Non-paying client playing dead?

[trangbetter]

I just wonder if anyone has rendered service for translation4u (www.fastaccuratetranslations.com)?
I am a freelance translator from Vietnam, and I have finished a translation project for this company more than one month.
As in their email, the deadline is 28 May 2015, and fee is paid through bank transfer one month from end of project. (Plus I finished the project 2 days ahead of deadline).
Today is 01 July 2015. I sent them the payment collection email 2 days ago but have not received any response.
As I have read many complaints about non-paying clients playing dead when it comes to payment, I just wonder whether I am being cheated the same way?
Just wondering.
Do you guys have any advice for me to deal with this situation?
PS: The fee is not much. But it would be unfair if the client was cheating on my effort.

[menudown]

sounds like you signed up for the project via email or online...are there any contract agreement for the project? ...in future look up for projects from official freelance websites where you can keep track of project status or even blacklist clients who have payment issues

[trangbetter]

I see the vacancy on a job recruitment site (either Indeed Job or Recruit.net, I forget) and apply via email.
There is no contract agreement (as in Vietnam, I have done many projects with Vietnamese clients without contract, but still got paid) because I strongly believe the good reputation of Singapore law (my assumption ).
So I will take note in the future

[Strong Eagle]

So... basically, they are three or four days late in paying you as promised, am I correct? That could be for any number of reasons. I think you need to wait longer before coming to the conclusion that they are cheating you.

If, at the end of 30 days, you have requested payment once an week, and still have not received a reply or a payment, you can be pretty sure you have been screwed. Since you have no enforceable contract, you really have no remedy to collect in court, even if the size of the fee made legal action worthwhile.

About the only other thing you can do is make others aware of this company by posting your experiences on relevant websites... just don't run afoul of defamation laws by being accusatory... simply state the facts. Call no names, make no judgments.

[trangbetter]

Oh thank you so much for your advice, @strong eagle. I will alert other people if after one month no payment is made.

[trangbetter]

Please dont work for http://www.fastaccuratetranslations.com/
I don't receive any response from them after emailing for collection of payment for 3 months+.
Recently I have seen their recruitment post on Recruit.net.
Please dont work for http://www.fastaccuratetranslations.com/
+65 9657 6503

[rie.p]

Hi Trang, any payment status to update?!

[rie.p]

They have physical office in Anson road.. but since there was no contract involved, I'm in doubt in there is something we can do..

[yokoh]

HI Trangbetter

Any payment received from Translation4U? It's been a year since you last wrote. Any update?

[MrEgon]

Hi,

I got similar problem with "translation4u.hr@gmail.com". Last year I tried to apply jobs at translation4u Singapore. Didn't hear any reply for months. Then all out of a sudden I got an Email from this email address. It said that they have lots of transcription projects right now and that they want me to start with transcription. They send me a audio record and I should transcribe the first 10 minutes without losing any audio. I did and send them back the transcription and then never hear them back, though I send Email ask for many times. The audio was about 2 person argument on the street and later shopping mall evironment. The background noise is very loud. The man did speak English but as foreign language. 10 minutes argument between normal person is actually a lot. For transcription record, you also have to write down the time mark, such as 2'53" woman said oh... but... For all the work done, I've spent at least 5 hours.

I think they use up applicant and get their job done for free. From their Email, they didn't leave any telephone number, address, name or title. Seems that they don't want you to get contact with them at all. They should be black listed.

[yokoh]

Disgusting people. No money to pay translator, why offer translation job? Cheapo.
Realised I can't seem to contact anyone at all and hence have doubt.
I did a translation test and later, they send me an email to say I was selected. But in order to start receiving translation job, I need to sign up membership and pay upfront, with 6 monthly, annually or 18-monthly. The figures do not tally with the initial email. When I question them, they replied that IT guy was on leave. Will get him to alter website wen he returns.

What a joke.
I didn't fall for them.
They ought to be black listed !!!