Is sworn and certified translation the same thing?
Translations prepared by sworn translators should be called “certified”.
They include their seal and signature.- Do I have to deliver the original documents to your office to order a certified translation?
If you would like to receive a cost estimate, just send us high quality scans - we don’t require the original documents at this stage. You can present them when you come to collect the certified translation. - How can I collect my certified translation?
You can visit our Poznań office (ul. Dolna Wilda 88B/X), open Monday to Friday from 9 to 5, or our Wrocław office (ul. B. Prusa 71) – only after prior arrangement. We can also deliver the translation by post or international/local courier service for an extra charge. We can also send you scans of the translated documents first, if needed. - Is a cost estimate always free of charge?
Yes, all estimates at Berlineo are free. Just send an enquiry and we’ll be happy to answer all your questions. - What do I have to do to place an order?
If you represent a company and want to place an order, just send us a confirmation from a company e-mail address and give full company data (including the Tax Identification Number). If you want to order as an individual, make the payment to the account number on the pro-forma invoice attached to the offer and send us the transfer confirmation. We will then confirm we accept the job. - How will I know if I need a certified translation or just a standard one?
Certified translations are required mostly by various offices and public institutions. If you want to find out whether you need this type of translation, it’s best to ask at the office or institution where documents will be filed. - In the offer you mention the number of standard pages – what does that mean?
In our estimates we always apply a unit called a standard page, that is 1800 characters with spaces in the case of standard translations and 1125 characters with spaces for certified translations. Please note, that the number of standard pages is not necessarily the same as the number of typed pages. You can check the number of characters with spaces in your document using a text editor. In Microsoft Word it is a function called “Word Count”. - What are the payment methods available?
Individuals receive a pro-forma invoice with all payment details. If you prefer to order and collect the translation at one of our offices, the only payment method available is cash. Companies receive an invoice once their order is completed and the payment is to be made by bank transfer within 14 days from invoice date.
New Customers and Unverified Customers using our BE-LINGO platform pay upfront via online payment systems (PayPal, Skrill, PAYU) made available at www.be-lingo.com or via bank transfer to the BE-LINGO account given. In the case of Regular Customers and Verified Customers compensation is payable based on an invoice within 14 days from the moment of receiving the translation. - Can I be sure that the documents I need to translate will remain confidential?
Berlineo takes great care to keep all your materials and documents confidential. All translators working for Berlineo have signed the confidentiality clause, which obligates them to keep all information and materials received for the purposes of translation or interpreting jobs confidential. - I’ve sent an enquiry. How soon will I get my offer?
The time we need to prepare an offer differs depending on the amount and format of provided materials. In the case of scans of PDF files it takes a while to prepare an editable version that allows us to analyse the content. With simple enquiries and editable files we usually send an offer within half an hour. - What file formats do you work with?
We work with many, also non-standard, file formats, such as:
- text files: .doc, .docx, .docm, .rtf, .txt
- multimedia presentations: .ppt, .pptx, .pps, .pptm
- spreadsheets: .xlsx,.xlsm,.xls
- graphic files: .jpg, .tiff, .gif, .png, .psd, .ai
- Adobe®: .inx, .incx, .indd, .pdf
- assembly files: .dll, .exe
- html files: .html, .htm
- visual XML: .incx, .inx, .ini, .po, .xml,.msi
- other formats: .resx, .cpl, .dxf, .mif i inne - Will the graphic design of the original be preserved in the translation? / I would like my translation to have the same layout as the source text - is that possible?
If source materials were fully editable, thanks to our professional tools the translation will have the same layout as the original document. If, however, we had to prepare the editable version ourselves, the price includes fairly accurate representation of the original layout, without graphic elements, unless otherwise agreed.
We can also prepare a document ready for print, with professional graphic design, but please note that such DTP services are not included in the price of translation. If you are interested in this additional option, please inform us in your enquiry. - What is the difference between translation and localisation?
Localisation is about adapting the translated content to the culture and language of a specific target area, making changes that will create an impression that the text was originally prepared in the target language. Localisation services are advised in particular in the case of websites, software, as well as advertising and information brochures.
You can find more information in the Localisation section. - Does the cost of translation include proofreading?
In our work we apply the four eyes principle, so each translation is additionally checked before delivery, to ensure highest quality. In the case of translation into foreign languages we also offer additional proofreading by a native speaker. - Can I receive an offer also on weekends and outside regular office hours?
Yes, now thanks to our BE-LINGO ordering platform you can get a cost estimate and order your translation also outside office hours, whenever you want. Learn more at: www.be-lingo.com - I made the payment. How will I know if my text is being translated?
Each time we accept a job we confirm it by e-mail. In the case of individuals, we do it once we receive a transfer confirmation and in the case of companies, when we receive an order confirmation sent from a company e-mail address. If you did not receive a confirmation, contact us and we will check the status of your order. - I would like to order conference services. What kind of information do you need to prepare an offer?
To prepare a detailed offer and a binding cost estimate we need as much information about the event as possible.
If you are interested only in interpreting services, indicate the language pair/-s, type of interpreting (simultaneous, consecutive, whispered), venue and time, duration, type of event and the topic. If you wish to book escort interpreting for a visit abroad, please inform us whether transport, accommodation, meals and, if needed, also visas and insurance for the interpreter will be ensured.
If we are to provide interpreting equipment (only or in addition to interpreting), inform us about the number of booths or mobile Tour Guide systems and headphones needed. If there is no appropriate sounding system at the conference venue or there are other specific requirements, or we are to provide additional equipment (additional speakers, a projector, recording equipment), please give us detailed information so that we can prepare a comprehensive offer. - In my enquiry I mentioned the interpreter would be working for 2 hours. Why does the offer include price for 4 hours?
A four-hour minimum is a standard in interpreting services. It is because each assignment, even a short one, involves time spent on preparation and transport to and fro as well. A minimum payment unit allows to take this additional time into consideration. In the case of consecutive interpreting, when the event lasts over 4 hours, working time exceeding the 4-hour limit will be charged on a per hour basis. In simultaneous interpreting a 4-hour minimum is a standard unit, so the total cost is established by calculating how many 4-hour units there were. Conditions may be different in the case of out-of-town assignments. - Why does simultaneous interpreting require two interpreters?
This type of interpreting is very demanding, regardless of the event or topic. It requires constant focus and only with two interpreters can highest quality of simultaneous interpreting be ensured. What is more, if simultaneous interpreting is provided by one interpreter only, this can pose a threat to the interpreter’s health and the event itself. If any unpredictable situations occur (e.g. the interpreter feels sick or chokes on water), it will have a negative impact on the fluency of interpreting and thus the whole conference. That is why Berlineo always follows the simple rule: 1 language pair = 2 conference interpreters For the sake of our interpreters and clients. - How much earlier before the conference/meeting should I book the interpreters?
Generally the sooner, the better, but it all depends on the specific event. What we can offer you and the price of the service depend on many factors, e.g.: whether you need one interpreter or many, where the meeting is held, do you need interpreters of languages from the first language group or rather exotic languages. It will be much easier to provide consecutive Polish-English interpreting in cities like Poznań, Wrocław or Warsaw, even if you order at the last moment, than to book a sworn interpreter of Latvian or Finnish. We do everything we can to assist our customers in every situation, but planning in advance will allow us to offer the most attractive price and the interpreters to prepare themselves. - Why is it so important to provide materials for the interpreters in advance?
The subject field is not enough. Even the best, most experienced interpreters need to prepare for the assignment. The more information they receive before the event, the better interpreting they provide. Conference agenda, presentations form the speakers, documents which will be discussed at the meeting will all be very helpful. You are worried about the security of the information? Berlineo guarantees that all materials you send us will remain confidential and secure.