Should I charge an additional fee to a customer that requests a translation previously made (5 year) Thread poster: Manuel Aburto
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Manuel Aburto 
Nicaragua
Local time: 06:34
English to Spanish
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I would like to know if I must charge an additional fee to a customer that requests a translation previously made, around 5years ago.
This is the first time it happens to me, and I would like to know how to proceed.
In advance, thank you for your comments on this topic.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 14:34
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Manuel Aburto wrote:
I would like to know if I must charge an additional fee to a customer that requests a translation previously made, around 5 years ago.
If it is no extra effort to send him the old translation, I would send him the old translation "as a favour" without charging anything.
Does the client know that this is an old translation that you had previously sent?
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Manuel Aburto wrote:
I would like to know if I must charge an additional fee to a customer that requests a translation previously made, around 5years ago.
This is the first time it happens to me, and I would like to know how to proceed.
In advance, thank you for your comments on this topic.
Is this a translation that you did in the past for this same client? Or something you translated for a different client?
[Edited at 2022-03-21 16:21 GMT]
[Edited at 2022-03-21 16:21 GMT]
| | | | Manuel Aburto
Nicaragua
Local time: 06:34
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER | @Samuel and Rachel | Mar 21, 2022 |
@Samuel Murray:
Hi Samuel,
Thank you very much for your comment on my question.
They keep records of translations previously requested, then I guess the already know that it is a document that I translated some time ago.
@Rachel:
Hello Rachel,
Absolutely, I mean, it is a document that I translated a couple of years ago (around 5yrs ago) for the very same client.
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Manuel Aburto wrote:
@Samuel Murray:
Hi Samuel,
Thank you very much for your comment on my question.
They keep records of translations previously requested, then I guess the already know that it is a document that I translated some time ago.
@Rachel:
Hello Rachel,
Absolutely, I mean, it is a document that I translated a couple of years ago (around 5yrs ago) for the very same client.
You'd probably be justified in asking for an admin fee but I'd be inclined to do the same as Samuel and just send it over as a favour to keep the relationship good. Up to you really.
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Are you sure it is exactly the same text? I can’t remember how any times this happened to me over the years, but it did happen (though more often than not it wasn’t the same client). For me it depends who the client is. I remember that once the text came from a very regular customer and I just told him “Are you aware that I translated this text X years ago? If you haven’t in your files I’m more than happy to send it again”. In another case with a not so regular client I charged the t... See more Are you sure it is exactly the same text? I can’t remember how any times this happened to me over the years, but it did happen (though more often than not it wasn’t the same client). For me it depends who the client is. I remember that once the text came from a very regular customer and I just told him “Are you aware that I translated this text X years ago? If you haven’t in your files I’m more than happy to send it again”. In another case with a not so regular client I charged the time spent comparing the two texts… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Joakim Braun
Sweden
Local time: 14:34
German to Swedish
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| Absolutely not | Mar 21, 2022 |
If you can find the file easily.
| | | | Nikolay Novitskiy
Russian Federation
Local time: 17:34
Member (2018)
English to Russian
| No additional charge needed | Mar 22, 2022 |
Perhaps the client wants you to translate the same file differently? I would suggest you ask them.
If you use CAT-tools, this file should be stored in your TM. So you can apply the new requirements the client asks and modify the file.
And I think that no addidtional charge needed. I would have rather applied my editing rate here.
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Liviu-Lee Roth
United States
Local time: 08:34
Romanian to English
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| A different approach | Mar 22, 2022 |
I encounter this type of scenario, at least 2-3 times/year, with documents coming from the government.
Each time I charge them the full price of the translation.
If I were you, I would charge the client the full price of the translation and if he objects, I would ask for a fee (your rate/hour) to compare the whole new text with the previous version.
Good luck,
Lee
| | | | | Something to consider | Mar 22, 2022 |
Many agencies stipulate in their confidentiality clauses that all material related to projects (including TMs) should be deleted after delivery. So, would this company have wanted you to keep the original translation?
Just a thought that came up...
| | | | Manuel Aburto
Nicaragua
Local time: 06:34
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER
Firstly, I would like to say thank you for all your comments and suggestions.
Secondly, I am fully aware that I cannot charge again as a regular translation, however, I would like to know if it is Ok. if I charge it as a proofreading job, because the client sent me the very same document (37 pages) in a different format and he was not sure if it was the same document I translated for home five years ago, so although I did not make any translation I did spend sometime comparing both ... See more Firstly, I would like to say thank you for all your comments and suggestions.
Secondly, I am fully aware that I cannot charge again as a regular translation, however, I would like to know if it is Ok. if I charge it as a proofreading job, because the client sent me the very same document (37 pages) in a different format and he was not sure if it was the same document I translated for home five years ago, so although I did not make any translation I did spend sometime comparing both documents to confirme if the latter was the same document sent 5 years ago.
Once again, thank you for all your feedback. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | That's different | Mar 22, 2022 |
Manuel Aburto wrote:
Firstly, I would like to say thank you for all your comments and suggestions.
Secondly, I am fully aware that I cannot charge again as a regular translation, however, I would like to know if it is Ok. if I charge it as a proofreading job, because the client sent me the very same document (37 pages) in a different format and he was not sure if it was the same document I translated for home five years ago, so although I did not make any translation I did spend sometime comparing both documents to confirme if the latter was the same document sent 5 years ago.
Once again, thank you for all your feedback.
That's different then ... if you didn't know that the texts were the same you should definitely charge for your time.
[Edited at 2022-03-22 18:28 GMT]
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Michael Newton
United States
Local time: 08:34
Japanese to English
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| Additional fee | Mar 24, 2022 |
I think that this would depend on how current the customer is. If they hadn't contacted me in the last five years, I would charge maybe $25.00 for the favor. If they were a current customer, I would do it for free. If they wanted extensive rewrites or explanation, they should be charged.
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