| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Late payment or no payment Thread poster: Marta de Mattos Jónsson
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Hello!
I made this big translation and after a month I was supposed to get paid and it still didnt happen.
Four days have passed from the accorded payment day. I am sending emails, but only got one answer as they “will verify”.
I am starting to get very upset, thinking they wont pay me.
What to do now?
Has anyone gone through this?
| | | | Samuel Murray 
Netherlands
Local time: 10:13
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Marta de Mattos Jónsson wrote:
I made this big translation and after a month I was supposed to get paid and it still didn't happen.
Sorry to hear this, Marta. Yes, not getting paid or not getting paid on time is a frequent problem for translators. It's possible that they meant that they will pay within 30 days after they received your invoice, or that they meant that they will pay within 30 days after the last day of the month in which you had completed the translation.
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Saying that they “will verify” it’s kind of a hopeful answer. Maybe they are just a few days late. Bad payers are usually more likely to ignore any email regarding payment…
| | | | Andriy Yasharov
Ukraine
Local time: 11:13
Member (2008)
English to Russian
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| A phone call | Dec 13, 2022 |
Calling on the phone the company that failed to make a payment on due date usually helps. This method helped me a few times.
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| Thank you all! | Dec 13, 2022 |
Thank you, guys! Makes me more hopeful! ♥️
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:13
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
four days is not much, they are typically late at least 1 week (calling weekends, holidays, logistic reasons, etc.). However, it's good that you reacted after four days allowing enough time for them to check and respond. How were they with emails during the project execution, reactive or slow?
| | | | | Active emails | Dec 13, 2022 |
They were active and prompt at answering emails during the project, and always very polite and attentive.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 03:13
English to Russian
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How did this job come about? What do you know about the client?
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| Blue Board solution? | Dec 13, 2022 |
Nothing earth-shatering for the time being, as your invoice doesn't seem to be overdue for long.
As a last resort, don't hesitate to post a comment on their Blue Board profile, if they have one. It often helps to unlock the situation. But only as a last resort.
| | | | | Better late then never | Dec 13, 2022 |
Marta, as I understood, the payment is 4 days late. Experience has learned me that some agencies, even the good ones, are paying after 2 months, even if they promise to pay within 30 days.
So, I keep calm and wait 2 months before taking action. First I send them a polite request (something must have gone wrong within your administration and if they could please pay me within 5 working days). If that doesn't happen, they receive the same request (less polite, no please anymore), wit... See more Marta, as I understood, the payment is 4 days late. Experience has learned me that some agencies, even the good ones, are paying after 2 months, even if they promise to pay within 30 days.
So, I keep calm and wait 2 months before taking action. First I send them a polite request (something must have gone wrong within your administration and if they could please pay me within 5 working days). If that doesn't happen, they receive the same request (less polite, no please anymore), with this difference that I want the due amount to be transferred to my bank account asap (= immediately). If that doesn't work, they receive a mail in which I tell them they leave me no choice but to make use of the different platforms available to us translators. That mostly does the trick.
So, till sofar no worries, be patient, the money will come eventually.
Good tip for the next time you are working with an unknown client, check him out before accepting anything!
[Edited at 2022-12-13 20:35 GMT]
[Edited at 2022-12-13 20:36 GMT]
[Edited at 2022-12-13 20:38 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Better late than sorry! | Dec 13, 2022 |
Another tip: I wouldn't even consider taking a large project from a first-time client. Trust is something that builds up over time...
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 10:13
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
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| The contrast… | Dec 13, 2022 |
Marta de Mattos Jónsson wrote:
They were active and prompt at answering emails during the project, and always very polite and attentive.
Doesn’t sound good that they were prompt when they needed you, and not so prompt when you need them.
Others raised a good question: What do you know about this client and their history? It may be their standard modus operandi and preying on beginners…
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Robert Rietvelt wrote:
So, I keep calm and wait 2 months before taking action.
Respectfully, Robert, I disagree with this advice. For what it's worth, if a new client is more than a few days late with payment I send them a brief but polite email asking them why. Then follow up as necessary.
I would never wait as long as two months and I think Marta was right to contact them when she did.
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Philip Lees wrote:
Robert Rietvelt wrote:
So, I keep calm and wait 2 months before taking action.
Respectfully, Robert, I disagree with this advice. For what it's worth, if a new client is more than a few days late with payment I send them a brief but polite email asking them why. Then follow up as necessary.
I would never wait as long as two months and I think Marta was right to contact them when she did.
There are more roads leading to Rome. I just stated what I (would) do in such a situation.
| | | | | Answering everyone | Dec 14, 2022 |
The translation company contacted me through Proz. They sent me a message here that reached my email, and from there we discussed the project. I researched them as soon as they sent the first message.
I am lawyer and all my translation services are done after we sign the service contracts. I have a contract with this company that stated payment 30 days after I delivered the translation project.
I know how to proceed legally in Portugal, and I will do so if they dont pay me by Januar... See more The translation company contacted me through Proz. They sent me a message here that reached my email, and from there we discussed the project. I researched them as soon as they sent the first message.
I am lawyer and all my translation services are done after we sign the service contracts. I have a contract with this company that stated payment 30 days after I delivered the translation project.
I know how to proceed legally in Portugal, and I will do so if they dont pay me by January. I will wait for the holidays to pass.
Other companies have paid me after 60 days.
I will patiently wait, but according to our contract, they are in breach, and it is very annoying and upsetting.
Thank you all for your answers. ▲ Collapse
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