Asking for advice: Had to back out of an agreed project Autor wątku: izy
|
|---|
izy 
Local time: 19:32
angielski > niemiecki
+ ...
Hi there,
I was wondering if any of you has been in a similar situation in the past and what you did ...
I had accepted a translation job, however, only hours later I received very bad family news and had to travel home.
As the project had quite a tight deadline, I informed the agency immediately that I would be unable to do the job (as it was only a few hours since we agreed on the deal, I hadn't even got to start).
I have not heard anything back fro... See more Hi there,
I was wondering if any of you has been in a similar situation in the past and what you did ...
I had accepted a translation job, however, only hours later I received very bad family news and had to travel home.
As the project had quite a tight deadline, I informed the agency immediately that I would be unable to do the job (as it was only a few hours since we agreed on the deal, I hadn't even got to start).
I have not heard anything back from the agency, which to a point I can understand, but now I am a bit concerned, since I agreed to do the translation, can they insist on me completing the work? I know as a self-employed freelancer I do not have the same sickness/grief protection as an employee, but surely, translation clients can understand that I am human and this are exceptional circumstances for me?
What are your thoughts and experiences in these issues?
Many thanks for your help!
Izy ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ralf Lemster
Niemcy
Local time: 20:32
angielski > niemiecki
+ ...
| Have you called them? | Jan 4, 2008 |
Dear Izy,
I'm sad to hear about these bad news.
As the project had quite a tight deadline, I informed the agency immediately that I would be unable to do the job (as it was only a few hours since we agreed on the deal, I hadn't even got to start).
How did you inform them?
Unless you have done so already, I would suggest to pick up the phone and explain the situation to them.
Best regards,
Ralf
| | | | izy
Local time: 19:32
angielski > niemiecki
+ ...
NOWY TEMAT
Hi Ralf,
Many thanks for your quick response, I have informed them by email, all the communication with this agency (it was the first time they contacted me, I know, really bad timing) had happened by email, I do not even have a phone number for them.
Is there anything else I can do?
| | | | | business is business, life is life | Jan 4, 2008 |
In my opinion you should perform irrespective of your personal problems, and in your case you have the only choice - to find a substitute.
Perhaps some of your colleagues will make this translation for you and you will deliver the translation.
The main point - you are committed up to that moment when your client confirms you are not committed and the translation assignment is given to another translator.
[Edited at 2008-01-04 09:46]
[Edited at 2008-01-04 09:54]
| | |
|
|
|
I keep in contact with colleagues I know that I could refer my clients to, depending on the specialty required, both in terms of subject/area and type of job (e.g. involving OCR, DTP, video subs or dub, sworn, and so on).
This is useful not only in case of an emergency, but also for work outside my expertise, or if I get overloaded. I often help them when they are overloaded too.
| | | | | phone directory | Jan 4, 2008 |
You can find the phone numbers of your client in the directory.
Or via blueboard if they are members of proz.
| | | | Nesrin
Wielka Brytania
Local time: 19:32
angielski > arabski
+ ...
| We're not machines!! | Jan 4, 2008 |
Sergei Tumanov wrote:
In my opinion you should perform irrespective of your personal problems, and in your case you have the only choice - to find a substitute.
I do agree that the best thing would be to find a substitute (if possible!), but I had to comment on the first part of your sentence: "you should perform irrespective of your personal problems"!!
If the neighbour's cat has died, then yes, you should perform regardless, but - I'm sorry - have you tried to put yourself in the situation where you just have to LEAVE THIS INSTANT, and where the client should be grateful you had the time to sit down and write them an apology?
We are human, and if for example a very close family member passed away, I can well imagine myself in such a state that I would leave everything behind and not EVEN inform the client that I'm not working, let alone wait around until my colleague replies to tell me whether he/she will take on the job!
If Izy's client doesn't understand the situation she's been in (and she has found the time to inform them of the situation), then she shouldn't worry about not working for them again. That's my humble opinion.
| | | | Heinrich Pesch
Finlandia
Local time: 21:32
Członek ProZ.com
od 2003
fiński > niemiecki
+ ...
| Agree with Nesrin | Jan 4, 2008 |
This can happen in every business. If this causes additional expenditures for the client, I would agree to pay.
How often does it happen, that you order some service and they promise to deliver within a week, but after a month they inform you: Oh yes, we had a technical problem, sorry for the delay!
The bigger the service provider, the sloppier the service. So in this case I would hopefully not spend any more thoughts.
Regards
Heinrich
| | |
|
|
|
Ana Cuesta
Hiszpania
Local time: 20:32
Członek ProZ.com
angielski > hiszpański
| Carrying on would not be in the interest of the client either | Jan 4, 2008 |
As others have pointed, we are humans as opposed to machines. Not only does that entitle us to certain "human" rights (one would expect) but it also makes us more prone to errors and mistakes when not in the right state of mind. So I don't think it would be a good idea to carry on with the work agreed no matter what. If the client doesn't appreciate the personal aspect of the situation, maybe it could be a good idea to point out that one is too upset to think straight and so unable to provide th... See more As others have pointed, we are humans as opposed to machines. Not only does that entitle us to certain "human" rights (one would expect) but it also makes us more prone to errors and mistakes when not in the right state of mind. So I don't think it would be a good idea to carry on with the work agreed no matter what. If the client doesn't appreciate the personal aspect of the situation, maybe it could be a good idea to point out that one is too upset to think straight and so unable to provide the usual and required quality, and that finding someone else for the job would be in the best interest of all parties involved. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Christine Andersen
Dania
Local time: 20:32
Członek ProZ.com
od 2003
duński > angielski
+ ...
| Any agency worth working for will understand | Jan 4, 2008 |
First, my sympathy and condolences if those are appropriate.
You have to remember that work is how you earn your living - but life is what you live for. Sometimes life hurts, and then you simply have to take time off to recover.
I have sometimes been on the receiving end and taken over jobs for people who have had to drop out. There is sure to be someone who can take your job too. Maybe the agency can stretch the deadline a little. That is their problem at a time like t... See more First, my sympathy and condolences if those are appropriate.
You have to remember that work is how you earn your living - but life is what you live for. Sometimes life hurts, and then you simply have to take time off to recover.
I have sometimes been on the receiving end and taken over jobs for people who have had to drop out. There is sure to be someone who can take your job too. Maybe the agency can stretch the deadline a little. That is their problem at a time like this, not yours.
Get back to them when you feel able to do so, and not before. Any good agency will back you up.
Take care of yourself and best wishes!
Christine ▲ Collapse
| | | | Christel Zipfel
Local time: 20:32
Członek ProZ.com
od 2004
włoski > niemiecki
+ ...
| I strongly disagree | Jan 4, 2008 |
Sergei Tumanov wrote:
In my opinion you should perform irrespective of your personal problems, and in your case you have the only choice - to find a substitute.
Perhaps some of your colleagues will make this translation for you and you will deliver the translation.
As already others have pointed out, of course it would be perfect if some colleague can help out and do the translation.
But in case of emergency - I found myself in exactly the same situation some years ago - you don't simply have the time to look around for someone to replace you, but, if you are lucky, eventually you can just inform the customer and that's it. In my case, the agency was completely sympathetic, and I would not have expected anything else.
We are self-employed, we run our business alone normally, and we are humans, not machines! I would expect every customer/agency to understand this without many explanations.
Health and life is much more important than any translation, and I think one does not need to experience such a situation to feel simpathetic.
Anyway, I hope sincerely everything turned out well for you and your family, and my best wishes!
[Bearbeitet am 2008-01-05 19:12]
| | | | sazo
Chorwacja
Local time: 20:32
Członek ProZ.com
niemiecki > chorwacki
+ ...
| I totally and utterly disagree with... | Jan 4, 2008 |
Sergei Tumanov wrote:
The main point - you are committed up to that moment when your client confirms you are not committed and the translation assignment is given to another translator.
We are not talking here about a trip to Island because izy, as a spontaneous person, thought it would be a great idea to do it right now. We are talking about the lives or health of our dearest.
I am a sort of person who tries to deliver the translation at least 2 days before the deadline. But, when my father passed away, do you think that the translation I had started was the first thought that crossed my mind? Your wrong. My first thought was my father, my memories of him and the thought that I hadn't been able to see him before he died, that I hadn't had the chance to say goodbye, etc. This may sound pathetic, but I can't help myself. I didn't care about losing a client or finding a substitute. Death is something you're never prepared for.
I agree one has to be professional, but in some cases it is simply impossible.
| | |
|
|
|
izy
Local time: 19:32
angielski > niemiecki
+ ...
NOWY TEMAT | Thank you All! | Jan 26, 2008 |
Thank you allvery much for your kind words and advice.
Thankfully the client did nothing more than never get back to me, which I can understand.
Sergei, many thanks for your opinion too, but I beg to differ. There is nothing more important in this life than the things that we consider worth living for. For some of us, that might be a fullfilling career, for others it is the love and support of and for a family and loved ones and being near them, especially in times that... See more Thank you allvery much for your kind words and advice.
Thankfully the client did nothing more than never get back to me, which I can understand.
Sergei, many thanks for your opinion too, but I beg to differ. There is nothing more important in this life than the things that we consider worth living for. For some of us, that might be a fullfilling career, for others it is the love and support of and for a family and loved ones and being near them, especially in times that are difficult. I have made my choice and I sincerely wish you enjoy yours.
Many thanks again to all, it is very good to know to have colleagues like you, and I will improve my networking skills by trying to spend more time on these sites, as I think Proz is just great!
Best regards
Iz ▲ Collapse
| | | | Milton Guo
Chiny
Local time: 02:32
angielski > chiński
+ ...
| family counts | Jan 27, 2008 |
Yes, nothing is more important than family, the people of that agency should be able to understand this, if not, they are machines, not humans..
Once I got a deaf ear and hospitalised, one of the agencies kept contacting me, so I told the boss that I needed more time for rehab, and I am not living for money.....
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Asking for advice: Had to back out of an agreed project | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
