Letters of Complaints

Complaints may arise from quality of the goods, terms of delivery, packing, delivery of wrong goods, damaged goods, etc. If a customer is dissatisfied with the execution of his order, he should refer clearly to the articles in question, by referring to his own order number or to that of his supplier’s invoice, or both. He should specify the nature of his complaint, and finally state what action he wants his supplier to take.

Exercise 21 Read and translate letters of claims. Identify the reason for complaint is each case.

Letter 1

Dear Mr Jackson,

When unpacking your cases with the equipment we experience difficulties owing to the cases being too low. The space between the top of the cases and the top of the equipment is too small and as a result some pieces of equipment are getting damages on the top.

We suggest therefore that you should make the cases with one board of about 20 cm higher, which would enable us to unpack the cases without damaging the cars.

We are looking forward to your answer.

Yours sincerely,

Letter 2

Dear Mr.Pavlov

Special Cluster Drilling Machine, Order No 19086

We regret to inform you that our Clients have experienced serious trouble with the above machine.

After a short period of operation the teeth of two bevel gears and one wheel were crushed and the second wheel was broken.

We enclose 4 photos illustrating these defects. As the machine was brought to a standstill due to this damage, our Clients were compelled to manufacture replacement parts in order to prevent delay in production.

We enclose a statement showing the expenses incurred by our Clients in manufacturing one bevel gear with shaft, another bevel gear and two wheels as well as the cost of dismantling the machine, assembling and fitting the new parts. The expenses of our Clients amount to … and we shall be glad to receive your remittance of this amount in due course.

Yours sincerely I.Denisov

Enclosures

Unit VI BUSINESS CONTRACTS

Words to remember:

affect – впливати

against the dates stipulated in the contract – згідно з датами, зазначеними у контракті

amendments to the contract – поправки до контракту

assign the rights and obligations to smb – передавати права та обов’язки

at one’s own expense – за власним коштом

at the Buyer’s option – на вибір покупця

authorize – дати дозвіл

be entitled to inspect – мати повноваження на перевірку

be in conformity with – бути у відповідності до

be released for shipment – бути готовим до відправки

be subject to no alteration – не підлягати змінам

be submitted for settlement – передавати на урегулювання

beyond the Seller’s control – поза межами контролю продавця

binding agreement – обов’язкова угода

breach of contract – порушення контракту

charge expenses to the seller’s account – відносити витрати на рахунок продавця

clause (article) of the contract – стаття (частина) контракту

come to an agreement – прийти до згоди

complaint – скарга

conclude a contract (agreement) – укладати контракт

confirmed l/c – підтверджений акредитив

deduct from – відраховувати з

deliver in parts (partial delivery) – постачати партіями

delivery date is understood to be – датою постачання вважається

denomination of goods – цінність, найменування товару

documents for collection – документи на інкасо

draft contract – проект контракту

effect payments – здійснювати платежі

employment contract – трудовий угода

enter into force – набути чинності

exceed – перевищувати

execution of the contract – виконання контракту

fail to fulfil – не виконувати

firm (fixed) price – фіксована ціна

force majeure circumstances – непередбачувані обставини

goods are to be regarded as delivered – товари вважаються доставленими

hereinafter referred to as – далі названий як

hire purchase contract – угода на покупку на виплат (в розстрочку)

implied contract – квазі-контракт

in accordance with the requirements – згідно з вимогами

in respect of quality – у відношенні до, відповідно до

insurance – страхування

invoice – рахунок-фактура

issue a document – виписувати документ

keep to the delivery schedule – дотримуватися графіку постачання

letter of credit (l/c) – акредитив, irrevocable l/c – нескасовний акредитив,

meet the specifications – відповідати специфікації

notify – повідомляти

null and void – анульований, що немає юридичної сили

оbligations (liabilities) – обов’язки

obtain indemnity – одержувати компенсацію

on conditions FOB – на умовах фоб, FOB (free on board) – франко-борт судна

otherwise – інакше

partial or complete non-fulfilment – часткове або повне невиконання

parties to a contract (contracting parties) – сторони контракту

pass the document of title – передавати товаророзпорядчий документ

payments are to be affect – платежі повинні бути здійсненні

pay penalty at the rate of – виплачувати штраф у розмірі

performance of the equipment – робота обладнання

prevent (from) – перешкоджати

prolongation – подовження

reclaim – вимагати повернення

release from responsibility – звільняти від відповідальності

seaworthy packing – упаковка, що придатна для транспортування по воді

secure safety – забезпечувати безпеку

seek damages in the court of law – вимагати компенсацію у судовому порядку

service contract – угода на обслуговування

set of ‘clean-on-board’ bills of lading – пакет «чистих» накладних

settle disputes – урегулювати суперечки

sliding price – змінна ціна

specific terms (provisions) – особливі умови

suffer losses through the delay – нести збитки через запізнення

supplement a contract – доповнювати контракт

suspend the fulfilment – припиняти виконання

total value – загальна вартість

trouble-free operation – безперервна робота

turnkey contract – договір «під ключ»

unit of measure – одиниця виміру

unless otherwise agreed – якщо не буде досягнута інша домовленість

valid – дійсний

without written consent – без письмової згоди

withstand transportation – витримати транспортування

wronged (injured) party – постраждала сторона

Exercise 1 a) Read and translate the text about the contracts.

In the course of a year, hundreds of thousands of contracts are concluded domestically and internationally. Contract is an agreement with specific terms between two or more Parties stating what work to be done, rates to be paid, goods to be sold or bought.

Contracts can be written, oral, or implied. According to the purpose and contents, there exist several kinds of contracts. For example, employment contracts, service contracts, turnkey contracts, hire purchase contracts, etc.

Every international contract has several standard parts (clauses) which are obligatory, though some of them may be changed and supplemented. Most frequently necessary parts of the contract include the following:

- Subject of the Contract; it names the product, gives its description, may indicate the unit of measure, etc.

- Price and Total Value; it includes the total amount of money involved and the denomination of goods under the provision of the contract; the price stated in a contract may be firm (fixed) or sliding;

- Terms of Payment; it indicates method of payment, form of payment, bank details and period within which payment should be made;

- Terms of Delivery; it indicates the mode of transportation, period of delivery, sometimes it may also include start-up procedures, inspection and test;

- Guarantee Terms; it says that the goods should be in conformity with the technical documentation, specifications and conditions of the Contract otherwise the Seller undertakes to correct defects or to replace the defective elements at his own expense;

- Packing and Marking; it indicates which way the goods should be packed and what should be written on each packing container during transportation;

- Insurance; it is included in the contract in order to obtain indemnity in case of damage or loss due to fire, burglary, pilferage, damage by water, breakage or leakage, etc.

- Complaints and their Settlement; it covers a lot of cases arising from delivery, quality and quantity of goods, terms of payment and others; so it provides the settlement procedures for all possible situations;

- Arbitration; it covers the breach of contract if one of the parties fails to fulfil their obligations, and the wronged party may be able to seek damages in a court of law;

- Force Majeure; it describes a force against which you cannot act or fight; it usually includes natural disasters such as an earthquake, flood, fire, etc., as well as war, embargo, and sanctions.

- duration of the contract; it describes over what period of time the obligations arising out of it are valid;

- legal addresses of the contracting parties.

b) Answer the following questions.

1. What is a contract intended for? 2. In which form can contract exist? 3. Is there a standard form for a contract? 4. What kinds of contracts according to the purpose do you know? 5. What are the main clauses of a contract? 6. Is it possible to change and supplement the clauses of the contract? 7. What does the subject clause of the contract describe? 8. What kinds of prices may be stated in a contract? 9. What does the Guarantee clause usually say? 10. Who is responsible for any breakage or damage of goods caused by improper packing? 11. Against what risks do businessmen insure goods? 12. Why does every contract contain a Force Majeure Clause? 13. When does a breach of contract take place?

c) Give equivalents for the following word combinations.

Особливі умови контракту, вигода, компенсація, квазі-контракт, трудовий договір, договір на обслуговування, договір на виконання робіт «під ключ», договір на покупку на виплат, обов’язкові пункти контракту, одиниця виміру, тверда ціна, змінна ціна, умови доставки, пуско-налагоджувальні роботи, у відповідності з документацією, за рахунок продавця, одержати компенсацію, урегулювання конфліктів, порушення угоди, постраждала сторона, вимагати компенсацію збитків у судовому порядку, непередбачувана обставина.

Exercise 2 a) Read and translate the contract.