In reality, there is always a difficult interplay between the two.
What do you look for when hiring an interpreter?
The quality of services? Price?
In reality, there is always a difficult interplay between the two.
An adept agency will always try to hire local interpreters first. Though this capability depends on the location of qualified interpreters and their availability.
As a client, you have limited control over local availability. Since most interpreters are freelancers who take the first confirmed assignment that comes their way, hiring early means that highest quality (and reasonably priced) local interpreters will more likely be available. Therefore, you receive better quality for a lower price.
Beware of agencies who for an alarmingly low price promise a local interpreter regardless of circumstances. The agencies that offer these unbelievable deals usually hire new, untrained (or barely trained) interpreters. A deposition or a courtroom are not the right training grounds for such an interpreter! Would you be willing to hinge your case on an interpreter just learning the ropes?
A competent agency will be honest about the availability of quality local interpreters asking for additional travel charges or even a plane ticket to the get right interpreter for your case. You can always expect quality interpreters to be reliable, consistent, and experienced.
In the end, each budget is different. A good agency will take that into account and accommodate the hiring process to the client’s needs and budget. But reality can throw curve balls. A smart client will weigh the importance of their case against the extra costs associated with hiring the interpreting service and make the right call.
Professional interpretation services are exactly that, a service. And you get what you pay for like with any other service or product out there.
