UK translation agencies not to be trusted? Thread poster: Michael Beijer
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Michael Beijer 
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:45
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
+ ...
A UK translation agency many of us here probably know recently went into liquidation and thinks it can get away with not paying a large number of its translators, simply by changing its name and address.
[snip]
Josephine Bacon also wrote a very good article explaining why British translation agencies are often so terrible (because UK law allows them to do whatever they wa... See more A UK translation agency many of us here probably know recently went into liquidation and thinks it can get away with not paying a large number of its translators, simply by changing its name and address.
[snip]
Josephine Bacon also wrote a very good article explaining why British translation agencies are often so terrible (because UK law allows them to do whatever they want):
http://www.translationdirectory.com/article53.htm
This is all extremely frustrating as I live in the UK and would like to work for UK companies, but keep experiencing the same problem: UK agencies pay way too low and are not to be trusted when it comes to actually paying you.
[Edited at 2015-01-26 23:54 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Bit of yes, bit of no | Jan 26, 2015 |
It would be duplicitous of me to merely leap to the defence of my countrymen, when in a private email not so long ago, I referred to the our less than glorious reputation (or words to that effect) as regards rates and payment terms.
Since you live here, you're probably also fairly well aware of the less than upright dealings of too many with power and influence from David Cameron (selling off the NHS to his friends) and George Osborne (selling the Post Office to his wedding guests) ... See more It would be duplicitous of me to merely leap to the defence of my countrymen, when in a private email not so long ago, I referred to the our less than glorious reputation (or words to that effect) as regards rates and payment terms.
Since you live here, you're probably also fairly well aware of the less than upright dealings of too many with power and influence from David Cameron (selling off the NHS to his friends) and George Osborne (selling the Post Office to his wedding guests) downwards, through to Blair and his fragrant missus dealing with Kazakhstan via the MOJ's recent deal with Saudi Arabia, just to name last week's disgrace. We are set an appalling example (As are most people in most places.)
But in truth, I just think that means our old reputation as jolly decent chaps with a sense of fair play and knowing what is and isn't cricket has gone out the window, and we're now no better or worse than anywhere else in Europe, taken in the round. Germans typically pay quickly, but with one notable exception, every Belgian agency I've ever negotiated with has opened the proceedings by suggesting 60 or 90 days. Just an example.
And it's difficult to make sweeping judgements. Years ago, I did a translation for a website selling generic Viagra for a bloke who refused to tell me more than his name was John, and he was somewhere in Essex, and he wanted to pay cash. If ever a job screamed "run a mile the other way", this was that job. But he paid me. Sometimes, even in dubious markets, an Englishman's word is still his bond.
When it isn't, there's always cases like this:
http://www.iti.org.uk/news-media-industry-jobs/news/678-press-release-the-insolvency-service-and-john-dixon
As for the slightly hysterical article you posted, of her key points, 1 and 3 are factually incorrect, and 2 is a known loophole that as far as I know is not exactly unique to GB. People who are determined not to pay will typically not pay, no matter where they are based, as these forums testify every week of the year. So we should all be on our guard whoever we trade with, wherever they may be. Including Brits, but not, I would contend, especially Brits (insert Mandy Rice Davies quote here!).
And fun though it is to be able to boast (as I've seen people do) that they have clients in every continent and so on, make sure you know your debt collection procedures and have some inkling of how to enforce them.
I do, however, suspect you are right about rates in general. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tony M
France
Local time: 20:45
Member
French to English
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SITE LOCALIZER | Can't generalize! | Jan 26, 2015 |
I have some excellent business relationships with a number of UK agencies, and have never had any payment issues with any of them; neither have I found rates exceptionally low — in fact, I have often been able to negotiate rates upwards, when the original offer was too low.
I'm sorry you and a number of other people have had such serious problems with one particular company; and I do find it horrifying that the same person can immediatelty start trading all over again, having conv... See more I have some excellent business relationships with a number of UK agencies, and have never had any payment issues with any of them; neither have I found rates exceptionally low — in fact, I have often been able to negotiate rates upwards, when the original offer was too low.
I'm sorry you and a number of other people have had such serious problems with one particular company; and I do find it horrifying that the same person can immediatelty start trading all over again, having conveniently rid themselves of all past debts. I know that here in France, at least theoretically, if a limited company goes bust, the person running it is banned from running another limited company again for a certain period of time.
In the 20 or so years I have been translating, I have only ever had one company fail to pay me a significant amount — and that was based in Spain. Another Belgian company (a direct customer this time, but with an American owner) kept me waiting for a very long time, until I enlisted the help of debt collectors based locally, when surprisingly they paid up very smartly! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Balasubramaniam L.
India
Local time: 00:15
Member (2006)
English to Hindi
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SITE LOCALIZER | I have a different experience | Jan 27, 2015 |
I work for several UK agencies and my experience with them has been quite satisfactory. It fact, they are among the best I have ever worked with and compare very well with US agencies in terms of professionalism, timely payment, interesting projects and communicability.
And I am not jumping to the defence of my former colonial overlords, I really find them to be good
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Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:45
Member (2009)
Dutch to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | perhaps not very cleverly phrased ;-) | Jan 27, 2015 |
Yes, you guys are right. That was a bit of a sweeping generalisation. I sometimes like to exaggerate (especially in post titles), to catch people's interest and induce a response, but in this case it might just be true that there are sharks in every water, not only our own. Well, my own, and that of Charlie, as Tony’s in France and Balasubramaniam in India.
Another reason why I worded it the way I did was that Proz doesn’t allow you to discuss agencies that are also paying membe... See more Yes, you guys are right. That was a bit of a sweeping generalisation. I sometimes like to exaggerate (especially in post titles), to catch people's interest and induce a response, but in this case it might just be true that there are sharks in every water, not only our own. Well, my own, and that of Charlie, as Tony’s in France and Balasubramaniam in India.
Another reason why I worded it the way I did was that Proz doesn’t allow you to discuss agencies that are also paying members of the site (rule #968968986986986), so I decided to talk about UK agencies in general, rather than one UK agency in particular. In any case, probably not such a great idea.
I’m also no lawyer, so wasn’t aware that not all of Josephine’s article is correct. Am looking into the details now.
The thing that’s puzzling me though, is how a person can voluntarily wind up her company, and then start up a new company, under a slightly different name, at the same exact address, only a few months later. I obviously don’t have all the details, but I assume the new company will be using pretty much the same client base and group of translators and interpreters. Is this allowed?
I should also say that I have worked with one good UK translation agency, although I do less and less for them these days as they can’t offer me a high enough rate. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | First-hand experience | Jan 27, 2015 |
Tony M wrote:
...I know that here in France, at least theoretically, if a limited company goes bust, the person running it is banned from running another limited company again for a certain period of time...
Then it's probably not more than 3 years. A small agency customer of mine in Paris went bankrupt in December 2001 with 3700 of my euros, and its boss reopened one in 2004, which is still around - including here.
As regards countries and business practices, I fail to see any trend in any region, as soon as some basic form of screening is performed upstream. Except that the more agencies are prepared to pay, the more likely they are to be trouble-free and pleasant customers.
I had only 2 payment defaults since 2000, all of which come from French agencies.
I have even worked smoothly with Spanish and British agencies.
Philippe
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