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Poll: It is almost impossible for a translator to adjust their rates with tax raises and inflation.
Auteur du fil: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
COLLABORATEUR DU SITE
Jan 20

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "It is almost impossible for a translator to adjust their rates with tax raises and inflation.".

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Yaotl Altan
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 22:43
Membre (2007)
anglais vers portugais
+ ...
Agree Jan 20

I have been translating for over 30 years. For a good while, I used to raise my rates at the beginning of each year untiI one of the many crises (can’t remember which one) happened. A few years later, we had the Covid-19 pandemic with all its effects on societies and economies. Then, the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Now, we have all the hype around the AI. This being said, I haven’t touched the rates I apply to my long-standing customers since 2016 when I last raised them. For some time, I... See more
I have been translating for over 30 years. For a good while, I used to raise my rates at the beginning of each year untiI one of the many crises (can’t remember which one) happened. A few years later, we had the Covid-19 pandemic with all its effects on societies and economies. Then, the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Now, we have all the hype around the AI. This being said, I haven’t touched the rates I apply to my long-standing customers since 2016 when I last raised them. For some time, I applied either a higher rate or a per project rate to my new clients, but the trend is to go down, not up. So, the right time to ask for a raise seems a long way off. ▲ Collapse


Dan Lucas
Christine Andersen
Ventnai
Claudio Gneusz
Gianluca Marras
Josephine Cassar
Lisa Schuchardt
 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italie
Local time: 23:43
anglais vers italien
Agree Jan 21

Unable to raise my rates, I tried and it worked until 2018, after that I received a few simple messages:
you can lower your rate or your workload will be reduced

Result: I reduced my rates in some cases.
And this is really frustrating, since I have been working as a translator (as many of you) for over 20 years.

Lisa Schuchardt
Elaine Ruby
Birgit Elisabeth Horn
Ma. Alejandra Padilla - LaCour
 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 22:43
Membre (2015)
anglais vers portugais
+ ...
Unfortunately... Jan 21

Many industries, if not a large majority, adjust their prices/rates to reflect economic changes.
Translators should be no exception. If other sectors increase prices to accommodate inflation, it’s logical for translators to do the same. Clients should be aware of this!
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
The translation industry is very 'unloved' in many ways!

Elaine Ruby
Ma. Alejandra Padilla - LaCour
Gyöngyi Tanácsi
Ilona Zukiene
 
Justin Peterson
Justin Peterson  Identity Verified
Espagne
Local time: 23:43
Membre (2007)
espagnol vers anglais
Boy, I wish not being able to raise my rates was my problem Jan 21

My billing is WAY down

Clients are just disappearing, with AI the apparent culprit

All my contacts in Spain are reporting the same thing

Raise my rates?

After 20 years as a translator, doing very well, I'll be happy if I have a job in 12 months

Elaine Ruby
Ma. Alejandra Padilla - LaCour
David Mossop
Oliver Annacker
 


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Poll: It is almost impossible for a translator to adjust their rates with tax raises and inflation.






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