Frequently Asked Questions
Our telephone interpretation service is available around-the-clock, every day of the year. Once you have signed up for the service our call center will respond to your needs immediately. That means you can call our dedicated phone line at any hour, any day, and we will connect you to one of our professional telephone interpreters within minutes.
These FAQs are designed to provide a better understanding of our telephone interpreting service:
How do we get started?
Once you sign up with the service, you get a personal code, which will identity you as a new client. You can then use our service anytime by following these easy instructions:
- Dial a toll-free number
- Provide your personalized code
- Request the language you need
The operator will ask for your account information and the language and connect you with an interpreter in seconds. If you don’t know the language, the operator will help you identify the language.
How should I conduct the conversation with the interpreter?
- Summarize what you wish to accomplish and give any special instructions to the interpreter.
- Take the lead in the conversation by giving the interpreter specific questions to relay.
- Ask one question or explanation at a time. Allow the interpreter to interpret that into the target language before continuing with the next question or subject.
How should I facilitate the interpretation?
Since you will communicate directly with the limited English speaker, speak clearly and in a normal pace. The limited English speaker may not readily understand the question you are asking, so you can expect the interpreter to ask you for clarification. If you need to clarify a point, ask the interpreter right away.
All of our interpreters are trained to ask for clarification if you use a term they do not know or if the limited English speaker needs help understanding your point.
Are your interpreters specialized in our industry terminology?
Yes. Alpha Omega Translations works with industry experts to provide our interpreters with specialized training on medical, court, insurance and financial terminology, among others.
We also provide training on customer service skills. Our veteran interpreters have hundreds of hours of experience interpreting and tailoring the interpretation to the various requirements of our customers.
Why types of calls can your team handle?
Examples of professional calls in which we are able to aid translation include:
- Legal: Litigation, Trials, Hearings, Depositions
- Medical Appointments
- Insurance and Social Service Claims
- Business Mergers and Correspondence
- Real Estate Investment Transactions
- Travel Planning
- International Surveys and Research
- International Legal Cooperation
- International Assistance
Are your interpreters native in nearly all languages?
We offer telephone interpretation services in 210 languages dialects. Each interpreter is a native speaker of one of these languages. We make sure our telephone interpreters are carefully screened, certified and trained in OPI (Over-the-Phone Interpreting) techniques. They are knowledgeable about the terminology of your industry. They are not simply providing word-for-word interpretation; they ensure the meanings come across loud and clear.
It is cost effective and flexible?
Whether you are dealing with the unpredictable stress of an emergency or have a recurring need for interpreting over the phone, we understand that time and quality are of the essence.
You can call us at any hour, any day, and we’ll connect you, your clients or your patients to one of our professional telephone interpreters within minutes. Are payment and use structure is simple:
- There are no monthly fees
- There are no minimum-use charges
How do you bill for this service?
Usage is billed in one-minute increments, and charges commence when the interpreter (not the operator) comes on the line. Your billing statement will itemize the date, time and duration of the call, as well as the language, interpreter ID number, the personal code of the person who placed the call and our internal reference number.
Do you guarantee confidentiality?
Each interpreter signs a confidentiality agreement and is bound by a strict Code of Ethics ensuring that all information pertaining to the work we do for you remains strictly confidential. Interpreters routinely destroy all notes.