| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Translator not delivering Thread poster: Vince1974
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| Competency and discretion are friends | Aug 26, 2014 |
Just dropping a line to say that it's not very sound to think that "if a translator has a ton of positive WWAs he must be good"... Beyond the facts that marketeers have more than one (unethical) tricks in their bags (Facebook likes are bought now e.g.) and that all WWAs don't have the same value (very demanding agency client vs. uneducated client or "low-cost, low-standard acquaintances" praising each other e.g.), it's known that in walks of life the most competent are not those who shout the lo... See more Just dropping a line to say that it's not very sound to think that "if a translator has a ton of positive WWAs he must be good"... Beyond the facts that marketeers have more than one (unethical) tricks in their bags (Facebook likes are bought now e.g.) and that all WWAs don't have the same value (very demanding agency client vs. uneducated client or "low-cost, low-standard acquaintances" praising each other e.g.), it's known that in walks of life the most competent are not those who shout the louder, either because they don't need to, or because they don't want to (a form of humility perhaps). I'll go so far as to say at some point there could be a negative correlation between the number of WWAs translators have on ProZ and the quality standard they hold themselves to.
Another line to say that I agree with others who said a commitment is a commitment. Notwithstanding exceptional cases, whatever the circumstances (including personal mishaps), if you commit you have to deliver. No excuse! And giving no news is an aggravating circumstance!
Let's hope s/he's alright, first, then let's hope you won't forget to leave a feedback in due time if it appears s/he can't provide valid explanations! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Vince1974 
Ireland
Local time: 11:07
English to Dutch
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TOPIC STARTER | No phone number | Aug 26, 2014 |
I am quite sure I saw a phone number at some stage but I can't seem to find one for him now, therefore unable to ring him, wherever he is. All our communication has been through email and on Skype he just accepted my contact request.
Anyway, I'm going to award this job to another translator and forget about this particular guy.
Thanks for all the input!
| | | | Edward Potter
Spain
Local time: 12:07
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
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What happened in the end?
| | | | Vince1974
Ireland
Local time: 11:07
English to Dutch
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TOPIC STARTER
In the end I advised my client of the unfortunate delay due to the non-delivery of the original translator (who has still not been in touch) and I proposed another translator through ProZ. The client informed me that he will decide on Monday whether to go ahead with the suggested option.
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| Sounds like something more serious than a non-delivery | Sep 1, 2014 |
Based on the fact that he still hasn't got back to you, I'd say there is something seriously wrong on the other side. It wouldn't be the first translator to become seriously ill or to die while working on a job.
| | | | | I have heard from two or three colleagues | Sep 1, 2014 |
throughout the years that their translator disappeared and never came back. I found this each time very puzzling and bewildering. Who will ever know what happened? I always hope they won a lottery or had an otherwise very agreeable upheaval of their life, but still it wouldn't be very professional not to show up anymore.
| | | | | Professionals do not disappear | Sep 2, 2014 |
Unless dead or dying, a professional translator does communicate with customers of jobs in process in case of a serious situation. And even if dead or dying, a professional translator has some kind of arrangement for some other person to contact customers and inform them of the situation, minding urgent administrative matters (paying suppliers and taxes, for instance), etc.
I have heard this story from several customers of mine who hired translators who then disappeared, probably be... See more Unless dead or dying, a professional translator does communicate with customers of jobs in process in case of a serious situation. And even if dead or dying, a professional translator has some kind of arrangement for some other person to contact customers and inform them of the situation, minding urgent administrative matters (paying suppliers and taxes, for instance), etc.
I have heard this story from several customers of mine who hired translators who then disappeared, probably because they bit off more than they could chew. Unfortunately there is a certain type of person who tend to cease to communicate in embarrasing or challenging situations. They are out there! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 11:07
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
even if dead or dying, a professional translator has some kind of arrangement for some other person to contact customers and inform them of the situation, minding urgent administrative matters (paying suppliers and taxes, for instance), etc.
I agree that we'd move heaven and earth to reply if we were able but to be honest, if I were dead or dying I don't think my clients would hear much for some while. I suppose it would be left to my husband to contact them, and I can't see him giving my clients much of a thought in the first few days or even weeks. I don't have suppliers, but I think Mr Tax Man might have to cool his heels a bit, too.
I don't know any translators on my island and I imagine the person would need to be in situ to get files off my computer. Am I supposed to be nominating someone?
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| An "emergency kit"? | Sep 2, 2014 |
Sheila Wilson wrote:
I don't know any translators on my island and I imagine the person would need to be in situ to get files off my computer. Am I supposed to be nominating someone?
I know what you mean. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit -- after all, once we are dead, we will not worry much about earthly matters, will we --, but it would not be a bad idea for those who work alone to have an "emergency kit" with passwords, information about bank accounts, insurance policies, credit cards, existence of a will and where, and the like, as well as information about how to contact customers in case something bad happens, so that our loved ones can take care of things and inform those concerned.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 11:07
Member (2007)
English
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| I guess you're right | Sep 2, 2014 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
it would not be a bad idea for those who work alone to have an "emergency kit" with passwords, information about bank accounts, insurance policies, credit cards, existence of a will and where, and the like, as well as information about how to contact customers in case something bad happens, so that our loved ones can take care of things and inform those concerned.
I can see the need. One more thing to add to the "to do" list, then! I think I might just risk putting that one off until mañana though, as one does here .
| | | | Lincoln Hui
Hong Kong
Local time: 18:07
Member
Chinese to English
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| My emergency kit | Sep 2, 2014 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote: Sheila Wilson wrote:
I don't know any translators on my island and I imagine the person would need to be in situ to get files off my computer. Am I supposed to be nominating someone? I know what you mean. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit -- after all, once we are dead, we will not worry much about earthly matters, will we --, but it would not be a bad idea for those who work alone to have an "emergency kit" with passwords, information about bank accounts, insurance policies, credit cards, existence of a will and where, and the like, as well as information about how to contact customers in case something bad happens, so that our loved ones can take care of things and inform those concerned.
...involves wiping everything off my hard disk.
Especially my D:/ Drive.
[Edited at 2014-09-02 13:58 GMT]
| | | | Rita Pang
Canada
Local time: 06:07
Member (2011)
Chinese to English
+ ...
MODERATOR | I most certainly do | Sep 3, 2014 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote: Sheila Wilson wrote:
I don't know any translators on my island and I imagine the person would need to be in situ to get files off my computer. Am I supposed to be nominating someone? I know what you mean. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit -- after all, once we are dead, we will not worry much about earthly matters, will we --, but it would not be a bad idea for those who work alone to have an "emergency kit" with passwords, information about bank accounts, insurance policies, credit cards, existence of a will and where, and the like, as well as information about how to contact customers in case something bad happens, so that our loved ones can take care of things and inform those concerned.
I have an alias email thing where I have authorized a friend of mine to use. She is also someone I collaborate with occasionally on translation projects. In times where I am not reachable my clients can connect with her. I do have this "kit" thing with a family member. Plus, being an avid backpacker, I actually am thinking of drawing up a will this year - you never know.
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| Had this happen twice... | Oct 27, 2014 |
I've had translators disappear on me twice.
Once it was someone from Proz with a bunch of good reviews, he turned out to have had computer problems and I couldn't contact him in any way (didn't have his phone number). He did in the end deliver a good translation, just a day or two after the actual deadline (for a very small job, so it was annoying, but luckily didn't have any huge consequences).
Another time I hired someone who had applied to my company when I just star... See more I've had translators disappear on me twice.
Once it was someone from Proz with a bunch of good reviews, he turned out to have had computer problems and I couldn't contact him in any way (didn't have his phone number). He did in the end deliver a good translation, just a day or two after the actual deadline (for a very small job, so it was annoying, but luckily didn't have any huge consequences).
Another time I hired someone who had applied to my company when I just started, good-looking resume, graduated from the same school as I did, well-written e-mail. This was about a year after I'd gotten his application, and he was very responsive, so I thought all was well. This was for my best client too. I think the deadline was on a Sunday noon, as I had to deliver to the client on Monday, and I asked Sunday around 10am if the translation was coming along as planned, he said "Yeah, I've typed everything up Friday evening, I just need to do some stylistic tweaks. Would have done it yesterday, but I've been in bed with a fever (a translator can never fall ill )".
So I tell him: Well, I need to do a final revision anyway, just send it to me, and I'll finish it.
Then: no more replies to any of my mails. Sunday night, I try and call him, the number turns out to not exist. I then start to grow suspicious and start translating the text myself.
Monday morning, I get a mail from his supposed wife saying that he is very ill and that he's sent the text to a British colleague who will finish it and send it to me on Monday.
I explain that I offered to finish it myself and got no reply, and that none of my attempts to contact him worked. I also say that I need the text by Monday noon at the latest.
The wife mails back Monday evening saying the colleague couldn't finish the text as promised, and that they regret it and will definitely have the text by Tuesday morning. She also mentions her husband had to spend the day in the hospital for a starting pneumonia.
I then decided to translate everything myself and tell them it is simply too late, and I won't be able to pay them if I don't get the translation in time, as I'd already offered on multiple occasions to just work with the preliminary translation.
I then get a final email the next day saying that the colleague didn't deliver as promised and they were very angry with him and would never work with him again.
I let them know I've already sent in the translation, as I couldn't keep my client waiting, and I am very unhappy with their services.
Never heard from them again. I also don't get why anyone would do this, it is obvious they never intended to translate the text in the first place, and it's not like they could get any info on my client from the text I sent them and I would never pay them without getting a translation. ▲ Collapse
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 06:07
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
Ine Ramaekers wrote: I've had translators disappear on me twice. Once it was someone from Proz with a bunch of good reviews, he turned out to have had computer problems and I couldn't contact him in any way (didn't have his phone number). He did in the end deliver a good translation, just a day or two after the actual deadline (for a very small job, so it was annoying, but luckily didn't have any huge consequences). Another time I hired someone who had applied to my company when I just started, good-looking resume, graduated from the same school as I did, well-written e-mail. This was about a year after I'd gotten his application, and he was very responsive, so I thought all was well. This was for my best client too. I think the deadline was on a Sunday noon, as I had to deliver to the client on Monday, and I asked Sunday around 10am if the translation was coming along as planned, he said "Yeah, I've typed everything up Friday evening, I just need to do some stylistic tweaks. Would have done it yesterday, but I've been in bed with a fever (a translator can never fall ill )". So I tell him: Well, I need to do a final revision anyway, just send it to me, and I'll finish it. Then: no more replies to any of my mails. Sunday night, I try and call him, the number turns out to not exist. I then start to grow suspicious and start translating the text myself. Monday morning, I get a mail from his supposed wife saying that he is very ill and that he's sent the text to a British colleague who will finish it and send it to me on Monday. I explain that I offered to finish it myself and got no reply, and that none of my attempts to contact him worked. I also say that I need the text by Monday noon at the latest. The wife mails back Monday evening saying the colleague couldn't finish the text as promised, and that they regret it and will definitely have the text by Tuesday morning. She also mentions her husband had to spend the day in the hospital for a starting pneumonia. I then decided to translate everything myself and tell them it is simply too late, and I won't be able to pay them if I don't get the translation in time, as I'd already offered on multiple occasions to just work with the preliminary translation. I then get a final email the next day saying that the colleague didn't deliver as promised and they were very angry with him and would never work with him again. I let them know I've already sent in the translation, as I couldn't keep my client waiting, and I am very unhappy with their services. Never heard from them again. I also don't get why anyone would do this, it is obvious they never intended to translate the text in the first place, and it's not like they could get any info on my client from the text I sent them and I would never pay them without getting a translation.
But what does this mean "and it's not like they could get any info on my client from the text I sent them"? I just didn't understand why you were mentioning this. What is your point here?
[Edited at 2014-10-27 20:08 GMT]
| | | | jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 06:07
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Can the OP share what eventually happened? | Oct 28, 2014 |
It would be better to let all of us know the result.
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