Rates apply to standard phone interpreting requests. Final pricing is confirmed based on the specific request.
Why choose TMVO
Built for how organizations actually use phone interpreting
✓
Accessible pricing
Per-minute rates with no minimum fees.
✓
No subscription
Pay for the calls you request, nothing more.
✓
No minimum contract
A single call or an ongoing arrangement, your choice.
✓
Immediate service
Scheduled or on-demand, coordinated as requests come in.
✓
Personalized attention
Every request reviewed case by case, not routed automatically.
Three people. One conversation.
How it works
How a phone interpreter joins the conversation
Three people are on one line. You, the person you are speaking with, and the interpreter.
The interpreter works consecutively. You say two or three sentences and pause. The interpreter relays them. The other person answers, pauses, and the interpreter relays that back. The rhythm takes a minute to settle into and then it stops feeling unusual.
Your team→Interpreter→Other participant
Nothing needs to be installed. The interpreter is brought in through a conference-call workflow, so a standard three-way call, a conference bridge or a corporate phone system all work.
Flexible ways to use the service
Scheduled calls and calls that come up without warning
Scheduled
When you know the time in advance
Give us the date, the time and the language, and the interpreter is coordinated ahead of the call. There is no mandatory advance-booking period. Same-day requests are accepted, including calls scheduled for approximately one hour later.
Scheduling ahead does make it easier to coordinate the interpreter best suited to the subject, which matters more for a claims interview or a treatment conversation than for a scheduling call.
On-demand
When the need appears during the day
Someone is at the counter. A call comes in and nobody on the floor speaks the language. Contact us and we coordinate an interpreter and send you the number and access information to bring them onto the line.
If a call is already underway, we may be able to bring an interpreter into it. That depends on the language and on interpreter availability at that moment, so it is something we confirm at the time rather than promise in advance.
Outbound calls
When you are the one placing the call
Interpreters also join outbound calls. A clinic calling a patient about a lab result, a school office returning a parent's message, a claims representative following up on an open file. The interpreter joins through the same conference-call workflow. Your staff still runs the call and the conversation stays yours.
Need a phone interpreter today or on a set schedule? Tell us the language and the time.
What actually happens once the interpreter is on the line
The conversation moves in short turns. One person speaks, the interpreter relays it, and the other person answers. That simple rhythm is what keeps the call clear.
Your team
Speak directly to the other person
Keep each turn manageable and pause naturally so the interpreter can relay the full meaning.
→
Interpreter
Relays the message
The interpreter speaks in the first person and may briefly pause to clarify a term when accuracy requires it.
→
Other participant
Responds in their language
The response comes back through the interpreter, and the conversation continues in the same rhythm.
Set the context first
Say who you are and what the call is about before the conversation begins.
Keep turns short
Two or three sentences at a time are easier to relay accurately than a long uninterrupted explanation.
Speak to the person
Ask “when did the pain start?” rather than “ask her when the pain started.”
Name speakers when needed
If several people are on your side, identify who is speaking because nobody can see the room.
Allow clarification
A brief pause to confirm a term is better than guessing at something important.
Read back exact details
Dates, doses, amounts, addresses and deadlines are worth confirming before the call ends.
Choosing the right format
Which conversations work well by phone
Phone interpreting suits conversations that work in words alone. Many everyday calls do. Some do not, and it is worth knowing which before you book.
✓
Works well by phone
Scheduling, confirmations and remindersShort, verbal, no visual context needed.
Follow-up after an appointment or a visitQuestions and answers around one topic.
Billing, coverage and account questionsNumbers and terms can be read carefully.
Client intake and status callsStructured question-and-answer conversations.
Parent calls about attendance, enrollment or schedulingRoutine conversations that usually stay verbal.
Claims calls and follow-up on an open fileUseful when no shared materials need to be viewed.
↗
Better on video or in person
A document is being reviewed or signed togetherIn-Person Interpreting or Video Remote Interpreting.
Someone is being shown how to use a device or equipmentVideo Remote Interpreting.
Facial expression materially affects the conversationVideo Remote Interpreting or In-Person Interpreting.
Several people are speaking in a fast-moving discussionIn-Person Interpreting.
A hearing, deposition or other proceedingLegal Interpreting.
If you are not sure which category your call falls into, describe it in the form and we will tell you.
Subject-matter experience
The words that show up depend on what the call is about
Two calls can run the same length, in the same language pair, and ask completely different things of the interpreter.
Insurance example
DeductibleLiabilitySubrogationLoss of use
A recorded statement on an auto claim
The adjuster works through the sequence of events, then moves into coverage. Deductible, liability, subrogation and loss of use each carry a specific meaning in an insurance context, and those meanings are not the ones the same words have in ordinary conversation.
The policyholder is answering questions that will sit in a file and be read later, so the wording needs to hold up when it is read back. Experience with claims conversations is what allows an interpreter to handle that terminology accurately and consistently through the call.
Healthcare example
DoseMissed medicationSymptomsFollow-up
A call about a new prescription
The nurse is explaining a change in dose, what to do about the pill that was missed yesterday, and which symptoms warrant a call back before the next appointment.
The interpreter needs the medication vocabulary and needs to keep the numbers exact. A rough approximation of a dosage is not a small error.
Matched to the subject, not only the language
Interpreters are selected by language, by the type of assignment and by relevant professional experience in the subject. We check that experience before assigning someone to a specialized call. Speaking two languages fluently does not by itself qualify a person to handle either of the conversations above.
We look for an interpreter with the relevant subject experience even when the request is for right now. If an interpreter with that background is not available at that moment, we tell you. You then decide whether to proceed with an available professional interpreter or schedule the conversation for a closer subject-matter match.
Appointment scheduling and reminders, patient intake, follow-up after a visit, medication questions, billing and insurance conversations, discharge follow-up.
Education
Attendance calls, enrollment questions, scheduling and family communication.
Insurance
Claims calls, recorded statements, policy questions and follow-up on an open file.
Legal
Client intake, status calls, attorney-client telephone conversations and immigration client calls when phone is appropriate.
Government and public services
Benefits, eligibility, public health, housing and social services.
HR and business
Benefits enrollment, incident follow-up, interviews, employee communication and vendor calls.
Requesting an interpreter
A short request gives us what we need to coordinate the call
✉
Send the request
Use the form on this page and tell us when the call needs to happen.
◌
Tell us the language and subject
The subject of the call helps us look for the right professional experience.
✓
We coordinate the interpreter
We look for a professional interpreter with relevant experience for that kind of conversation.
☎
Join the call
You receive the phone number and access information, and the interpreter joins the conversation.
What helps us assign the right person
The language, the timing, the expected length and one sentence about what the call is about.
“Spanish, thirty minutes” and “Spanish, thirty minutes, disability benefits eligibility review” produce different assignments.
No mandatory contract
You do not need a contract to use the service. An organization can request a single phone interpretation and nothing more. There is no monthly commitment. If you would rather have a standing arrangement because your volume is steady, we can set that up. Pricing is agreed with you based on what you need, including per-call and package arrangements.
Ready to add phone interpreting to your team? Send the details and we will set it up.
Professional interpreters with relevant experience
✓
TMVO works with professional, certified interpreters, and we verify relevant professional experience before assigning someone to your call.
✓
Interpretation assignments are handled confidentially. If your organization requires an NDA, we will sign one.
FAQ
Common questions about phone interpreting
How fast can you get an interpreter on the line?
Requests are coordinated as soon as they reach us. What is possible in any given moment depends on the language requested and on interpreter availability at that time, so we confirm directly rather than quote a figure. Tell us what you need and we will tell you what we can arrange.
Do we need a contract or a monthly commitment?
No. An organization can request one phone interpretation and nothing further. If your volume is steady and you would prefer an ongoing arrangement, we can set that up instead.
Can we schedule a phone interpreter for a specific appointment?
Yes, for a specific date and time. There is no mandatory advance-booking period. Same-day requests are accepted, including calls scheduled for approximately one hour later.
Can an interpreter join a call that is already in progress?
This is possible. It depends on the language and on interpreter availability at that moment, so we confirm at the time rather than promise it in advance. Contact us and we will tell you right away.
Can the interpreter join a call we are placing to someone else?
Yes. Outbound calls work the same way. Your staff places the call and the interpreter joins the line.
What happens if the call runs longer than we expected?
The interpretation can continue as needed, and the applicable commercial terms are coordinated with you.
Which languages do you cover?
Tell us the language you need and we will confirm availability directly. English and Spanish is one of the most common combinations we handle, and we work well beyond it.
Will the interpreter understand our terminology?
Interpreters are selected by language, assignment type and relevant professional experience in the subject. If you need someone immediately and an interpreter with that specific background is not available, we say so and you decide how to proceed.
Is what is said on the call confidential?
Yes. Interpretation assignments are handled confidentially, and we will sign an NDA if your organization requires one.
Will this work with our phone system?
It works with three-way calls, conference calls, conference bridges and corporate phone systems. The interpreter is brought in as an additional party.
What is the difference between phone interpreting and phone translation?
Interpreting is spoken and happens live on the call. Translation is written and applies to documents. People use the two words interchangeably when searching, so it is worth confirming which one you need.
Is phone interpreting appropriate for a medical appointment?
It depends on the appointment. Scheduling, follow-up questions, billing and routine calls work well by phone. When someone is being shown how to use a device, or a form is being reviewed together, video or in-person interpreting fits better.
Request an interpreter
Tell us about the call
Send us the language, the timing and a sentence about what the call covers. That last part is what lets us assign the right interpreter rather than just an available one.
If the call is happening now, say so in the message and we will treat it that way.
Request an Interpreter
Tell Us What You Need
Fill out the form and we'll get back to you with availability for your language and modality.
