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Poll: Freelancers, are you members of your local chamber of commerce? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Freelancers, are you members of your local chamber of commerce?".
This poll was originally submitted by Oliver Lawrence. View the poll results »
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Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 15:29
Member (2006)
German to English
but only because I have to be by law!!
And I also HAVE to pay them as well ....
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Bora Taşdemir
Local time: 16:29
Member (2012)
English to Turkish
+ ...
| How can i do that? | Jul 11, 2012 |
I am not a member, but i want to be. I am new in this sector and i don't have much information about this. How can i do that exactly?
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What do you call "be a member"? I answered no, but actually, I am not sure if anything like a membership exists... At least I have never heard of it!
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Carla Catolino
Italy
Local time: 15:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
+ ...
I am a member of my chamber of commerce but only because my accountant (commercialista) has me registered since I am a company and not an individual. I am registered as an artisan (because the translation field does not exist in Italy).
If you were to ask me if it is worth it, I would probably answer no. The only thing that has changed is that my mailbox gets filled with junk mail from the association of artisans.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 15:29
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
In order to become a member I would have to register a trade - which is not required for freelance translators - and also pay trade tax. And their fees are quite hefty.
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| Had to be one but glad I am relieved of it | Jul 11, 2012 |
As every 'enterpreneur' in the Netherlands, I also had to become a member of the local Chamber of Commerce. I never felt they did anything that would matter in my case, but they were always quite eager to take my fees of course. Since I left Holland, I had my business in two different countries and I would not even think of joining an organisation of that kind ever again.
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Susanna Martoni
Italy
Local time: 15:29
Member (2009)
Spanish to Italian
+ ...
My position is not "one-man business" (ditta inviduale) but "professional freelance" so the Italian law does not imply this kind of membership.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:29
Spanish to English
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In my case, it would be a complete waste of time. I have worked for my local Chamber of Commerce and a dodgier, more inept bunch of chancers I have yet to meet. A complete and utter waste of space and public money.
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Samantha Payn
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:29
Member (2008)
Russian to English
+ ...
| Sounds familiar! | Jul 11, 2012 |
neilmac wrote:
In my case, it would be a complete waste of time. I have worked for my local Chamber of Commerce and a dodgier, more inept bunch of chancers I have yet to meet. A complete and utter waste of space and public money.
Isn't it funny how there are certain "public" bodies, set up "for the commercial good of all" which are like that the world over 
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David Wright
Austria
Local time: 15:29
German to English
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cos I have no choice - membership is compulsory. I don't mind the fees, but I do mind the chamber of commerce (which is a major political player in Austria) pushing political positions (pro big industry, pro heavy goods vehicles, anti green) in my name!
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Andrea Munhoz
Brazil
Local time: 10:29
Portuguese to English
+ ...
And, thank God, at least something I don't have to pay.
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Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:29
Hebrew to English
| I have enough memberships already | Jul 11, 2012 |
I just don't see the point. If I'm missing the point, then please enlighten me, but I can't see that membership would benefit me in any measurable way to justify forking out more money on membership fees.
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 15:29
Member (2006)
German to English
| Mandatory in Germany | Jul 11, 2012 |
Thayenga wrote:
In order to become a member I would have to register a trade - which is not required for freelance translators - and also pay trade tax. And their fees are quite hefty.
As a freelancer, you have to be a member of the IHK, you have no choice.
If they find out you have not registered, they will expect you to pay fees from the day you registered yourself as a freelance at the town hall!
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Chun Un
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| No, I am not. | Jul 11, 2012 |
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