Diane Goullard Parlante
French and English Translator
Serving Since 1984
(602) 870-1000
URL: www.FrenchandEnglish.com
Diane Goullard Parlante's Terms of Service & Policies
Every inquirer is asked to provide the following information, which, needless to say, must be true:
• your complete name and company name
• your URL and e-mail addresses
• your mailing address and telephone number
• an objective description of the document(s) to be translated, or of the services requested
• due date, and all other relevant information concerning the assignment. Top
HOW TO PREPARE:
The Checklist can help you, the prospective client, expedite your request for my language services and ensure success for each project. Top
CONSULTATION:
A free consultation by telephone or e-mail—generally not exceeding 15 minutes—is available to assess general clients' requirements, after which a consultation fee applies. Top
BIDS:
• I do not get involved in government bids, "sealed bidding," the "issuance of an Invitation for Bid" ("IFB"), "Requests for Quotations" ("RFQs"), "Negotiated Procurement" used to negotiate procurements to communicate government requirements to prospective contractors for planning process, etc. Please see "Quotes" in the next section.
• Government officials and procurement agencies are invited to call when INTENDING to use my services, and when ready and serious about negotiating mutually acceptable terms and pay for my time and services. Negotiating a quote, administrative or otherwise related tasks are billable. Top
FEES:
Rates to hire Diane Goullard Parlante, French and English Communication Services™ as a translator, interpreter, voiceover talent, consultant, or speaker, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Rates vary based on a number of factors including some described in this website and other factors. Estimates, quotes, or price range given without seeing the documents to be translated or without a full knowledge of all the particulars of an assignment, are intended to serve only as a guideline. In some cases, the actual price may be above or below the stated fee. Top
Free quotes:
When expectations are clearly defined, the particularities of the assignment are straightforward, each party clearly understands what is needed and expected, the decision-maker is the information taker, the user is clearly defined, the discussion time is brief (often less than 15 minutes), one or two brief exchanges totalling less than 15 minutes generally suffice to set the stage of the assignment. Top
More elaborate quotes:
Some quotes are more elaborate and will necessitate I be paid a consulting fee: the parties inquiring or the nature of the situation require some back-and-forth, are of a delicate nature, a client wants extra special care, extraneous parties are involved in the negotiating process, testing, bidding, shopping around are over or covert, some or a lot of explaining needs to be had, unconscious or wounded feelings, projections prevent the deal from moving forward, time needs to be spent ironing details for smooth sailing, research has to be conducted just to answer a question, studying and research may need to be done before the assignment can be performed, and so on. Top
VALUE:
Whether you are calling for your own language needs, your agency's, or your company's, personalized service and methodology promote quality of life, reduce unnecessary stress, allow you to better meet your needs (scroll to "Maslow's hierarchy of needs," on my Link page). The following are the promises I make about what I can control about my services and what can hopefully lead you to feel the following:
- * By being listened to and heard: you feel validated
* Receiving a direct response to your request: you experience peace and relaxation, you do not have to get in a competitive mode
* Attention to details: maximizes success, minimizes problems, saves you from chaos, promotes a smooth operation
* A personalized response tailored to your specific needs and not made to fit another's: ads to your sense of well-being, makes you feel valued, promotes the use of positive and constructive energy leading to a healthier lifestyle
* Time devoted listening to you, or reading what concerns you: allows you to feel positive, valued, saves you time and money
* Speaking with one individual where 'the buck stops': saves you from spending energy knocking on doors and innumerable frustrations, besides saving you more time and money
* Speaking with you in your native French or your native English: gives you a sense of home, comfort, belonging
* I constantly upgrade and improve my personal and my professional skills to give competent service: that gives you, the Client, value for your money
* I strive, daily, to give my best. (Scroll to "Anyway - The Paradoxical Commandments, by Kent M. Keith" on my Networking page) to learn more about this philosophy of life
* Assurance of quality - your work is being conducted by a capable professional who has extensive training, who is constantly stretching to give the best she can. You will receive personal attention, your information will be kept confidential.
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There is a time to give, and a time to receive. Under circumstances where my time has been invested to meet your request for information or services--and you will know that because that fact will have been communicated beforehand, and/or, you will have the vague, or not so vague, sensation of "getting somethin' for nothin'"--, and/or where other engagements have been turned down for you, the prospect, and/or where other professionals have been contacted and their time promised, considered, or put on hold for you, and/or in other circumstances justifying a compensation be had... In such cases, Diane reserves the right to receive a consultation fee, or to stop serving you, and/or to receive a cancellation fee not to exceed the amount of principal of the assignment that would have been had. This policy will be applied with good-will and in good faith, on an individual basis, based on the assignment and the particulars for each individual and set of circumstances. Top
SAMPLES and TESTS:
Samples and tests, specific to you, your assignments, or industry, can be ordered for a fee. Top
METHOD:
As a human translator, I use up to date research methods and tools, which do not include machine translation, translation memory, universal semantic processing. Please remember that globalization, technology, or force do not outweigh the necessity for communicating with one another, and giving and receiving compassionate understanding. Please click here, to read more information on my professional style. Thank you. Top
BILLING AND COLLECTION POLICIES:
I am a reasonable person, not a machine, and I care. If you have an issue, please discuss it with me.
All clients must have some form of work order with me, the author of this website, Diane Goullard Parlante, aka French and English Communication Services™, before work can proceed. New clients are required to submit half of, or the total, balance due as prepayment, and the remaining balance, if any, upon delivery of the finished product, as determined by French and English Communication Services™. Established clients may negotiate financial terms with French and English Communication Services™ on an individual basis. Payment is accepted via corporate or personal check or money order, in U.S. dollars only. Work may or may not proceed until the check has cleared.
The majority of Clients pay upfront. Some repeat clients benefit from the privilege of paying within 30 days. Terms are set at either Net-before-work-begins, or Net (net amount due as specified in work order). Balances not paid by their due date become past due. Past due balances are subject to two additional charges: a late fee, AND an hourly fee for my administrative time spent reminding you what you already know you should have done and didn't do. In any event, talk with me about what is causing the delay.
Balances not paid when due become delinquent and may be forwarded to a collection agency. Accounts forwarded to a collection agency become a matter outside of the control of French and English Communication Services™. The late accounts incur further collection fees, extra fees for my time, in addition to the original balance due. The name(s) of the owing individual(s) may become a matter of public record and the resulting action may also be posted on this website. Once a delinquent account is submitted to a collection agency, the client becomes responsible for dealing with that agency directly, and the original amount owed will have nearly doubled. If you think about it two seconds, it's really not worth it! Doing the right thing from the start will make you feel a lot better, I guaranty it. Accounts that necessitate legal action will be responsible for any and all related legal fees incurred by French and English Communication Services™, in addition to the original balance due, late fees and interest. These accounts may also be subject to legal processing fee of 20% or more as well as legal fees.
By using or continuing to use the services of Diane Goullard Parlante, French
and
English
Communication Services™ LLC, you agree to these terms and conditions. Contact Diane the moment you know something isn't working for you to discuss and resolve the situation amicably. The sooner, the better. Escalating the matter is rarely the most rewarding solution. Top
FOR THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL:
Do you have a curious mind? Do you want to know what sets successful outcomes in listening? Would you like to broaden your horizons? Do you want your communications to be something else than background noise? Do you hope to connect with others in meaningful ways? Would you like to feel inspired? Would you like to learn about the business of translating and interpreting from a non-academic point of view? Then this book's for you! Thank you for considering to purchase it and for recommending it to others.
Make this book a GIFT to someone click here or on the book cover to know where to order
Beyond Words ~ Getting to the Heart of Communication in One or More Languages for the 21st Century,
by Diane Goullard Parlante, Authors House Publisher, 2004, 494 pages, ISBN 1403319758