Transparency in invoicing, on-time delivery, ongoing availability, and quality assurance are the pillars of CTC Translation’s reputation
Availability
Yes, we have voice mail at CTC Translation in Montreal, but you won’t get to use it much because when the phone rings, we answer it. If you prefer e-mail, we’re quick to answer there, too.
The price of translation
At CTC, we provide our clients with a detailed break-down of costs before translating a single line. The result: our invoices never contain any surprises, they correspond exactly to the estimate provided or verbal agreement reached. Everything is clear and upfront.
We know our clients appreciate this concern for transparency.
Do you find that translation is expensive ?
« Translation is like music. We’ve all played a few notes on an instrument, but does that make us professional musicians? Of course not! »
Many people can translate Paul est un traducteur professionnel into Paul is a professional translator, Does that make them professional translators? Well of course not!
Do you find that translation is expensive? You’re right – and here’s why …
Pricing
Pricing for translation is generally based on the number of words in the source document. The number of words is given by the “word count” function in the software applications we use.
In the translation industry, rates vary depending on the nature of documents and on deadlines.
Industry pricing for translating technical documents is slightly higher than for general documents. What do we mean by technical documents? Here are a few examples :
- Contracts
- Patents
- Instructions for use
- Assembly manuals
- Manufacturing guides
- Articles for science publications
- Compendia of industrial standards
- Food product labels
- User manuals for industrial pumps
- Plumbing products catalogues
- Aircraft engine service manuals
- Offshore drilling safety regulations
- Architectural plans
- Insurance policies
Editing, adaptation, and optimization mandates are charged at an hourly or fixed rate. In all cases, we make sure our clients have approved the total cost of their project before we start writing.
Deadlines and deliverables
Our translation agency is aware that your business has tight production schedules and that on-time performance is critical to every project’s success.
At CTC, deadlines are set with the client before work gets underway. If an unforeseen event may delay delivery – an extremely rare occurrence – CTC Translation immediately contacts the client to inform them of the situation and agree on an alternative course of action.
Quality assurance
The translators at CTC manage each and every contract like true professionals, drawing on their experience for the astuteness, judgement, and meticulous care that are hallmarks of the agency’s culture.
Every translation mandate, no matter how short, includes the services of at least three language professionals: a translator, editor and proofreader.
Once the translation is completed, a professional editor reviews it, line by line. At CTC, editing services are performed by a person other than the translator who did the project.
For each text, the editor:
- ensures that the deliverable complies with client specifications;
- checks terminology choices;
- makes sure language quality is of the highest standard.
In accordance with the contract, the document can then be :
- delivered personally;
- sent by e-mail;
- stored in the cloud;
- delivered directly to a web platform such as WordPress.
This link provides useful information on the editing process.