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Poll: Have you ever overcharged a client by mistake? Autor da sequência: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever overcharged a client by mistake?".
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I occasionally make a mistake when issuing an invoice, but this is, as far as I know, always picked up during the clients' accounting procedures.
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Since many years ago I almost forgot to charge a client (a beginner’s mistake), I always prepare my invoices immediately after completing a job, whether the invoice will be send with the translation or at the end of the month. These days, the whole process is pretty streamlined: I have an Excel template for each customer and I bill as I go when things are fresher in my memory…
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ProZ.com Staff wrote:
"Have you ever overcharged a client by mistake?".
Never - but I have sometimes UNDERcharged by mistake.
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... I generally overcharge them on purpose
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Christine Andersen 
Dinamarca
Local time: 10:24
Membro (2003)
Dinamarquês para Inglês
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| I have sent some hefty quotes! | Jan 21, 2021 |
I know I am hopeless at figures, so all my invoices are checked by my economist husband before they are sent out. He finds quite a lot of errors, and they go both ways.
He does not check my quotes, however. Normally that is not a problem, because I quote a rate per word or per thousand words, and even I can usually see when they are out of the normal range.
I was once asked to quote for half a book, and came to quite an exorbitant figure for the amount of words involve... See more I know I am hopeless at figures, so all my invoices are checked by my economist husband before they are sent out. He finds quite a lot of errors, and they go both ways.
He does not check my quotes, however. Normally that is not a problem, because I quote a rate per word or per thousand words, and even I can usually see when they are out of the normal range.
I was once asked to quote for half a book, and came to quite an exorbitant figure for the amount of words involved, but how much is 'half a book'? I thought I had even given some good discounts for repeats (it was a recipe book, so there were a fair number of standard phrases). We ended up having a good laugh and agreed on a rate that the client and I were both happy with! ▲ Collapse
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Maria Silvestri
Estados Unidos da América
Membro (2010)
Italiano para Inglês
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| The premise of this question is wrong | Jan 21, 2021 |
The way the question is framed, putting the onus on the linguist, deflects the conversation away from discussing what fair and/or reasonable offers from clients are and/or should be.
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Christine Andersen
Dinamarca
Local time: 10:24
Membro (2003)
Dinamarquês para Inglês
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| With all due respect | Jan 21, 2021 |
I think the onus is definitely on the linguist/translator to set a fair rate.
Even then, once you have agreed on a rate per word, page, thousand words or whatever, it still has to be calculated for the specific job, and I always do that myself, or at least check the agency's calculations. They can make mistakes too!
It is the translator who knows how much work is involved and has to make a living from it. Even those who, like me, find it all too easy to put a decimal point in... See more I think the onus is definitely on the linguist/translator to set a fair rate.
Even then, once you have agreed on a rate per word, page, thousand words or whatever, it still has to be calculated for the specific job, and I always do that myself, or at least check the agency's calculations. They can make mistakes too!
It is the translator who knows how much work is involved and has to make a living from it. Even those who, like me, find it all too easy to put a decimal point in the wrong place, convert from the wrong currency, or whatever.
Agencies often try to dictate a rate, and good agencies aim at fair rates, but no one can be surprised at rates spiralling down if translators do not assume responsibility for insisting on being paid properly and promptly. ▲ Collapse
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It has happened recently. But since the project is ongoing, the overcharged amount will be offset in the next payment run.
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neilmac
Espanha
Local time: 10:24
Espanhol para Inglês
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IrinaN (X)
Estados Unidos da América
Local time: 03:24
Inglês para Russo
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| Tut-tut, Christina | Jan 21, 2021 |
Christine Andersen wrote:
I know I am hopeless at figures, so all my invoices are checked by my economist husband happy with!
Husbands are not supposed to know about every nickel their wives make . $300 for a jar of facial cream shouldn't be their business, especially if the wives care about their hearts and mental health
Christine, I apologize for misspelling your name.
[Edited at 2021-01-21 21:04 GMT]
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Min Xuanping
China
Local time: 16:24
Membro
Inglês para Chinês
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I didn't but my customers might did for my customers prepared invoices for me automatically and I didn't verify it before submitting it.
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Min Xuanping
China
Local time: 16:24
Membro
Inglês para Chinês
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I did not but my customers might did for they prepared invoices automatically and I submitted without verification. I trust my customers and so do they because we have a long-term relationship.
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Thayenga
Alemanha
Local time: 10:24
Membro (2009)
Inglês para Alemão
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As far as I remember I never overcharged a client. But it did happen once that I accidentally undercharged, but fortunately the client informed me as soon as he received my invoice. A priceless client indeed.
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Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Estados Unidos da América
Local time: 01:24
Espanhol para Inglês
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I have been overpaid on a number of occasions.
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