A high school student, a college student, or simply a scammer trying to “tweak” a Google translation… Such individuals usually ask for a small fee, which some clients fall for. The result is lost money and, worse, lost time and business reputation.
What should you keep in mind when choosing a serious translation bureau? First of all, you should understand that such a bureau unites a number of professionals with university diplomas, has the right to affix an “Apostille” stamp and handle consular legalization of documents. Moreover, a reputable translation bureau has a clear price list for translation and notarization services. It is very good if the bureau employs native speakers.
Who should you avoid when placing an order? Lone translators, especially those without university diplomas. A professional translation bureau hires translators specializing in specific fields: technical, literary translation, work with legal, financial, medical documents, etc. Each type of translation has its own specifics and vocabulary. If we are talking about translating a literary or advertising text into a foreign language, it is very important to have it checked by a native speaker who can assess how the translation sounds in their native language, whether the phrases are jarring, and whether the audience will understand the text correctly.
Another important point that the specialists of the website http://profpereklad.kiev.ua pay attention to: a respectable bureau does not hide its office location. And the office is not in a damp basement on the outskirts of the city, a kilometer from the metro, but is located in a normal facility with good transport accessibility. If a translation bureau cannot afford a decent office, the question arises: are its services really in demand?
Of course, you should immediately say “no” if a representative of a translation bureau refuses to give the office address and does not seek a personal meeting with the client (in other words, avoids it). The internet, of course, significantly speeds up the exchange of information, but refusing a personal meeting with the client carries a high risk of what is colloquially called a “scam.” However, this may also mean that you are dealing not with a reputable bureau but with a lone artisan.
If you doubt the quality of the translation, be sure to choose a bureau that not only provides samples of their work (which may be someone else’s!) but also agrees to translate a small portion of the text as a test. This will allow you to evaluate the translator’s work and avoid falling for a “Google translator” trick.
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