Poll: Do you ask your clients to sign a contract?
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ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Mar 13, 2011

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you ask your clients to sign a contract?".

This poll was originally submitted by Estelle Demontrond-Box. View the poll results »



 
Tatty
Tatty  Identity Verified
Local time: 06:33
шпански на англиски
+ ...
PO for direct clients Mar 13, 2011

I prepare a purchase order for direct clients, I include the details of the contact person. All they have to do is sign and/or seal it but they often try to get out of it, so I have to insist a little.

 
Interlangue (X)
Interlangue (X)
Ангола
Local time: 06:33
англиски на француски
+ ...
No Mar 13, 2011

They ask me to confirm (by email) that I accept their order (part of their ISOxxxx procedure) and/or I ask them to confirm their order (by email) when they have no job numbering system. No contract and no signature.

 
Jana Kinská
Jana Kinská  Identity Verified
Република Чешка
Local time: 06:33
англиски на чешки
+ ...
PO... Mar 13, 2011

... is all I ask for.

 
Yasutomo Kanazawa
Yasutomo Kanazawa  Identity Verified
Јапонија
Local time: 13:33
Член (2005)
англиски на јапонски
+ ...
No Mar 13, 2011

It's just the opposite. Not all, but some clients ask me to sign a contract.

 
Adnan Özdemir
Adnan Özdemir  Identity Verified
Турција
Local time: 07:33
германски на турски
+ ...
Generally not. But Mar 13, 2011

But in some cases yes.

But, but...

1) Contracts...

2) Agreements...

3) Purchase orders.... are for good clients i think

If the client faker is (turkish=üçkağıtçı/dolandırıcı/bürosalcı ise) what for is the contract ?



Saludos desde Anatolia
Anadolu'dan selamla
... See more
But in some cases yes.

But, but...

1) Contracts...

2) Agreements...

3) Purchase orders.... are for good clients i think

If the client faker is (turkish=üçkağıtçı/dolandırıcı/bürosalcı ise) what for is the contract ?



Saludos desde Anatolia
Anadolu'dan selamlar

[Edited at 2011-03-13 12:50 GMT]
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Giles Watson
Giles Watson  Identity Verified
Италија
Local time: 06:33
италијански на англиски
Во сеќавање на
A pro-memoria Mar 13, 2011

Adnan Özdemir wrote:

If the client faker is (turkish=üçkağıtçı ise) what for is the contract ?



It is always useful to have the precise terms of the job in writing, even when there is no formal contract. What if your original contact in the client organisation disappears halfway through a project for some reason (promotion, resignation, illness, etc)? What do you say to the new contact, who may want an earlier deadline or have different ideas about pricing?

If the client doesn't issue POs or written agreements, it's prudent to send at least an email summarising terms and conditions for the job, and insist that the client acknowledge receipt.


 
Adnan Özdemir
Adnan Özdemir  Identity Verified
Турција
Local time: 07:33
германски на турски
+ ...
Agree Mar 13, 2011

Agree Giles,

Thank you very much

Giles Watson wrote:

Adnan Özdemir wrote:

If the client faker is (turkish=üçkağıtçı ise) what for is the contract ?



It is always useful to have the precise terms of the job in writing, even when there is no formal contract. What if your original contact in the client organisation disappears halfway through a project for some reason (promotion, resignation, illness, etc)? What do you say to the new contact, who may want an earlier deadline or have different ideas about pricing?

If the client doesn't issue POs or written agreements, it's prudent to send at least an email summarising terms and conditions for the job, and insist that the client acknowledge receipt.


 
neilmac
neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 06:33
шпански на англиски
+ ...
No Mar 13, 2011

My attitude to this questions is "why give myself extra work and hassle?"
If any client, old or new, wants me to sign one, I don't usually mind. However, I try to take a personal approach, and usually start off in "business" relations by simply trusting the clients to keep to any agreements and conditions, hoping this confidence will turn out to be mutual. If things don't work out, the relation can usually be terminated before any damage is done.

Perhaps not the most business
... See more
My attitude to this questions is "why give myself extra work and hassle?"
If any client, old or new, wants me to sign one, I don't usually mind. However, I try to take a personal approach, and usually start off in "business" relations by simply trusting the clients to keep to any agreements and conditions, hoping this confidence will turn out to be mutual. If things don't work out, the relation can usually be terminated before any damage is done.

Perhaps not the most businesslike ways of doing things, but I sleep at night.

[Edited at 2011-03-13 10:12 GMT]

[Edited at 2011-03-13 10:13 GMT]
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Simon Bruni
Simon Bruni  Identity Verified
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 05:33
шпански на англиски
Unnecessary in my experience Mar 13, 2011

In 6 years freelancing I have not once found a reason to need a contract. I just try to be as clear as possible in the e-mails discussing terms so that if there is any dispute later on there is something concrete to refer back to.

Pernickety is the word that springs to mind when someone sends me a PO that adds nothing that can't be said in a quick e-mail.

Cheers
Simon


 
Patricia Prevost
Patricia Prevost  Identity Verified
Шпанија
Local time: 06:33
англиски на шпански
+ ...
No, never found it necessary, same as Neilmac Mar 13, 2011

neilmac wrote:

My attitude to this questions is "why give myself extra work and hassle?"
If any client, old or new, wants me to sign one, I don't usually mind. However, I try to take a personal approach, and usually start off in "business" relations by simply trusting the clients to keep to any agreements and conditions, hoping this confidence will turn out to be mutual. If things don't work out, the relation can usually be terminated before any damage is done.

Perhaps not the most businesslike ways of doing things, but I sleep at night.

[Edited at 2011-03-13 10:12 GMT]

[Edited at 2011-03-13 10:13 GMT]


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Германија
Local time: 06:33
Член (2009)
англиски на германски
+ ...
Other, rather: not necessarily Mar 13, 2011

The details of a job are usually pin-pointed in an e-mail - which I, of course save and store, even after the work has been completed.

Only with new agencies/first time contacts I ask for a PO, but usually only for larger projects. Again, all details are summarized in the email.

Happy Sunday.


 


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Poll: Do you ask your clients to sign a contract?






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