| A témához tartozó oldalak: [1 2] > | End client jumping ship(?) Téma indítója: Laurel Clausen
|
|---|
Laurel Clausen 
Egyesült Államok
Local time: 04:11
Tag (2006 óta)
francia - angol
+ ...
Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice. I've been working for Agency A for maybe 5 years and for Agency B for 2 or 3. With Agency A, I've worked on a specific end client's translations for several years, as their "designated" translator (they have insisted on always using me ever since I stepped in to edit a translation with which they were - mostly justifiably - unhappy, some years ago). Agency A recently told me there would be a big project for that client in the pipeline. To my sur... See more Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice. I've been working for Agency A for maybe 5 years and for Agency B for 2 or 3. With Agency A, I've worked on a specific end client's translations for several years, as their "designated" translator (they have insisted on always using me ever since I stepped in to edit a translation with which they were - mostly justifiably - unhappy, some years ago). Agency A recently told me there would be a big project for that client in the pipeline. To my surprise, I received an email from Agency B this morning, with a large project from that same end client!
So here's my question: Due to confidentiality issues, I obviously cannot go and tell Agency A that they appear to have lost this client. At the same time, I have to wonder whether the client is jumping ship because of something to do with either of the agencies or something to do with my own work (which seems extremely unlikely to me, but you never know). Should I mention that I've worked on the end client's projects in the past (keeping the circumstances vague) so that Agency B can make an educated decision whether or not to use me on this, if they know the client's reason for contracting their services? Or would that be a breach of confidentiality (in the general sense, as I have no formal confidentiality agreement with Agency A)?
Thanks in advance for helping me wrap my brain around this!
Laurel ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laurel Clausen
Egyesült Államok
Local time: 04:11
Tag (2006 óta)
francia - angol
+ ...
TÉMAINDÍTÓ
Okay, so I've just gone back and looked at the original heads-up email from Agency A. They did mention what must be the project I received this morning from Agency B (same number and types of files + approx. word count) and said that they had submitted a quote. So it may be just a matter of Agency B having quoted a better rate. But I'm still curious as to your thoughts on this. 
Thanks!
| | | | | I think I wouldn't say a thing | Apr 2, 2013 |
If they have been using you for years, most likely it isn't because of the translation. The person handling the traanslation within the company has probably changed and they want to put their mark on the job (I have had this happen several times). Or they may have been fishing around for better prices. Just make certain that any trade wars between agencies doesn't trickle down to you.
Eileen
| | | | | I don't think you owe anyone any voluntary disclosure | Apr 2, 2013 |
If your Company B asks you directly, tell them, otherwise why volunteer? Once you try telling them a half truth on your own and then stumble or what not, that's where it gets complicated, and complicated isn't what you are paid for. All these shenanigans between agencies have nothing to do with you, so why get involved?
| | |
|
|
|
Heinrich Pesch
Finnország
Local time: 12:11
Tag (2003 óta)
finn - német
+ ...
| Rise your rate for Agency B | Apr 2, 2013 |
But don't tell anyone about your previous relation.
| | | | Laurel Clausen
Egyesült Államok
Local time: 04:11
Tag (2006 óta)
francia - angol
+ ...
TÉMAINDÍTÓ
Heinrich: Oddly enough, my rate is actually slightly higher with Agency B. Go figure.
| | | | | I asked roughly the same question some years back | Apr 2, 2013 |
January 2007 to be precise!
And here is the advice I was given.
http://www.proz.com/forum/business_issues/64300-same_end_client_different_agency_should_i_tell_the_agency.html
I would still abide by it.
Do the job if you can and are interested.
In the meantime I have seen quite ... See more January 2007 to be precise!
And here is the advice I was given.
http://www.proz.com/forum/business_issues/64300-same_end_client_different_agency_should_i_tell_the_agency.html
I would still abide by it.
Do the job if you can and are interested.
In the meantime I have seen quite a number of clients go from one agency to another - partly because of events on the Scandinavian market in 2010, when one of the original agencies I worked for went bankrupt. The client portfolio was taken over by another agency, whom I occasionally work for - but at that stage I did not like them.
Neither did several clients, it seems - although they have made a lot of improvements since, and I now like that agency a lot better!
Those agencies were both Danish.
I have been sent assignments especially from a good number of big clients whom I knew from the first agency, but now mainly through a British one, which is a logical place to go for translations into English after all.
Clients come and clients go, but I take on the jobs and do my best for them...
That is freelancing for you! ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spanyolország
Local time: 11:11
spanyol - angol
+ ...
I'd have no misgivings about taking the job - and the client will be getting the same quality and experience as with Agency A.
| | |
|
|
|
Tatty
Local time: 11:11
spanyol - angol
+ ...
| Deluded agencies | Apr 2, 2013 |
Sometimes big clients simply use several agencies, and the agencies are ignorant of this.
I wouldn't say anything and I would do the work. It's a small world.
| | | | | Agency A and Agency B are different customers, so... | Apr 2, 2013 |
...clearly you owe total confidentiality to each of them. In my opinion it would be a breach of confidentiality to disclose any information to Agency B about your previous relationship with the end customer via another agency. It would also be a breach of confidentiality to disclose the situation to Agency A.
Any translator who is specialised in an area in which only a handful of end customers operate is bound to have this situation sooner or later, and in my opinion it is best to t... See more ...clearly you owe total confidentiality to each of them. In my opinion it would be a breach of confidentiality to disclose any information to Agency B about your previous relationship with the end customer via another agency. It would also be a breach of confidentiality to disclose the situation to Agency A.
Any translator who is specialised in an area in which only a handful of end customers operate is bound to have this situation sooner or later, and in my opinion it is best to treat all customers with total confidentiality, for your own good and for the good of the profession.
And I say for your own good because Agency A would at first appreciate your loyalty... but would drop you for good 3 minutes later because of the risk that you disclosed hints or details about your relationship with them to a third party. I would, and anyone in their sane mind would. "Rome does not pay traitors!" ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Are we playing naïve? | Apr 2, 2013 |
Come on everyone: agencies' sales people are constantly chasing the same accounts and are often at the verge of losing some of their own customers and win other agencies' customers. Sometimes, although not too often if both agencies are reasonably professional, changes like this happen.
All agencies can assume that any reasonably good translator works for several agencies, often in the same market and for similar end customers, so that when they lose an account to a competitor, the ... See more Come on everyone: agencies' sales people are constantly chasing the same accounts and are often at the verge of losing some of their own customers and win other agencies' customers. Sometimes, although not too often if both agencies are reasonably professional, changes like this happen.
All agencies can assume that any reasonably good translator works for several agencies, often in the same market and for similar end customers, so that when they lose an account to a competitor, the same translator is likely to end up getting the work.
It's all known facts or things every minimally informed person can guess, so it is our duty to give the best of ourselves to each and every agency customer, no matter what end customers may decide, we continue to contribute to a healthy, reliable industry.
[Edited at 2013-04-03 05:22 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | nrichy (X)
Franciaország
Local time: 11:11
francia - holland
+ ...
| Agree with Thomas | Apr 2, 2013 |
Even more, in lots of cases the purchasing depts. must ask for several quotes and submit them to their management.
And they compare.
For the translator this is a win-win situation. Just keep quiet and enjoy.
Be prepared to do the proofreading for agency C.
| | |
|
|
|
Phil Hand
Kína
Local time: 18:11
kínai - angol
| Depends on the NDA | Apr 3, 2013 |
Some NDAs forbid you from even mentioning the existence of a contract, and if you've got one of those, then obviously you must abide by it. If not, then I don't think you'd be breaching anyone's confidentiality to say to Agency B, "I've translated successfully for this end client in the past."
The reason you might want to say that is to improve your negotiation position, in order to get better rates, or to encourage them to select you as their main translator for this account. If yo... See more Some NDAs forbid you from even mentioning the existence of a contract, and if you've got one of those, then obviously you must abide by it. If not, then I don't think you'd be breaching anyone's confidentiality to say to Agency B, "I've translated successfully for this end client in the past."
The reason you might want to say that is to improve your negotiation position, in order to get better rates, or to encourage them to select you as their main translator for this account. If you don't need to do either of these things, then I'd err on the side of non-disclosure and say nothing to no-one. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Phil Hand wrote:
"I've translated successfully for this end client in the past."
I don't think so. In my opinion, the right expression would be: "I've translated successfully about this exact industry/topic/kind of material in the past."
| | | | | permissible according to contract? | Apr 3, 2013 |
You ought to look at your contract with Agency A. Non-disclosure agreements are obviously one issue and I agree with the general conclusion presented here: You need to keep quiet about everything.
However, your contract almost certainly also includes a non-compete clause (that's not the right term, I mean something more limited) that forbids you from working for the clients of Agency A either directly or through the mediation of another agency.
In that case you would be... See more You ought to look at your contract with Agency A. Non-disclosure agreements are obviously one issue and I agree with the general conclusion presented here: You need to keep quiet about everything.
However, your contract almost certainly also includes a non-compete clause (that's not the right term, I mean something more limited) that forbids you from working for the clients of Agency A either directly or through the mediation of another agency.
In that case you would be bound by contract to tell Agency B that you can't take on the job because of a pre-existing NCC and not give any further information (to avoid violating your NDA). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | A témához tartozó oldalak: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » End client jumping ship(?) | Pastey | Your smart companion app
Pastey is an innovative desktop application that bridges the gap between human expertise and artificial intelligence. With intuitive keyboard shortcuts, Pastey transforms your source text into AI-powered draft translations.
Find out more » |
| | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
