Submitted Anonymously
I decided a few weeks ago that what the profession needed was a bit of mystery shopping, so I contacted all the agencies on the list via email and requested a ‘signer’ for a small business conducting a recruitment interview for an apprentice, one of which was deaf. We were flexible on times, but needed the ‘signer’ for an hour in the morning. After getting a response I sent an email back with a confused query about qualifications and registration. You can see the responses for yourselves. All discussions took place via email and I have kept the responses should anyone wish to challenge the information provided. My personal opinion is that as a general rule, interpreter led agencies come out on top.
| AGENCY | QUOTE | NOTES |
| Aditus | £120 + travel + £30 admin fee | Claimed to only use fully qualified and registered interpreters |
| Couldn’t provide anyone in house for the time requested, offered to find an alternative from their databases | ||
| Included full terms and conditions | ||
| Explained the registration process clearly. | ||
| Action on Hearing Loss | £168 + travel | Claimed all interpreters used were qualified and registered |
| (3 hr minimum) | ||
| appa | RSLI – £50 per hour, CSW £45 per hour | Offered to help me apply to ATW to cover costs – then their fee becomes all inclusive, they offer a free service to deal with AtW paperwork |
| First booking receives a 10% discount so charges would be Interpreter £45 per hour, CSW £40.50. No VAT added on travel. | Explained the difference between interpreter and CSW as interpreter has level 6 BSL and CSW level 3 or 4, Recommended for an interview someone with level 6 BSL should be used | |
| (2 hr minimum) | Offered me an interpreter for the afternoon initially though I had requested the morning then later stated they had someone available | |
| Applied Language Solutions | Unknown | Emailed. No response. |
| Bee Communications | £250 + VAT + travel | Offered advice on interviewing a deaf person |
| Try to offer fully qualified (level 5) called MRSLI | ||
| Said I probably didn’t need that level and could book a cheaper trainee | ||
| Later offered someone fully qualified and to lower the fee to £240 inclusive | ||
| Big Word | £50 (3 hour minimum) | Claimed that registered and qualified signers were only needed for ‘official representation’ such as courts, but not for job interviews |
| Total cost = £150 + VAT + travel time + expenses | Offered to locate an interpreter local to me so as to save on travel costs | |
| BSL Beam | N/A | Stated straight away that they were not an agency, but explained their position in the market |
| Offered some reputable specialist agencies local to the area | ||
| Offered a detailed and comprehensive explanation of the NRCPD registration process | ||
| Explained the risks of using someone unqualified | ||
| Provided an explanation of Access to Work | ||
| BSL Link4Comm | £136.50 + travel | Claim to only use experienced NRCPD registered interpreters |
| (3 hr minimum) | Mentioned equality legislation and the impact of using unqualified people | |
| Mentioned code of conduct | ||
| City Lit (Sign Here) | Unknown | Transparent – said they didn’t have anyone available until Sept |
| Redirected me to the NRCPD website – told me how to book direct to save money | ||
| Gave me an indication of industry standard fees to expect and pointed me towards information on working with an interpreter | ||
| Fully explained what registration and qualification meant – only organisation to correct my use of the term ‘signer’ and explain the difference | ||
| Outlined the legal ramifications of using a ‘signer’ | ||
| Clarion | £159 + travel + VAT | Said “don’t necessarily need a fully qualified interpreter but you would want minimum level 3.” |
| (3 hr minimum) | I asked if level 3 was enough, the response was that it depends | |
| Codex Global | Unknown | Refused to quote without full information and details |
| Cohearentvision | N/A | No one available – pointed me towards the London Interpreters website |
| Communication ID | £125 + VAT | Explained the difference between RSLI and unqualified. |
| Claim to only use RSLI | ||
| Mentioned ASLI and NRCPD | ||
| Deaf Agency | One off fee of £42 (first time customer) | Said “We like to keep our costs down and try to be a flexible as possible” |
| Usually £126 + travel + VAT | Claim all staff are registered | |
| Deaf Direct | Unknown | Recommended booking an agency locally and offered some contact details |
| Mentioned NRCPD and recommended booking someone fully qualified, checking registration status and then explained why this was important | ||
| Told us we could save money by booking an interpreter directly from the NRCPD website | ||
| Explained ATW and provided a link to the website | ||
| Deaf Positives | £145 + VAT + travel | Claimed that a registered interpreter was required but not essential |
| Clarified what RSLI meant | ||
| Said “The other type of sign language interpreter is Registered Trainee Interpreter and they are trainees from approx level 1 to level 3.” | ||
| Deaf Umbrella | £143.14 inclusive of travel and VAT | Told me that MRSLI’s were more expensive |
| (2 hr minimum) | Said ” Unless your candidate has specifically requested a fully qualified Interpreter, a lower level of sign support would be completely appropriate. “ | |
| MRSLI did not need to be booked unless client specifically requested one, but they take weeks to book in advance | ||
| They had a member of staff available to interpret | ||
| Suggested ATW as a way of covering the cost of interpreting and a member of staff could help | ||
| Diversus | £162 + VAT + travel | Pushy – kept requesting my full details and a confirmation |
| Sourced an interpreter before I’d even confirmed I wanted one | ||
| Essex Interpreting | £120 + travel + VAT | Claim to use only registered interpreters. Mostly qualified, some JTI |
| Femaura | Unknown | Said “Level 6 is full qualified” |
| Only really wanted to talk over the phone | ||
| Interpreting Matters | £170 + VAT | Claim to only use registered interpreters |
| Full explanation of NRCPD registration process | ||
| Price dependent on interpreter fee | Explained ATW | |
| Explained the ramifications of using unqualified people | ||
| Islington Council | N/A | Explained that they only cover council bookings in Islington |
| Recommended booking a registered interpreter | ||
| Mentioned ASLI | ||
| Offered a guide for industry standard freelance fees | ||
| Just Communication | £210 + VAT | Claim to “only use qualified registered interpreters” |
| K-International | £250 + VAT | |
| Language Empire | £175 + travel + VAT | Said “Interpreters with a Level 4 is the minimum qualification we use…” |
| (3 hr minimum charge) | Fees are for ‘Special Disability Interpreting’ – Charges are the same for CSW’s and Interpreters, ‘Finger Spelling’, ‘Deaf Blind Manual’ & ‘Deaf Blind Hands On’ & ‘Lipreaders’ | |
| Language is Everything | Wouldn’t state their charges | Claim to use qualified & registered interpreters |
| Stated interpreter industry standard charges as: | Clear about the legal ramifications of using someone unqualified – Mentioned DDA | |
| £90-£130 + travel | Referred me to ASLI | |
| Language Line | N/A | Outsource all bookings to Clarion |
| Lexicon Sign Stream | Unknown | Explained the qualification and registration process in detail |
| Explained minimum charges and industry standard fees | ||
| Offered to source a local interpreter | ||
| Merrill Corporation | £260 + VAT + travel | Claim to only use qualified and registered interpreters |
| Mentioned NRCPD and safeguarding and standards | ||
| Provided an attachment outlining the roles of BSL interpreters, STTR & Lipspeakers (NRCPD registered) – all comprehensive and accurate | ||
| MLIS | Unknown | Claim to only use qualified translators and never trainees |
| Very non committal until had all of my details | ||
| Neal Communication (NCA) | £150 + travel + VAT | Asked about qualification levels but preferred to speak over the phone so no clear response |
| (3 hr minimum) | ||
| Newham Language Shop | £120 + VAT | Claim to only use qualified interpreters and do not ever use unqualified interpreters |
| Offered to email some advice on how to work with a “signer” | ||
| Onestop Agency | £50 per hr, 3 hr min + travel | Claim to only use fully qualified interpreters or trainee interpreters |
| Total £150 + travel | Recommend not using level 3 NVQ signers and only use those on the register | |
| Say their charges are based on interpreter 3 hour minimum charges | ||
| Offered a brief explanation of using a BSL interpreter | ||
| Pearl Linguistics | £70 per hour | Claim “we have access to more BSL interpreters than any other language agency” |
| (3 hr minimum) | Fully explained the difference between a level 3 signer and what it means to be fully qualified and registered | |
| Total £210 + travel + VAT | Said “As to your situation, I believe you should be fine with a “level 3”. | |
| Positive Signs | Initially free – money accessed through government scheme | Claimed to only ever use qualified or experienced personnel |
| Just said “variable”, has since disclosed fees as £37 RSLI per hour, CSW £32 per hour inclusive of travel + admin fee | Free’ interpreters available through apprenticeship scheme, funded using public funds | |
| Prestige | £289 + VAT | Said all their interpreters were BRCPD registered (could have been a typo) and explained that all people registered had to submit evidence of qualifications |
| Mentioned the code of conduct that interpreters were expected to follow | ||
| Mentioned the three hour industry standard minimum fee and their charges reflected that | ||
| Quick Lingo | £250 + VAT | When quote was challenged, the response was “we charge for the service which includes travel time, travel expenses, plus minimum interpreting time charge.” |
| Said “Level 3 is sufficient for this assignment and we can provide at least that.” | ||
| RAD | £130 (2 hour minimum), £47ph thereafter, + travel, no VAT charged | Stated full charges, on charge sheet clearly explained that only NRCPD registered interpreters were used. |
| Remark! | £120 + £10 travel + VAT | Very pushy, tried to sell me a BSL course |
| Offered a RSLI | ||
| Said “Costings for a qualified interpreter can be very expensive as there are not many qualified interpreters out there “ | ||
| Sold themselves as deaf led and community focused. Profits fund activities in the deaf community. | ||
| Said they could only find an interpreter (in house) for the afternoon and no interpreters were available for the morning; did not offer to source a freelancer | ||
| I had requested a morning booking. Said short notice meant no other interpreters were available unless I wanted to change the date | ||
| Rosetta Translation | £75 per hour | No response when I enquired about qualifications |
| (3 hr minimum) | ||
| Half Day £300. + travel + VAT | ||
| Sign Language Direct | £250 + VAT (3 hr minimum) | Said “Since this regards an interview, the 3rd level shall be fine.” – in response to my query about qualifications |
| Half Day £300 / Full Day £450 (1 interpreter) | Said that fully qualified interpreters were only ‘obligitory’ for police and social services | |
| Half Day £600 / Full Day £900 (2 interpreters) | ||
| Sign Solutions | £145 + travel + VAT | Checked interpreter availability and quoted based on the interpreter fee – told me where the interpreter was travelling from |
| Offered to negotiate travel expenses | ||
| Signing Works | £135 + VAT + expenses | Explained industry standard booking half day or full day |
| Bristol based – offered a comparative fee. | ||
| Claim to only use qualified interpreters for job interviews | ||
| Advised about ATW | ||
| Explained the complexity of BSL levels and why it was specialist and required some who was qualified | ||
| Signs In Vision | £35 per hr + travel + £15 admin fee | Mentioned NRCPD & ASLI & recommended checking for badges |
| (3 hr minimum) | Explained the NRCPD registration included CRB, insurance and qualification | |
| Total £120 + travel | Included a Deaf Awareness document | |
| Included T&C with explanation of NRCPD & ASLI at the top | ||
| Silent Sounds | £144 + travel | Recommended a Trainee Interpreter for the interview |
| Highlighted the time involved with training | ||
| SL-I-D | £120 including travel | Mentioned ATW and reclaiming costs |
| (Half day minimum) | NRCPD registered | |
| Explained the ramifications of using someone unqualified | ||
| SLBF | Unknown | Emailed twice. No response. |
| Surrey Council | £150 + travel + VAT | Claims to only use registered interpreters |
| (First Point) | (3 hr minimum) | |
| Terp Tree | £170 + travel + VAT | Explained industry 3 hour minimums |
| (3 hr minimum) | Claim to only use qualified and registered interpreters | |
| Follow up email sent with client recommendations | ||
| (Will waive fee if unhappy with service) | Mentioned ATW | |
| The Sign Language Bank | Unknown | Emailed twice. No response. |
| Today Translations | Said it can be fine for some signers to “freely pass on the meaning of spoken langauge” but as a general rule they won’t risk it. | |
| Added that “Job interviews are stressful for everyone. If you add hearing problems on top of that…you can imagine how wrong it can go!” | ||
| Said “Most of sign interpreters grew up in a household were one or both of the parents were deaf” | ||
| Explained that becoming a sign langauge interpreter requires study and practise | ||
| Total Communication | £200 including VAT and travel | Told me the interpreter quote was for fully qualified. After I asked about level, I was told that they were “Level 6 , Trainee Interpreter. So it is above Level 3” |
| Ubiquis | £300 + VAT + travel | Claimed to only use fully qualified and experienced interpreters |
| Offered information about qualifications and registration | ||
| Stated that unqualified interpreters would charge less | ||
| Offered a local alternative to their company | ||
| UK Language Solutions | £60 per hour + £30 per hour travel | Said “A level 3 qualified interpreter may be acceptable for some interpreting assignments” |
| (2 hr minimum) | But claim to only use qualified and registered interpreters | |
| Veritas Language Solutions | £164.60 + £32 VAT | Aimed to source an interpreter close to the booking to save on travel |
| Said the interpreter had a two hour minimum charge, but would not state whether they were qualified even though I specifically asked | ||
| Wolfestone | £75 + VAT | Requested information about qualifications but received no response |
| Additional hours £50 per hour | ||