posted 07 March 2001 00:22            

At the very least you would want some more detailed comments or criticism from the "new" translator.

Otherwise I would suspect it might be a ploy just to reduce the fee.

Then you have to consider how hard to argue. If the client has been worth a lot to you over the years it may be as well just to eat this bad experience in the hope of future gains.

If you feel they have "written you off" as a future source of translations, you will want to pursue them with full vigour to get all your money.

You also need to be absolutely sure that what you supplied was fit for the purpose they told you it was for. If they didn't tell you, that's different.

posted 07 March 2001 14:05            

quote:

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In general the comment was one of style and not of 'wrong' lexical items, etc. [snip!] Their text although very pleasant, readable and elegant in style could no longer be called a translation but rather an interpretation of our translation.

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Nice to be proved right!!

I think this is very unfair on you. You were asked to provide a translation, and this is what you did. What the client does to it afterwards is up to them, and it seems in this case they've told you you've supplied a "bad" translation, but as long as your version is accurate and stylistically reasonably pleasant, they don't have a leg to stand on as regards not paying you. They order a translation, you provide a translation. If they choose to adapt it, that's their business - but it's not the translator's job to do that.

If they have a house style then it's their job to make sure your translators are fully aware of it. If they didn't do this, it's their problem. I think I may have said this in the other thread, but at the end of the day you can only translate the text you have in front of you. You can't add bits, move bits, delete bits.... and the client should be made aware of this. Sure, they can ask for creative translation (which I don't think they would do in the case of a highly technical text), but even so, you can only provide the info given - not add to or take away.

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Apollo mentioned (I think in a message in the Client Clinic) that Politics could be involved here. [snip again!] The end client wanted to do it themselves but the agency talked them into subcontracting it to a translation company, so it could be that they were always going to find problems with the text!! You never know!

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It's a fairly safe bet you were onto a loser from the start here. I hate this kind of situation, it's always the translator that gets it in the neck, even though he/she may have done the work to the best of his/her abilities.

So how have you left it with the client? Are they going to pay for your translations?

This kind of thing makes me so mad! The translator is the easy target in these cases because often the client can't read the translation and will just accept the word of someone else that the work is poor. When I worked at an agency, I had clients who'd complain about translations on the say-so of students doing work experience in the office! Yes, they may be familiar with the target language - but from my own experience training proofreaders I also know that less experienced staff will generally pick big holes in even excellent translations if they've had no training in how to proofread.

OK, enough ranting from me!! Claire, I hope this one works out for you!

All the best

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apollo@translatortips.net

posted 07 March 2001 16:26            

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Originally posted by Claire:
The end client wanted to do it themselves but the agency talked them into subcontracting it to a translation company, so it could be that they were always going to find problems with the text!! You never know!

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We've been in that hateful position.

We once worked for a localization company (before anybody called it that) on some manuals for a well known laptop computer firm.

The job was Eng-Pol and the local Polish office wanted to do the work (probably to sub it to their friends and take a kick-back).

Well we were working through UK localisation company, through UK branch of Client through German client branch, through to Polish branch, who, surprise surprise ripped it apart.

Same old story - style, when no style guidelines were given.

We took it on the chin, and set a policy never to work for...

cheapskates (their rate was low)
this client
political situations

...ever again. It was a hard lesson. I believe we settled for a third of our original fee because the option of going to small claims court would have taken more time than a couple of grand's worth of work.

But it was a very hard lesson.

Now we're a lot more picky about what sort of work we accept. Apollo can testify to this. How many Powerpoint presentations have we said no to?

posted 07 March 2001 20:01            

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Apollo can testify to this. How many Powerpoint presentations have we said no to?

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Lots!! In fact, every single one I've offered you since the one that took you guys a whole day for a measly 400 words...

You're right, though, Alex. If you're offered a nice big job, lots of words, it is very tempting to take it on. But if it's a client who you know doesn't pay on time, or who messes you around, takes your translation to pieces or is just downright unpleasant to deal with, I've found it's better to say no.

And that goes for fiddly jobs that take forever to do and contain very few words as well. Just in case anyone thinks I've been horrible to Alex and reduced all his invoices!! I wouldn't be so mean... (Besides which, I have an innate sense of self-preservation! )

So Claire, what's the situation with this client? Is he going to pay you anything at all? What did your translators have to say about it (though I can guess! )

All the best

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apollo@translatortips.net

posted 08 March 2001 01:40            

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At one point they even said that they already had 2 or 3 pages that had been translated before so they didn't think they should pay for our translation!!! If they didn't want it translating why didn't they tell us before placing the order!! Crazy

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That is soooo stupid! And entirely, 100%, their problem. Don't let 'em get away with that one! What a cheek!!

This kind of awkward client that's convinced he's in the right is such a pain to deal with. You probably have to be prepared to come down on your price just to get rid of him - as Alex said earlier, a court case can cost a lot of time and money. Still, at least you get the experience of dealing with troubleshooting. (Though I know you'd rather have the money!! )

You could always try arbitration. Is your company a member of the ATC? (I presume you're in the UK...) The only thing is, you have to get your client to agree to abide by the decision of the arbitrator.

But if you're sure you're in the right (and let's face it, if the translator comes highly recommended and an independent third party has also said the work was fine, there's a pretty good chance you will be!), you've got nothing to lose by going the Official route. And I should think your client couldn't argue with that. Worth considering?

Sorry, afraid I can't help with smileys, though!

All the best

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