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Thread poster: golf264
golf264
golf264  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 04:46
English to Dutch
+ ...
Feb 20, 2008

I dont know if other translators have had to endure this experience, but I have recently been a victim of a large number of fraud and attempts to defraud. I have actually fallen for a few of these
but could recognize some at the start as false, and could therefore avoid being used.

But I continually ask myself what we can do as translators about this. Because none of us stands
to profit from these types of fraud-crimes, whether it happens to me or someone else. It appea... See more
I dont know if other translators have had to endure this experience, but I have recently been a victim of a large number of fraud and attempts to defraud. I have actually fallen for a few of these
but could recognize some at the start as false, and could therefore avoid being used.

But I continually ask myself what we can do as translators about this. Because none of us stands
to profit from these types of fraud-crimes, whether it happens to me or someone else. It appears that there is a growing pool of employers/task-assigners that just have no plans to pay at all, and this from the beginning.

To come to a possible solution, I have thought up a few ideas over time. Wouldn't it be achievable/advantageous to set up a sort of funds for translators that can assist translators with information, legal advice, and in extreme cases even assistance by a legal case in the event of
fraud/delayed payment?

FOr the largest question that would be associated with this - how would we pay this off - I have as a possible answer that we could ask/require every translator that renews/starts his/her membership to make a contribution to the funds - for the purpose of protecting our trade against such cases.

I am myself ready to pay this amount, and I don't think that it has to be too high either, because
a large number of employers for whom I have worked are indeed honest concerning payment.

To recognise the differences in laws of various countries, couldn't we adjust the amount respectively, based on the residence country of the translator?

I don't know of course how we must set everything up precisely, or how this can be perfected, but
this appears to me to be a good start.

I would gladly hear you ideas/commentary.

P.S. For my Dutch-speaking colleagues, there is a seperate but same forum article in that category. ▲ Collapse
 


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