote:
If the Proz BlueBoard is not reflecing the bad payment practices you experienced (maybe they have thousands of translators and only problems with a few...) there are other sources on Internet where translators can find out if potential clients are OK.
Ed Like what other sources?
Mailing lists, other sites, word of mouth, specialised sites such as PaymentPractices and so on.
| | | | John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 00:01
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
| PaymentPractices.com, BB and factual ratings | Jul 28, 2009 |
ScottishWildCat wrote:
Mailing lists, other sites, word of mouth, specialised sites such as PaymentPractices and so on.
Interesting thing about PaymentPractices.com that their website shows, is that one of their ratings, the PPR score (see http://www.paymentpractices.net/HowItWorks.aspx) is based strictly on facts - How on time/late was the payment? and Did the agency unilaterally reduce the payment? These are not subjective, and an agency would have a hard time complaining about facts. BB rating - being strictly "willingness" - is mostly subjective.
Can anyone report first hand experience with PaymentPractices.com?
I just received an email from a client, which I would like to share in this vein - no doubt others have received it: "We want to make sure everyone gets paid. We like that we pay our people on time and we want to keep doing so. We're proud of our 4.9 rating on ProZ's BlueBoard and of our flawless record on PaymentPractices.com."
THAT's what we need to promote!
[Edited at 2009-07-28 17:15 GMT]
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