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Poll: Have any of your clients requested adjusted payment terms as a result of Covid-19?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Apr 22, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have any of your clients requested adjusted payment terms as a result of Covid-19?".

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Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 08:50
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
+ ...
No Apr 22, 2020

A couple have offered to shorten payment terms or discuss ways to make it easier for their linguists to get through this time. One client had to be chased, but they are notorious for paying late; I suspect this has nothing to do with covid-19.

Katya Kesten
Cinthya Chamarelli
Aline Amorim
Desiree Davidse
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 07:50
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No Apr 22, 2020

Not so far. No change whatsoever regarding payment terms, the big change has been in the number of projects: about 60% less than last month. I work mainly with long-standing customers and over the years they have been excellent payers.

Angie Garbarino
Desiree Davidse
 
Cinthya Chamarelli
Cinthya Chamarelli  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 04:50
Japanese to Portuguese
+ ...
Just one, but... Apr 22, 2020

Just one, but their payment had already been overdue long before the pandemic, so it was just another convenient excuse for them.

Aitana Mendioroz Gallo
 
Anna Jaffe
Anna Jaffe
Netherlands
Local time: 08:50
Dutch to English
+ ...
Yup Apr 22, 2020

One of my larger agencies (rhymes with "Work for Hire") just announced they will be applying a 10% mandatory discount to all their jobs until the end of August. Of course you're always free to reject the job, but that's the only choice you get.

Ventnai
Nadja Balogh
 
Ventnai
Ventnai  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 08:50
German to English
+ ...
yes, one Apr 22, 2020

Anna Jaffe wrote:

One of my larger agencies (rhymes with "Work for Hire") just announced they will be applying a 10% mandatory discount to all their jobs until the end of August. Of course you're always free to reject the job, but that's the only choice you get.


I do translations for the same agency as Anna. It will mean a 20% discount in some cases for me due to their bidding/rates system.


 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 08:50
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
Not yet Apr 22, 2020

Keeping my fingers crossed

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Chris Hall
Chris Hall
Local time: 07:50
French to English
+ ...
"Work for Hire" ??? Apr 22, 2020

After two minutes of quick research, I have found an agency that goes by the name of "Languagewire".

Only because I have a lot of time on my hands at this present moment in time...


[Edited at 2020-04-22 15:53 GMT]


 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Unbelievable Apr 22, 2020

Ian Keith Jones Williams wrote:
I do translations for the same agency as Anna

Why? Why do people work for these exploitative companies?

I remember years ago this particular company took over a Swedish agency I’d done some work for, and introduced some stupid bidding system for jobs. Ffs. I was straight outta there.

But clearly their business model of price before quality works, or they wouldn’t still be around.

But have they no shame?


Dan Lucas
Michele Fauble
Philip Lees
Mervyn Henderson (X)
Carmen Lanzrein
 
Anna Jaffe
Anna Jaffe
Netherlands
Local time: 08:50
Dutch to English
+ ...
Why I allow myself to be exploited Apr 23, 2020

Chris, thank you for your oh-so-wise words.

In my case it works as follows:

No, these people do not pay well, but they are an extremely steady source of work. They have jobs for me nearly every day. That's been pretty much unaffected by the crisis, actually; perhaps related to their low rates? Better-paying clients tend to have something for me a few times a week, month or even year. This agency provides close to half my income. It's a bit of a Catch-22, as that also me
... See more
Chris, thank you for your oh-so-wise words.

In my case it works as follows:

No, these people do not pay well, but they are an extremely steady source of work. They have jobs for me nearly every day. That's been pretty much unaffected by the crisis, actually; perhaps related to their low rates? Better-paying clients tend to have something for me a few times a week, month or even year. This agency provides close to half my income. It's a bit of a Catch-22, as that also means I'm usually too busy to want to spend much time hunting for replacements. I hate acquisition.

Also, just like you, I started off working for a completely different (Belgian) agency, which was subsequently bought up by this (Danish) one less than a year ago. I preferred the old one, though it must be said their rates weren't that great either.
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Christopher Schröder
Olga-Translator
 
Ventnai
Ventnai  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 08:50
German to English
+ ...
Good price Apr 23, 2020

Ian Keith Jones Williams wrote:
I do translations for the same agency as Anna

Why? Why do people work for these exploitative companies?[/quote]

Actually, I don't feel exploited at all. I normally get a fair price after bidding. I turn down jobs which are at a low rate or the agency turns me down when it doesn't accept my proposed higher rate. Some of the blame must be laid at the door of end clients, some of whom are always trying to cut costs.


Christopher Schröder
 
Philippe Etienne
Philippe Etienne  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 08:50
Member
English to French
Yes Apr 23, 2020

Shortly before the end of March and my invoicing round, an agency suggested that I reduce my March invoice (4 digits) by 10% to help them through the fall.
Instead I offered to invoice half of it, then half of the uninvoiced total in April, etc. It was accepted.
I'm smoothening any potential cash flow issue they may have and taking an additional risk.

I don't think I should donate to companies, because they may have more levers and weight than freelancers to be helped b
... See more
Shortly before the end of March and my invoicing round, an agency suggested that I reduce my March invoice (4 digits) by 10% to help them through the fall.
Instead I offered to invoice half of it, then half of the uninvoiced total in April, etc. It was accepted.
I'm smoothening any potential cash flow issue they may have and taking an additional risk.

I don't think I should donate to companies, because they may have more levers and weight than freelancers to be helped by governments. Perhaps they should donate to us instead, by increasing our invoice totals.

Philippe
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Christopher Schröder
Olga-Translator
 
Bruno Depascale
Bruno Depascale  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 08:50
Member (2009)
English to Italian
+ ...
the diktat of "Work for Hire" Apr 23, 2020

Hi, I work for "Work for Hire" too, in particular for a client in the medical field (who rhymes with "Mon-like", which I don't think is affected at all but the covid situation, since they are selling more products to fight the pandemic.
I don't like the approach of "Work for Hire", which sounds like a diktat to me. If they really have financial trouble, I could give them 2-3 months for processing the payment.
But maybe we translators should give them a unified answer?


Olga-Translator
 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
@Anna Apr 23, 2020

Anna Jaffe wrote:
No, these people do not pay well, but they are an extremely steady source of work.

Yeah, I totally understand that, although it’s not for me.

But when they do something like this, don’t you just want to tell them to **** off?


 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:50
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Stuck Apr 23, 2020

Chris S wrote:
But when they do something like this, don’t you just want to tell them to **** off?

No doubt she does, but at close to 50% of her income, she's between a rock and a hard place. Classic catch-22, as she acknowledges.

Dan


 
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Poll: Have any of your clients requested adjusted payment terms as a result of Covid-19?






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