Debt - translation agency seeking to recover a cash advance paid to me, advice needed.

Hello,

I have translated a document for a translation agency in my native languages and the translation agency paid me 50% in front as pre-payment.
I have delivered the documents but they said my translation is 'horrible'. I checked it and everything if fine. Now they contacted a company called

Foxberg.pl to get 90 ZL back from me. I said I won't pay it as I see the 50% as a payment for my time and energy.

Who's here incorrect? I think I can keep it as I delivered it as I think it should be translated.
FYI, there was no umowa o dzielo or any written statements/contracts.

Thanks.

Anna

That depends on how good (or bad) your translation actually was, I guess.

A few years ago a translation agency asked me to proofread a medical paper which had been translated by a Polish doctor who claimed to be a competent translator. It was one of the worst translations I'd seen in twenty years on the job (I made 4000, yes four thousand, changes in thirty pages. The agency refused to pay her, and she threatened to take them to court. They said, OK, go ahead. She didn't. I've never heard of pre-payment in this industry, and it's difficult to know what to advise, but I doubt they'd chase you through the courts for 90PLN.

Anna tell them to spierdalaj

I'd be sending them a bill for the remaining 50% of the agreed payment.

Issue an invoice for the remaining 90pln and then ring a different debt collection agency on them. There's nothing stopping you doing exactly what they're doing.

And she has the added benefit of being able to show that the commissioned work has been done, whereas they would be needing to prove it's of inadequate quality.

For 90PLN? Better to call it quits. Neither party seems to know what they're doing.

I certainly agree with that.

Yes amount was 93 PLN but the debt company added 100 PLN extra for their service.
What's the law in Poland? You can keep 50% if you delivered your work correct? It's the same like I will hire a webdesigner, I will pay 50% he mess up, I don't like it and I want my money back while he spend time/energy into it... I think I have more rights.

FYI he have send me only 1 reminder that I had to pay within 3 DAYS.... and on the 4th day Foxberg contacted me by text message. That's the most funny part :)

if you have no contract then tell them to poke it

ask them for the clients details to confirm they didnt charge them for the work anyway (its a typical scam get the client to pay then try and scare you into doing the work for free)

They can add whatever they want to: you are under no obligation whatsoever to pay it. I'd send the debt collection agency a letter explaining that the work has been done and enclose a copy of the original text and a copy of the translation and a bill for 200zl for my services and expenses.

Aside from any legal issues about working without a contract, there's really no way they can prove anything (except perhaps a bank transfer that isn't backed up by any contract for work) and no way some private agency can collect anything from you without going to court, which without documents would be complicated and very costly. If the debt collection agency keep hassling you, ask them to provide written proof (not just their communications with the translation agency) that a debt exists.