Exercise is such a bad word, that, whenever i say it, i immediately wash my mouth with chocolate!

How can I send you translation material?
If it is a text for translation please send it in electronic format via our submission form or . If you have very large files (bigger than 2MBs in compressed format) please notify us in advance and we will give you FTP access in an area in our server in order to upload them.
If your material is not available in electronic format you can scan it (high definition, no less than 300 dpi) and save it as as a compressed image file (.jpeg). Alternatively you could also OCR it (that is use an Optical Character Recognition application like Finereader which we highly recommend) in order to create an editable version of your document. Fax is another possibility but it is should be your last option as it reduces legibility. Last but not least snail-mail is a good option for bulky items.

If it is software you should send the source files, or local files if the software has already been prepared for localization.

If it is a Web site then you should either give us FTP access to your site, or we could allocate an area of our server where you can upload your site (using an FTP client like WS_FTP) . If your site is small then zip it (using a compression utility like Winzip) and it.

How do you count words?
Charges are based on source text count, this means that if you give us an English text for translation which contains 1000 words and the Greek translated text is 1200 (Greek tends to produce longer translations) you will be charged for 1000 words and not for 1200. Thus a translator is not rewarded for being verbose. This is quite important because some agencies/individuals do charge by target text count.
Normally Microsoft Word is used in order to count the words. However, it does have some limitations; for example, it does not count words in text boxes. In these cases, as well in the case of html pages where Frontpage or Word will not count translatable elements like description, keyword and alt tags we use proprietary software. Please refer to our instructions of how to count words in different types of files or just paste your text in our word count machine.

Is there a minimum amount of words that will be accepted as a translation order?
We undertake work of any size. However there is a minimum charge of 30 euro.

How will a document be returned to me after it has been translated?
A translated document will be returned to you as a text or Word document depending on the method in which the document was provided.

I have a rather big job and I want to be 100% sure that you can provide the level of service I require. Can you translate a sample before I decide whether I assign it to you?
We are happy to translate a small portion of your job. However you will be charged for it as you would for any other job. We will not try to convince you to assign the rest of the job to us. We leave that decision up to you.

Do you accept rush jobs?
We would advise you to plan your translation needs well ahead and give us ample time to fulfill them. Translation is a very meticulous procedure and a shortage of time could seriously compromise its quality. However, if you need to get a job done fast we will evaluate your material and let you know whether we can do it. Be aware that the cost for rush jobs could increase by 30%-100%.

What about confidentiality?
We thoroughly understand the needs of our valuable clients. All orders and all information submitted to us are held strictly confidential. We do not reveal names, files, plans of our clients or any other personal information and all our translators abide by our confidentiality agreement.

Are you able to download my web site to translate it / localize it?
Yes, we can download your web site using spoken software if your site, or part thereof, is not password-protected. However, we would prefer you sent us FTP instructions so that we can download it from your server. Moreover you should be clear regarding which files should be translated and which not and you should also send us the templates you used (if applicable).

What can I do to help you do the best possible work for me?
Many things! See the following list:
Provide us with any reference material that you might have such as glossaries, translation memories, previous translations, etc. Be clear about your preferred terminology. Provide definitions for your company lingo if you have one (terms which specifically apply to your company).
Always make sure that a qualified person is constantly available and responds promptly to e-mails regarding translators' and reviewers' queries. Choosing the wrong person might reduce significantly the quality of the end product - as for example in case of software localization where many clarifications are always needed.
Try not to exaggerate your deadlines. If there is more time available to us then it will be easier to assign the job, or parts thereof, to the most suitable individual(s). Last minute assignments entail higher charges and less time for editing and proofreading.
Be prompt with payments! Our code of ethical business includes not only providing the best possible service to our clients but also providing prompt payment to translators and editors. It is a fact universally acknowledged that staff which have low or no stress regarding payments perform better. And when staff perform better your business leaps ahead!

What sort of payments do you accept?
We accept payments via credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, wire (bank) transfer, cheques (they have to clear before we can go ahead with translation) Moneybookers, Paypal, Western Union. If you do not use web banking (which facilitates wire transfers) we recommend Moneybookers which has a quick and easy registration process (with SSL server security and Turing number verification log in), very cost-effective to send money (maximum fee 0.50 euro per transaction - even if you send money to Timbuktu!).

When do I pay you?
For jobs up to €150 you have to pay in advance. For jobs over €150 you pay €150 in advance and the remaining amount upon completion of the job.

What currency are quotes given in?
Quotes are given in euros. Please use a Currency Converter for help with exchange rates.

 How did you manage to position your site at No 1 ranking on Google?
In all our website localization projects search engine positioning specialists are involved and thus we can guarantee competitive search engine rankings to our localization clients. We do not simply provide a text translation but take into account numerous parameters which influence search engine rankings. Besides, it would have been inconsequential to offer a service to our clients which is not clearly demonstrated... on our own site!

How can I verify your experience and professionalism?
Translatum's Project Manager, Spiros Doikas, is a highly experienced and qualified translator who lived and studied in the UK and has created a network of skilled translators with the purpose of providing superior quality translation services. If in doubt you can always submit a small part of your job and then you can judge for yourselves.

What does Translatum mean?
Translatum is the past participle of the Latin verb transfero and it simply means translated!