u/legaladvcte

I wanted to share my experience with SOSi International as an independent contract interpreter.

I was disqualified by SOSi, and that disqualification resulted in my scheduled interpreter assignments being canceled. According to my lawsuit, the company knew about the disqualification and the resulting cancellations before notifying me. I had already traveled by plane to another city for the assignment and was not informed until I had been there for approximately 48 hours. Because I believed I was still scheduled to work, I kept my calendar blocked, turned down other opportunities, incurred travel expenses, and relied on those assignments for my income. By the time I was notified, it was far too late to replace the lost work.

One of my biggest concerns is how much an interpreter's livelihood can depend on a single evaluation. In my opinion, a disqualification can have serious financial consequences. Interpreters should understand that a negative evaluation may affect future assignments. While judges are expected to evaluate interpreters fairly and impartially, an interpreter who believes an evaluation was mistaken or unfair may still face significant consequences.

In my experience, independent contract interpreters bear most of the financial risk. When assignments are canceled after a disqualification, interpreters—not the company—can lose expected income with little opportunity to replace it. I felt that interpreters were treated as disposable rather than as professionals whose time and livelihood deserve respect.

Rather than simply accepting the loss, I filed a small claims lawsuit against SOSi in Texas seeking compensation for the canceled assignments. The case has now reached its final stage. The judge has scheduled a final hearing where both sides will present their arguments, and the court is expected to make a decision after the hearing. I'll share the outcome once the judge rules.

My advice to current and prospective SOSi interpreters is:

• Gain as much interpreting experience as you can, especially if you're just starting your career.
• Use that experience to strengthen your résumé, but don't depend on one company for your livelihood.
• Continue looking for opportunities with other language service providers, courts, hospitals, law firms, and government agencies that may offer better compensation, greater stability, and more respect for interpreters.
• Keep copies of every assignment confirmation, email, travel itinerary, and text message.
• Document any cancellations or scheduling changes immediately.
• If you receive a negative evaluation or are disqualified, request an explanation and preserve all related communications.

This post reflects my personal experience and the allegations in my pending lawsuit. Everyone's experience may be different, but I hope sharing my experience helps other interpreters make informed decisions and avoid finding themselves in a similar situation.

I wanted to share my experience with SOSi International as an independent contract interpreter.

In September 2024, I was disqualified by SOSi, and that disqualification resulted in my scheduled interpreter assignments for the week of August X, 2024, being canceled. According to my lawsuit, SOSi knew about the disqualification and the resulting cancellations on Friday, August X, but I was not timely notified. Because I believed I was still scheduled to work, I kept my calendar blocked, turned down other opportunities, and relied on those assignments for my income. By the time I learned they had been canceled, it was too late to replace the lost work.

One of my biggest concerns is how much an interpreter's livelihood can depend on a single evaluation. In my opinion, a disqualification can have serious financial consequences. Interpreters should understand that, fairly or unfairly, a negative evaluation by a judge can affect future assignments. While judges are expected to evaluate interpreters impartially, if an interpreter believes an evaluation was inaccurate or unfair, the consequences can still be significant.

In my experience, independent contract interpreters bear most of the financial risk. When assignments are canceled after a disqualification, interpreters—not the company—can lose expected income with little opportunity to replace it. I felt that interpreters were treated as disposable rather than as professionals whose time and livelihood deserve respect.

Rather than simply accepting the loss, I filed a small claims lawsuit against SOSi in Texas seeking compensation for the canceled assignments. The case has now reached its final stage. The judge has scheduled a final hearing where both sides will present their arguments, and the court is expected to make a decision after the hearing.

My advice to current and prospective SOSi interpreters is:

• Don't rely on one company as your only source of income.
• Keep copies of every assignment confirmation, email, and text message.
• Document any cancellations or scheduling changes immediately.
• If you receive a negative evaluation or are disqualified, request an explanation and preserve all related communications.
• Understand that a single disqualification may affect your ability to receive future assignments, so it's important to know what review or appeal options, if any, are available.

This post reflects my personal experience and the allegations in my pending lawsuit. I'll post an update after the hearing once the judge issues a decision.

When I signed up for FPL's budget billing program in 2012, I was new to the United States and unfamiliar with how utility billing worked. At the time, the program was presented as a way to make my monthly electric bills more predictable, and it seemed like a good deal.

However, I later discovered that the program simply deferred costs rather than reducing them. Despite paying into the program, FPL kept my $150 security deposit, and I eventually ended up owing more than $600. For someone struggling financially, that unexpected balance created a significant hardship and was extremely difficult to pay.

Looking back, I feel the program was misleading and disproportionately affected low-income customers who were trying to manage their household expenses. While it may have been legal, it felt unfair and exploitative. Had I better understood the terms and consequences at the time, I likely would have challenged the matter in small claims court.

Has anyone else noticed the BIA increasingly rejecting EOIR-26 Notices of Appeal filed with EOIR-26A fee waiver requests, even when the appellant appears to clearly qualify financially?

I’ve been seeing more cases where indigent respondents submit supporting evidence and still receive fee waiver denials or appeal rejections. Curious if others are experiencing the same issue lately and whether this reflects a policy shift or stricter scrutiny by the BIA.