In some cases we heard about delaying in payments of completed translation projects or refraining from paying the deserved earnings by customers or agencies. What measures should be taken not to face with such cases or claim the freelancers right when this is the case. I seem to hear that you say a contract between a vendor and client solves this problem or at least a mean to solve these kind of disputes. But what kind of contract to be taken as a basis realted to these kind of cases. If someone considers a job process, concludes that it consists of a quote (or bid) from freelancer against a job request, acceptance of bid by client and agreeing on the job details subsequently and completion of job, delivery and payment as last step.
After agreeing on the details on a verbal base and/or written bases, the agreed details should have been confirmed reciprocally (freelancer and client) on a document by signing away. This document is "QUOTE FORM" [(In other words you can consider as a Purchase Order (PO)] which consists of not only job details but also "GENERAL TERMS OF BUSINESS". A statment must be added at the end of QUOTE FORM which approves the acceptence of GENERAL TERMS OF BUSINESS both the client and freelancer (service provider). By doing so not only do you guarantee the job specifications requested by client which helps you prove in any ambiguity due to job specifications in the course of working on project, but you claim your right through the process until getting paid as well. This is what I concluded from my experiences and the things I have heard until now. As a matter of fact I set up a Quote Form and a General Terms of Business not to afflict with such cases.
What are your precious opinions and experiences on this matter ?
If anyone needs a sample for the documents I mentioned about, I can send both Quote Form and a General Terms of Business I use via e-mail or you can find on my web site.
Take care of yourselves!
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