tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post1204801816162891069..comments2024-03-25T03:02:08.418-07:00Comments on Translation Times: Getting Paid TwiceJudy Jenner and Dagmar Jennerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15991071510108619107noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-45981539637636028582013-07-03T10:27:24.858-07:002013-07-03T10:27:24.858-07:00@Arline: How interesting that this situation actua...@Arline: How interesting that this situation actually happens quite frequently! How wonderful that your effort and your honesty paid off. Excellent outcome indeed.<br /><br />@Liz: Very well done. I could not agree more that honesty is indeed the best policy for sure. We are pretty certain that you've made yourself very popular with your client.Judy Jenner and Dagmar Jennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15991071510108619107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-39889926487155159342013-07-03T03:27:08.863-07:002013-07-03T03:27:08.863-07:00It happened to me once, when a relatively new clie...It happened to me once, when a relatively new client sent a cheque then later sent another one. I informed them, and told them I would destroy the second cheque, which I did. It's just not worth messing around, and yes, honesty is the best policy.Liz Cencettinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-22734436966539218092013-07-03T03:22:34.659-07:002013-07-03T03:22:34.659-07:00I had a similar experience to Sarah's just tod...I had a similar experience to Sarah's just today - a good but occasional client had issued a provisional PO for a job that came in late and I had to scramble to get it done before going on holiday, including working on Saturday. After I came home, I realised the provisional PO was a bit too high and emailed them to let them know - they said they'd leave it high as a thank-you for helping them out despite the delay! So honestly and flexibility do pay, sometimes literally!Arline Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04799853858757054999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-48956542626581222932013-07-02T19:01:45.287-07:002013-07-02T19:01:45.287-07:00@Emma: Thanks for sharing such a great example of ...@Emma: Thanks for sharing such a great example of professional ethics. You surely deserve the client's gratitude and how fantastic that your business relationship is now stronger than ever. We also appreciate this about our accountants and tax advisors: they always tell us if we've already had a discussion about XYZ (we tend to forget this stuff) and never charge us twice for the same advice, which is the right thing to do. And that's why we are loyal clients of these fantastic tax professionals.<br /><br />Let's keep this conversation going -- great insight here from everyon!Judy Jenner and Dagmar Jennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15991071510108619107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-71483008545774132562013-07-02T14:46:26.256-07:002013-07-02T14:46:26.256-07:00Definitely agree with you on this one.
I was in a...Definitely agree with you on this one. <br />I was in a similar situation recently when I was sent a file to translate and realised that I'd translated exactly the same file for the same client 3 months earlier. Of course I could have sent it in again and charge for it, but I decided just to tell them that they already had the translation. <br />Result: a pleased client and an improved business relationship.Emma Goldsmithhttp://www.signsandsymptomsoftranslation.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-34988875946597322632013-07-01T21:13:52.408-07:002013-07-01T21:13:52.408-07:00@Hajnalka: Thanks for reading and for commenting. ...@Hajnalka: Thanks for reading and for commenting. Good for you for doing the right thing, even though it was a bit of a tough decision, difficult client and all. You are right, though: it feels great to do the right thing, doesn't it? Judy Jenner and Dagmar Jennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15991071510108619107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-80015585615951724262013-07-01T17:04:26.349-07:002013-07-01T17:04:26.349-07:00@Zoya: Thanks for reading and for the lovely comme...@Zoya: Thanks for reading and for the lovely comment and the great examples. You are absolutely right: it is indeed all about trust, and have to prove to our clients that we've earned it. <br /><br />@Sarah: How fantastic -- an "honesty payment"! Well deserved! Thanks for sharing this unusual and very lovely outcome.<br /><br />@Cynthia: How funny that the same just happened to you, and kudos to you for dealing with the issue right away. We like your point about how being highly ethical is just as important as an accurate translation. We could not agree more.<br /><br />@Jill: Ah, good point. Yes, underpayments must also be dealt with quiet swiftly, you are right! Excellent point about stealing. I wonder if clients who underpay also realize the flip side of this. Judy Jenner and Dagmar Jennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15991071510108619107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-51383615505019409312013-07-01T11:16:14.403-07:002013-07-01T11:16:14.403-07:00I had a very nerving client, who always paid me la...I had a very nerving client, who always paid me late (over 100 days after invoice, which they only wanted to have at the end of the month of the completed job(s). Their policy would be paying 60 days after invoice).<br />Once they paid me instead of another translator. It was like 300 euros.<br />When I saw the money in my bank account, it was a bit difficult to "force" myself to send it back, but I did. <br />I felt much better after I send their money back.Kishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17271304790663645263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-41761831938133593052013-07-01T10:02:34.824-07:002013-07-01T10:02:34.824-07:00What funny timing--this just happened to me for th...What funny timing--this just happened to me for the first time 2 weeks ago--they sent a check and wired the money as well. I called right away and sent the check back, they were happy I noticed this. Your post is spot-on, about honesty and good karma as well--after all, we all put in a great deal of effort on our image (and the reality) of being professionals, and this is part of professional integrity, just like doing an accurate translation. Nice blog post, as all the others, thanks and keep up the good work!<br />Cynthia Johnsonhttp://www.johnson-translation.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-85098978011509473242013-07-01T08:28:44.184-07:002013-07-01T08:28:44.184-07:00I never mess around with payments. I always contac...I never mess around with payments. I always contact the client if there is an under or overpayment. It just isn't worth ruining a relationship over a few extra bucks, and I wouldn't be able to look in the mirror. Keeping an overpayment would essentially be stealing.bonnjillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00999568046599761603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-45476855707885083302013-07-01T07:16:15.597-07:002013-07-01T07:16:15.597-07:00A relatively new client (who sends me quite a lot ...A relatively new client (who sends me quite a lot of work) overpaid by 10 euros (on a job that only paid around 70 euros). I pointed it out as soon as I realised and offered to knock the extra off my next invoice. Since it was such a small amount, they told me to keep it as an 'honesty payment' and said that they really appreciated me telling them. <br /><br />No matter how small the amount or how big the company, honesty is always the best policy.Sarah Pybusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2618029197139250711.post-52499017667186576122013-07-01T01:21:36.536-07:002013-07-01T01:21:36.536-07:00It also happened to me twice. The first time was w...It also happened to me twice. The first time was with a regular client who sends me work every month. When I let them know that they had paid me twice, they thanked me a million times and asked me to keep the money and subtract the overpaid amount from the next invoice. The second time it happened with another client who sends me work every 3-4 months. They pay me via PayPal so we agreed that I would issue a refund. <br /><br />I believe it is absolutely necessary to let your client know when they overpay. After all, we want to build a relationship with our clients based on trust, right?Zoya Nayshtuthttp://www.proz.com/profile/84519noreply@blogger.com