Posted by Claire on July 27, 192001 at 10:01:16:
In Reply to: rates dispute posted by Richard Foulkes on July 27, 192001 at 03:55:38:
: Hi Richard
I personally think they ARE trying it on and how very rude and unprofessional of them to reply in such a manner. I am very dubious about agencies providing you with a rate to which to work to. I was asked just this week to carry out a pharmaceutical text from German to English (highly specialised as I am sure you are aware) and was offered £28.00 per 1000 words (a little less than you were offered). It is scandalous.
Rates very much depend on your target market and I agree that you should be flexible but not to the extent where you are not making enough money. After all we spend years qualifying for this profession only to be sold short. Who ever queries the cost that a solicitor charges for talking to you for 10 mins???
Here in the UK, rates for German to English vary between around £45 - £75/ 1000 words. As we do subcontract work out, qualifications/experience are the utmost to me and we will pay more to a translator who has specialised skills. On average though, I would look at a translator who aske for around £50-£60/1000 words (0.08/9 Euro per word).
If I were you I would just ignore that letter and think yourself lucky you aren't working for them. they obviously have too much time on their hands to have written such a reply.
Good luck and I hope this has helped a little.
Kind regards
Claire
