-
‘It is my right to work beyond retirement age - but France says no’
Age discrimination in the workplace is real but hidden, says (soon to be forcibly retired) English teacher Nick Inman
-
Is a translator allowed during French driving tests?
Those who do not exchange their foreign licence within the right time frame will need to take a driving test in the country
-
‘Ponds in rural France are beautifully maintained but no longer used’
Columnist Peter Wyeth laments that these large, impressive sites, once the fresh-aired setting for family picnics, barbecues and fun, now fail to attract people
Fees lost in translation
I think “official translators” are ripping off people using their services.
All UK marriage or birth certificates have standard field and column headers.
Those parts of the translation document are almost always identical.
The variables are dates, addresses and names, which in most cases cannot be translated so, apart from the “Official translator” stamp, we are paying for a copy of a previously translated certificate with the addition of appropriate UK addresses, names etc.
Hardly heavy work, copying something that has been copied many times before!
I have no objection to paying for these specialists for documents that don’t have such standard formats, but for birth and marriage certificates, charges appear excessive.
Barry Moffat, by email
