Big international company refuses to update my hourly rate

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

Yes, in fact, I recently informed a long-standing client that from now on, the rate is €xx and even justified it with the compounded inflation. They were unwilling to accept it, so I simply told them not to send me any further hourly rate tasks, as I would no longer acceptance the old rate. Almost two months later, they accepted the new rate.

You don't need the client's accept to set your own rates. They can take it or leave it.

If they could make you accept to be underpaid, it would be a good deal for them, so many try. Just remember that you can only negotiate if you are willing to walk away.

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

PS: forum rules don't allow the discussion of named outsourcers, so your post is likely to be removed if you don't remove the name.

Joakim Braun wrote:

Being willing to say no and walk away is helpful when negotiating.
If these jobs are very few you can afford to stick to your guns.

Barbara Carrara wrote:

Hi.

Did you ask for an hourly-fee adjustment after agreeing to take on the job?

With your outsourcer (which will remain nameless in accordance with forum rules) listing 25 offices around the globe, where is 'your one' located?

When you say they offered 2.5$, would that be USD?

Over the 12 years of working with them, how often did you manage to raise your per-word translation rate?
From what I understand, your nameless outsourcer is not the best payer in the world, so it wouldn't surprise me if you weren't successful with that either. But I'll be pleased to hear otherwise.

leimarina wrote:
It's really time to walk away from them.

Christopher Schröder wrote:


I'm still not sure whether they are refusing to increase your rate for this particular job or for all future jobs.

In the first case I might understand. In the second case it's bizarre - are you talking to the right people?

I appreciate that prices vary between languages and subject fields, but I happen to know that this unnamed company pays at least one member of their "community" $55 an hour.

leimarina wrote:



Unfortunately they are refusing to increase the rate for all future jobs.
I think that I am talking to the right people. I even asked specifically whom should I contact for this matter and was referred to these people.
55$ an hour...wow, I can assure you that I asked for much less...The language pair is EN-HE and subject field is mostly technical and software localization.

Rita Translator wrote:



I wouldn't say you necessarily have to cut ties with them if your per word rate is acceptable, as you say it is. I'd just say something like, "Thank you for getting back to me about my hourly rates. As my current rates are unfortunately not in your budget, I'm afraid that going forward I will not be able to accept any projects or parts of projects that are invoiced based on hours. I am happy to continue working on projects invoiced on a per-word basis, and I look forward to continuing to work together."

Of course if you were thinking of cutting ties with them anyway for other reasons, then this would present an opportunity to do so.

leimarina wrote:

The way they are handling this is what causes me to think of cutting any ties with them. They had praised my work numerous times and called me a "senior translator", but when I asked for one (hourly) rate increase after 12 years of collaboration, they ignored my emails, replied to me after several days or weeks, and finally said "no" and suggested to deactivate my account.
Also as you suggested, there are other reasons that I've ignored up till now - first they implemented the insulting "first come first get" basis for accepting jobs, sending bulk emails to numerous translators and the one who is the quickest to respond gets the job. Then they implemented even more insulting "flat rate" policy for smaller jobs - I've already stopped accepting these a while ago.
It's sad, but it seems that quality and experience means nothing for them.