Mecha shared the link with me for looking-up Cordoba rates ... here it is:
https://www.coltrad-cba.org.ar/nuevo/pdf/Honorarios profesionales_Julio 2024.pdf (i used Column 1)
(main website where this chart is hidden is
https://www.coltrad-cba.org.ar/nuevo/honorarios.php?s=3 )
i got quoted 185,00 to 373,000 Pesos (at that time $165-333 USD-ish) from at least 4 different registered translators, and they all use the "recommended
Honorarios" like any other profession in Argentina for hours worked. the difference from the scammers and someone honest like Mecha is this:
1. she only charges what hours she actually works, and will give you a CHEAPER price at the end if she didn't spend as much time as estimated.
2. the number of pages you send might be 20, but she has the knowledge to determine if LESS pages can get the gist of the goal. in my case, with
Migraciones wanting me to prove that my Rentier Savings was
fixed she was able to rule-out using all the nonsense bank statement pages (with Terms and Conditions, etc.) whereas most other translators 'played dumb' and said they needed to translate every page word-for-word.
3. she made it so i sent her the PDFs and then i only had to go to downtown Cordoba
one time to get her translations legalized at the College (i brought the originals, and her cash payment). this was VERY nice, as all the other Translators wanted me to Uber to their office initially, which would have cost me an extra half-day of travel time and Uber fees
🙂
so, the dishonesty is very sneaky, and isn't quite illegal, but Mecha is a good person and knows that providing a good service to someone in a stressful situation (like
Rentista unknowns) can be a short-term loss of a few Dollars, but in the end she got my business, my girlfriend's business, a new friend to share this forum and other things, and if anyone in my family ends up moving here i will send them to her without the slightest need to check if her Quote is correct - i will just tell them to pay it. i ended up needing an Accountant and within the same day i was sitting at a cafe with her husband, getting his contact for his Accountant, which worked perfectly. one of the kindest families i've met, hands down.
oh, and cool that you joined the forum,
@Mercedes Jalil 🙂 i have tried recommending this forum to many people, but haven't had much interest. and out of curiosity (i know we can talk on WhatsApp, but maybe this will help others from the USA/etc.) - what other specific things might i be able to hire you for in the future? i know you have mentioned Diplomas and other legal/educational things before, but if you could make a short list here for what
the most common translations/services are, i'd be interested in reading it! and also we definitely need some
Cordobés/Cordobesa knowledge in this forum; 95% of us Expats don't know much outside CABA. and for sure the
Lomito sandwiches in Cordoba are life-changing, for just one example
😛
