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Poll: Do you delete all documents after delivering a project to your client? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you delete all documents after delivering a project to your client?".
This poll was originally submitted by Yetta J Bogarde. View the poll results »
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| Only if the client asks... | Jul 31, 2014 |
which never happened
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| Since clients... | Jul 31, 2014 |
... sometimes ask for a translation I did months or even years before, that alone is a good reason not to delete the translation. Or it happens that an end client asks for a new translation of a document that is related to the old translation. It would be silly to no longer have the work on record.
On one occasion I was asked to delete the records of a highly confidential and sensitive document, and of course I did so.
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I have been asked to once or twice and have done so, but I do wonder whether there is much point. As I understand it, anyone who really wanted to could still get the info off your computer - or do I just read too many cheap thrillers?
Most of the work I do is market-sensitive but generally we just use bog-standard unencrypted email anyway. Makes me wonder how paranoid you really need to be.
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Tim Drayton 
Cyprus
Local time: 22:13
Turkish to English
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I'd rather keep everything. Certainly, I want to keep copies of my work until I have been paid just in case I have to take legal action and then the work itself will constitute the most important piece of evidence that I performed my side of the bargain. Once I have been paid, I still prefer to retain a copy on a memory stick. I just feel that a query about work I have done may come years later and it would be useful to have the translation to refer back to - although this has never actually hap... See more I'd rather keep everything. Certainly, I want to keep copies of my work until I have been paid just in case I have to take legal action and then the work itself will constitute the most important piece of evidence that I performed my side of the bargain. Once I have been paid, I still prefer to retain a copy on a memory stick. I just feel that a query about work I have done may come years later and it would be useful to have the translation to refer back to - although this has never actually happened. If the client specifically requests that no copies be kept, this is fine, but they have to send me a signed statement saying that I have fulfilled all of my obligations and they are satisfied with the quality of the translation. Otherwise, how can I prove this in the event of a dispute? ▲ Collapse
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| Yes, always... | Jul 31, 2014 |
... unless the client asks me to keep them.
It's part of my non-disclosure policy/procedure.
However I don't delete them immediately. Depending on the circumstances, I may keep them for a couple of months, just in case there is an additional request.
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Some clients demand this because it's required by some ISO standard or whatnot. They even send reminders 1 month after delivery, which really is meaningless since, if you're connected to the Internet, you are hackable and open to attack 24/7, anyway. Just love the Internet, don't you!? 
However ... I try to keep TMs, reference materials and other valuable resources saved on non-volatile offline storage device for futu... See more Some clients demand this because it's required by some ISO standard or whatnot. They even send reminders 1 month after delivery, which really is meaningless since, if you're connected to the Internet, you are hackable and open to attack 24/7, anyway. Just love the Internet, don't you!?
However ... I try to keep TMs, reference materials and other valuable resources saved on non-volatile offline storage device for future use. You never know when they will come in handy.
I really would hate to delete something after delivery to hear from the client/customer that they never received it and want me to resend it. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! ▲ Collapse
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Agree with Tim + you never know when and where it can be claimed: for a recurring/new order from the same customer, for another assignment (especially if you haven't created a TM), or for some other needs (without disclosure of any confidential issues, of course).
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ArtefactHT
Canada
Local time: 15:13
English to French
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I do not. My professional association requires me to keep all documents on file for at least 3 years.
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Obviously, I would do so if the client requested it, but this has never happened.
However, this has:
Tim Drayton wrote:
I just feel that a query about work I have done may come years later
in my case, 5 years after delivery of the original translation. Fortunately, I still had the file and was able to resolve the issue.
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Rebecca Garber
Local time: 15:13
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
I've never had a client ask me to do this.
I would if they did, but they haven't, so I haven't.
I delete information about projects that I didn't end up accepting, but I figure that's an industry standard for translators.
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Under the terms of my professional-indemnity insurance, I have to keep job documents in the unlikely event of a claim.
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 13:13
Dutch to English
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I have kept copies of all my translations on USB drives since the day I started. Sometimes people have lost their copy and ask me for another copy. Sometimes I use them as as an example, or even as a template, for a new, similar document.
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| No, except after 10 years | Jul 31, 2014 |
No, I usually kept all documentation for about 10 years and delete it after this time.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 21:13
Member (2009)
English to German
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| Only if requested | Jul 31, 2014 |
I don't delete anything except when a client insists on the destruction of all documents. Again, with the exception of the invoice, a must-keep.
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