Test Translation from Agency-- Possible Alert to Others
Thread poster: jmf (X)
jmf (X)
jmf (X)  Identity Verified
Spanish to English
+ ...
Aug 15, 2003

Today I received a 509 word test translation from a South American agency that had posted a Spanish-English literary/art job a few days ago on ProZ. I had replied to the job and then translated a short sample they sent via email, and also provided several references and samples of my work. Today they sent a message saying that they will soon be selecting a translator for their project, and I was among the final translators to be considered for the job, and would I please translated the 500 words... See more
Today I received a 509 word test translation from a South American agency that had posted a Spanish-English literary/art job a few days ago on ProZ. I had replied to the job and then translated a short sample they sent via email, and also provided several references and samples of my work. Today they sent a message saying that they will soon be selecting a translator for their project, and I was among the final translators to be considered for the job, and would I please translated the 500 words they sent "as soon as possible". I replied, informing them that I refused to translate the text, since I had already submitted samples of similar work I had done, and had translated the paragraph they sent me the first time.

I STRONGLY suspect they are asking people to translate different samples and compiling the various submissions as a way of getting a free translation - and wanted to notify others before they fall victim to such a scam. If this is not the case and the agency simply wanted yet another test translation, I apologize.

[Edited at 2003-08-15 02:55]
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Narasimhan Raghavan
Narasimhan Raghavan  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:41
English to Tamil
+ ...
In memoriam
No need to apologize Aug 15, 2003

Even if the agency in question is genuine, the way they asked you for a second test that too almost double the normal quantity of 250 words for a test translation, makes their motive highly suspect. No need to apologize. As they say, it is not enough if one is just. One should also appear to be just.

jmf wrote:

Today I received a 509 word test translation from a South American agency that had posted a Spanish-English literary/art job a few days ago on ProZ. I had replied to the job and then translated a short sample they sent via email, and also provided several references and samples of my work. Today they sent a message saying that they will soon be selecting a translator for their project, and I was among the final translators to be considered for the job, and would I please translated the 500 words they sent "as soon as possible". I replied, informing them that I refused to translate the text, since I had already submitted samples of similar work I had done, and had translated the paragraph they sent me the first time.

I STRONGLY suspect they are asking people to translate different samples and compiling the various submissions as a way of getting a free translation - and wanted to notify others before they fall victim to such a scam. If this is not the case and the agency simply wanted yet another test translation, I apologize.

[Edited at 2003-08-15 02:55]


 
Steffen Pollex (X)
Steffen Pollex (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:11
English to German
+ ...
What's the purpose of this posting? Aug 15, 2003

[quote]jmf wrote:

"Today I received a 509 word test translation from a South American agency that had posted a Spanish-English literary/art job a few days ago on ProZ. I had replied to the job and then translated a short sample they sent via email, and also provided several references and samples of my work. Today they sent a message saying that they will soon be selecting a translator for their project, and I was among the final translators to be considered for the job, and would I please translated the 500 words they sent "as soon as possible". I replied, informing them that I refused to translate the text, since I had already submitted samples of similar work I had done, and had translated the paragraph they sent me the first time.

I STRONGLY suspect they are asking people to translate different samples and compiling the various submissions as a way of getting a free translation - and wanted to notify others before they fall victim to such a scam. If this is not the case and the agency simply wanted yet another test translation, I apologize."

So what??? You had some communication with AN AGENCY you don't name at all. So how would others know who they are????!!!


 
Sonja Tomaskovic (X)
Sonja Tomaskovic (X)  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 08:11
English to German
+ ...
??? Aug 15, 2003

Steffen Pollex wrote:
So what??? You had some communication with AN AGENCY you don\'t name at all. So how would others know who they are????!!!


Maybe by contacting jmf privately???????


 
Ralf Lemster
Ralf Lemster  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 08:11
English to German
+ ...
Steffen, have a look at the forum rules... Aug 15, 2003

So what??? You had some communication with AN AGENCY you don't name at all. So how would others know who they are????!!!

Because they may have been in the same situation, or might have noted the same pattern. Forum rules prohibit the naming of outsourcers, that's why the agency was not identified (thanks for sticking to the rules!).

Best regards, Ralf


 
jmf (X)
jmf (X)  Identity Verified
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
To inform others of this situation Aug 15, 2003

So what??? You had some communication with AN AGENCY you don't name at all. So how would others know who they are????!!!
[/quote]

Gee Steffen, since the rules prohibit identifying agencies in forum postings, you would think that for MOST people, identifying the agency's location, language pair, ProZ job decription, approximate posting date and the fact that they asked me to complete two tests, one for immediate turn around, would be enough information for those who received a
... See more
So what??? You had some communication with AN AGENCY you don't name at all. So how would others know who they are????!!!
[/quote]

Gee Steffen, since the rules prohibit identifying agencies in forum postings, you would think that for MOST people, identifying the agency's location, language pair, ProZ job decription, approximate posting date and the fact that they asked me to complete two tests, one for immediate turn around, would be enough information for those who received a response from the agency in question...

[Edited at 2003-08-15 14:29]

[Edited at 2003-08-15 14:41]
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Susana Galilea
Susana Galilea  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 01:11
English to Spanish
+ ...
suspicious request Aug 15, 2003

jmf wrote:
you would think that for MOST people, identifying the agency's location, language pair, ProZ job decription, approximate posting date and the fact that they asked me to complete two tests, one for immediate turn around, would be enough information for those who received a response from the agency in question...


If nothing else, the fact that they placed a deadline for the completion of the test seems rather suspicious to me. Combined with the unreasonable amount of words, I'd say you were wise to refuse to comply.

Best,

Susana Galilea
www.accentonspanish.com


 
Ursula Peter-Czichi
Ursula Peter-Czichi  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 02:11
German to English
+ ...
Other lists are available Aug 15, 2003

jmf wrote:

I STRONGLY suspect they are asking people to translate different samples and compiling the various submissions as a way of getting a free translation - and wanted to notify others before they fall victim to such a scam.
[Edited at 2003-08-15 02:55]


You may like to try the transpayment list to discuss this topic. This list allows a discussion of general business practices before "the kid has fallen in the well". This is usually done without accusations. It is very impressive how those exchanges work. (People will contact each other off-list when it gets too dicey.)
It is very practical to have different types of lists.

http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/transpayment


 
Terry Burgess
Terry Burgess  Identity Verified
Mexico
Local time: 01:11
Spanish to English
+ ...
You did the right thing jmf!! Aug 17, 2003

For what it's worth jmf, I believe you did the right thing. Though you didn't specify the number of words in the first test sample they asked you to translate, I think that to expect you to turn in yet another test sample is downright bloody cheeky and to me, definitely smacks of getting a "freebie". Whereas in the past I might have doubted that people could stoop so low, I had an identical experience here in Mexico City not 3 days ago where it transpires that an executive employee of a well-kno... See more
For what it's worth jmf, I believe you did the right thing. Though you didn't specify the number of words in the first test sample they asked you to translate, I think that to expect you to turn in yet another test sample is downright bloody cheeky and to me, definitely smacks of getting a "freebie". Whereas in the past I might have doubted that people could stoop so low, I had an identical experience here in Mexico City not 3 days ago where it transpires that an executive employee of a well-known bank had sent out a sample test translation [approx. 500 words each] to numerous agencies and, coincidentally, nobody got the job---except the procurer. We live and learn! [hopefully].

Regards:-)
Terry

jmf wrote:

I STRONGLY suspect they are asking people to translate different samples and compiling the various submissions as a way of getting a free translation - and wanted to notify others before they fall victim to such a scam. If this is not the case and the agency simply wanted yet another test translation, I apologize.

[Edited at 2003-08-15 02:55]
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Test Translation from Agency-- Possible Alert to Others







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