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Poll: Who is responsible for setting the fees and terms of service of a project?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Oct 22, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Who is responsible for setting the fees and terms of service of a project?".

This poll was originally submitted by Shai Navé. View the poll results »
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 20:36
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Both parties Oct 22, 2018

I can't imagine it any other way. If the client proposes a rate, I either accept it, negotiate it, or reject it.

If the client asks me for a rate and I quote it, they can either accept it, negotiate it, or reject it.

Either way, it takes two to tango.

Mike Sadler (X)
Jennifer Forbes
Natalia Pedrosa
Amir Arzani
Kay-Viktor Stegemann
Isaura Ordóñez
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 04:36
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Oct 22, 2018

I set my own fees, as every business person does, some clients (agencies and direct clients) accept them without any problem, but others require some convincing and/or a lot of negotiation…

Mike Sadler (X)
José Henrique Lamensdorf
Vera Schoen
Elaine Ruby
Paulinho Fonseca
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 05:36
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
The freelancer or person providing the service Oct 22, 2018

The responsibility lies with the freelancer. No one is actually forced to work for unacceptable conditions, or at least, that is the official story.

In practice both have to agree on the terms, or there cannot be a deal.
Unpaid bills versus principles can be a tough decision, but the translator or interpreter should be able to demand and get reasonable terms.

Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Christopher Schröder
Michele Fauble
Elaine Ruby
Muriel Vasconcellos
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 00:36
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
It's an agreement! Oct 22, 2018

An agreement is settled between two or more parties. Each party proposes their terms and conditions, and they negotiate together the best terms to close the agreement.
Clients that require things and don't accept to change them, or clients that send you a draft of an agreement and refuse to make any changes in the clauses are simply NOT clients. All they get from me is a Thank you, and goodbye.

Paulinho Fonseca
 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 22:36
German to English
+ ...
How can it possibly by the customer? Oct 23, 2018

I was surprised at how many people voted for that. I hire an accountant to do my taxes, will go to my dentist this week, and last week an appliance repairman fixed my dishwasher. I would not dream of telling any of these people how much I plan to pay them, and what their terms should be. The arrangements we make center around their available hours, and payment options that they might have. Why would it be any different in translation?

Rachel Shaw
 


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Poll: Who is responsible for setting the fees and terms of service of a project?






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