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How can you check if an outsourcer is ok
Thread poster: Danik 2014
Danik 2014
Danik 2014
Brazil
German to Portuguese
+ ...
Mar 5, 2016

Hi,
I got several invitations to join translations agencies lately. Some of them are neither registered on Proz nor are they on the Blue Board. How can I check if they are ok?
Thank you very much for your help.
 
Srini Venkataraman
Srini Venkataraman
United States
Local time: 15:57
Member (2012)
Tamil to English
+ ...
checking Mar 5, 2016

1. check in google for the company name- some may have already reviewed the company
2. Check the company website for address, phone nos, details of their operations etc
3. If there is an office in your country- try calling them
4. get IP address of the URL: then get the geographic location of the IP (https://www.iplocation.net)- to check whether this matches with their physical address giv... See more
1. check in google for the company name- some may have already reviewed the company
2. Check the company website for address, phone nos, details of their operations etc
3. If there is an office in your country- try calling them
4. get IP address of the URL: then get the geographic location of the IP (https://www.iplocation.net)- to check whether this matches with their physical address given


[Edited at 2016-03-05 16:58 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 21:57
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
More routes Mar 5, 2016

For information on risk management check out:
- the spam centre here: http://www.proz.com/about/translator-scam-alerts/
- the Wiki articles here: http://wiki.proz.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Risk_management

Specific ideas:
- Google for th... See more
For information on risk management check out:
- the spam centre here: http://www.proz.com/about/translator-scam-alerts/
- the Wiki articles here: http://wiki.proz.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Risk_management

Specific ideas:
- Google for their email address, contact name and/or other identifiers along with the word "scam"
- Check out the company name on their country's comapnies register, many of which are available online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_company_registers#Switzerland
- Check the address on Google Earth (although this isn't infallible)

Also, engage them in a few email exchanges to get your own feel of how they do business. But above all, refuse to do anything other than a small job or jobs until you've seen the colour of their money. Always limit your amount of business risk to what is manageable. You shouldn't ever lose it, but if you do it shouldn't result in you not being able to put food on the table. ▲ Collapse
 
Danik 2014
Danik 2014
Brazil
German to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Many thanks, Srini and Sheila Mar 5, 2016

Thank you both for your valuable advice.
I am going to put some of it to practice at once.
Thanks also for your advice about being wary of bad payers, Sheila.
I've been lucky in that aspect so far. But some stories I have read here make me want to be careful.
I wish you both a nice weekend!

[Edited at 2016-03-05 21:30 GMT]
 
Joakim Braun
Joakim Braun  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 22:57
German to Swedish
+ ...
Contact details Mar 7, 2016

Any agency inquiry signed with first name only and not giving full contact or company details goes straight into my trash bin unanswered.

That's true for 95% of inquiries sent through Proz.

In my non-translation work, practically all inquiries come with full contact details. What does this indicate about translators or about the bulk of translation agencies, I wonder?
 
Danik 2014
Danik 2014
Brazil
German to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
To be sure Mar 8, 2016

You are right, Joakim, but these last inquiries seem ok in these aspects.
But it is an important point and the quality of their English when they first contact you another one.
Thanks a lot for your advice!
I wish you a nice week!
 
Robert Rietvelt
Robert Rietvelt  Identity Verified
Local time: 22:57
Member (2006)
Spanish to Dutch
+ ...
You can't Mar 9, 2016

I agree with all comments, try to find as much information about the outsourcer as possible, but the bottom line (to answer your question) is: 'You can't'. There are agencies I have worked with for years which all of a sudden become bad payers.



[Edited at 2016-03-09 22:26 GMT]
 
Danik 2014
Danik 2014
Brazil
German to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
You are right Mar 10, 2016

Thank you very much for your advice
Unfortunately you are rigth. I think this happens because of economical backlashes and a general change in ethical attitude.
And some agencies simply prefer translators with cheap rates.
 
lis2491
lis2491
Austria
Local time: 22:57
English to German
+ ...
Double-checking helps, but you'll never know Mar 10, 2016

I agree with Robert. Googling them and their contact details and getting in touch via e-mail and phone can help. But eventually, it's trial and error.

Make sure to request advance payments for larger projects that require more than a few days of work.

Hope this helps!
 
Wolf Kux
Wolf Kux  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 18:57
Member (2006)
German to Portuguese
+ ...
Thanks for geographic location of the IP! Mar 10, 2016

Srini Venkataraman wrote:

1. check in google for the company name- some may have already reviewed the company
2. Check the company website for address, phone nos, details of their operations etc
3. If there is an office in your country- try calling them
4. get IP address of the URL: then get the geographic location of the IP (https://www.iplocation.net)- to check whether this matches with their physical address given


[Edited at 2016-03-05 16:58 GMT]


 
Danik 2014
Danik 2014
Brazil
German to Portuguese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks a lot... Mar 11, 2016

...lis 2491 and Wolf!
Freelance is a risk managment!
Have a nice day!
 


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