thebigword Anmeldelser 56

I believe people using their services without doing any proper research receive the service they deserve. Interpreters are paid under minimum wage but because they have monopoly over the market many of them registered with them. As an additional agency but as soon as they receive a call from an agency that actually doesn’t survive just to exploit people they will drop your call. Because they are people who need to pay their bills too. So don’t be surprised if you need 6 interpreters for a phone call. Also their WordSynk app is a disgrace please make it make sense how travelling 150 miles and interpreting for an hour is paid £38

So, I was approached by this agency, and at first it all seemed to be going well. I sent all the required documents and paperwork. The administrator was from India, not even based in the UK. I explained everything I needed, especially since I have over 25 years of significant experience. Instead of appreciating that, she began demanding more papers and additional proof, which I provided.

Then I told her that I had read bad reviews, and that is where the problems began.

She immediately became aggressive and started demanding that I show her the reviews, which I did — although you do not even need to show them, as they are publicly available online for anyone to see.

Then she began giving ultimatums, saying things like the clock is ticking: today, tomorrow, now, one hour.

I said that I did not want to proceed at the moment and would pass.

A few days later, I contacted them myself because I need a second agency. I had also been approached by another agency and wanted to compare the rates.

I asked her for the rates, and the problem began again. She gave me another ultimatum, asking why I was requesting rates because I had previously said no.

Anyway, the administrator is clearly not understanding that answering questions is part of her role, rather than giving petty ultimatums or unnecessary comments.

Basically, the interpreting field in the UK is quite sad these days compared to 1999, when I first started — it feels like slavery, practically treating interpreters like pieces of meat.

Very, very disappointed.

The assigned Polish interpreter was unprofessional and biased. She was constantly commenting on my words and adding her own personal opinions to my statements. This made the medical assessment inaccurate and highly stressful.

I have been trying to get set up with The Big Word and it is an absolute nightmare. I wanted to utilise their services as it would be a benefit to my business, but I am giving up trying to continue.

I have sent a total of 7 emails and no closer than when I first started. I guess I won't be able to breakdown the barriers that they promote to assist with.

I invested many hours completing The Big Word’s onboarding process, including extensive documentation, repeated email correspondence, and the submission of multiple compliance documents. During this period, I was contacted frequently and urged to accelerate the process due to what were described as urgent and significant projects within the MOJ network. The communication was persistent and emphasised the importance of moving quickly.

However, once all documentation had been submitted and I was fully ready to proceed, communication abruptly ceased. My follow-up emails went unanswered. When I attempted to call to seek clarification, I was informed that I should communicate exclusively via email and was asked not to call again.

This experience was deeply disappointing. After investing substantial time and effort to meet their requirements, I expected at least a clear and professional update. Even a brief explanation would have demonstrated basic respect for a prospective collaborator.

BigWord has been one of the worst agencies I’ve ever worked with. They pay next to nothing, cancel jobs at the very last minute, and show zero respect for interpreters’ time or professionalism.
They seem far more interested in catching interpreters out than supporting them. It genuinely feels like they send out people just to nit-pick and report interpreters instead of offering any real guidance or assistance. When you do need help, they are completely useless, no support, no solutions, just excuses.
Working with BigWord has been nothing but stress and disappointment. In my opinion, they are unreliable, unprofessional, and absolutely not worth anyone’s time.

They are a very bad and unorganized company, they cancel the interpreter for my theory driving exam in the Netherlands just 1 day before the exam and I need to reschedule the exam more than 2 months because of them. Also they have a very bad customer service. My advice: never use them.

This company is run by incompetent and unqualified “managers” who proudly hold level 2 certificates in call centre and tele service operations. They have no idea what interpreting is, never set foot in a court and when challenged they ignore you or get a guy to impersonate a solicitor to scare you off. Avoid at all costs, book your own professionals from the national register, do not give money to a call centre full of nobodies!

Modern slavery!
I worked for this company for many years but finally stopped working for then as financially it didn’t make any sense.
When I first started working with them, my rate was £18 an hour, which many years ago was acceptable rate but then they reduced the interpreters rate to £14/hour .
You get paid every other month and that means you have to wait two months to get paid. When you accept a booking and the job get cancelled 1 hour before the start, you wont get paid for it! So your commitment means nothing to them.
Their invoicing system is terrible. You have to invoice everything yourself and then wait for it to get approved. Typically, the jobs you do in last week or so of the month won’t get approved until next month and it means you get paid for them in 2 months time!

I really regret the time I’ve lost working for them. There is a need for this company to legally be investigated for exploiting their interpreters.

INTERPRETER ARE EXPLOITED IN THE BIGWORD COMPANY
THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER PAID COMPANIES IN UK.
IT IS AN INSULT TO PAY £10 PER HOUR FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO DO A TELEPHONE INTERPRETING FOR 1hr or £14 to go face2face

I paid money for a translator to my CBR practical exam before 1 month from exam date.They sent an email before 7 days from exam to inform me could not to arrange a translator.I contacted to them and i said that "why you are informing me last 7 days before exam".To preapare a new translator,you need to prepare minimum 14 days before exam.After i said that "Ok do not find for mother language translator,find an English trasnlator".They said that sorry we do not have.Only one we have and that person can not come to your location and your location is difficult.Imagine that my location is max 15 km between traslator and my driver license school is biggest and famous company of that area.And they said that "change your exam location."Really so funny.I got practical lesson in my location for 1 month,so i need to change my exam location that i never drive there.Really it was stupid idea and there was no possibility.So as you seen in reviews and stars,this company does not make own job well and victimize the people.BE CAREFUL..

I was initially excited to work with this company, especially knowing they hold contracts with government bodies and public service institutions. I assumed this meant a reliable, professional environment and a secure working relationship. After going through a successful recruitment process, I was eager to begin my role as an interpreter.

Unfortunately, my experience quickly turned disappointing. The booking system provided to interpreters was full of issues — many essential functions did not work properly. When I tried to raise these concerns or seek help, communication from the company was poor or completely absent. Emails often went unanswered, and when I did manage to speak to someone, I was told someone would get back to me — which never happened.

I completed 9 interpreting jobs for the company, but to this day, I haven’t been paid for any of them. Only 3 of those jobs were recorded in their invoicing system, making it impossible for me to submit invoices or receive payment for the remaining work. Despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue and assurances that it would be dealt with, nothing has changed. I essentially worked for free, and the lack of accountability has been incredibly disheartening.

This experience has been frustrating, to say the least. Poor internal systems, lack of support, and complete failure in communication have left me regretting my decision to work with this company. I hope others considering working with them proceed with caution.

I was hired as an interpreter for this company. However, after rendering services for months, and ensuring that I am online everyday despite zero to low volume of calls, this company did not pay me for my services. After submitting the invoices and numerous follow ups, they did not reply at all. If not for their profiles on LinkedIn and other sites, I would have thought this company is a scam. I am deeply disappointed. I had high hopes during the hiring process at this company.

Worst company in till date, no job security , payment is pennies , you will have to beg them for your own money. To save money they have their call center in India with an egostic manager, Do not work for this company

As a professional interpreter, I rely on TheBigWord to provide a smooth and efficient platform for my work. However, for the past two months, I have been facing a major issue—I am unable to receive video calls, which is essential for my job.

I have been calling and emailing their support every single day, yet no one responds, and nothing gets fixed. It is incredibly frustrating and unprofessional for a company that claims to be a leader in the industry to completely ignore its interpreters. Without proper support, we cannot do our jobs, and yet TheBigWord seems to not care at all about resolving technical issues or assisting their interpreters.

If you are an interpreter considering working with them, think twice! Their lack of support, poor communication, and complete disregard for our concerns make them an unreliable platform. I am extremely disappointed and will be looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

I have recently started working for them as a MoJ interpreter. The stingiest company I have ever worked for. Badly organised, inefficient and exploiting interpreters in all the possible ways.
Despite the struggle to provide enough interpreters, they still refuse to pay the adequate rates or even to cover the travel. We basically have to bаrgain for every penny before accepting the bookings. When it comes to Justice sector bookings, this situation is unacceptable, by paying extremely low rates, the company will only provide unexperienced or less qualified interpreters who are willing to agree to work under such conditions. And it subsequently will affect the quality of the services and the outcome for the majority of clients. This company should be thoroughly investigated, public inquiry needs to be conducted, as it has been done with Da languages.

thebigword is a scam agency! They employ interpreters from all over the world, but don't pay them. No one answers emails no one knows anything about your wages. The CEO and the global manager are corrupted crooks, milking the system while exploiting hundreds of thousands poor interpreters trying to make their living, but don't receive any wages from the SCAM thebigword money laundry agency, who charging the clients £260 per hour yet pay 0 to their interpreters! Disgusting criminals!

If could give no stars I would. Twice they have let us down for a court hearing booking that has to keep being rebooked and now taken over a year. Costing us money for solicitors and court costs. Worst company ever. Suppose to give 24 hours notice we barely had 12 hours with loss of work pay. Asked for complaints email and it was wrong. Stay clear

As a previous interpreter, I was exploited. Terrible Paying less and asking for more

If you cannot find the address, you face a chargeback. Finding homes is a big challenge and costly. It goes from your date, and the hourly rate used to be £14. You spend at least one hour to go and one hour to come back, and you work for one hour plus your expenses for £14 or £16!!!!