Poll: Do you submit personal ID if requested by the client?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Aug 23, 2019

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you submit personal ID if requested by the client?".

This poll was originally submitted by Priscila Wilke. View the poll results »



 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 17:27
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In some cases Aug 23, 2019

I was never asked by a translation agency to submit my personal ID and I would find that rather suspicious. That being said, over the years I have signed a few consultant contracts with UN agencies and similar international organizations where you have to submit your ID.

neilmac
 
Angus Stewart
Angus Stewart  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:27
Member (2011)
French to English
+ ...
Reluctantly Aug 23, 2019

In one case, a particularly difficult client made it a condition of payment being issued after the project had already been completed so I reluctantly submitted to their request as a large sum of money was at stake. I still don't think it is legitimate for clients to request to see my personal ID.

Adam Warren
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 18:27
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
Not up to now Aug 23, 2019

I refer to my VAT registration and my business identity.
So far that has been enough, or I would not want to deal with them anyway.
It means I exist as a legal entity and am solvent. (Bankruptcy is noted in the companies register.)

It may be necessary in future, because recently the banks have been tightening their procedures for checking against money laundering. So far, however, they have not had time to worry too much about small customers like me, whom they have kno
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I refer to my VAT registration and my business identity.
So far that has been enough, or I would not want to deal with them anyway.
It means I exist as a legal entity and am solvent. (Bankruptcy is noted in the companies register.)

It may be necessary in future, because recently the banks have been tightening their procedures for checking against money laundering. So far, however, they have not had time to worry too much about small customers like me, whom they have known for years and have no particular reason to suspect.
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Kevin Fulton
 
Kevin Fulton
Kevin Fulton  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 13:27
German to English
Might be inevitable Aug 23, 2019

Given the amount of CV stealing, identity theft and scamming in this business, agencies and end clients may in the future insist on some sort of identification. In the US, agencies send out a W-9 form to translators living in the United States which provides a (flimsy) means of verifying their Social Security number for tax purposes. So far, only one European client has asked for a form of ID, but others have asked for copies of diplomas, etc. to comply, I assume, with ISO requirements.
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Given the amount of CV stealing, identity theft and scamming in this business, agencies and end clients may in the future insist on some sort of identification. In the US, agencies send out a W-9 form to translators living in the United States which provides a (flimsy) means of verifying their Social Security number for tax purposes. So far, only one European client has asked for a form of ID, but others have asked for copies of diplomas, etc. to comply, I assume, with ISO requirements.

I personally don't have a problem with this. I only attended public universities, and copies of their diplomas are freely available on the Internet to potential forgers, who, in all likelihood, are more interested in faking diplomas of prestigious institutions.
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DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Addressing Aug 23, 2019

Unlike a diploma or certification, usually the ID (documents with photo, such as a passport or a driving license) is not necessary to prove one's competence or credentials. Why, I still remember one of my first client's request to name my bank card number in order to send some $10 and prove my contacts)

Of course, signing a contract requires all the papers from all the parties involved--preferably in person.


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 18:27
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Other Aug 23, 2019

I have been asked to do so twice. After having received a signed NDA, a contract and the first project I sent them a copy in a password protected PDF which allowed neither editing nor printing the file. Of course my ID card number was blackened to be illegible.

However, in the future I will refrain from doing so simply because the customer doesn't send me a copy of his or her ID or passport. Equal partners with equal rights.


Liz Marino
Adam Warren
Esther Dodo
Priscila Wilke
Nathalie Bullen
Christine Andersen
 
Gibril Koroma
Gibril Koroma  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 13:27
French to English
+ ...
Yes Aug 23, 2019

I have never been asked but I don't see anything wrong with responding positively.

 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Precaution Aug 23, 2019

I believe it's a very dated bad habit to spam your credentials to many unknown/ dubious/ unidentified/ non-verified addressees for very soon you may see another "Impersonating scammer" thread followed by your true name with real credentials.

By the way, in Ukraine just somebody's picture of holding his/her passport is enough to get multiple credits--even online...


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I believe it's a very dated bad habit to spam your credentials to many unknown/ dubious/ unidentified/ non-verified addressees for very soon you may see another "Impersonating scammer" thread followed by your true name with real credentials.

By the way, in Ukraine just somebody's picture of holding his/her passport is enough to get multiple credits--even online...


 Why provoke cheaters and victims?

[Edited at 2019-08-23 17:36 GMT]
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Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 18:27
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Yes, redacted Aug 23, 2019

Priscila Wilke wrote:
Do you submit personal ID if requested by the client?


Yes, no problem. In some cases, I redact information from it. I use XnView, select text I want to redact, and then use Filer > Effects > Spread (10-20% at least) to hide the information.

WASHINGTON-O21-THOR

Most of the time clients just want to see a document that looks authentic, with at least your name on it. Heck, in most cases you can even redact your likeness.

Be careful with redacting in PDF format, because sometimes the redaction can be undone by the recipient.


[Edited at 2019-08-24 09:18 GMT]


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 14:27
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In some cases, but it's pretty rare Aug 24, 2019

Since most of my clients are in other countries, they rarely ever ask for personal documents, because when they do, it's mainly for tax purposes, and I don't pay taxes in any country other than Brazil.
But some clients still request for ID or passport or taxpayer ID, which I will provide after exchanging a few e-mails, negotiating conditions and having the clear impression that the client will send me work. Note I only do this with clients with a decent history in the Blue Board and at lea
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Since most of my clients are in other countries, they rarely ever ask for personal documents, because when they do, it's mainly for tax purposes, and I don't pay taxes in any country other than Brazil.
But some clients still request for ID or passport or taxpayer ID, which I will provide after exchanging a few e-mails, negotiating conditions and having the clear impression that the client will send me work. Note I only do this with clients with a decent history in the Blue Board and at least 4.6 points, with no complains.
In Brazil, it's a whole different story. Most clients request documents in the act of registration. In a country where scams are so common, no one trusts no one. But since less than 10% of my clients are in Brazil, it's still rare.
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Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 14:27
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
@ Samuel Aug 24, 2019

Samuel Murray wrote:
Yes, no problem. In some cases, I redact information from it. I use XnView, select text I want to redact, and then use Filer > Effects > Spread (10-20% at least) to hide the information.


Beware: what you call "redaction" is a crime in most countries.


 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 18:27
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Mario Aug 24, 2019

Mario Freitas wrote:
Beware: what you call "redaction" is a crime in most countries.


Do you have a source for that?


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 14:27
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
@ Samuel Aug 27, 2019

Samuel Murray wrote:

Mario Freitas wrote:
Beware: what you call "redaction" is a crime in most countries.


Do you have a source for that?


Are you kidding, my dear? This is misrepresentation!


 


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Poll: Do you submit personal ID if requested by the client?






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