| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Working for an agency that's not on the Blueboard Thread poster: Albert Fischer (Dipl. Jur., LL.B., BDÜ)
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Hello, I have been offered a large volume assignment from a new and unknown translation agency from the UK, they do not have an entry. What would you do? It's a 50 pages assignment.
[Edited at 2013-02-25 12:35 GMT]
| | | | | I would work for them | Feb 25, 2013 |
I have worked for so many organisatons that had no entry on Blueboard...
| | | | | I would ask for advance payment | Feb 25, 2013 |
At least part of it.
| | | | | Making sure the company is legit | Feb 25, 2013 |
Browse the web looking for feedback/online presence.
Request partial payment on order to confirm their bank details. But to do that, they have to trust that you are yourself a legit translator.
Philippe
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Sheila Wilson 
Spain
Local time: 14:42
Member (2007)
English
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| Research required | Feb 25, 2013 |
Well, the previous answers were very clear about what you should do, but I don't think you can make an instant decision. First, you need to research the company: we're supposed to have good research skills as translators, so use them to find out whether this is a legitimate company. You may not be able to find out whether other translators have had good or bad experiences with them, but you can at least find out if they actually exist at the address they've given you. After you've researched the... See more Well, the previous answers were very clear about what you should do, but I don't think you can make an instant decision. First, you need to research the company: we're supposed to have good research skills as translators, so use them to find out whether this is a legitimate company. You may not be able to find out whether other translators have had good or bad experiences with them, but you can at least find out if they actually exist at the address they've given you. After you've researched them, you just have to rely on your instinct. Hopefully, you're only thinking of doing a small job for them at first, so you can afford to lose the money if the worst comes to the worst.
Advance payment is certainly nice, but an established translation agency may well refuse as it isn't normal business practice in B2B contracts; and advance payment through PayPal etc doesn't mean a thing - they can demand their money back later and PayPal may take it from you, even from your bank account if your balance with them is zero!
There's a very useful set of articles here about risk management: http://wiki.proz.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Risk_management
Bear in mind that the Blue Board is not infallible, it just gives a guide but people say things for all sorts of reasons and companies change over time anyway. If there's no record for a company, you're free to set one up and ask for entries; you can do that on the BB screen.
BTW: you should edit the first entry of this thread to remove the name of the agency as it contravenes ProZ.com rules. Please do this asap to avoid the thread being removed completely.
[Edited at 2013-02-25 09:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Reduce your exposure to risk | Feb 25, 2013 |
Depending on how big the project is (if it's over €1000 worth, I'd say it's big), I'd ask for part-payment in advance for the first job. I would also ask for names of other translators they work with so that you can contact them on proz and ask if they're OK as an agency.
Have you looked at payment practices? I don't have a membership myself but perhaps a colleague does and can look them up for you...From what I hear, payment practices has more records than proz.
Good... See more Depending on how big the project is (if it's over €1000 worth, I'd say it's big), I'd ask for part-payment in advance for the first job. I would also ask for names of other translators they work with so that you can contact them on proz and ask if they're OK as an agency.
Have you looked at payment practices? I don't have a membership myself but perhaps a colleague does and can look them up for you...From what I hear, payment practices has more records than proz.
Good luck! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Clive Phillips
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:42
Member (2009)
German to English
+ ...
| You could also ask the agency why... | Feb 25, 2013 |
...they have chosen not to register with Proz.com and/or appear on the Blueboard.
Please remove the name of the agency by editing your post ASAP, as advocated by Sheila.
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Hello Albert,
I subscribe to the entity Marie-Hélène refers to and I have just searched for the name of the agency you gave in your initial posting, but it is not listed there.
This doesn't necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with the agency, of course.
Like others here, I'd recommend accepting only a small job to begin with, to see how they behave.
Best wishes,
Jenny
[Edited at 2013-02-25 14:36 GMT]
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Ventnai
Spain
Local time: 15:42
German to English
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| add to Blue Board | Feb 25, 2013 |
Hi Albert,
When a company which is not listed on the Blue Board contacts me, I usually investigate them. add an Blue Board entry and call for Blue Board entries if they seem legitimate to some extent, even if I decide not to work for them. Other translators may then possibly rate them and information is available for everybody.
Ian
| | | | | Adding an outsourcer to the Blue Board | Feb 25, 2013 |
Hello all,
Remember that if an outsourcer is not listed in the Blue Board, you can add a record for them here:
http://www.proz.com/blueboard/?sp_mode=add ("Jobs & directories" tab > "Blue Board" > "Add outsourcer")
After you add an outsourcer to the Blue Board, site staff checks the information submitted to confirm the outsourcer's details and, upon approv... See more Hello all,
Remember that if an outsourcer is not listed in the Blue Board, you can add a record for them here:
http://www.proz.com/blueboard/?sp_mode=add ("Jobs & directories" tab > "Blue Board" > "Add outsourcer")
After you add an outsourcer to the Blue Board, site staff checks the information submitted to confirm the outsourcer's details and, upon approving the record, an automatic "Call for entries" is made. This means that a request for LWA (Likelihood of Working Again) entries is published on the ProZ.com home page and an email is sent to all those who have subscribed to such requests.
You will find more information about the Blue Board record here: http://www.proz.com/faq/blue_board_outsourcer_database_.html
Also, note that I have temporarily hidden your post, Albert, to allow you to edit it and remove the outsourcer's name in line with forum rule http://www.proz.com/siterules/forum/8#8 . Thanks in advance!
Lucia ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Hello & Thanks | Feb 25, 2013 |
Hi folks, thanks for your replies, I have made a Blue Board entry and am waiting for it to be approved.
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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| Thank you, record approved | Feb 25, 2013 |
Thanks for adding the outsourcer to the Blue Board, Albert. Their details have been checked and the record is now publicly visible.
Also, note that an automatic "Call for entries" was also made. So, make sure you stay tuned for new entries (you can use the "Track outsourcer" option in the Blue Board record page to be notified of new entries).
Kind regards,
Lucia
| | | | Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 16:42
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
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| You could ask for references | Feb 25, 2013 |
If they are not completely new they should be able to name freelancers that have worked with them before.
| | | | | Try other places as well | Feb 25, 2013 |
Payment Practices:
http://www.paymentpractices.net/About.aspx
If you are a member of the BDÜ, is there an e-mail discussion group you could ask? I see this a lot on the ATA list I am on.
Check LinkedIn?
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