What happens next?

In the case of proofreading, editing and translation, your Client Manager might ask for a short sample, in order to determine the complexity of the text. He/she would then reply, telling you how much the work would cost and when it would be completed. If you agreed to the terms, the work would then begin.

When do I pay?

The fee is agreed upon before any work commences. Invoices are sent out upon completion of the job or at the end of the month in which it is completed. Payment terms are subject to negotiation.

How do I submit work?

We would normally use e-mail to send and receive work. If you wanted to send or receive your text by post, you would need to make this clear. Texts should be submitted as Microsoft Word attachments. Briefs (in the case of writing) may be included in the main body of the e-mail – but anything not in Latin script (e.g. Cyrillic) must be sent as an attachment.

How long would it normally take to complete a piece of work?

This depends upon its length and complexity. Deadlines are always negotiated before the work is begun.

The work needs to be done quickly. Do you offer a “premium” service?

We would normally be able to treat your work as “urgent”. This would cost you more. How much more we would charge would depend on a combination of factors: how quickly you need the work done; how long it would normally take us to do it; the availability of appropriate consultants at short notice; and the length and complexity of the work. The surcharge would always be agreed beforehand, and would normally be in the range of 20%-100%.

Are you likely to contact me before the work is finished?

Semos has exceptionally high standards. In order to maintain these standards, it will sometimes be necessary to contact you for clarification in the course of the job. We try to resolve everything “in-house” and will only contact you if we feel it to be necessary.

What will I receive, once the job is done?

Along with the final product, you could receive additional material. This might include: a copy of the original, high-lighting what we have changed (for editing and proofreading); supplementary notes, where necessary, explaining specific points; any general observations. Our rule is that if we feel you need to know, we will let you know.

What do I do if I’m not satisfied with the work?

Our policy is simple. We will only start work once we know what you want. If you give us precise instructions and we fail to comply with them, then we will make any necessary additional changes free of charge. If your work were “urgent”, we would cancel any surcharge. If your requirements change during the work, or once the work is completed, then we would charge you for any additional work that we would need to do.

I may need your services on a regular basis. Do you welcome repeat custom?

Of course. Semos invests a lot in cultivating long-term relationships with its customers. For more information on this, please go to the “the long view” page in this section.

Do you guarantee confidentiality?

All Semos consultants are bound by confidentiality agreements. Semos only gives its linguists as much information as they need to do the work. We would never divulge your details, or the details of any work, to any third party. If you wanted us to pass any information on to a designated individual or organization, you would need to instruct us explicitly to do so.

Do you comply with the Data Protection Act?

Of course – we are legally obliged to. We never disclose your personal details to any third party without your express permission. We store contact details and any other necessary information relating to our clients. When we return a completed piece of work to you, we will ask you whether you want your details to remain on our database.

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