The Pitfalls of Cheap Translation Services

What’s there not to like about getting your documents translated cheaply? Shouldn’t companies compete to offer the best price? Indeed, it is true that translation companies strive to offer the best price within their overheads, but there are some real disadvantages to choosing a service that is too cheap.

The first is with security. You’ve just sent your passport and birth certificate to a cheap translator or agency. There’s a good chance that your documents will sit on multiple servers (email, cloud, etc.) and that your request will be seen by far more than a single pair of eyes. Some outfits will even outsource your job to other agencies or sub-contractors, each taking a cut of the pie. This creates a huge security risk - the longer the chain, the higher the risk of your documents being leaked for identity theft.

Competency can also be a huge problem with cheap translations. There is a high likelihood that people at the end of that chain, do not have the requisite diplomas, certifications or ethics to uphold your translation and your data to the highest possible standards. NAATI translators and AUSIT members at Anyfrench are bound to a strict code of ethics. When your job is sent to us, it is worked on by a single qualified person with high confidentiality standards unless you expressly permit your request to be seen by multiple people. Original documents you upload to our facility are deleted once the translation is delivered.

Finally, time frames will be extended or quality degraded. For each person that this chain is made from, additional costs are required whether they be in terms of quality or time.

Sometimes it is best to think about what shortcuts the lowest bidder could take, while trying to juggle multiple requests at the same time. There’s always a downside to getting it done cheaply. As the French say, “le bon marché coûte cher”.

Find out more about our services or request a free quote today to see how we can assist you.