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Poll: When was the last time you had to speak to a client by phone or in person?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Aug 18, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "When was the last time you had to speak to a client by phone or in person?".

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Philippe Etienne
Philippe Etienne  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 13:03
Member
English to French
Two days ago Aug 18, 2017

It happens maybe 5 times a year that I get a customer phone call, so this poll came in just at the right time.
Earlier this year I also had 2 skype videocalls with 2 other customers, something that has happened a handful of times since 2000.

But, provided you don't want a reply with the next 45 seconds, e-mail remains the most efficient and unintrusive way to reach me.

Verba volant, scripta manent

Philippe


 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 21:03
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
Other Aug 18, 2017

Yesterday

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:03
Spanish to English
+ ...
Earlier this month Aug 18, 2017

A couple of days after delivering a marketing research translation to a regular direct client, I got a call from him. The end client, a market research company in another EU country, still had 30,000 words of verbatim interviews needing translated which they hadn't included in their initial budget. They were looking for someone to do it "cheaply, perhaps a student"... Because, as they asserted, it was "easy, because it was just conversational language". Both my client and I had a good laugh abou... See more
A couple of days after delivering a marketing research translation to a regular direct client, I got a call from him. The end client, a market research company in another EU country, still had 30,000 words of verbatim interviews needing translated which they hadn't included in their initial budget. They were looking for someone to do it "cheaply, perhaps a student"... Because, as they asserted, it was "easy, because it was just conversational language". Both my client and I had a good laugh about their innocence and lack of forethought. Needless to say, they are probably still looking for that "cheap and cheerful student-type"... (facepalm)Collapse


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:03
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Earlier this year Aug 18, 2017

All clients contact me by email. I remember receiving a phone call from a client earlier this year. I must say though that I used to receive a lot of phone calls when I worked as a sworn translator in Belgium.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:03
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I don't remember Aug 18, 2017

I think it has been a very long time.

Maybe once a year I get a phone message from a client to make sure I received their e-mail. I reply by e-mail, so we never really talk.


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 13:03
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
Yesterday Aug 18, 2017

I have spoken to two clients this week. Both like to check that I am able to take on the job and ask when I can deliver before they make a firm offer to the end client.

I get calls from clients several times a month.


 
Elizabeth Tamblin
Elizabeth Tamblin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:03
French to English
Never Aug 18, 2017

It's email or nothing for me, especially after that hideous obscene phone call I got from a fake potential client. I just don't answer the phone if I don't recognise the number.

 
Mario Chavez (X)
Mario Chavez (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 08:03
English to Spanish
+ ...
I have a question... Aug 18, 2017

What's a phone?




 
Toni Faisal
Toni Faisal  Identity Verified
Indonesia
Local time: 19:03
English to Indonesian
+ ...
never had before... Aug 18, 2017

I never spoken to a client, end client or to any agencies so far. But, we texted each other via WA, Line, Skype.

 
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Nikki Scott-Despaigne  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:03
French to English
Other Aug 18, 2017

Yesterday. That's a big gap between "today" and "eariler this month". I am genuinely suprised at "Never".
Whether the client is a direct client or an agent, at some point, I like to have a voice as part of the client as a human picture. You get a lot from a voice. Indeed, most of my direct clients are people I have met. I also tend to meet at least one member of staff with client agencies, although it is not always possible.


 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 12:03
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Yesterday Aug 18, 2017

A frequent client rang me yesterday to offer an urgent translation - which I've just delivered. My clients of long standing fairly often telephone me to discuss a job before emailing me so I don't find it at all unusual, although, of course, I check my email at frequent intervals too.
I agree that it's pleasant to put a voice to a name. When I started as a freelancer 20 or more years ago and lived in London, I even visited some of my agencies' offices and got to know them.


 
Noura Tawil
Noura Tawil  Identity Verified
Syria
Local time: 15:03
Member (2013)
English to Arabic
Earlier this year Aug 18, 2017

I had a long voice call through Skype with a British client earlier this year. The last phone call happened a couple of years ago with a regular Swedish client, while the last voice message came a couple of weeks ago from a client who happened to be traveling and couldn't type on his phone at the time, I answered by text messages.

That being said, I prefer emails and I'm usually a quick responder, but flexibility in responding to other communication means is necessary sometimes. ... See more
I had a long voice call through Skype with a British client earlier this year. The last phone call happened a couple of years ago with a regular Swedish client, while the last voice message came a couple of weeks ago from a client who happened to be traveling and couldn't type on his phone at the time, I answered by text messages.

That being said, I prefer emails and I'm usually a quick responder, but flexibility in responding to other communication means is necessary sometimes.


[Edited at 2017-08-18 14:05 GMT]
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Francisco ABREU
Francisco ABREU  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 09:03
Member (2005)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Don't speak, write Aug 18, 2017

I avoid at all costs engaging a client by phone. I do it when it's absolutely unavoidable and only for a preliminary contact.

 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 13:03
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
I answered never Aug 18, 2017

because I took the words 'had to speak to' meaning that it was necessary for me to call, in order to clarify something.

However, I do talk to clients or potential clients when they call me.
That happens maybe 3 times a year, when an established client needs to know quickly, if I am available
- or a potential client, maybe 6 times a year wants the same information (but I am vary of those, they rarely turn out to be great).

People know, I'm usually reachable b
... See more
because I took the words 'had to speak to' meaning that it was necessary for me to call, in order to clarify something.

However, I do talk to clients or potential clients when they call me.
That happens maybe 3 times a year, when an established client needs to know quickly, if I am available
- or a potential client, maybe 6 times a year wants the same information (but I am vary of those, they rarely turn out to be great).

People know, I'm usually reachable by email within an hour or less.

BTW: I remember one client once called to explain some complicated (to me) procedures on their portal.
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Poll: When was the last time you had to speak to a client by phone or in person?






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