| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | How to deal with ''5 star agencies'' Thread poster: Iuliana Bozkurt
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Sarah McDowell 
Canada
Local time: 11:19
Member (2012)
Russian to English
+ ...
| What other resources do you use to check outsourcers' payment practices? | Sep 12, 2012 |
Cristiana Coblis wrote:
First of all, in my opinion, BB records should be taken with a grain of salt. I personally always double check using other resources.
Hi Cristiana,
This is a very interesting and informative forum post. I feel that I have learned a lot by reading it.
I would like to know what other resources you use to double check outsourcers. Can you list them here or send me an e-mail about these resources please? So far I only know about the Blue Board here on Proz.
Thanks,
Sarah
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:19
Hebrew to English
| Payment Practices | Sep 12, 2012 |
Sarah McDowell wrote:
Cristiana Coblis wrote:
First of all, in my opinion, BB records should be taken with a grain of salt. I personally always double check using other resources.
Hi Cristiana,
This is a very interesting and informative forum post. I feel that I have learned a lot by reading it.
I would like to know what other resources you use to double check outsourcers. Can you list them here or send me an e-mail about these resources please? So far I only know about the Blue Board here on Proz.
Thanks,
Sarah
Have you read this:
http://www.proz.com/forum/business_issues/227039-help_on_how_to_check_up_on_outsourcers.html
...it mentions a few of the ways...
a) Google
b) Checking obvious things for discrepancies (IP address, Whois database etc).
c) Checking their credit history - there's a fee paying site I've heard of but I can't remember what it's called...tip of the tongue phenomenon....
...it may have been "Payment Practices" ( http://www.paymentpractices.net )
...aaaand finally this thread....
http://www.proz.com/forum/prozcom_job_systems/112118-risk_with_outsourcers_with_no_blue_board.html
Ty.
| | | | | IP address discrepancies | Sep 12, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote:
b) Checking obvious things for discrepancies (IP address, Whois database etc).
Just one caveat: Take discrepancies between IP address and geographic location with a grain of salt, as such checks (whether using whois or other methods) can be wildly inaccurate.
The geographical location of the web host certainly doesn’t mean very much (many popular hosts are in the States, for example—it’s just a service provider, which really can be anywhere in the world), and depending on how the connectivity is set up, everything might seem to originate from the web host. Even the IP address of the user’s own PC (if that can be traced) need not reveal accurate information. My own geographic location, for example, often appears on the net to be in the neighbouring province of Quebec, and I used to work at a place where the IP would be traced to somewhere in the States. So while these checks may give you a rough idea of where the other party is located, they can also be very misleading.
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 09:19
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Another grain of salt | Sep 12, 2012 |
I get suspicious whenever I see a bunch of fantastic ratings made on the same day or within one single week. There are agencies that send out emails to their translators and ask for a BB-entries. I don't like this kind of begging. I will post a good BB-rating either after the first US $10,000 of revenue or after 1 year of regular cooperation. I don't want to rate a company after one or two small jobs that happened to be paid in a timely manner, and I don't want to be solicited for my rating.
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Sarah McDowell
Canada
Local time: 11:19
Member (2012)
Russian to English
+ ...
Yes, I attended the Risk Management for Translators session on Proz.com. I am aware of those forum posts. I know about things like doing google/yandex searches to make sure that their information corresponds with what they tell you. I know about researching IP addresses and checking out addresses on google/yandex maps.
The site "Payment Practices" is new to me. I just looked at the site and realized that you have to pay to access the service. Would you say that it's worthwhile to pay to be able to access their site?
Thanks again,
Sarah
| | | | urbom
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:19
German to English
+ ...
| try before you buy | Sep 12, 2012 |
The Payment Practices list offers a 7-day free trial period. Then you can decide for yourself whether you wish to pay for continued access.
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:19
Hebrew to English
| It's been recommended to me, never had occasion to use it yet... | Sep 12, 2012 |
Sarah McDowell wrote:
The site "Payment Practices" is new to me. I just looked at the site and realized that you have to pay to access the service. Would you say that it's worthwhile to pay to be able to access their site?
I've not actually used it yet, I'd definitely consider it, and urbom pointed out the free trial.
I've heard other people talk positively about it and regard it favourably so it can't be all bad.
@Ambrose Li
I agree, any such information should be appropriately handled and viewed critically. However, it can be of great use if you are dealing with someone claiming to be in Jordan but apparently originating in Nigeria, or some other hotbed of scamming.
| | | | Cristiana Coblis
Romania
Local time: 19:19
Member (2004)
English to Romanian
+ ...
| Various sources | Sep 12, 2012 |
Hi, Sarah!
If you are on LinkedIn, there are several groups created for this purpose. However, I would have to add a +1 for Payment Practices ( http://www.paymentpractices.net ), which I use regularly. As I said, I like to double check and, in some cases, it made me change my mind completely. Records are more structured and more factual and go beyond a simple rating and occasional comment. One thing... See more Hi, Sarah!
If you are on LinkedIn, there are several groups created for this purpose. However, I would have to add a +1 for Payment Practices ( http://www.paymentpractices.net ), which I use regularly. As I said, I like to double check and, in some cases, it made me change my mind completely. Records are more structured and more factual and go beyond a simple rating and occasional comment. One thing to keep in mind is that Payment Practices has a database that also contains older records, sometimes you might find there records that you will not find elsewhere. Another thing is that the system is for subscribers only, it is not public. I also appreciate that from time to time they send warnings for notorious non-payers or bankruptcies (luckily not that often  ). I have been a paying member for a few years now, it is well worth the subscription fee for me.
HTH ▲ Collapse
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Jean Chao (X)
United States
Local time: 09:19
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Payment Practices allow you to make comments about your test translation experience | Sep 13, 2012 |
I left a message about an agency a few days ago regarding the test translation experience I had with them. I believe there's no way to comment on an agency as such on Proz.com.
I am a subscriber to this service. Can't say I use it regularly because I prefer to work with agencies more or less within US time zone. I think Payment Practice will be very helpful to translators who would like to work with a variety of agencies worldwide.
===============================... See more I left a message about an agency a few days ago regarding the test translation experience I had with them. I believe there's no way to comment on an agency as such on Proz.com.
I am a subscriber to this service. Can't say I use it regularly because I prefer to work with agencies more or less within US time zone. I think Payment Practice will be very helpful to translators who would like to work with a variety of agencies worldwide.
=======================================
I was asked to do a 500-word free test with three different subjects, answer a long open-ended questionnaire from the "big-name" client and fill out a long questionnaire from the agency itself. It took me quite a few days to meet their requirements. There was no response at all for almost three weeks until I checked with them. They told me I didn't pass the test but couldn't provide any review comments or notes because it's not their customary practice. I have worked as a part-time translator for twenty years and a full-time translator for almost four years, I review other translator's work all the time with comments. If they decide a translator doesn't meet their standards, the least they can do is prove it. Beware if you're asked to do a test for this agency.
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