If you have ever tried to post or receive anything important at this time of year, you’ll probably know just how much of a nightmare it can be. Suffice to say therefore, this is absolutely not the time to be taking chances when it comes to the most important documents and translations of all. Nevertheless, there will always be a wide variety of situations that call for urgent certified translations, which simply cannot wait for the dust to settle in the New Year.
As such, if you are planning to use any certified translation services over the Christmas period, there are a few things you need to both take into account and discuss with your chosen service provider. Given the fact that you cannot always rely on translation agencies to tell you everything you need to know outright, it’s up to you to ask the right questions before going ahead.
- Postal Problems
For obvious reasons, postal problems could significantly delay the transmission of documents in either or both directions. As such, think carefully about your chosen method of delivery – perhaps insisting on private courier services as the only acceptable solution. Or if it is a realistic possibility, delivering and collecting the documents yourself in-person.
- Office Closures
Be sure to ask any translation service providers you are interested in working with exactly which days and hours they intended to close over the Christmas period. Once again, this may not be made immediately obvious, but can nonetheless be several days or even weeks during which you will not be able to contact them. Ask in advance and do not take anything for granted.
- Document Protection
Given the likelihood of rather unpleasant weather at this time of year, it’s also important to ensure that you yourself and your chosen service provider sufficiently protect your documents and certified translations, prior to posting them. Don’t run the risk of adverse weather damaging or destroying your important documents.
- Timely Results
Last but not least, the key to facilitating timely results is of course placing your order as early as possible. Despite the fact that the chaos of Christmas is just around the corner, there is still plenty of time to organize urgent certified translation jobs when and where required. It’s simply a case of ensuring you work only with those you can trust to deliver on their word.
For more information on anything to do with certified translations or to discuss an order, get in touch with the Semiotic Transfer team today.