Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often.
What is the difference between interpreting and translation?
Interpreting covers spoken language during the appointment. Translation covers texts, meaning certificates, official decisions or contracts. This site describes interpreting. If you need a document for an authority, please say so in your request.
Who covers the cost?
That depends on the occasion. For court dates the court usually settles the invoice, for youth welfare appointments the responsible office, in healthcare it depends on the individual case. Name the intended payer in your request and we will clarify it in advance.
How short notice can I book?
It depends on the language. Frequently requested languages can be staffed at short notice more often than rare ones. Ask anyway if it is tight.
Will I get the same interpreter again?
We plan for that if you tell us when requesting. In psychotherapy and youth welfare in particular, continuity saves a lot of time in follow-up appointments.
How is confidentiality handled?
Content from the appointment stays in the appointment. That applies towards relatives and towards other bodies as well. We treat health data and case content as special categories under Article 9 GDPR.
Is video or phone possible?
Often yes, but not everywhere. Whether video or phone interpreting is permitted is decided by the institution or the court. For consent and child protection conversations we recommend an interpreter on site.
Could a family member not interpret instead?
We advise against it. Relatives leave things out to protect someone, they interpret meaning instead of transferring words, and they stand in a relationship with the person concerned. In a medical consent conversation this can affect whether the consent holds. Children should never interpret.
Which languages do you interpret in?
The full list is currently being compiled. This website is available in German, English, Arabic and Persian. Please ask about other languages.
Question not covered?
Write to us and we will answer concretely.
Send a request