Poll: If you start working on a job and the client withdraws it, do you charge for the work you have Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you start working on a job and the client withdraws it, do you charge for the work you have done?".
This poll was originally submitted by Muriel Vasconcellos
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more informati... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you start working on a job and the client withdraws it, do you charge for the work you have done?".
This poll was originally submitted by Muriel Vasconcellos
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I always ask and get paid half in advance | Oct 20, 2005 |
I have not experienced this situation as I every time I get a new job I first tell clients how much it will cost and they have to pay half the price in advance. The other half when thejob is delivered. Only once have I been told by a client that they no longer need the traslation, then unfortunately they lost the downpayment.
| | | | | It depends on how much I've done, and why they withdrew. | Oct 20, 2005 |
If I've devoted less than half a day to the job; if communication between the client and me has been honest and open; if the client is apologetic but has a legitimate reason (read: one I can sympathize with!) for withdrawal, I let it go. This has happened to me twice that I recall.
If, on the other hand, I've done a lot of research, maybe turned down other jobs, gotten a good start on the job, and the client doesn't bother to tell me about the withdrawal until I contact him/her with... See more If I've devoted less than half a day to the job; if communication between the client and me has been honest and open; if the client is apologetic but has a legitimate reason (read: one I can sympathize with!) for withdrawal, I let it go. This has happened to me twice that I recall.
If, on the other hand, I've done a lot of research, maybe turned down other jobs, gotten a good start on the job, and the client doesn't bother to tell me about the withdrawal until I contact him/her with a question ("Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to call you..."), then I most certainly (and courteously) request payment for my time invested. This, too, has happened to me twice that I recall; once the client paid, once he did not. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Time & effort invested = no payment??? | Oct 20, 2005 |
mercedes davila wrote:
I have not experienced this situation as I every time I get a new job I first tell clients how much it will cost and they have to pay half the price in advance.
This sounds like paradise! I wish we would be able to convince our new clients about that, too, but I don't think our chances are very good
About the poll, one of the alternatives was a bit disturbing: "Nothing has been delivered, so it will not be charged" (sorry if I haven't quoted this exactly, but anyway it was the sense).
Well, IMHO it has really nothing to do what has been delivered or not, it's a question about what work has been carried out until the client decided to withdraw the job. If we have invested time and effort for doing the job, we'll need to charge for that. In such cases we have always charged for the work which was done, even if only a part of the translation was finished, and no client has complained so far. If client wants to, we can always deliver the beta version of the translation, as a proof that the work really has been carried out.
Regards
Erik
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Erik Hansson ( SFÖ )
Technical translator DE-SV
Hansson Übersetzungen GmbH
Am Birkenwäldchen 38
D-01900 Bretnig-Hauswalde, Germany
Phone +49 - 3 59 52 - 321 07
Fax +49 - 3 59 52 - 322 02
E-Mail [email protected]
Internet www.hansson.de
Internet www.t-translators.net
Internet www.technical-translators.net
ProZ profile http://www.proz.com/pro/21654
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[Edited at 2005-10-20 20:32]
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| I really enjoy everyone's comments! | Oct 20, 2005 |
I've had variable experience in this area. With my biggest client, I let it go if I haven't done very much because normally they pay well and promptly, and I know where the money's coming from (quota contributions from member countries). I feel bad charging for something that served no purpose. With other clients, I'm pleased to say that they have always offered to pay for what I did.
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