Would you help her for free or would you finally get annoyed?

[Anonymous]

Years ago, I worked part-time as a translator. There’s this Chinese translation company, I helped translate things from and into Georgian.

Usually the texts were quite big and since Georgians are not so common to find and I spoke couple other languages, I made some nice extra cash a few times that was all.

Since then I no longer do translation, because I now make more money in my career and I would rather have a bit more rest than get any extra cash. I turned down another job that paid quite well, cause I wanted some free time for myself. I am also very busy mostly.

So, this woman sends me 100-150 words text every now and then and asks me it’s emergency and if I could help. I helped her for free a few times, since the text was so small, I felt like I could as well help her for free.

Since then she started sending me short texts for translation every now and then, always giving me deadlines, “I need it before 09:00 PM today and bla bla, I tell her I am busy or I am at work and sorry I can’t help, she asks me,” please, it’s just 150 or maximum 200 words and I really need help.” Next time I translate till night while she sleeps peacefully.

I helped her a few times for free but I now noticed she doesn’t even offer me payment, she assumes because it takes me only 10 minutes to translate why not help her for free.

Has she offered a payment, I might have turned it down myself and helped her for free, but I would at least think she appreciates my time, but it starts annoying me now that she assumes we are some kind of friends or she assumes I have lots of free time to spend doing something free that will in the end help her company earn money.

Am I wrong for feeling this way?

Even if I spend just 10-15 minutes, it’s still my 10-15 minutes I could spend some other way and I can be kind for 5 times but don’t expect me to be kind all the time and do something for free that usually people are paid for.

I don’t feel like helping next time, am I wrong?

[Lliam]

What does she need the translations for? Are they for business or is she writing letters to a relative?

Either way, she's being pushy. And she's not a friend if she offers nothing in return. I'd be annoyed and start ignoring her.

If it's for business, you should flat out refuse to continue translating for her. If the jobs were easy and you started charging per word, she would start treating you like an employee and making demands.

The bottom line is, if you don't want to do it, don't.

[molonski2]

NO , you are certainly not wrong , you are spot on.

I'd ask to be put on a " emergency retainer " ( an amount you are happy with ) that is paid every month , whether they send work or not.

This is a highly skilled role , you certainly must not do the work for free , and you know what some Chinese business people are like? They will abuse the help.

If you dont want to do it at all , just tell her you are very busy and no longer available to do any work at all.

[exitseven]

You are being taken advantage of. You were kind to help her out a few time sbut this woman is clearly tsking advantage of your generous nature. People ask me computer questions all the time I do not mind helping them out but don't ask me to rebuild your system because you were too lazy to do a proper backup.

[justabuddy]

I have learned that people take advantage of things that are free. People get out of brand new cars to get a free turkey that was designed to help those who could not afford one on Thanksgiving. I have seen people come out of welfare offices and get into a 70k vehicle. It kinda sounds to me that her definition of emergency is more of a selfish emergency.

[SnowedIn]

You are not wrong. Your time highly valuable. So is rest. Tell her you're not doing it anymore. Just keep saying no.

[Sparkie460]

Doing it once or twice is being nice. She's taking advantage of your kindness. You have every right to refuse to help her. She's making money from you translating. Why shouldn't she give you some money for your time.

[BoopBoopBeep]

You are not wrong at all. Shame on her for taking advantage of your generosity.

[slatyb]

No, you aren't. It's a professional service and you should quote a rate that would make you happy to do it.

[DextroShade]

You are not wrong at all, she is treating you like an employee without paying you like one. Next time she sends you a request your response should be along the lines of "Fuck you, pay me!"

[TomMarks]

Clearly you are being used. She sees you as a free translator, not a person.

[Andres77]

She’s taking a vantage of you. just block her. eventually that idiot will figure it out

[Blueeyes81]

I would no longer give any assistance to her.

[msc545]

Don't work for free. She would charge you for the smallest thing.

[Alex8736]

Absolutely not sweetie 😇