Do I have to set up the meeting?
Meeting hosts are responsible for all meeting set up and management. Alboum can join a tech check in advance of the meeting time to ensure everything is functioning properly and interpreters are assigned correctly and timely.
Does Alboum host the meeting?
All meetings must be conducted through an organization’s Zoom environment. Alboum provides interpreters to join the meetings once scheduled and confirmed.
Can I record the meeting?
Yes. Recording instructions can be found here.
Interpreters own the rights to their work product under the terms of the Berne Convention and charge a nominal fee to release those rights to you. If you plan to record the meeting for publication on a website or rebroadcast, this fee will be reflected on your quote. There is no charge for internal use, such as recording of focus groups or internal training. More information is available on the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) website.
What is the Berne Convention?
The Berne Convention is an international copyright agreement that protects literary and artistic works across its member countries from the moment they are created, without requiring registration or formalities. This protection extends to simultaneous interpretations, which are considered original intellectual creations when they involve the interpreter’s skill and choices. As a result, recordings of simultaneous interpretations are protected, and they cannot be recorded, shared, or reused without the interpreter’s permission, unless those rights are contractually transferred or licensed.
Can I request a specific interpreter?
Yes. We always work to match your preferred interpreters when possible. Interpreters are assigned to meetings on a first come, first served basis, as their schedule permits.
What is your cancellation policy?
Meetings can be cancelled or rescheduled without penalty more than 3 business days in advance. Alboum reserves and pays interpreters in advance, so we’re unable to accommodate late cancellations. If your event is canceled, rescheduled, or postponed, please notify Alboum immediately by email. Cancellations made fewer than 3 business days (72 business hours) before the scheduled start time are billed at 100% of the interpreter fees.
What if I need to reschedule my meeting?
Meetings can be cancelled or rescheduled without penalty more than 3 business days in advance. Alboum reserves and pays interpreters in advance, so we’re unable to accommodate late cancellations. If your event is canceled, rescheduled, or postponed, please notify Alboum immediately by email. Cancellations made fewer than 3 business days (72 business hours) before the scheduled start time are billed at 100% of the interpreter fees.
Why do I have to pay for a half day of time when my meeting is only 90 minutes?
Simultaneous interpretation for high-level webinars, meetings, and events is charged by half day (up to 4 hours) or full day (up to 8 hours). The interpretation service involves more than just the live meeting time. Interpreters prepare in advance and join early for tech checks to ensure everything runs smoothly, so even shorter events require a minimum time commitment. Additionally, for certain languages with limited interpreter availability, half-day or full-day rates apply to secure qualified professionals.
A note on confidentiality and privacy.
As part of the work, interpreters and project managers may have access to confidential or sensitive information related to your organization or its stakeholders. Alboum takes data privacy and confidentiality seriously and is fully compliant with all HIPAA and FERPA requirements. All employees and associates are required to protect confidential, personal, and proprietary information and use it only for the purpose of providing our services or as required by law. These confidentiality obligations remain in place even after our engagement ends. Documentation such as our security policies, interpreter confidentiality agreements, HIPAA certification, FERPA statement, and penetration test results are available upon request.
Why are reference materials so important?
To deliver the best possible interpretation, professional interpreters prepare in advance, using background information provided by the host organization, as well as publicly available resources. We encourage clients to share slide decks, agendas, speaker bios, and any relevant background materials, even in draft form, at least 24 hours before the event. Providing these materials in advance helps interpreters familiarize themselves with terminology and context, resulting in a smoother experience and more accurate communication for all participants.
