Working principles
For accepted assignments, the members of the Association use professionally skilled, competent translators who are qualified by education, training and experience to carry out the assignment successfully. The members of the Association do not accept assignments for which they do not have such qualifications.
The members of the Association aim at the best possible price/quality ratio. Each member draws up clear, easily understandable pricing principles and agrees always to give a price estimate or, if possible, a specific binding offer.
The members of the Association try to ensure the uniformity and consistency of all terminology in every possible way. As far as possible, the members also work in close cooperation with the client. It is best if the client can provide maximum help, advice and background material related to the assignment, particularly client-specific information and specialist terms not readily available to the translator. If the client constructively assesses/corrects/revises a first translation version in the light of his expertise, it usually advances the work process and ensures the high quality of the finished text produced thereafter by the translation company.
The members of the Association agree on the time and manner of delivery with the client when an assignment is accepted and observe the agreed deadlines. If the delivery schedule cannot be observed (on account of force majeure or unpredictable difficulties arising from the assignment itself), the client must be consulted concerning a solution or an alternative course of action at the earliest opportunity.
The members of the Association observe the principle that, if the purpose for which the translation is to be used so requires, a suitable professional who is a native speaker of the target language takes part in the translation process as either a translator or a checker.
If a translation company receives proper instructions with the assignment, the translation produced by the company will suit its purpose and have a fluency of style that does not render it immediately recognizable as a translation.
The members of the Association maintain the technical capabilities and work processes required by modern communications and information technology.
In order to meet these quality requirements, the members of the Association agree to maintain the knowledge and skills of their translators on a continuous basis and to offer them relevant further training.
If a client is not satisfied with work carried out by a member of the Association of Finnish Translation Companies, the member will investigate the matter as carefully as possible and try to settle the issue equitably in a mutually satisfactory manner. If the member and the client cannot reach an agreement, the issue can be submitted to the Board of this Association. The Board will handle the issue with all possible impartiality and issue an opinion and/or recommendation.