Terms of Service Agreement
You, the client (hereinafter "Client") agree to pay for all work (hereinafter "Transcripts") completed by Asawara®on your behalf from any materials (hereinafter "Source") you submit for transcription.
The following classifications will apply to the any Source materials submitted for transcription. Each classification has a different billing rate.
A Type-1 audio source classification (hereinafter "Type-1") shall be defined as one-on-one interview audio or single speaker audio professionally recorded in a controlled environment such as a sound stage, house, office, etc., where the sound quality is monitored and controlled for optimal recording. Type-1 audio will have no background noise or tape noise. Poor duplication of your original can result in your audio being classified as Type-2.
A Type-2 audio Source classification (hereinafter "Type-2") shall be defined as any audio of the following nature and supercedes and Type-1 audio classification:
- Interviews shot on-the-fly or in uncontrolled environments where the ambient sounds fluctuate so as to make the material more difficult to transcribe.
- Poorly recorded or duplicated Type-1 tapes such that the audio submitted for transcription is of a poor quality as determined solely by Production Transcripts.
- Lectures or Seminars where there is one primary speaker or sequential speakers, but not concurrent speakers. For concurrent speakers (e.g. Seminars with multiple panelists), see Type-3 defined below.
- Any audio where the speakers have heavy accents or speak English as a second language.
- Any audio recorded on micro-cassette.
- Any audio digitally recorded below 22khz frequency/sample rate, 32 kbit/second data rate. Most digital dictation devices record below the acceptable levels for Type-1 audio. In particular, the DSS format is most often classified as Type-2 audio.
- Any interviews recorded over phone lines (analog or digital). Applies to both speakerphone conversations as well as calls recorded directly or by third parties. Conference calls or phone calls involving more than 2 people are billed as Type-3.
- Two people being interviewed at a time in a formal interview setting.If it is not a formal interview setting as pertains to Type-2 classification Paragraph 7, this type of audio may be classified as Type-3 audio as defined below.
Type-3 Audio (hereinafter "Type-3") shall be defined as any audio of the following nature:
- Any audio submitted from conferences, focus groups, or multi-person seminars.
- Any audio where more that 2 people are talking extemporaneously.
- Conference calls with more than 2 people.
Asawara®will evaluate Client’s Sources and contact Client if Asawara®find a discrepancy between Client’s evaluation of the material and Production Transcripts’ evaluation. Asawara®reserves the right to refuse any work not meeting minimum technical requirements with regards to sound quality.
Billing is based on the length of each audio source submitted, not the cumulative length of all audio submitted. In the event that the Source is a double sided audio cassette or micro-cassette, each side shall be considered a separate audio Source for transcription and billing purposes. Each digital Source file submitted is billed as a separate transcript.
In the event that Client submits tapes that are non-transcribable as determined by Asawara®for any reason, said tapes shall be billed at the then current 'bad tape' fee for each Source, or side of Source in the case of Audio Cassettes, that is submitted for transcription by Client. (e.g. Side A of a cassette is Transcript #1, Side B of a cassette is Transcript #2) Client may elect to consolidate short audio Source tapes so as to create longer audio Source tapes to take advantage of price breaks given on longer audio Source tapes lengths. (e.g. Reel 01 - Bob Interview (30 min.), Reel 02 - Bob Interview (30 min.) could be combined on to a single 60 minute tape). However, Client may not consolidate Sources for which they are requesting timecode tracking. Furthermore, Asawara®will create one single continuous Transcript from a consolidated Source. No effort will be made to distinguish when one original source ends and the next begins. Consolidated Source tapes may not exceed 2 hours in length.
Client hereby states that all Sources submitted by Client company to Asawara® are duplicates of the original materials. Under no circumstances will Asawara® accept "Master" or "Original" Source tapes or materials. Client hereby acknowledge that the Source materials submitted to Production Transcripts, be they VHS, DVD, miniDV, DVCAM, Audio Cassette, or any other type of media, are of zero ($0.00) commercial value. Asawara® shall not be held liable for any loss or destruction of materials submitted by Client, including but not limited to losses incurred in the return shipping of Sources back to Client. Asawara® may at its discretion hold Client's Source materials until any outstanding invoices are paid in full.
The Client will download and submit a submission form (hereinafter "Tape Submission Form") for each batch of Source materials to be transcribed. On the Tape Submission Form, the Client may elect which return shipping method they desire for their Source materials. In the event that the Client does not state a preference on the Tape Submission Form, said Source materials will be return using the then cheapest method available to the Client. Said shipping will be billed to the Client.
Client accepts that no Transcript can ever be "perfect," and that the Client has examined samples of Asawara® work and found the quality of said Transcripts to be satisfactory for Clients needs. Client accepts that occasionally there will be unavoidable inaccuracies due to poor audio quality, obscure regional slang or dialect, or unfamiliar proper names and nouns. Transcription services rendered by Asawara® do no include any research or proofing to determine the correct spelling of proper nouns, geographical locations, technical jargon, or slang. Client also acknowledges that spoken word is often very distinct from proper grammar. In particular, most people talk in run-on sentences, as such Asawara® will make a good faith effort to determine when one sentence ends and the next begins. However, Client accepts that this is a judgment call and agrees that Asawara® will make no effort to correct grammar or proof-read material for grammar.
Any claims of defect by the Client must be submitted within 5 days of the completed Transcript being forwarded to the e-mail account the Client specified when establishing an account with Production Transcripts. Client accepts that a "redo" of the Transcript will be Client’s only claim of satisfaction for work rejected by the Client. Client further agrees that "redos" will only apply to specifically rejected Transcripts and not entire jobs. For purposes of this agreement, the Transcripts are considered to be custom-produced and perishable works. Under no circumstances will refunds be issued for delivered work.
Turnaround times stated by Asawara® with regards to completion of Transcripts are estimates based on the current workload which fluctuates daily. Asawara® does offer rush services (hereinafter "Rush Service") defined as transcription performed within 24 hours of receipt of Source Materials from Client. However, there is a limitation to how much Rush Service Source materials can be handled at any given time. Client agrees to contact Asawara® in advance of submitting any materials for Rush Service. Asawara® may at its discretion decline any or all Source material requesting Rush Service. In the event the Asawara® agrees to perform Rush Service on Client's Source materials but fails to deliver within the 24 hour time period, Client shall only be billed for the applicable Source classification minus any rush charges. That said, Asawara® and Client may waive these restrictions from time to time with mutual agreement.
Should Client’s account become delinquent, Client agree to pay any late charges and pay all fees and costs incurred by Asawara® in the process of collecting the monies owed, including without limitation attorney’s fees and court costs. Client by signing or submitting an account application, or tape submission form, or credit application, attests to financial responsibility and acknowledges reading and agreeing to all terms of this document.
If any accounts become delinquent Client hereby authorizes Asawara® to charge any outstanding balance to any valid credit card provided by the Client which Asawara® may have on file. In the event that the Client repudiates the charges with the credit card company, Client agrees to pay triple-damages to Asawara® in any legal action that would follow such repudiation in addition to other fees and charges laid out within these Terms of Service.
In the event that Client applies for an account on-line, Client agrees that by checking the "Yes, I Agree" box with regards to the "I have read and agree to be bound by the Terms of Service Agreement" portion of the on-line form that Client shall be bound by the terms of this document.
Asawara® reserves the right to change these Terms of Service from time to time. Asawara® will post said modified Terms of Service to its web-site at www.asawara.com
