MediCom Meier & Koop GmbH

		FAQ / Frequently Asked Questions


		Q: Do translations into German take account of the new German grammar and spelling rules? A: As a rule, translations will take account of the new grammar and spelling system. However, it may sometimes be necessary to write translations based on the old grammar and spelling rules (e.g. in the case of minor updates to existing instruction manuals). Whatever the case may be, we can adapt flexibly to your requirements.
		Q: The documents we want you to process are highly confidential. Can you provide us with a guarantee of confidentiality? A: If required, you can rest assured that MediCom will guarantee the confidentiality and security of your documents. This agreement also applies to any other persons involved in the handling and processing of your documents
		Q: I only require the translation of a single word or a short sentence. Who can help? A: The following link may be of help - http://babelfish.altavista.com/ This is, of course, a machine translation, with all the familiar weaknesses and faults that this involves.
		Q: I require a translation into an East European language or, for example, into the Greek language – what factors must I take into account? A: Let us know which type of script and which platform (Windows or Mac) you would like us to use. We would be happy to advise you in choosing a suitable script for your project.
		Q: Does MediCom provide layout and DTP services? A: Should you wish us to provide DTP and layout services, we will need to see the original layout files in order to calculate the costs involved in the project. If you have large amounts of data, it is best to send it to us on CD-ROM or via a direct data connection. Contact us by telephone if you would like us to give you direct access to our server.
		Q: Can you provide me with a test translation before embarking on a potential project? A: As is the case with our competitors, we would be happy to provide a test translation free of charge. However, please remember that translators often put a disproportionate amount of effort into preparing a test translation, so that such tests do not necessarily provide an accurate reflection of the quality of service on offer.
		Q: How do you calculate the price of translations? A: Translation prices are calculated on the basis of the number of lines of text in the target language (@ 55 characters per line).
		Q: Do you have a minimum price or contract value? A: Regrettably, we have to insist on a minimum contract value of 25,00 Euro per target language.
		Q: Is it possible to receive a fixed-price quote in advance? A: For budgeting and liquidity planning reasons, our customers often require a fixed-price quote in advance, particularly in the case of large translation projects. We would be happy to make you a suitable quote, including both the cost of the translation and the cost of any additional services such as layout, typesetting and desktop publishing (if required). Simply send us your text via e-mail, CD-ROM, post or fax, detailing the combination(s) of languages you require. In the case of pure text translations, we deliver the translation as an RTF file (Rich Text Format), unless otherwise requested. Simply let us know if you require a different format. Please remember to give us the full details of your company’s address, telephone number, fax number and the name of the contact person in order to ensure swift and efficient communication in the event of any queries arising.
		Q: How long do I have to wait for a quote? A: We can give you a detailed quote within a few hours of receiving your inquiry. Should you have a particularly urgent request, please contact us by telephone.
		Q: I would like to compare the prices of several translation agencies. What should I take into account when doing this? A: As there are no standard regulated prices for translations, you should request a fixed-price quote from several agencies or send a short test project to each agency. This is the only way to accurately compare prices and service.