Couldn’t I just use a computer translation?
Yes, you could, but it would be the equivalent of looking up a word in the dictionary and randomly choosing a meaning, with no knowledge of whether it fits the context or nuance of the sentence. The results range from amusing to just plain wrong.

How do you fix your rates?
When you request a free quotation, I will ask for a copy of the document so I can see the format, word count and nature of the text. These are the 3 main basis (apart from turnaround time) for deciding the price. A blurry, highly technical pdf file will generally cost more per word than a clear, non-technical document which requires less research.

Do I need to make a deposit?
Again, it depends on the job. In cases of a very long text such as a thesis, I may request partial payment in instalments, or a deposit.