| Pages in topic: [1 2] > |
Personal information in advance? Thread poster: FrenyNLiska
|
|---|
FrenyNLiska 
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
Dear colleagues.
After being approved in a test, I received a request from a translation agency to send my information for their files. The problem is that they want not only the W-9 form, but also a copy of my driver`s licence and social security card. The agency is in the Blue Board and the IP address of the contact person is in the same town and everything seems legitimate. However, I still don`t feel comfortable sending all this information and I wonder if this procedure is com... See more Dear colleagues.
After being approved in a test, I received a request from a translation agency to send my information for their files. The problem is that they want not only the W-9 form, but also a copy of my driver`s licence and social security card. The agency is in the Blue Board and the IP address of the contact person is in the same town and everything seems legitimate. However, I still don`t feel comfortable sending all this information and I wonder if this procedure is common.
Anyone has a opinion about this? Thank you very much for your help! ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Natasha Liberman
United States
Local time: 10:24
Member (2012)
Russian to English
+ ...
| Not extremely common, but common enough | Apr 16, 2012 |
I have done so for two or three agencies with no ill effects. Best of luck!
| | | |
LEXpert
United States
Local time: 11:24
Member (2008)
Croatian to English
+ ...
Are you going to be driving for them?
Are you applying to be their full- or part-time employee?
If not, there is no earthly reason for them to need either a driver's license or a SS card from you. As a freelancer, I've never been asked for either of these documents, and such a request from a US agency strikes me as highly unusual.
Perhaps they are planning to run a background check on you?
I'd ask why they want the information.
... See more Are you going to be driving for them?
Are you applying to be their full- or part-time employee?
If not, there is no earthly reason for them to need either a driver's license or a SS card from you. As a freelancer, I've never been asked for either of these documents, and such a request from a US agency strikes me as highly unusual.
Perhaps they are planning to run a background check on you?
I'd ask why they want the information.
[Edited at 2012-04-16 14:56 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | |
FrenyNLiska
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Natasha and Rudolf. You`re right, I should ask them first why they need the information.
| | |
|
|
|
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 10:24
Dutch to English
+ ...
| Same experience | Apr 16, 2012 |
I recently did a translation for a new (for me) agency. They were very satisfied with my work and asked me to register. They wanted, amongst other things, my date of birth, ID number, and passport number. I pointed out that these things have nothing to do with translation and that I was not willing to provide that information. They were not willing to budge either, so goodbye agency...
| | | |
| Do not give that information to them (yet) | Apr 16, 2012 |
FrenyNLiska wrote:
However, I still don`t feel comfortable sending all this information and I wonder if this procedure is common.
I have been working for a decade and a half for several US companies and agencies and they never requested such documents.
Personally I would explain to them that you do not feel comfortable handing out such sensitive documents without any actual job, purchase order, or invoice issued yet.
May I say that I entirely agree with Tina: if they say that they cannot give you work without the documents... politely kiss them good bye! There is no need in working for unreasonable agencies who care more about their internal procedures than about working with good translators.
[Edited at 2012-04-16 15:36 GMT]
| | | |
FrenyNLiska
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Tina. I contacted them and they said this`s normal procedure because they need to confirm that I`m who I say I`m. I`m thinking about what to do.
| | | |
FrenyNLiska
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Tomás. I may do just that - hard thing is that I really would like to work for them.
| | |
|
|
|
FrenyNLiska wrote:
Thank you Tina. I contacted them and they said this`s normal procedure because they need to confirm that I`m who I say I`m. I`m thinking about what to do.
Makes sense. Then ask them to send you a copy of their incorporation documents and the drivers license of their directors. You need to confirm that they are who they are.
Edited to add this: This was not meant to be a joke. Actually you have more to lose, since after all you are the supplier. It would be you who is more entitled to confirm that they are a legitimate company and that they are who they claim to be, since you have a higher risk of not being paid by them than the opposite, right?
[Edited at 2012-04-16 15:42 GMT]
| | | |
FrenyNLiska
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
TOPIC STARTER
This one was good! Thank you for the laugh!
| | | |
| Risks involved | Apr 16, 2012 |
The thing is that if they have all that info, *they* can say that they are you, and they will have all the necessary documents to prove it. So, though it can be a simple love of paperwork from an agency with no ill intent whatsoever, there's definitely a risk of identity theft. Check them out very thoroughly, I'd say.
| | | |
FrenyNLiska
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks Susan. That's what I'm afraid of. Why are these "problems" always getting in the middle of our work!
| | |
|
|
|
Niina Lahokoski
Finland
Local time: 19:24
Member (2008)
English to Finnish
+ ...
| Copies with numbers crossed out | Apr 16, 2012 |
In the rare cases I have been requested this, I have prepared a scanned copy with all the sensitive information (social security numbers etc.) covered with a bit of paper or similar before scanning. This way they can check you are you but don't have access to your sensitive information.
| | | |
FrenyNLiska
United States
Local time: 11:24
English to Portuguese
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Ninna. I guess this would be a clever way to solve the problem and maybe keep the client.
| | | |
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 10:24
Dutch to English
+ ...
In addition to my earlier post: previously the agency had already asked for: my resume, copies of my university degrees, and a photo (I sent the same one I have on proz). I thought that was enough.
| | | |
| Pages in topic: [1 2] > |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
