| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Indirect persuasion Thread poster: raptisi
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raptisi 
Greece
Local time: 07:54
English to Greek
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Hi,
I have been doing business with an agency for the past 3.5 years. I have recently been contacted by them, being asked to do a test translation (for free, of course) and submit it by a certain date. And they state that if I do not answer the email, or if I do not submit the test, it will be the end of the collaboration. I thought this was interesting enough to share.
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It's odd of this agency to ask you to do a test on such stringent conditions if you've been working with them successfuly for 3 1/2 years.
Have they changed management, perhaps, since you last did a job for them?
Why not politely ask them why they need this test?
[Edited at 2015-09-24 06:13 GMT]
| | | | | I would send a polite reply | Sep 24, 2015 |
that if they want to stop sending me new projects, that is their choice, since they are the client. And that they will have to find another translator with the same level of qualification, expertise ans rates.
It is your right to make test translations, not your obligation.
Or, you can state that you are booked for the next two weeks by another client of yours.
Why not?
| | | | | Have you not already been accepted as a provider? | Sep 24, 2015 |
raptisi wrote:
...And they state that if I do not answer the email, or if I do not submit the test, it will be the end of the collaboration. I thought this was interesting enough to share.
It is interesting indeed. Do it or I squash you.
So they want a freebee now and again in order for you to remain in their books. This kind of bribery indeed occurs in rogue company purchasing departments, when the purchasing manager requires presents from existing providers now and again in order to keep them at the top of their list.
Philippe
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| Them's fighting words | Sep 24, 2015 |
That's not "indirect persuasion," that's out and out extortion. What's to stop them from pulling this stunt every month for the next 10 years? Have there been any recent quality issues that demand re-testing? Having you confirmed that this e-mail is from the agency in question and not a scammer impersonating them?
Whether you do the test or not is up to you (I wouldn't do it, but then I don't pay your bills), but at least don't do it for free. Do it for your usual rate or even highe... See more That's not "indirect persuasion," that's out and out extortion. What's to stop them from pulling this stunt every month for the next 10 years? Have there been any recent quality issues that demand re-testing? Having you confirmed that this e-mail is from the agency in question and not a scammer impersonating them?
Whether you do the test or not is up to you (I wouldn't do it, but then I don't pay your bills), but at least don't do it for free. Do it for your usual rate or even higher. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 05:54
Member (2007)
English
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| Of all the nerve! | Sep 24, 2015 |
I'm just trying to work out how I'd react. I think I'd need a while to cool down before I wrote a cool business reply. An immediate one might set fire to their inbox.
| | | | raptisi
Greece
Local time: 07:54
English to Greek
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Sheila Wilson wrote:
I'm just trying to work out how I'd react. I think I'd need a while to cool down before I wrote a cool business reply. An immediate one might set fire to their inbox.
Indeed, totally agree, I have not responded as yet, communication received three days ago.
| | | | | ISO certification? | Sep 24, 2015 |
I heard some time ago (don't know if it's true) that ISO certified translation agencies need to have in place some sort of QA system, could it be the reason? I would ask them: why now? Could it be a mistake (mass mail)?
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Jessica Noyes
United States
Local time: 00:54
Member
Spanish to English
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This reminds me of a company that contacted me out of the directory to do a translation, and then had me do one a couple more lengthy jobs. At that point, they sent me the link to fill out their on-line application form, but when it came to the section requesting three references, I directed them to my WWAs here on ProZ.com. They let me know that without recommendations I couldn't be included in their list of providers. I responded that they had my three successfully completed translations to re... See more This reminds me of a company that contacted me out of the directory to do a translation, and then had me do one a couple more lengthy jobs. At that point, they sent me the link to fill out their on-line application form, but when it came to the section requesting three references, I directed them to my WWAs here on ProZ.com. They let me know that without recommendations I couldn't be included in their list of providers. I responded that they had my three successfully completed translations to refer to as well as the WWAs. (My policy is not to provide references.) I never heard from them again, which is too bad, as they had sent interesting projects and paid my rates. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Frank Wong
Local time: 12:54
Chinese to English
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It's weird that someone asks a long-term partner to do a test in this way. Did they have a unprofessional new PM? I will be very upset.
| | | | John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 00:54
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
Teresa Borges wrote:
I heard some time ago (don't know if it's true) that ISO certified translation agencies need to have in place some sort of QA system, could it be the reason? I would ask them: why now? Could it be a mistake (mass mail)?
It's a myth when agencies hide behind a supposed ISO standard to make unreasonable requests. ISO standards say they have to have a documented QA system, but aside from experience and education requirements say very little about how that QA system has to function. In other words, when a client says ISO requires tests or references, what they mean is that they decided to put that in their QA system and their QA system complies with the ISO standard. It wasn't the ISO standard that required it.
[Edited at 2015-09-24 15:18 GMT]
| | | | Dirk Wouters
Belgium
Local time: 06:54
Member (2005)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| same thing happened to me, twice now! | Oct 5, 2015 |
I just had the same thing happen to me. I have been working for this agency for more than 10 years (yes, ten years) and it has been my main client for most of this time and I was always told I am the preferred translator for my language combination.
Now all of a sudden I was asked to do a technical test translation and told that if I refused or failed I would stop receiving work. I did the test and failed because some rookie-proofreader sent the worst review ever adding errors to my transl... See more I just had the same thing happen to me. I have been working for this agency for more than 10 years (yes, ten years) and it has been my main client for most of this time and I was always told I am the preferred translator for my language combination.
Now all of a sudden I was asked to do a technical test translation and told that if I refused or failed I would stop receiving work. I did the test and failed because some rookie-proofreader sent the worst review ever adding errors to my translation. I replied and they apologised and adjusted the rating so I passed.
Now, a couple weeks later, again I am asked to do a marketing test translation and told that if I refuse or fail, I will stop receiving work in this area! So now I am being told there are 5 different test translations for 5 different subject areas. And this while I am currently in the middel of a 70.000 word marketing translation for the exact same company!
Does this make sense to anyone? I am guessing it is the same agency by the way. Can I mention their name here? ▲ Collapse
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raptisi
Greece
Local time: 07:54
English to Greek
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Dirk Wouters wrote:
I just had the same thing happen to me. I have been working for this agency for more than 10 years (yes, ten years) and it has been my main client for most of this time and I was always told I am the preferred translator for my language combination.
Now all of a sudden I was asked to do a technical test translation and told that if I refused or failed I would stop receiving work. I did the test and failed because some rookie-proofreader sent the worst review ever adding errors to my translation. I replied and they apologised and adjusted the rating so I passed.
Now, a couple weeks later, again I am asked to do a marketing test translation and told that if I refuse or fail, I will stop receiving work in this area! So now I am being told there are 5 different test translations for 5 different subject areas. And this while I am currently in the middel of a 70.000 word marketing translation for the exact same company!
Does this make sense to anyone? I am guessing it is the same agency by the way. Can I mention their name here?
No need to name names, understood. One of the previous commentators probably got it right, there have been personnel changes and a new management team is in place.
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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I don't think that any staff, policy changes or anything else grants them any right to talk to people (and specialists who do the job!) like that. Blast it and goodbye--to a blacklist. Indeed, no names required, for considering such an attitude those midmen are but nobody.
| | | | Dirk Wouters
Belgium
Local time: 06:54
Member (2005)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| last e-mails | Oct 29, 2015 |
So rest of my story, I have now done two of their test pieces (failed both by the way, but that is another story) and now they are asking for 3 more (in total the 5 test pieces would be about 1500 - 2000 words). I am still asking why and expressing my complete surprise (as politely as humanly possible).
This is their last e-mail:
"We currently have 5 different Test Pieces in the following verticals: Legal, Marketing, Medical Technology, Financial and Technical. If a linguist... See more So rest of my story, I have now done two of their test pieces (failed both by the way, but that is another story) and now they are asking for 3 more (in total the 5 test pieces would be about 1500 - 2000 words). I am still asking why and expressing my complete surprise (as politely as humanly possible).
This is their last e-mail:
"We currently have 5 different Test Pieces in the following verticals: Legal, Marketing, Medical Technology, Financial and Technical. If a linguist wants to work in a specific vertical, they have to complete a Test Piece with a score - more than 75%. If a linguist does not do a test or fails it, they will not be given any more jobs in a specific vertical.
Please let me know in case of any further questions. "
Bear in mind this is after 10 years of working together and easily millons of words translated in almost any subject matter and difficulty. ▲ Collapse
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