| Stran v tématu: [1 2] > | Poll: A customer tries to alter the payment schedule after you have started a project. You... Autor vlákna: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "A customer tries to alter the payment schedule after you have started a project. You...".
This poll was originally submitted by Julian Holmes. View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Španělsko
Local time: 19:30
španělština -> angličtina
+ ...
I might be worried about their solvency, but it doesn't usually occur with my regulars and I don't usually have to discuss anything about rates or payment with them. Some pay quicker than others, that's all.
| | | | inkweaver 
Německo
Local time: 19:30
francouzština -> němčina
+ ...
My payment schedule is usually 30 days EOM. That is generous enough and non-negotiable, sorry. Neither my landlord nor the tax office, my health insurance company or even the grocer are willing to alter their payment schedules...
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Never happened to me in 20 years
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Never happened to me, though. At least this customer is kind of honest! In general, I only know that the client decided to alter the payment schedule when the date comes and passes and nothing happens well after the project was completed and delivered!
| | | | Michael Harris
Německo
Local time: 19:30
Člen (2006)
němčina -> angličtina
All depends on the situation / customer.
In the end, if thay pay late, you cannot influence it anyway. Just dont work with tham again in the future.
| | | | John Cutler
Španělsko
Local time: 19:30
španělština -> angličtina
+ ...
If they're a good, regular client, I'd probably just go along with it. Being a freelancer always seems to involve a bit of financial juggling anyway.
If they were a new client, I'd probably also go along, but then put them way down on my list of priorities and WWA.
| | | | | Other or negotiate | Sep 2, 2013 |
Usually the agreed terms are quite simple, because most jobs I do are small, and it is a bit pointless to spend time haggling over 500 words. Either we agree quickly, or the client (which is what I call mine) has to move on and find another translator.
I have given good clients a discount on occasions - on my own initiative - when I discovered that most of the text was already in the TM or very repetitive. It is well worth it, but it doesn't happen often.
Depending on ... See more Usually the agreed terms are quite simple, because most jobs I do are small, and it is a bit pointless to spend time haggling over 500 words. Either we agree quickly, or the client (which is what I call mine) has to move on and find another translator.
I have given good clients a discount on occasions - on my own initiative - when I discovered that most of the text was already in the TM or very repetitive. It is well worth it, but it doesn't happen often.
Depending on the circumstances, I would probably negotiate if it happened over a larger job, but I don't remember it ever occurring. ▲ Collapse
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Tim Drayton
Kypr
Local time: 20:30
turečtina -> angličtina
+ ...
Chris S wrote:
Never happened to me in 20 years
Same here (in fewer years); it is a purely hypothetical question at the moment and I would cross that bridge if I ever came to it.
| | | | | Why there is no "It depends" option | Sep 2, 2013 |
IT DEPENDS
Accept unconditionally if payment is 3 days postponed, but cancel the project if it is postponed indefinitely and conditioned on customer's profits
[Edited at 2013-09-02 08:56 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-09-02 08:56 GMT]
| | | | Thayenga
Německo
Local time: 19:30
Člen (2009)
angličtina -> němčina
+ ...
Michael Harris wrote:
All depends on the situation / customer.
In the end, if thay pay late, you cannot influence it anyway. Just dont work with tham again in the future.
First of all, I would, of course, negotiate. If this fails (usually not with long-term clients), then I will most probably just cancel the project based on the client's "decision".
As Michael stated, we have no influence on when they pay, so it's best not to work with them again. Surely, any client will understand this because he/she doesn't want to receive their translations late, either.
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Thayenga wrote: Michael Harris wrote:
All depends on the situation / customer.
In the end, if thay pay late, you cannot influence it anyway. Just dont work with tham again in the future.
First of all, I would, of course, negotiate. If this fails (usually not with long-term clients), then I will most probably just cancel the project based on the client's "decision". As Michael stated, we have no influence on when they pay, so it's best not to work with them again. Surely, any client will understand this because he/she doesn't want to receive their translations late, either.
I agree with Michael and Thayenga.
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Julian Holmes
Japonsko
Local time: 02:30
Člen (2011)
japonština -> angličtina
| Thank you all for your valuable comments so far | Sep 2, 2013 |
This is just one of a "translator nightmare" series that I suggested recently.
Though unbelievable, this actually did happen to me last year 2 weeks into a 3-month project.
FYI, I refused and canceled the contract because they tried to alter the rules of engagement and told me that they'd pay 3 months later, i.e. 1 month after the project would be finished. I also enlightened them to the illegality of it, and got them to revert to the original payment schedule t... See more This is just one of a "translator nightmare" series that I suggested recently.
Though unbelievable, this actually did happen to me last year 2 weeks into a 3-month project.
FYI, I refused and canceled the contract because they tried to alter the rules of engagement and told me that they'd pay 3 months later, i.e. 1 month after the project would be finished. I also enlightened them to the illegality of it, and got them to revert to the original payment schedule that was already in place.
Please look forward to others in this series. However ridiculous they may seem, they are all true stores and all from the same soon-to-be-divorced customer. Stay tuned.  ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Sorry to hear that... | Sep 2, 2013 |
Julian Holmes wrote: This is just one of a "translator nightmare" series that I suggested recently. Though unbelievable, this actually did happen to me last year 2 weeks into a 3-month project. FYI, I refused and canceled the contract because they tried to alter the rules of engagement and told me that they'd pay 3 months later, i.e. 1 month after the project would be finished. I also enlightened them to the illegality of it, and got them to revert to the original payment schedule that was already in place. Please look forward to others in this series. However ridiculous they may seem, they are all true stores and all from the same soon-to-be-divorced customer. Stay tuned.
I do hope the “divorce” goes well and not like real divorces (long, time-consuming, costly, and often bitter)...
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if the client is a trusted client and is having cashflow problems, then maybe I will accept the situation. Some will actually pay earlier if I tell them I have a cashflow problem so one hand washes the other.
but, in some cases, I will accept the situation once and then never work for them again. Unreliability is a no-no!
After all, they want us to deliver asap and with utter perfection, but muck around with our money ... See more if the client is a trusted client and is having cashflow problems, then maybe I will accept the situation. Some will actually pay earlier if I tell them I have a cashflow problem so one hand washes the other.
but, in some cases, I will accept the situation once and then never work for them again. Unreliability is a no-no!
After all, they want us to deliver asap and with utter perfection, but muck around with our money
@ Julian, in those cases, break out the scotch ▲ Collapse
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