If you have general terms and conditions on your e-commerce site, translating them into another language can be very useful, from a transparency point of view, to reassure and inform your prospects or to protect you in the event of a dispute.
What are general terms and conditions?
The general terms and conditions of sale is legal information that appears on a website. The purpose of the terms is to inform a prospect of the various conditions governing their future purchase (terms of sale, payment, delivery, reimbursement, and price, etc.).
It is therefore essential to have terms and conditions in place for all online commercial transactions, and for use as a reference in the event of any disputes.
The general terms and conditions of sale are published directly on the website and are usually accessible from a link at the bottom of the page. The consumer must accept them before they can finalise their online purchase.
Translation of the terms and conditions: when is it necessary?
It is not mandatory to translate your legal terms into another language, but it is strongly recommended, especially if your consumer base is international.
This is because it allows you to communicate all your terms and conditions of sale to your customers in a transparent, clear, and understandable way. In this way, the customer will not be able to question their consent or the transparency and reliability of your company.
In addition, this approach shows your commitment to good customer service throughout the transaction and will offer reassurance to customers during the sales process.
It is therefore an important element that can benefit your brand image.
Where can I turn to translate my terms and conditions?
As explained above, the translation of terms and conditions is important, but it can be tricky. General Terms and Conditions of Sale are legal documents, which can be complex because they contain very specific and technical terminology.
Any mistakes in meaning or clumsy use of language could lead to confusion or misinterpretation for the consumer. This could expose the company to significant risks in the event of litigation.
Therefore, the safest thing to do is to use a professional translator who specialises in legal translation. They will be familiar with the terminology and standards specific to the sector and will be able to translate your Terms and Conditions with complete accuracy.
You should also check that the translator is a native speaker. This is because a translator should only translate into their native language.
Moreover, there are many forms of languages depending on the target country, such as Canadian French and European French, and each variant has many lexical, grammatical, and spelling differences. Therefore, using a native translator from the country concerned by the translation will ensure a consistent result that is perfectly adapted to the audience concerned.