LanguageLine SolutionsReviews of languageline.com

Minimum wage with terrible experience, rude and unfaithful

I completed all required pre-screening steps for the Over-the-Phone Interpreter role - HireVue interview and AMCAT assessment and provided confirmation to recruitment. Despite this, I received an automated rejection less than 24 hours later with no feedback or indication that my application was reviewed by a recruiter. What makes this particularly frustrating is that I work extensively in a healthcare setting where LanguageLine interpreters are used daily. Based on regular, real-world usage, interpreter quality is highly inconsistent. I have frequently encountered issues with accuracy, register, fluency, background noise and overall professionalism, all of which directly impact the clarity and safety of communication. Given how critical accuracy and language competence are in sensitive environments, the lack of transparency in both recruitment and quality assurance raises serious concerns about how interpreter standards are assessed in practice. I would strongly encourage LanguageLine Solutions to review its screening criteria and provide clearer feedback to candidates, particularly those with hands-on experience using the service. Given the critical nature of interpreting in healthcare and other sensitive settings, it would not be unreasonable for LanguageLine’s screening and quality assurance processes to be subject to independent review or benchmarking against recognised professional and regulatory bodies (e.g. NHS frameworks, CIOL, PSA, CQC) especially considering the number of alternative providers operating in this space.

I cannot believe they emailed me and offered me £14.40 per hour. its like a minimum wage. they charging government tonnes of money and they barely give their hardworking interpreters anything. they treating them like slaves. please avoid this horrible company

They didn’t require the applicants to have prior experience since they will train us for 3 weeks, watching cartoon videos and reading nonsensical pdf slides, then they will let you work for 1 day during the final day of training without any aids or guidance whatsoever, I didn’t even know how to use the dial out button or how to talk or communicate with client when needing clarification. After that, these specialists who are two strict, heartless stoic women will tap into your calls every once in a month. If you just omit 1-2 words, or interpret in the way that doesn’t align with their so called standards of perfection. You will be marked as needing improvement, and if you were marked twice, you will be sent to retraining program, which is unpaid for 3 days. After retraining, these old witches will tap your calls more frequently and even with just one more mistakes in your interpretation, you will be removed from their stupid program. No prior warning, no announcements, your account was disabled immediately because they deemed you as incompetent when you try to work your ass off and go the extra mile to study terminology and glossaries day and night, sacrificing your mental and physical health to improve. They recognize my improvement in just 3 short months, but they still dismissed me because I was marked ‘needing improvements”. Don’t think of a long future there with LLS unless you are an extremely luckyass individual

They offer you 40 hours a week a first and then they just cut your hours ( sometimes days!) for business needs. No salary increase. No clear communication with management. AVOID!

He arrives whenever he feels like it and he won’t even tell me when he is coming. Horrible costumer service and wad very disrespectful to me.

I am Helena Bedwell, a veteran journalist and interpreter with extensive experience, including face-to-face interpreting in London and Norfolk. I would like to express a few concerns I have encountered since joining the company. I am disappointed with the long and complicated process I’ve been through. I have spent a considerable amount of time, money, and effort, yet no one explained how to operate the system. Even after completing a lengthy 91-module training and an additional six hours of online sessions, I still did not learn how to actually use the system. All the training consisted of PDFs and cartoons, but nothing practical—nothing about how to receive a call, what to press, why certain functions are needed, or why some are not. Everything also seems very American-oriented. I am an experienced interpreter; for example, I recently went to Norwich Hospital to interpret face-to-face for a friend. Yet I am genuinely confused about how this system works. No training was provided on how to operate it. It appears to require a lot of specific equipment, but there was no explanation on how to dial out, whom to contact, or why. The system is extremely confusing and complicated. I have no idea how to use the system, NO TRAINING is provided for that, straight to the battleground??? no way, all previous jobs I did the call is already arranged and I am reached to do the interpreting. I am deeply disappointed and confused.

I have just refused a £14/h interpreting job. My cleaning lady charges a minimum of £20 /h. I am an interpreter, a PROFESSIONAL interpreter. Not a student.