Agency wants me to sign various 'certificates' Autor vlákna: blahdibla (X)
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I've started working with an agency who asked me two days ago to print out certificates that state that I and the project manager confirm that this is a true translation, etc etc etc. I was then supposed to sign these documents, scan them and send them back to the project manager.
It's not that I'm not happy with my work. It's that I don't see why the responsibility for this shouldn't lie solely with the project manager. This takes me extra time and hassle and I really don't like th... See more I've started working with an agency who asked me two days ago to print out certificates that state that I and the project manager confirm that this is a true translation, etc etc etc. I was then supposed to sign these documents, scan them and send them back to the project manager.
It's not that I'm not happy with my work. It's that I don't see why the responsibility for this shouldn't lie solely with the project manager. This takes me extra time and hassle and I really don't like the idea of random bits of paper floating around somewhere with my signature on them.
Am I being unreasonable here? Is this common practice? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Not common but | May 31, 2013 |
No, not common, but in some jurisdictions just about anybody can certify translations. In which case PM signature puzzles me.
I'd ask what those certificates are needed for and how they are used, stored and accounted for. Also, I would charge for any trips to the post office required.
| | | | Sheila Wilson 
Španělsko
Local time: 16:57
Člen (2007)
angličtina
+ ...
| Do they want job details? | May 31, 2013 |
If so, I can imagine it will do no harm if it isn't a frequent request. But I certainly wouldn't send an undated proforma-type paper. Too much risk of you seeming to certify some rubbish.
| | | | rainimunti (X)
Alžírsko
Local time: 16:57
angličtina -> indonéština
+ ...
| same experience | May 31, 2013 |
i have same experience, but they good client though..so far..
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Shai Navé
Izrael
Local time: 18:57
angličtina -> hebrejština
+ ...
| Couple of comments | Jun 1, 2013 |
1. These things should be agreed upfront and not after the fact. It may very well be that that agency needs to supply this certificates in order to get the translation certified, but if that is the case it should be brought to your attention upfront and not sneaked in at the end, not least by the fact that you may have consideration of you own in that regard.
2. As Łukasz have mentioned, even if you don't have any problem with this, you still need to be compensated for all the extra work ... See more 1. These things should be agreed upfront and not after the fact. It may very well be that that agency needs to supply this certificates in order to get the translation certified, but if that is the case it should be brought to your attention upfront and not sneaked in at the end, not least by the fact that you may have consideration of you own in that regard.
2. As Łukasz have mentioned, even if you don't have any problem with this, you still need to be compensated for all the extra work and effort.
3. As Sheila said, be careful with it. Make sure that the "certification" is for a specific project. Also, if it seems unordinary to "certify" the type of document that you have translated, raise your concerns before signing anything. For example, "certifying" certificates, immigration documents, etc. makes sense as they might be sent to a Notary or Public Notary for "official" certifications. But if you are asked to sign anything, any type of document and in any subject, you might want to get some clarifications before signing a document.
4. Review the wording (including any reference to this matter in the service contract/agreement, if you signed such a contract with them), and make sure that the purpose of this request is not to attempt and roll all responsibility and liability to you; also make sure that the wording 'the document was translated to the best of my knowledge/ability' (or any similar phrasing) is used. Be very careful with stating anything about "prefect" translation, as well as with 'True Copy' or any other term that in different jurisdictions could have different legal meaning than what you may be used to.
Overall, common sense prevails. If it seems legit and your interests are protected, than this should not be an issue. But if any red lights or alarm bells go on, it is a good idea to stop and get clarifications first.
I'm no lawyer so if you think that the following advice might not apply in your jurisdiction, make sure to consult a lawyer first. I suggest to use two signatures. One for official documents, financial transactions (signing Checks for example), and so forth; and a second one for day-to-day operations that are less sensitive, get high visibility and are harder to protect against theft and fraud. This way if your "day-to-day" signature ends up at the wrong hands, the more sensitive aspects of your life still have that additional security layer (that is by no mean perfect of bulletproof). ▲ Collapse
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Shai Nave wrote:
1. These things should be agreed upfront and not after the fact. It may very well be that that agency needs to supply this certificates in order to get the translation certified, but if that is the case it should be brought to your attention upfront and not sneaked in at the end, not least by the fact that you may have consideration of you own in that regard.
Slightly off-topic, but the same should apply to basically any significant requirements, e.g. large reference materials (e.g. 200 pages to read in order to translate 10), job specifics like 75,000 words total when it was just 7,500 'effective' until you confirmed the job, etc.
3. As Sheila said, be careful with it. Make sure that the "certification" is for a specific project. Also, if it seems unordinary to "certify" the type of document that you have translated, raise your concerns before signing anything. For example, "certifying" certificates, immigration documents, etc. makes sense as they might be sent to a Notary or Public Notary for "official" certifications. But if you are asked to sign anything, any type of document and in any subject, you might want to get some clarifications before signing a document.
Also, if the purpose is for the document to be analysed in litigation, then different methods of translating should be used: ones that are closer to the source and are true to the original rather than being rewrites that primarily serve a utility function. You don't need the docket number or any other sensitive information, but you need to know if the translation is intended for a court of law to analyse.
Speaking of which, if somebody makes you localise, edit, rewrite etc. for marketing or other similar reasons or purpose while having you certify the translation as true to the original at the same time, then you should probably avoid such an outsourcer. You need to work with people who can be trusted to think logically.
4. Review the wording (including any reference to this matter in the service contract/agreement, if you signed such a contract with them), and make sure that the purpose of this request is not to attempt and roll all responsibility and liability to you; also make sure that the wording 'the document was translated to the best of my knowledge/ability' (or any similar phrasing) is used. Be very careful with stating anything about "prefect" translation, as well as with 'True Copy' or any other term that in different jurisdictions could have different legal meaning than what you may be used to.
'True translation' methodology could be interpreted differently in a number of source and target language jurisdictions.
Oh, and I forgot one more thing: certified translations are usually more expensive than non-certified ones. If the procedure is used to produce certified translations at a cheaper rate, well, that's kinda declassé.
| | | | 564354352 (X)
Dánsko
Local time: 17:57
dánština -> angličtina
+ ...
This sounds to me like the agency is asking you to certify your own translations free of charge. Certifying translations may well be required to give the translations legal validity, but this is an extra service for which you could choose to charge an extra fee. I certainly would, but rules and regulations vary from one country to another. In Denmark, only state-authorised translators can certify translations, which is one of the few things that adds validity to our authorisation. And no one wou... See more This sounds to me like the agency is asking you to certify your own translations free of charge. Certifying translations may well be required to give the translations legal validity, but this is an extra service for which you could choose to charge an extra fee. I certainly would, but rules and regulations vary from one country to another. In Denmark, only state-authorised translators can certify translations, which is one of the few things that adds validity to our authorisation. And no one would dream of questioning an extra fee for this additional service. ▲ Collapse
| | | | LilianNekipelov
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 11:57
ruština -> angličtina
+ ...
| If you did the translation, you have to sign them | Jun 1, 2013 |
unless you told them before that you would not sign any certificates of accuracy. The manager cannot sign the certificates. He or she may often not even speak both languages -- how would they know if the translation is correct? It is required when you translate certain legal documents -- in the US at least.
Of course you should charge them for it. It is usually $25 extra per one certificate. By law you would also have to print the translation yourself and attach the certifica... See more unless you told them before that you would not sign any certificates of accuracy. The manager cannot sign the certificates. He or she may often not even speak both languages -- how would they know if the translation is correct? It is required when you translate certain legal documents -- in the US at least.
Of course you should charge them for it. It is usually $25 extra per one certificate. By law you would also have to print the translation yourself and attach the certificate to it and then swear as to its content before a Notary Public.
[Edited at 2013-06-01 13:16 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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