Frequently asked questions

No.

Search first considers whether you match what the client actually needs — language, location, type of work and availability — and then your earned status: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

The optional Search Boost only gives additional visibility among comparable interpreters within the same status. A boosted Gold interpreter, for example, may appear higher among other Gold interpreters, but cannot pay to appear above a Platinum interpreter.

You can pay for visibility. You can't pay for professional status. Status itself is earned through things such as verified qualifications, experience, completed work and client ratings — the maths is published on How it works. It can't be bought.

Never.

Documents you upload are used strictly for verification and can only be accessed by you and SayVia administration.

Clients only see the relevant information we've verified — for example, “MA in Interpreting — Verified”. Credentials are separated into Language Proficiency, Interpreting Qualifications and Other Education, so clients can see exactly what type of qualification has been verified.

Identity documents are never displayed on your public profile.

No.

Quick Requests are designed to distribute opportunities fairly between suitable interpreters rather than simply rewarding whoever happens to check their phone fastest.

Matching takes into account whether you meet the client's requirements, as well as factors such as recent work, ratings and reliability. Interpreters who have received less work recently may receive priority access before a request opens to the wider matching group.

The system will continue to be adjusted as real bookings come through — the goal is to prevent the same small group of interpreters from taking everything.

You're never expected to chase a client for payment.

Accepting a request doesn't confirm the booking. Payment does.

The client pays through SayVia before the assignment, so by the time you're travelling to a confirmed booking, the money has already been collected.

If an accepted request isn't paid for within the allowed time, it expires and the slot becomes available again.

Only once the client has paid and the booking is confirmed.

Accepting a Quick Request tells the client that you're willing to take the assignment at the displayed price. They then have a limited period to confirm and pay.

Until payment is completed, it isn't a confirmed booking.

Agreed — and the platform is built around that.

A per-kilometre travel rate may cover the cost of driving, but it doesn't necessarily compensate you for the time spent travelling.

That's why interpreters can set their own:

• Minimum billed time on distant jobs— you set both the hours and the distance they start from, so an on-site job that far out bills at least that long. There is no platform default: set them or don't, and nearer than your own distance a booking bills for the hours booked.
• Maximum travel distance— how far you're willing to travel.

These settings are optional and controlled by you.

The booking doesn't have to end just because the original estimated time has passed.

After the assignment, you can add the additional time worked as overtime. The client receives the updated amount through SayVia and pays the additional charge through the platform.

This is particularly important for assignments such as court hearings, hospital appointments and other work where the finishing time can't always be predicted.

SayVia keeps an 8% commission from completed bookings.

Your booking screen shows what you will receive, rather than making you calculate your earnings from the client's total.

Payment is released once the assignment has been completed and confirmed. If the client takes no action and doesn't report a problem, payment is released automatically after the specified confirmation period.

Payouts are handled through Stripe. New Stripe accounts may initially be subject to Stripe's own payout waiting periods.

There is no commission on work that never happened.

SayVia doesn't treat one particular degree as the only route into professional interpreting.

Language proficiency, interpreting-specific qualifications, other education, professional experience and eventually performance on the platform are considered separately. Profiles clearly show what has and hasn't been verified.

For example, Language Proficiency, Interpreting Qualifications and Other Education are separate sections. If you don't have an interpreting qualification on file, the profile says so rather than implying otherwise.

We're also looking at stronger entry standards, including recognised language qualifications and a competency assessment for experienced interpreters who don't hold a formal interpreting degree.

The aim is to assess genuine professional competence rather than rely on one piece of paper — while being completely transparent with clients about what has and hasn't been verified.

No.

If you want to choose someone personally, you can browse interpreters, compare profiles and book the person you prefer. But you can also use Quick Request.

Tell us the language, location, date, duration, type of work and your budget. SayVia then notifies suitable interpreters who match those requirements.

Once an interpreter accepts, you'll see who they are, their profile, rate and any applicable travel cost before confirming the booking. No scrolling through hundreds of profiles required.

SayVia is built around transparency.

Profiles can show professional experience, areas of expertise, completed assignments, client reviews and verified credentials.

Qualifications are separated by type, so a university degree in an unrelated subject isn't presented as an interpreting qualification. Where a credential carries a Verified mark, SayVia has checked the supporting document. And where an interpreter doesn't have a particular qualification on file, that is visible too.

You decide what level of experience and qualification you need for your particular assignment.

You're charged when you confirm the booking.

Until payment is completed, the assignment isn't confirmed and the interpreter's time isn't permanently reserved.

Payment is processed securely through Stripe and held until the assignment has been completed.

If an interpreter fails to attend a confirmed assignment, you can report the no-show through SayVia.

The payment hasn't already disappeared to the interpreter, so the booking can be investigated and refunded where appropriate.

Repeated no-shows also affect an interpreter's standing on the platform.

Yes.

Bookings cancelled sufficiently far in advance can be refunded according to SayVia's cancellation policy.

Late cancellations may result in some or all of the booked interpreting fee being retained for the interpreter, because that time was reserved and may have prevented them from accepting other work. The exact amount depends on how close to the appointment the cancellation occurs and is shown before you confirm your booking.

If an interpreter cancels, you aren't charged for work they didn't perform, and SayVia can reopen the request to matching interpreters.

That's fine.

Many assignments — particularly court hearings, medical appointments and hospital work — don't have predictable finishing times.

If the interpreter works beyond the original booking, they can submit the additional time through SayVia. You'll see the additional charge through the platform rather than having to arrange payment privately afterwards.

Only clients who have actually completed a booking through SayVia can review that interpreter.

That means someone can't create a review simply because they know the interpreter — positive or negative. Reviews are tied to real assignments completed through the platform.

Yes.

Organisations can use the same marketplace to find and book interpreters rather than maintaining separate relationships with dozens of individual professionals.

You can choose a particular interpreter when experience or specialisation matters, or use Quick Request when you simply need a suitable professional for an assignment.

No. Quick Request is specifically designed for this.

A member of staff describes what they need once and SayVia finds interpreters who match those requirements.

That gives organisations much of the convenience of sending a booking to an agency, while preserving direct access to independent interpreters and greater transparency over who is actually attending.

Not yet.

Individual bookings currently use SayVia's standard payment system.

Business accounts with consolidated billing and monthly invoicing are planned for organisations that use interpreters regularly.

We'd rather be clear about what exists today than advertise a feature that isn't ready yet.

This is also part of the planned business account system.

The aim is to allow organisations to build a preferred pool of interpreters they already know and trust while still having access to the wider SayVia network when their usual interpreters aren't available.

No.

SayVia is a marketplace connecting clients with independent interpreters.

Interpreters set their own rates, travel terms, availability and working preferences. Clients can see who they're booking and make their own choice.

SayVia provides the infrastructure around that relationship — discovery, matching, verification, booking, payment, reviews and support.

The interpreter remains independent. The client knows who they're hiring. SayVia makes the connection work.