| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | In general, do the agencies you work with give you the contact details of end clients for questions? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "In general, do the agencies you work with give you the contact details of end clients for questions?".
This poll was originally submitted by Rolf Kern. View the poll results »
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2010-10-21 11:49 GMT]
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 19:24
English to French
+ ...
| Not in general | Oct 21, 2010 |
... but it happens, with several agencies I work WITH (as someone else pointed out recently in another poll), for questions or delivery of the finished translation.
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:24
German to English
+ ...
| It has been known ... | Oct 21, 2010 |
Generally, no. But it has happened in a couple of instances. Normally if there are so many questions flying backwards and forwards that it's easier for me to consult directly with the client.
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Interlangue wrote:
... with several agencies I work WITH ...
Nice little point about the use of the right preposition there .
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Mary Worby wrote:
Generally, no. But it has happened in a couple of instances. Normally if there are so many questions flying backwards and forwards that it's easier for me to consult directly with the client.
and Yes, I agree with the preposition used by Interlanguage... WITH sounds much better
I would also change work with COOPERATE
doesn't it sounde better? "cooperate with"....
| | | | José Gralike (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 19:24
German to Dutch
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Interlangue wrote:
... but it happens.
| | | | Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:24
Russian to English
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In memoriam | I wish it happened more often | Oct 21, 2010 |
I once reluctantly accepted a medical translation (outside my usual field) about treatment of injuries caused by land mines. The agency put me in touch with the medical institute which had ordered the translation, and with a lot of questions and answers back and forth, I was able to produce an acceptable translation and learn a considerable amount about the subject matter.
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Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 13:24
Spanish to English
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The only thing I find surprising about the poll results is the high number of "yes" responses.
I cannot recall a single instance of direct contact with a client (i.e., in work assigned to me by translation agencies) over the course of eight years and hundreds of projects.
The reason why this is not common practice is simple: Translation agencies do not want it to happen because they are frightened of the possibility of an independent financial relationship deve... See more The only thing I find surprising about the poll results is the high number of "yes" responses.
I cannot recall a single instance of direct contact with a client (i.e., in work assigned to me by translation agencies) over the course of eight years and hundreds of projects.
The reason why this is not common practice is simple: Translation agencies do not want it to happen because they are frightened of the possibility of an independent financial relationship developing between their clients and the translators with whom they contract.
[Edited at 2010-10-21 13:06 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 13:24
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| No, and I'd rather deal with the agency | Oct 21, 2010 |
It is too easy to offend through the medium of email, and I'd rather someone else dealt with the clients.
If I have questions, I submit them to my PMs, who are people whom I know, at least through email. They deal with all of the end clients, whom I don't know.
I have developed relationships with the PMs over the years. We exchange news along with project info. These are good relationships, and I value them. They also took time to develop, time which I consider w... See more It is too easy to offend through the medium of email, and I'd rather someone else dealt with the clients.
If I have questions, I submit them to my PMs, who are people whom I know, at least through email. They deal with all of the end clients, whom I don't know.
I have developed relationships with the PMs over the years. We exchange news along with project info. These are good relationships, and I value them. They also took time to develop, time which I consider well spent. That said, I don't want to have to do that with all of the end clients as well (and at least one of the end clients is a real pill to deal with, so I'd rather have a buffer between myself and them). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I chose 'Other'... | Oct 21, 2010 |
... because my real answer is sometimes. Sometimes it has happened, that I get the details of the end clients, to clarify terminology. Or when they require a hardcopy of my translation, and then they ask me to send it directly (via DHL, Fedex, etc.) to the client.
And especially with interpretation jobs, when foreigners are coming to Peru and they need me to work for them as a local interpreter. In this case I am always in touch with the end client, so I get to know them in person, ... See more ... because my real answer is sometimes. Sometimes it has happened, that I get the details of the end clients, to clarify terminology. Or when they require a hardcopy of my translation, and then they ask me to send it directly (via DHL, Fedex, etc.) to the client.
And especially with interpretation jobs, when foreigners are coming to Peru and they need me to work for them as a local interpreter. In this case I am always in touch with the end client, so I get to know them in person, as well as all their data.
[Edited at 2010-10-21 14:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 13:24
German to English
| It's happened a few times | Oct 21, 2010 |
When I lived in Germany many years ago, one agency sent me to work on-site at the client's offices. This project lasted -- on and off-- for several months. The work environment was pleasant and the customer paid for my lunch in the company cafeteria.
Once, before a US holiday weekend, a PM gave me the contact details of the end client in Europe, as the deadline was tight and there were numerous terminology issues.
In the past few years, one particular agency has taken m... See more When I lived in Germany many years ago, one agency sent me to work on-site at the client's offices. This project lasted -- on and off-- for several months. The work environment was pleasant and the customer paid for my lunch in the company cafeteria.
Once, before a US holiday weekend, a PM gave me the contact details of the end client in Europe, as the deadline was tight and there were numerous terminology issues.
In the past few years, one particular agency has taken me to various end customers' offices to meet with their contact person (this was due to the complexity of the projects involved). This was done at no small expense to the agency, as it involved international travel. However, the agency remained the contact for all issues. ▲ Collapse
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Adam Warren
France
Local time: 19:24
Member (2005)
French to English
| Some do, some don't | Oct 21, 2010 |
On the whole, large, well-run agencies get their project managers to handle queries, which saves time for the translator, and the feedback is usually efficiently handled by the agency project managers, although they sometimes have to milk the answers from clients.
I have had personal contact with some clients of clients, though, particularly on in-house translating and interpreting assignments.
| | | | Rolf Kern
Switzerland
Local time: 19:24
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | My poll question | Oct 21, 2010 |
I think that the Proz staff has altered my question, but I am not completely sure. I do not think having written "in general", but most certainly I have written "give you the contact details of end clients in the PO", which was my most important point, that was destroyed.
This for your information.
| | | | Ventnai
Spain
Local time: 19:24
German to English
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My main agency has a dialogue system which I can use to contact the client directly but the project manager sometimes has to intervene to ensure the client answers.
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